Magnet Sensor Means for Electric Drive Shafts

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing magnetic encoder attachments to shafts or roller bearings in harsh environments, such as oil pump engines, face challenges with adhesive reliability, environmental toxicity, and high production costs, particularly in ensuring secure and vibration-resistant connections.

Innovation Solution

A magnetic transducer system comprising a plastic-bound magnetic encoder and an adapter with peg-like projections or recesses for a non-positive fit, utilizing sintered materials for chemical resistance and durability, allowing for simple and reliable assembly without requiring specialized shaft designs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If adhesive bonds are used to attach magnetic encoders to shaft ends, then the connection can be simple to implement, but the reliability and resistance to harsh environmental conditions deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveease of attachmentVSAvoidconnection reliability
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the chemical bonding mechanism (adhesive) with a mechanical bonding mechanism (non-positive connection via peg-like projections). The adapter features peg-like projections that are pressed into corresponding cavities in the shaft end, creating a mechanical interlock that provides reliable attachment without requiring adhesives. This mechanical substitution resolves the contradiction by maintaining ease of manufacture through simple press-fitting while dramatically improving connection reliability and environmental resistance.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Reliability

If form-fitting connections are used to ensure security against twisting, then the connection reliability improves, but the device complexity and production effort increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorsion resistanceVSAvoidshaft contour complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent divides the connection system into two separate components: the magnetic encoder itself and the adapter. The adapter contains the peg-like projections that engage with cavities in the shaft end. This segmentation allows the complex form-fitting features to be contained in the adapter rather than requiring complex contours on the shaft, thereby maintaining torsion resistance while reducing overall device complexity and production effort.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The adapter serves as an intermediary component between the magnetic encoder and the shaft end. It provides the mechanical interlocking features (peg-like projections) that ensure torsion resistance, while the magnetic encoder remains a simple cylindrical component. This intermediary approach allows form-fitting connections to be implemented without requiring complex shaft modifications.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Ease of manufacture

If adhesives are used to attach magnetic encoders, then the attachment process is simple, but harmful factors and environmental pollution increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveattachment simplicityVSAvoidtoxic substance emission
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The patent eliminates adhesive chemicals by replacing chemical bonding with mechanical bonding. The peg-like projections in the adapter are pressed into cavities in the shaft end, creating a secure mechanical connection without requiring any adhesives. This substitution completely eliminates the harmful factors and environmental pollution associated with adhesive chemicals while maintaining simple attachment procedures.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

4Reliability

If combinations of form-fitting and adhesive connections are used, then the connection reliability improves, but the manufacturing cost increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveconnection securityVSAvoidproduction cost
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent extracts and eliminates the adhesive component from the connection system, relying solely on the mechanical form-fitting connection through peg-like projections. By removing the adhesive step entirely, the patent reduces manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining connection security through the engineered mechanical interlock. The adapter's peg-like projections are designed to provide sufficient mechanical strength without requiring additional adhesive bonding.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #2Taking out (Extraction)

Data Source

PatentEP3278431B1Magnet sensor means
Publication Date: 2019.10.23 BUHLER MOTOR GMBH
  • EP3278431B1 patent drawingFigure 1a~1e
  • EP3278431B1 patent drawingFigure 2a~2e
  • EP3278431B1 patent drawingFigure 3a~3d

AI summary

The invention relates to a magnet sensor means of an electric drive, which is mounted on a shaft end of a shaft or on an inner ring of a rolling element bearing secured to said shaft. The aim of the invention is to devise a magnet sensor means which allows as simple a connection as possible to be produced between a magnet sensor and a shaft end of a shaft or an inner ring of a rolling element bearing secured to said shaft, for which simple manufacturing and mounting methods may be used which are reliable and for which a large body of experiential knowledge is available. In addition, said magnet sensor means should be resistant to harsh environmental conditions, including chemical resistance, vibratory strength, and large fluctuations in temperature. According to the invention, this problem is solved using the features of claim 1.