Rotary Actuator Axial Biasing for Vibration Suppression

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Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional rotary actuators in shift-by-wire systems for vehicles experience component damage due to vibration and resonance, leading to wear and disconnection issues as these vibrations are transferred through the housing.

Innovation Solution

Incorporating a biasing member, such as an elastic body made of rubber, to bias the rotor assembly in the axial direction, eliminating the thrust movement gap between the rotor assembly and the housing, thereby reducing vibration and resonance.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If the rotor assembly is supported by the housing without a biasing member, then the device complexity is low, but vibration and resonance occur causing component wear and disconnection

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvecomponent durabilityVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

A biasing member is introduced as an intermediary element between the rotor assembly and the housing. This biasing member eliminates the thrust movement gap and suppresses vibration and resonance, thereby preventing component wear and disconnection without significantly increasing device complexity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The biasing member provides beforehand cushioning by pre-establishing a biasing force that eliminates gaps and cushions against thrust movements before vibration and resonance can cause damage. This preventive approach enhances reliability without requiring complex active control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #11Beforehand cushioning (Prior cushioning)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If a biasing member is added to eliminate the thrust movement gap, then vibration and resonance are suppressed, but the device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration and resonanceVSAvoiddevice complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The biasing member serves as a simple intermediary component that passively eliminates the thrust movement gap and suppresses vibration and resonance through its elastic properties, avoiding the need for complex active vibration control systems

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The biasing member changes the mechanical parameters of the system by introducing a pre-compression force that eliminates gaps and alters the stiffness characteristics, thereby suppressing vibration and resonance without requiring complex control algorithms or additional actuators

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively suppresses the generation of vibration and resonance, preventing component wear and disconnection, while maintaining gear efficiency and avoiding the need for additional power supplies or increased device size.

Implementation Method 1

Incorporating a biasing member, such as an elastic body made of rubber, to bias the rotor assembly in the axial direction

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS10995845B2Rotary actuator

Publication Date: 2021.05.04 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A rotary actuator is used in a shift-by-wire system for a vehicle. The rotary actuator includes a motor, a controller, a housing, and a biasing member. The controller controls the motor. The housing supports a rotor assembly of the motor and holds the controller. The biasing member biases the rotor assembly in an axial direction to eliminate a thrust movement gap between the rotor assembly and the housing.