Motor-Pulley Adapter for Belt-Tension-Preserving Replacement

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor replacement methods in robots require loosening the belt tension to remove and replace motors, which complicates the process and reduces maintainability.

Innovation Solution

An adapter for motor replacement is designed to bridge between the motor housing and pulley, allowing the motor to be removed without loosening the belt tension by fixing the adapter to both the housing and pulley, and using a sleeve to maintain pulley position and access the motor fastener.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of repair

If the motor is removed from the housing to replace it, then the motor can be replaced, but the belt tension must be loosened which complicates the process

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor replaceabilityVSAvoidreplacement process complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of repairVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The invention divides the motor assembly into separable components: the motor can be detached from the housing while the pulley remains fixed to the housing. This segmentation allows the motor to be replaced independently without affecting the belt tensioning system, thereby simplifying the replacement process while maintaining ease of repair.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The pulley acts as an intermediary component that remains fixed to the housing during motor replacement. By keeping the pulley in place and using it as a reference point for belt reinstallation, the system avoids the complexity of adjusting belt tension during motor replacement, thus resolving the contradiction between ease of repair and device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Ease of operation

If the pulley position is changed during motor replacement, then the motor can be accessed, but the belt tension is disrupted

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor accessibilityVSAvoidbelt tension stability

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The pulley is pre-fixed to the housing before motor replacement begins. This preliminary action establishes a stable reference point that maintains belt tension alignment throughout the motor replacement process, ensuring that the belt tension is not disrupted even when the motor is removed and reinstalled.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of moving the pulley to access the motor (which would disrupt belt tension), the invention inverts the approach by keeping the pulley fixed and accessing the motor from the opposite side or through the housing structure. This maintains belt tension stability while still allowing motor accessibility for replacement.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

Data Source

PatentUS11901776B2Adapter for motor replacement and motor replacement method

Publication Date: 2024.02.13 FANUC LTD

AI summary

An adapter for motor replacement includes fixing portions. The adapter has a shape of being placeable so as to be bridged between a housing that fixes a motor and a pulley that is fixed to the motor and transmits a rotary drive force via a belt and to avoid a space for removing the motor from the housing. The fixing portions are respectively fixed to the housing, to which the motor is fixed, and the pulley fixed to the motor.