Motor Drive Assembly Vibration Resistance via Direct Drive
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor drive assemblies for robots face challenges in providing precise positioning and reliability in environments with high mechanical shock and vibration, leading to increased wear in gear teeth and backlash, while also being complex, heavy, and costly.
Innovation Solution
A motor drive assembly with a robust bearing system that includes a four-point contact turntable bearing and a dual-axis positioning mechanism, using a belt drive with modified curvilinear tooth profiles and a pan-tilt configuration to achieve precise and reliable positioning, while minimizing weight and complexity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If geared systems (spur, harmonic, worm gears) are used for precise positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity, weight, and susceptibility to vibration damage increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the complex geared transmission system from the positioning mechanism. Instead of using multiple gear components (spur gears, harmonic gears, worm gears), the invention directly couples the motor shaft to the positioning mechanism, removing the intermediary gear train that causes complexity, weight, and vulnerability to vibration damage while maintaining positioning accuracy through direct drive control.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical geared system with a direct-drive control system. The complex mechanical gear train is substituted with a simplified motor-shaft-directly-connected mechanism that achieves positioning through electronic control and direct mechanical coupling, thereby reducing the number of moving parts and eliminating gear-related failures.
2Measurement precision
If geared systems are used for precise positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but weight increases due to large number of components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the heavy gear components from the system. By eliminating the multi-component geared transmission system (spur gears, harmonic gears, worm gears), the overall weight of the drive mechanism is significantly reduced while maintaining positioning capability through direct motor-shaft coupling and electronic control.
3Ease of operation
If geared systems are used in high vibration environments, then positioning capability is maintained, but reliability decreases due to snapped gear teeth and dislodged roller chains
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the vulnerable gear components from the system. By removing the intermediary gear train that is susceptible to snapped teeth and dislodged chains under vibration, the invention achieves vibration-resistant positioning through direct motor-shaft coupling, thereby maintaining positioning capability while dramatically improving reliability in harsh environments.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies the principle of beforehand cushioning by eliminating the weak points in the mechanical chain before vibration damage can occur. The direct-drive architecture preemptively removes gear teeth and roller chains that would otherwise be vulnerable to high-vibration environments, ensuring reliability without requiring additional protective mechanisms.
4Measurement precision
If geared systems are used for precise positioning, then positioning accuracy is improved, but wear in gear teeth increases under high vibration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and removes the gear components that are subject to wear from the positioning system. By eliminating the gear train and using direct motor-shaft coupling, the invention eliminates gear tooth wear entirely, thereby extending the service life of the drive mechanism while maintaining positioning accuracy through direct drive control.
5Measurement precision
If motors, elastic bands, or preloading mechanisms are added to counteract backlash, then positioning accuracy is improved, but device complexity, size, weight, and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the source of backlash (the gear train) from the system. By using direct motor-shaft coupling without intermediary gears, the invention removes the need for additional components like elastic bands or preloading mechanisms that would otherwise be required to compensate for gear backlash, thereby maintaining positioning accuracy without increasing complexity.
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
The solution provides improved accuracy and reliability, reduces wear and backlash, and simplifies assembly and maintenance, while being more cost-effective and environmentally resistant.
Implementation Method 1
The motor can be rigidly mounted to the housing and can rotate a pulley or pinion gear ('motor gear') directly from the coupled motor rotor or indirectly via an intermediary gearbox. This motor gear is coupled to another gear rigidly mounted to the fixed shaft
Implementation Method 2
using a belt drive with modified curvilinear tooth profiles and a pan-tilt configuration to achieve precise and reliable positioning
Implementation Method 3
A motor drive assembly with a robust bearing system that includes a four-point contact turntable bearing and a dual-axis positioning mechanism, using a belt drive with modified curvilinear tooth profiles and a pan-tilt configuration to achieve precise and reliable positioning
Data Source
Figure 1~3
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AI summary
A motor drive assembly comprising:a motor for rotating a shaft, the motor attached to a motor plate (115) wherein the motor plate is in sliding contact with a surface of a housing of the motor drive assembly; a first wedge (670) coupled to a first wedge bolt (671) and the housing, the first wedge having an angled side and a straight side wherein the angled side of the first wedge is in sliding contact with a sloped side of the motor plate and the straight side is in sliding contact with an abutment; a first rail (669) attached to the base wherein the motor plate is in sliding contact with a surface of the first rail; and wherein tightening the first wedge bolt causes the angled side of the first wedge to slide against the sloped side of the motor plate and move the motor plate away from the first wedge bolt