Linear Motor Elastic Member With Varying Thickness

Resolve Bottlenecks,
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing linear motor designs face challenges in miniaturization due to the tendency of elastic members to rupture easily and experience poor electrical contact as their spring constant and thickness decrease, leading to increased production costs and assembly difficulties.

Innovation Solution

The design incorporates an elastic member with varying thicknesses for different portions to achieve desired stiffness, with power supply terminals formed integrally into the elastic member, eliminating the need for soldering and using an insulating layer to prevent electrical communication, thereby enhancing stability and reducing component count and production costs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Volume of moving object

If the elastic member is thinned to facilitate miniaturization, then the volume and weight of the linear motor are reduced, but the elastic member becomes more prone to rupture due to reduced stiffness

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevolume of elastic memberVSAvoidstiffness of elastic member

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The elastic member is designed with non-uniform thickness distribution, where different regions have different thicknesses to achieve optimal balance between flexibility and strength. The thicker regions provide necessary stiffness to prevent rupture, while thinner regions enable miniaturization and reduce overall volume.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The thickness parameter of the elastic member is varied across different regions rather than maintaining a uniform thickness. This parameter change allows the elastic member to achieve both miniaturization (reduced overall volume) and sufficient stiffness (reduced rupture risk) simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

2Length of moving object

If the power supply terminals are made thinner to reduce size, then the overall component size is reduced, but electrical contact becomes poor and assembly becomes difficult

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvethickness of power supply terminalsVSAvoidelectrical contact quality

Core Design Contradiction:

Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The power supply terminals are designed with varying thickness, where the contact regions have sufficient thickness to ensure good electrical contact and assembly reliability, while other regions can be thinner to reduce overall size.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

3Volume of moving object

If the elastic member thickness is reduced to achieve miniaturization, then the linear motor size is reduced, but production cost increases due to higher rupture risk and waste

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesize of linear motorVSAvoidproduction cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Volume of moving objectVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The non-uniform thickness design concentrates material where it is most needed (in high-stress regions) while reducing material in low-stress regions. This optimizes the strength-to-weight ratio, reducing the overall amount of material required while maintaining sufficient strength, thereby lowering production costs despite miniaturization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

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 approach allows for miniaturization while maintaining stability and reducing production costs by ensuring proper stiffness and electrical contact, minimizing the risk of rupture and improving assembly efficiency.

Implementation Method 1

the elastic portion 72 also electrically communicates with the electrical unit 63 of the actuator 6 to transmit electricity thereto. When an external power source (not shown) is coupled to the pair of power supply terminals 9, power will flow sequentially through the terminals 9 and the elastic member 7 to the electrical unit 63 of the actuator 6, thereby leading to an axial displacement of the movable element 62. This axial displacement then moves the movable portion 73 of the elastic member 7, further leading to a linear displacement of the elastic portion 72.

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS8299657B2Linear motor

Publication Date: 2012.10.30 LARGAN PRECISION

AI summary

This invention provides a linear motor at least including an electrically controlled actuator and an elastic member. The electrically controlled actuator at least comprises a fixed element, a movable element, and an electrical unit, and at least provides an axial displacement. The elastic member at least comprises a fixed portion, a movable portion, an elastic portion, and a pair of power supply terminals. The fixed portion of the elastic member is connected to the fixed element of the actuator. The movable portion of the elastic member is connected to the movable element of the actuator. Various portions of the elastic member have different thicknesses depending on desired stiffness of each portion, such that the elastic member can be thinned to facilitate miniaturization of the linear motor. The needs to have an elastic member with desired stiffness and to provide good electrical contact are both met by the present linear motor.