Oscillating Motor Flexure Assembly Eliminates Bearings
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Personal care appliances with oscillating motors face challenges due to the need for additional structural elements and bearings, which increase manufacturing complexity and reduce durability and reliability.
Innovation Solution
A motor design utilizing a stator assembly, armature, mounting member, and a flexure assembly with crossing flexure members to produce oscillating motion without the need for bearings, where the armature moves in an arcuate path about a pivot point, allowing the workpiece to oscillate through a defined angle.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If traditional motor bearing structures and constraining elements are used to produce oscillating action, then the motor can achieve controlled oscillation, but manufacturing complexity and expense increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional bearing structures and constraining elements from the motor design. Instead of using separate components to support and constrain the oscillating motion, the invention integrates the oscillation control directly into the motor's electromagnetic structure, eliminating the need for additional mechanical elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent combines the functions of motor operation and oscillation control into a single integrated structure. The electromagnetic fields and motor components are designed to inherently produce the desired oscillating action without requiring separate bearing and constraining mechanisms, merging multiple functions into one unified system.
2Reliability
If traditional bearing structures and constraining elements are used to produce oscillating action, then the motor can achieve controlled oscillation, but reliability and durability decrease
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional bearing structures and constraining elements from the motor design. Instead of using separate components to support and constrain the oscillating motion, the invention integrates the oscillation control directly into the motor's electromagnetic structure, eliminating the need for additional mechanical elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor design allows the electromagnetic fields and motor components to inherently control and constrain the oscillating motion through their own operational characteristics. The system uses its inherent electromagnetic properties to achieve the desired oscillation control without requiring separate mechanical constraint mechanisms.
3Ease of manufacture
If additional structural elements and bearings are added to produce oscillating action, then oscillation control is achieved, but manufacturing expense increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes traditional bearing structures and constraining elements from the motor design. Instead of using separate components to support and constrain the oscillating motion, the invention integrates the oscillation control directly into the motor's electromagnetic structure, eliminating the need for additional mechanical elements.
4Device complexity
If traditional motor structures with bearings are used, then rotational movement is achieved, but oscillating action requires additional complex elements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the functions of motor operation and oscillation control into a single integrated structure. The electromagnetic fields and motor components are designed to inherently produce the desired oscillating action without requiring separate bearing and constraining mechanisms, merging multiple functions into one unified system.
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
This design eliminates the requirement for bearings, enhancing manufacturing simplicity and durability while providing a rugged and quiet oscillating action for personal care appliances.
Implementation Method 1
an electromagnetic motor using flexure elements to produce an oscillating action
Implementation Method 2
a flexure assembly connected between the armature and the mounting member, such that the armature in operation moves in an arcuate path about a pivot point
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
Figure 5
AI summary
The motor includes an E-core stator assembly with a source of alternating current and an armature portion mounted to be responsive to the stator to oscillate back and forth through an arc of a selected angle. A mounting member is fixed to a housing portion of the personal care appliance and flexure elements are connected between the armature and the mounting member, the flexure elements crossing each other, wherein the crossing point defines a pivot point about which the armature rotates. A workpiece assembly, which includes a mounting arm, is configured so that a skin brush mounted on a free end of the mounting arm has an axis of rotation about the pivot point.