Outer Rotor Motor Cover Venting for Compact Self-Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Image forming apparatuses face challenges in downsizing and cooling motors efficiently, as increased motor size affects device size and cost, and traditional cooling methods like fans and fins are ineffective in reducing motor temperature, leading to decreased efficiency and torque generation.
Innovation Solution
An outer rotor type motor with a cover member that includes a stator, rotor, and a cover with specific opening portions to create a flow of air that sucks in outside air and discharges heated air, effectively cooling the motor without additional space or cost, by utilizing the motor's rotation to generate a cooling airflow.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If the motor size is increased to output power even if the temperature rises, then the motor efficiency is improved, but the size of the main body is increased and the cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent makes the cover member rotatable together with the rotor portion, transforming a static protective cover into a dynamic cooling component. The rotation of the cover member creates air flow through the openings, enabling active cooling without increasing motor size, thus maintaining motor efficiency while avoiding size increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The cover member serves dual functions: it protects the motor (original function) and simultaneously cools the motor through rotation-induced air flow (new function). This multi-functionality eliminates the need for separate cooling devices, avoiding both size and cost increases while maintaining motor efficiency.
2Temperature
If a fan is added to cool down the motor, then the motor temperature is reduced, but the size of the main body is increased and the cost is increased
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the protective cover function with the cooling function by making the cover member rotatable. This integration eliminates the need for separate fans or cooling devices, reducing device complexity and component count while effectively lowering motor temperature.
Solution Approach 2:
The motor system cools itself through the rotation of the cover member, which is driven by the motor's own operation. The rotating cover member creates air flow that dissipates heat, allowing the system to self-regulate temperature without external cooling devices, thereby reducing component complexity.
3Temperature
If fins are provided with the motor to improve radiation of heat, then the heat radiation is improved, but the space is taken up and the device complexity is increased
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of static fins for heat radiation, the patent employs dynamic air flow generation through the rotating cover member. The rotation creates continuous air movement that actively removes heat from the motor, achieving effective heat dissipation without the space-consuming static fin structures.
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 solution allows for effective motor cooling, maintaining compact size and low cost, while improving motor efficiency and torque generation by utilizing the motor's rotation to create a directed airflow that reduces temperature without the need for additional cooling components.
Implementation Method 1
an air is sucked inside of the cover member from an outside of the cover member through the first opening portion by rotation of the rotor portion, and the air sucked is discharged to the outside of the cover member through a second opening portion formed on a position away from the first opening portion in the axial direction
Data Source
AI summary
An outer rotor type motor includes a motor substrate, a stator provided on the motor substrate, a rotor mounted with a rotational shaft, and a cover provided on an outside of the rotor in a radial direction of the rotor and an axial direction of a rotational shaft. The cover covers the motor. A first opening is formed on a central portion, in the radial direction, of a first portion of the cover opposing a part on which the rotational shaft of the rotor is mounted in the axial direction. An air is sucked inside of the cover from an outside of the cover through the first opening by rotation of the rotor, and the air sucked is discharged to the outside of the cover through a second opening formed on a position away from the first opening in the axial direction.