Motor Labyrinth Seal Structure for Precise Gap Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
The challenge in motor design is to reduce the gap between opposing surfaces of a labyrinth structure while maintaining dimensional accuracy, especially when using resin materials which tend to have large dimensional tolerances, leading to potential contact between protrusions and adverse effects on motor rotation.
Innovation Solution
The implementation of a motor design that includes a rotor, stator, and labyrinth portion with metal cylindrical portions surrounding the central axis, ensuring a precise gap between opposing surfaces, and the use of a water-repellent layer to prevent water and dust intrusion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Weight of moving object
If resin material is used for the protrusion on the impeller side to reduce weight and cost, then weight and cost are reduced, but dimensional tolerance increases making it difficult to maintain a precise gap between opposing surfaces of the labyrinth structure
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses a composite structure where the impeller body is made of resin material for weight reduction, but the protrusion forming the labyrinth structure is made of metal material to ensure precise dimensional tolerance and maintain a consistent gap with the opposing protrusion on the bearing box side. This composite approach combines the advantages of both materials.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the gap between opposing surfaces of the labyrinth structure is reduced to prevent water and dust intrusion, then sealing performance is improved, but manufacturing precision requirements increase which is difficult to achieve with resin materials
Solution Approach 1:
The invention applies metal material to the protrusion on the impeller side to achieve the precise dimensional tolerance needed for maintaining a small, consistent gap with the opposing protrusion, thereby effectively preventing water and dust intrusion while avoiding the manufacturing precision limitations of resin materials.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention applies different material qualities to different parts of the impeller: resin material for the main body where weight reduction is prioritized, and metal material specifically for the protrusion where precise dimensional tolerance and gap control are critical for sealing performance.
3Manufacturing precision
If metal material is used for the protrusion on the impeller side to improve dimensional precision, then manufacturing precision is improved, but weight increases
Solution Approach 1:
The invention uses metal material only for the specific protrusion component requiring high dimensional precision, while the rest of the impeller body remains made of lighter resin material, thus achieving the necessary precision without a significant overall weight increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The invention creates a composite impeller structure combining resin and metal materials, where the metal protrusion provides precise dimensional tolerance for the labyrinth structure, and the resin body provides weight reduction, achieving an optimal balance between precision and weight.
Data Source
AI summary
A motor includes a rotor, a stator, and a labyrinth portion. The rotor is rotatable about a central axis extending in an axial direction. The stator includes a stator core. In the stator core, a labyrinth portion in which coils arranged in a circumferential direction are located includes a pair of metal cylindrical portions surrounding the central axis. The pair of metal cylindrical portions includes a pair of opposing surfaces that oppose each other in a radial direction with a gap therebetween, and one of the opposing surfaces surrounds the other.