Modular Geared Motor Arrangement with Central Housing

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing geared motor arrangements are non-modular and cannot be compacted if one gear is removed, limiting space efficiency and flexibility in design and assembly.

Innovation Solution

A geared motor arrangement where two or more motors are attached to a central housing part with regularly spaced gears, allowing for modular design, axial force absorption, improved cooling, and easy gear changes, with a central housing part that includes a summation gear stage and radial motor placement for enhanced space utilization and assembly simplicity.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If gears and summing wheel are accommodated in a common housing, then the structure is complete and functional, but the housing cannot be made smaller if one of the gears is omitted and the design is non-modular

Engineering Contradiction:
ImprovemodularityVSAvoidhousing structure
Core Design Contradiction:
Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The housing is divided into a central housing part and separate gear housing parts. Each gear can be individually attached to the central housing part via detachable connections, allowing gears to be added or removed independently without affecting the overall structure. This segmentation enables modular design where the housing can be adapted to different configurations (e.g., 2, 3, or 4 gears) while maintaining structural integrity.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Power

If four motors are arranged in parallel with toothed parts on rotor shafts, then torque combination is achieved, but the arrangement is rigid and cannot be compacted when gears are omitted

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque combinationVSAvoidconfigurability
Core Design Contradiction:
PowerVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The connection between the gear housing parts and the central housing part is made detachable rather than permanent. This dynamic connection allows the system to be reconfigured by attaching or detaching gear housing parts according to the required number of motors (2, 3, or 4), enabling flexible torque combination while adapting to different power requirements.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

3Reliability

If the housing is designed to accommodate all gears, then complete functionality is ensured, but space efficiency is reduced when fewer gears are needed

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvefunctional completenessVSAvoidhousing volume
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The gear housing parts are designed to attach to the central housing part in a nested configuration. Each gear housing part contains its respective gear and motor assembly, which nests onto the central housing part. This nesting approach allows the housing volume to scale with the number of gears actually installed, rather than requiring space for all possible gears simultaneously.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

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 solution enables efficient torque combination, axial force absorption, improved cooling, and easy gear changes, allowing for compact and flexible motor arrangements with increased rigidity and reduced material usage.

Implementation Method 1

a gear wheel (7), which is non-rotatably connected to a shaft (6), engaged with a gear wheel (4) connected to the output shaft (5) of the transmission (3)

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGear meshing: Gear

Implementation Method 2

the shaft (6), in particular by means of two bearings, in particular angular roller bearings (52) or one via two pairs of tapered roller bearings

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectBall bearing: Ball Bearing

Implementation Method 3

by means of two bearings, in particular angular roller bearings (52) or one via two pairs of tapered roller bearings

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectFriction reduction: Friction

Implementation Method 4

as well as by means of an axial bearing (33), which is arranged on the axial side facing away from the machine to be driven

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectAxial bearing: Ball Bearing

Data Source

PatentEP2964976B1Geared motor arrangement
Publication Date: 2016.12.07 SEW EURODRIVE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2964976B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2964976B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2964976B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

Disclosed is a geared motor arrangement, wherein two or more geared motors are secured on a central housing part, each geared motor having a gearbox, which can be driven by a respective electric motor of the respective geared motor. A respective gear wheel, in particular an output gear wheel, which is connected to the output shaft of the respective gear box, engages with a gear wheel, in particular a summation gear wheel, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a shaft mounted in the central housing part, in particular wherein the gear wheels, i.e. output gear wheels, which are connected to the output shaft of the respective gearbox, are spaced from each other, in particular regularly spaced, in the circumferential direction relative to the shaft axis of the shaft.