Motor Plate Assembly for Fan Shaft Centerline Alignment
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Solution Overview
Problem
Direct drive fan assemblies face complexity and inefficiency due to misalignment of motor shafts with varying motor heights, requiring multiple component changes to achieve proper alignment, leading to increased parts combinations and assembly complications.
Innovation Solution
A method for aligning the centerline of a motor shaft in a direct drive fan assembly by selecting a motor and matching motor plate based on the motor's height, forming a motor-plate assembly with a consistent height that aligns with the fan assembly, reducing the number of components changed and maintaining a fixed arrangement of other components.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If different motors with varying heights are used in the direct drive fan assembly, then motor selection flexibility is improved, but motor shaft alignment with the hub deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
A motor plate is introduced as an intermediary component between the motor and the hub. The motor plate compensates for height variations in different motors through its own variable thickness, ensuring that the motor shaft consistently aligns with the hub centerline regardless of which motor is installed.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor plate's thickness parameter is varied to match different motor heights. By changing the motor plate thickness parameter, the system accommodates different motor sizes while maintaining constant motor shaft alignment with the hub, resolving the contradiction between motor selection flexibility and alignment precision.
2Manufacturing precision
If multiple components are changed to accommodate different motors, then motor shaft alignment is improved, but assembly complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The alignment function is extracted from the motor itself and placed in a separate motor plate component. This allows the motor to remain a simple drive unit while the motor plate handles all alignment requirements, reducing the complexity of motor selection and assembly procedures.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor plate serves multiple functions: it provides mechanical support for the motor, compensates for height variations, ensures proper shaft alignment, and facilitates easy motor replacement. This multi-functionality reduces the need for multiple specialized components, simplifying the overall assembly.
3Manufacturing precision
If more parts are combined and changed throughout the assembly, then motor shaft alignment is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The assembly is segmented into distinct functional components: the motor unit and the motor plate unit. This segmentation allows for independent manufacturing and optimization of each component, reducing overall manufacturing complexity and cost while maintaining precise alignment through the specialized motor plate design.
Data Source
AI summary
Aligning a motor shaft in a fan assembly is described. Aligning a centerline of a motor shaft in a direct drive fan assembly includes selecting a motor from among a plurality of motors and matching a motor-plate from among a plurality of motor plates to the motor, the matched motor plate is based on the selected motor.Aligning the centerline further includes creating, from the selected motor and the matching motor plate, a motor-plate assembly that has a resulting height, where the resulting height of the motor-plate assembly corresponds to a particular height of a direct drive fan assembly, and aligning the centerline of a motor shaft of the motor-plate assembly to the direct drive fan assembly, where the particular height of the direct drive fan assembly is constant.