Electric Motor Leak Drainage Using an Annular Lip and Drain Path
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric motor designs face issues with seal degradation leading to fluid leaks, which can cause degradation or malfunction, and the addition of secondary seals increases complexity and cost.
Innovation Solution
A drainage system using a radially projecting annular lip and annular depression on the rotor shaft and motor housing to direct leaking fluid away from the motor's interior, without additional seals, and includes a drain hole to collect the fluid.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a second seal is added to reduce potential leakage, then the reliability of the electric motor is improved, but the device complexity and manufacturing cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the harmful leaking fluid from the motor interior by providing a dedicated drainage path. The drainage system separates the fluid leakage function from the seal function, allowing the seal to focus on prevention while the drainage system handles containment and removal of leaked fluid, thereby reducing the need for additional seals and simplifying the overall system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent converts the harmful effect of seal degradation and fluid leakage into a beneficial outcome by designing a drainage system that captures and redirects the leaked fluid away from critical motor components. This transforms what would be a damaging leak into a controlled drainage process that protects the motor interior.
2Reliability
If additional components are incorporated in the interior of the electric motor to manage leaks, then the reliability is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the drainage function with existing motor components. The drainage system utilizes the motor housing and existing structural elements to create fluid redirection paths, eliminating the need for separate, dedicated leak management components. This integration maintains reliability while avoiding increased complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent makes existing motor components serve multiple functions. The housing structure simultaneously provides mechanical support and acts as part of the drainage system for fluid redirection. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized components, maintaining simplicity while improving leak management capability.
3Device complexity
If the seal is allowed to degrade naturally, then the device complexity is reduced, but the motor reliability deteriorates due to fluid leakage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent prepares for potential seal degradation by pre-establishing a drainage system that will become active when leakage occurs. This proactive approach cushions against the harmful effects of seal failure, allowing the motor to continue operating reliably even when the seal degrades, without requiring complex preventive replacement schedules.
Solution Approach 2:
The drainage system operates autonomously to manage leaked fluid without requiring external intervention or additional control systems. Once fluid leaks through a degraded seal, the drainage system automatically captures and redirects it, providing self-service leak management that maintains reliability while keeping the system simple.
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 drainage system effectively redirects fluid leaks, preventing further motor degradation and allowing continued operation until the seal is repaired, thus prolonging the motor's usable life.
Implementation Method 1
liquid flowing up a first angled wall of the annular tip is projected at an angle
Data Source
AI summary
Systems and methods for a leak drainage system are herein described. The leak drainage system may be implemented in an electric motor comprising a first region cooled by a liquid, a seal separating the first region from a second region, wherein the liquid does not enter the second region when the seal is not degraded, and a drainage system configured to drain liquid leaking through the seal from the first region into the second region, the drainage system comprising a radially projecting annular lip with a first angled wall positioned on a rotor shaft and an annular depression in a motor static housing circumferentially surrounding the radially projecting annular lip.