Plastic-Magnet Rotor Flange for Stable Permanent Magnet Positioning

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electric motor rotors with permanent magnets experience axial movement due to centrifugal forces, leading to unbalancing and mechanical noise, and the use of springs and laminettes complicates manufacturing and assembly.

Innovation Solution

A rotor design where at least one flange is made of plastic material with magnetic particles, integrated with permanent magnets, and the other flange is metal, ensuring balanced density and reducing relative movement of magnets during operation.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If springs and laminettes are used to hold permanent magnets in position, then magnet stability is improved, but device complexity and manufacturing difficulty increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnet stabilityVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent merges the magnet retaining function with the flange structure by integrating retaining protrusions directly into the flange. This eliminates the need for separate springs and laminettes, reducing structural complexity while maintaining magnet stability during rotor operation.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the spring-based mechanical retention system with a rigid flange structure that has integrated retaining protrusions. This substitution eliminates the need for elastic components and simplifies the overall mechanical system while providing reliable magnet positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical system)

2Manufacturing precision

If springs and laminettes are used to retain permanent magnets, then magnet positioning is improved, but manufacturing and assembly complexity increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnet positioningVSAvoidassembly complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The retaining protrusions are integrated directly into the flange structure, combining the positioning and retaining functions into a single component. This reduces the number of parts to be manufactured and assembled, simplifying both production processes while maintaining precise magnet positioning.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Reliability

If permanent magnets are held by springs and laminettes, then initial magnet stability is improved, but rotor balancing deteriorates over time

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemagnet stabilityVSAvoid rotor balance
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent replaces the spring-based retention system with a rigid flange structure that provides consistent mechanical support for the magnets. This eliminates the progressive degradation of supporting force that occurs with spring fatigue, maintaining both magnet stability and rotor balance throughout the operational life of the motor.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #28Mechanics substitution (Replace mechanical 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 simplifies assembly, reduces mechanical noise, and improves rotor balancing by eliminating magnet movement and matching the density of metal flanges for enhanced stability.

Implementation Method 1

As the rotor rotates, the permanent magnets are subjected to centrifugal force. Therefore, if the magnets were not held in position inside the cavities of the rotor body, they would tend to move in an axial direction within the cavities.

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Implementation Method 2

the density of the plastic flange being substantially equal to the density of the metal flange

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectDensity equivalence:

Data Source

PatentEP4111574B1Rotor for an electrical motor equipt with permanent magnets made of plastic material
Publication Date: 2024.01.03 NOVARES FRANCE
  • EP4111574B1 patent drawingFigure 1~2
  • EP4111574B1 patent drawingFigure 3~4
  • EP4111574B1 patent drawingFigure 5~6

AI summary

The invention relates to a rotor (10) for an electric motor (30), comprising: - a rotor shaft (12) mounted so as to be able to rotate about an axis (X); - a stack of laminations (14) mounted coaxially on the rotor shaft (12), the stack of laminations (14) comprising a plurality of inner recesses (15); - a plurality of permanent magnets (16) accommodated inside the inner recesses (15) of the stack of laminations (14); - a front flange (17) and a rear flange (19) mounted coaxially on the rotor shaft (32) and arranged axially to either side of the stack of laminations (14); in which at least one of the front and rear flanges (17, 19) is formed from a plastic material and is integral with the plurality of permanent magnets (16), each permanent magnet (16) being formed from a matrix made from plastic material incorporating particles having magnetic properties.