Modular Geared Motor with Integrated Cooling and Adapter Flange

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing geared motor designs complicate motor replacement and environmental protection, as they require draining the cooling medium and lack visibility for damage detection, and they often require additional bearings and complex modifications for multi-motor setups.

Innovation Solution

A modular geared motor design with freely accessible motors, where each motor can be replaced individually without draining the cooling medium, featuring an adapter flange that integrates the summation gear and cooling medium management, allowing for easy alignment and lubrication, and utilizing existing motor shaft bearings to eliminate additional bearing needs.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If motors are arranged in motor mounts with cooling medium between them, then cooling is improved, but motor accessibility for replacement deteriorates and visibility for damage detection is lost

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling effectivenessVSAvoidmotor replacement accessibility
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSEase of repair

Solution Approach 1:

The drive system is segmented into modular components: multiple independent motor modules (20) that can be individually removed, a separate summation gear (30), and a housing (10) with integrated cooling channels. This segmentation allows motors to be accessed and replaced individually without affecting other motors or requiring draining of the cooling medium, as each motor has its own inlet (22) and outlet (24) connections to the cooling system.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

2Stability of the object's composition

If motors are enclosed in motor mounts, then structural integration is improved, but visibility for damage detection deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural integrationVSAvoiddamage visibility
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSDifficulty of detecting and measuring

Solution Approach 1:

The housing (10) serves multiple functions: it provides structural support, integrates the cooling medium distribution system with channels leading to each motor, and maintains structural integrity while allowing motor visibility. The housing acts as both a structural frame and a cooling system, eliminating the need for separate motor mounts while preserving accessibility and detectability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Reliability

If additional bearings are added for central wheel mounting, then rotational support is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improverotational supportVSAvoidbearing quantity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The bearing functions are merged into the motor modules themselves. Each motor (20) contains bearings that support its rotor shaft, and these same bearings also support the pinions (28) that engage with the central wheel (32). The input shaft (34) of the summation gear is supported by bearings integrated into the housing structure, eliminating the need for separate dedicated bearings for the central wheel.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

4Ease of repair

If motors are made freely accessible, then replacement ease is improved, but structural integration deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemotor replacement easeVSAvoidstructural integration
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of repairVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The system is divided into independently removable motor modules (20) that can be freely accessed from the outside. Each motor module is a self-contained unit with its own mounting interface to the housing, allowing individual removal and replacement without disassembling the entire drive system or affecting other motors, while the housing maintains overall structural integrity.

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

Facilitates quick motor replacement, enhances environmental protection by allowing for easy damage detection, reduces the need for additional bearings, and simplifies the adaptation of power output through modular design and efficient cooling medium management.

Implementation Method 1

oil can flow through the motors as a cooling medium, i.e. they are liquid-cooled

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transfer: Conduction (thermal)

Implementation Method 2

summation gear for bringing together the power flows generated by the motors on the input shaft of the gear

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectMechanical power transmission: Gear

Implementation Method 3

the summation gear being lubricated with coolant

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectLubrication: Lubrication

Data Source

PatentEP2649711B1Geared motor
Publication Date: 2021.07.21 SEW EURODRIVE GMBH & CO KG
  • EP2649711B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2649711B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2649711B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a geared motor comprising electric motors, gears and an adapter which is disposed between the electric motors and the gears; the gears comprising an input shaft and an output shaft; each motor having a rotor shaft; the adapter having an adapter flange which forms a housing; the adapter flange at least partially surrounding a summarizing gear in such a manner as to form a housing, in particular for causing the power flows generated by the motors to converge at the gear input shaft; a cooling medium, in particular coolant, being able to flow through each of the motors, which are in particular liquid-cooled; the motors having an outlet for the cooling medium; there being formed on the adapter flange ducts which cause the cooling medium emerging at each motor outlet to converge at an outlet, in particular at a single common outlet on the adapter flange.