Electric Motor Head Fixing with C-Shaped Locking Member

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing fixing devices for electric motor heads require complex and bulky supports to ensure axial retention, necessitating access to both ends of the motor, which complicates the mounting and centering process.

Innovation Solution

A fixing device with a male/female shape configuration featuring angularly spaced orifices and a C-shaped locking member with curved ends that engages in these orifices to secure the motor head to the support, allowing for simple and accurate mounting while keeping the central zone free, utilizing a cylindrical skirt with notches and re-entrant parts for alignment and a centering stud for precise positioning.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a complex and bulky support structure is used to ensure axial retention of the motor, then the motor can be securely retained axially, but the device complexity increases and access to both ends of the motor is required

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial retentionVSAvoidsupport structure
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support structure is segmented into two independent stirrups that can function separately. Each stirrup handles one end of the motor axially, eliminating the need for a single complex bulky support. This segmentation allows simpler individual components while maintaining overall axial retention reliability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The solution moves from requiring access to both ends of the motor in a linear arrangement to using a stirrup configuration that engages the motor from opposite sides. This dimensional change in the support geometry allows axial retention without requiring linear access to both motor ends, simplifying the overall device structure.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

2Reliability

If a complex support structure is used to ensure axial retention, then secure mounting is achieved, but the mounting and centering process becomes more complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemounting securityVSAvoidmounting process
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The mounting process is segmented into simple steps: positioning the motor between the two stirrups and allowing elastic engagement. Each stirrup independently secures one end of the motor, making the mounting process straightforward and eliminating complex assembly procedures while ensuring secure mounting.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The elastic stirrups are designed to automatically engage and secure the motor ends through their inherent elasticity. The motor's own weight and positioning cause the stirrups to flex and lock into place, reducing the need for complex manual mounting operations while ensuring secure attachment.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #25Self-service

3Manufacturing precision

If a C-shaped locking member with curved ends is used to engage in orifices, then the head is securely locked to the support with improved centering accuracy, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecentering accuracyVSAvoidlocking mechanism
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The C-shaped locking member with curved ends is pre-positioned on the support structure with its curved ends oriented toward the center. This preliminary positioning ensures that when the motor head is mounted, the locking member is already in the correct orientation to engage the orifices, improving centering accuracy without requiring complex adjustment mechanisms during assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The locking member uses curved ends that match the circular geometry of the orifices in the motor head and support. This curvature provides natural alignment and centering during assembly, improving manufacturing precision while the simple C-shaped geometry keeps the locking mechanism itself relatively simple.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #14Spheroidality (Curvature)

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 enables quick and accurate mounting of the motor head with improved centering accuracy and reduced complexity, ensuring secure attachment without interference, facilitating easy assembly and disassembly by utilizing a pre-positioned locking member that allows for simple clipping and elastic deformation.

Implementation Method 1

a C-shaped locking member, with ends curved towards the center, is provided to engage, by its curved ends, in the orifices opposite the two shapes and thus lock the head relative to the support

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectElastic deformation: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentEP2148412B1Device for fixing the head of an electric motor on a support, in particular for a roller blind
Publication Date: 2014.06.18 ZURFLUH FELLER SA
  • EP2148412B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2148412B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3
  • EP2148412B1 patent drawingFigure 4~5

AI summary

The device (A) has an electric motor head (12) comprising a male pattern (13) to cooperate with a conjugated female pattern (14) of a support (6), where the patterns formed of skirts respectively have two orifices and orifices (14a, 14b) on their periphery for relative orientation of patterns. C-shaped locking unit (15) is provided at ends (16, 17) curved towards the center, where the unit engages in the orifices and locks the head relative to the support, while freely releasing a central area of the head and support. A central pilot point (4) projects towards interior of roller blind housing.