Radial Claw Extractor for Uniform Copper Removal From Motor Stators
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing copper extraction systems from decommissioned electric motors face challenges with asymmetric motors, requiring continuous adjustment of support elements and risking filament loss due to uneven holding forces.
Innovation Solution
The use of expanders sliding along sliding guides to provide a constant holding force, combined with claws and pushers, allows for uniform extraction even from irregularly shaped motors, eliminating the need for continuous support adjustments.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a circular support element is used to hold the motor, then the motor can be kept in place during extraction, but the support element must be replaced continuously to match different motor dimensions
Solution Approach 1:
The extractor is designed with a universal holding mechanism that can accommodate motors of different dimensions without requiring replacement of support elements. The claws and pushers are arranged radially symmetrically around a central axis, allowing the same extractor structure to handle various motor sizes through adjustment of the radial position of claws rather than replacing entire support components.
2Productivity
If claws are used to retain copper filaments, then extraction can be performed, but the holding force becomes inhomogeneous when motors are asymmetric or deformed
Solution Approach 1:
While the overall extractor structure maintains radial symmetry for universal compatibility, the individual claws are designed with asymmetric features including protrusions that engage with corresponding features on the motor housing. This asymmetric claw design allows each claw to adapt to local variations in motor geometry, ensuring homogeneous holding force distribution even when motors are asymmetric or deformed, preventing filament escape during extraction.
3Ease of operation
If the motor is cut into two parts to facilitate extraction, then windings can be freed at one end, but additional processing time and equipment are required
Solution Approach 1:
The extractor is designed to handle motors in their intact state without requiring preliminary cutting operations. The radial arrangement of claws and pushers allows the extraction mechanism to access and engage copper filaments directly from the assembled motor, eliminating the need for prior cutting operations and reducing overall processing time while maintaining extraction effectiveness.
Data Source
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AI summary
The finding relates to an extractor (1) for the extraction of copper from the lamellar pack of decommissioned electric motors, which comprises a work surface (2) on which there is a plurality of sliding guides (3) which meet at a crossing point (4) and are arranged to divide the work surface (2) into circular sectors. On each of said sliding guides (3) is present a claw (6) with an upper opening inside which a pusher (8) is housed so as to be able to rise with respect to the claw (6). The set of claws (6) allows to pull the lamellar pack out of the copper filament by effect of the upward thrust generated on it by the pushers (8). For each sliding guide (3) there is an internal expander (5) which slide along its guide (3) in an opposed manner with the respective claw (6).