Modular Robot Arm Heat Exchanger for Drive Temperature Stability
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Solution Overview
Problem
Industrial robots face challenges in managing thermal overheating of drive devices, particularly in modular robot arms, leading to reduced service life and potential magnetic domain reorientation in permanent magnets, which affects the stability and efficiency of the robot's operation.
Innovation Solution
An active arm module with a heat exchanger integrated into the drive device, allowing for thermal coupling and fluid exchange to dissipate heat effectively, thereby maintaining a stable temperature and preventing overheating, and featuring a compact design that eliminates the need for additional cooling fluids by utilizing fluid exchanged between connected modules.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If a modular robot arm with drive devices is used, then the robot can perform complex tasks with multiple degrees of freedom, but the drive devices generate heat that causes thermal overheating and reduces service life
Solution Approach 1:
The robot arm is divided into modular segments, each with its own drive device and integrated heat exchanger. This segmentation allows independent thermal management of each module, enabling effective heat dissipation while maintaining complex robotic functionality through modular composition
Solution Approach 2:
A heat exchanger fluid serves as an intermediary substance to transfer heat from the drive device to the external environment. The fluid circulates through channels in the heat exchanger, absorbing thermal energy from the drive device and carrying it away, thus preventing overheating while preserving drive device performance
2Temperature
If additional cooling systems are added to the robot arm, then thermal management improves, but the device complexity and space requirements increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat exchanger is merged with the drive device housing, forming an integrated thermal management system. The heat exchanger channels are embedded within or adjacent to the drive device structure, eliminating the need for separate cooling systems and reducing overall device complexity while maintaining effective temperature control
Solution Approach 2:
The heat exchanger structure serves multiple functions: it acts as both a thermal management component and part of the mechanical housing structure. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall system while providing effective cooling
3Loss of energy
If conventional cooling systems with separate cooling circuits are used, then heat dissipation is effective, but the system requires additional cooling fluids and increases device complexity
Solution Approach 1:
The system uses the existing operational fluid (hydraulic or lubrication fluid) that already circulates through the robot arm to also serve as the cooling fluid. This self-service approach eliminates the need for separate cooling fluids and systems, reducing the quantity of substances required while maintaining effective heat dissipation through the existing fluid circulation paths
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
The solution ensures a long service life for the drive device and the active arm module by maintaining a stable temperature, preventing overheating, and ensuring uniform cooling, thus enhancing the temperature stability and precision of the industrial robot, particularly suitable for pick-and-place tasks.
Implementation Method 1
the heat exchanger accommodates the drive device at least in sections and is thermally coupled to the drive device, wherein the heat exchanger comprises at least a heat exchanger fluid channel, wherein the heat exchanger is embodied to exchange heat between the drive device and the fluid
Implementation Method 2
the heat exchanger accommodates the drive device at least in sections and is thermally coupled to the drive device
Implementation Method 3
the heat exchanger comprises at least a heat exchanger fluid channel, wherein the heat exchanger is embodied to exchange heat between the drive device and the fluid
Data Source
AI summary
An active arm module and modular robot arm for an industrial robot comprises a housing, a heat exchanger, a drive device, and a connecting side with a connecting plate. The connecting plate can be mechanically connected to a further arm module or to a robot base for transmitting drive and support forces. The housing defines an interior space for receiving the drive device. The heat exchanger accommodates the drive device at least in sections, and is thermally coupled to the drive device. The heat exchanger has a fluid channel and can exchange heat between the drive device and the fluid. The arm module comprises a fluid contact device arranged at the connecting plate. Fluid can be exchanged with the further arm module or robot base via the fluid contact device; e.g., the fluid channel can be filled with the fluid for exchanging the fluid with the first fluid contact device.