Linear Motor Drive Guide Heat Sink Segmentation

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional drive guide apparatuses using linear motors face issues with heat insulation and radiation, leading to thermal expansion and instability, which result in backlash, vibration, and noise, especially when a stronger magnetic field is used to increase thrust.

Innovation Solution

A drive guide apparatus with a heat radiating structure between the mover and the table, utilizing a heat sink with fins and a table made of material with a low thermal expansion coefficient, along with a black surface process to enhance heat radiation, effectively transmitting and radiating heat generated by the mover.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If heat insulating material is provided between the table and the mover, then heat transmission to the table is reduced, but heat radiation efficiency is insufficient

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat transmissionVSAvoidheat radiation efficiency
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The heat sink is divided into multiple segments with heat radiation fins, creating multiple heat radiation pathways. This segmentation increases the total heat radiation surface area and improves heat dissipation efficiency while maintaining thermal isolation between the mover and table through the heat insulating material.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heat insulating material serves as an intermediary element between the mover and the table. It selectively blocks heat transmission to the table while allowing the heat sink to radiate heat independently, thus preventing thermal expansion of the table while maintaining effective heat radiation from the mover assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Loss of energy

If heat radiation fins are provided between the mover and the table, then heat radiation is improved, but heat transmission to the table cannot be sufficiently prevented

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat radiationVSAvoidheat transmission to table
Core Design Contradiction:
Loss of energyVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The heat sink structure with multiple heat radiation fins segments the heat dissipation process, creating numerous thin surfaces that radiate heat efficiently. This segmented approach increases the heat radiation area while the heat insulating material ensures that the table remains thermally isolated despite the presence of these fins.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The heat radiation fins extend the heat dissipation into a third dimension by creating vertical surfaces. This dimensional expansion significantly increases the heat radiation surface area without increasing the horizontal footprint, allowing effective heat radiation while maintaining thermal isolation from the table.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

3Force

If a mover generating larger magnetic field is used to increase thrust, then thrust is improved, but heat generation increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovethrustVSAvoidheat generation
Core Design Contradiction:
ForceVSTemperature

Solution Approach 1:

The heat generated by the high-thrust mover is converted from a harmful byproduct into a managed thermal energy flow. The heat sink and heat radiation fins capture this heat and redirect it through controlled convection and radiation pathways, transforming the harmful thermal energy into a manageable dissipation process that does not affect the table or guide accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #22Blessing in disguise (Convert harm into benefit)

Solution Approach 2:

The heat insulating material acts as an intermediary that decouples the thermal field from the mechanical structure. It allows the mover to generate high thrust with associated heat generation while preventing this thermal energy from affecting the table and guide, thus enabling high-performance operation without compromising precision.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Stability of the object's composition

If the table is made of material with low thermal expansion coefficient, then thermal expansion is reduced, but heat radiation capability is limited

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvethermal expansionVSAvoidheat radiation capability
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSLoss of energy

Solution Approach 1:

The heat insulating material serves as a thermal intermediary that decouples the thermal behavior of the mover assembly from the table. This allows the table to be optimized for dimensional stability with low thermal expansion materials while the heat sink handles heat radiation independently, preventing heat transmission to the table in the first place.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The thermal management system is segmented into distinct functional zones: the heat sink with radiation fins handles heat dissipation, the heat insulating material blocks heat transmission to the table, and the table provides dimensional stability. This segmentation allows each component to be optimized for its specific function without compromise.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Applied Scientific Principles

This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.

Function Achieved in This Case

This configuration effectively radiates heat generated by the mover, reducing thermal expansion and improving the stability and longevity of the drive guide apparatus while maintaining a compact design with increased thrust.

Implementation Method 1

a plurality of heat radiation fins 150 is formed on the heat sink 130. The heat radiation fins 150 are provided to prevent transmission of heat generated from the mover 140 to the table 110

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat radiation: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 2

a heat transmission route for transmitting heat which cannot be released in the radiating structure to the table is provided

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat conduction: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 3

a mover which generates a magnetic field when energized. The apparatus also has a stator having a magnet in a portion facing the mover in the base. By the configuration, the mover is energized and magnetic interaction occurs between the mover and the stator

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMagnetic field generation: Magnetic Field

Implementation Method 4

magnetic interaction occurs between the mover and the stator, so that the movement unit can move relative to the base

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElectromagnetic interaction: Electromagnetic Induction

Implementation Method 5

along with a black surface process to enhance heat radiation

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal radiation enhancement: Thermal Radiation

Implementation Method 6

the table is made of a material having a low thermal expansion coefficient. Since a material having a low thermal expansion coefficient is used for the table, the thermal expansion of the table which occurs when heat is transmitted to the table can be reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectThermal expansion: Thermal Expansion

Data Source

PatentUS9088201B2Drive guide apparatus
Publication Date: 2015.07.21 THK CO LTD
  • US9088201B2 patent drawing
  • US9088201B2 patent drawing
  • US9088201B2 patent drawing

AI summary

A drive guide device capable of effectively releasing heat produced by a mover. The drive guide device has a movement unit 100 moved by a linear motor while being guided by a rail 230. The movement unit 100 has the mover 140 to which electricity is conducted to produce a magnetic field, a table 110 placed on the mover 140 on the opposite side of a base 210 to which the rail 230 is fixed, a heat sink 130 having heat radiation fins for releasing heat produced by the mover 140 and placed between the mover 140 and the table 110, and a heat transmission route for transmitting heat, which cannot be released by the heat sink 130, to the table 110. The table 110 is made from a material having a low thermal expansion coefficient.