Electric Machine Rotor Gap Filled with Plastic

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Solution Overview

Problem

Electrical machine rotors, particularly in motor vehicles, face mechanical stress issues due to press fits and torque transmission, leading to reduced service life and increased production costs when using high-strength materials, and complex assembly challenges with positive fits.

Innovation Solution

A rotor design featuring a gap between protrusions on the disk pack and grooves on the rotor carrier, filled with injection-moldable plastic, which reduces mechanical stresses and allows for easier assembly, enhancing mechanical stability and service life while avoiding the complexities of press fits and positive fits.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Strength

If a press fit connection is used between the disk pack and rotor carrier, then torque transmission is achieved, but mechanical stresses in the disk pack and laminations increase, reducing service life

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvetorque transmission capabilityVSAvoidservice life of rotor
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSDuration of action of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces plastic material as an intermediary substance between the disk pack and rotor carrier. This plastic fills the gap and provides torque transmission through adhesive bonding rather than direct mechanical contact, eliminating the harmful press fit stresses while maintaining the required torque transmission capability.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

Solution Approach 2:

The patent replaces the mechanical press fit connection system with a chemical adhesive bonding system using plastic. This substitution eliminates the mechanical stresses caused by interference fitting while maintaining effective torque transmission through the bonded joint.

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

2Strength

If high-strength materials are used for the disk pack to withstand mechanical stresses, then torque transmission capability is improved, but production costs increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvemechanical strength of disk packVSAvoidproduction cost of rotor
Core Design Contradiction:
StrengthVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

By introducing plastic as an intermediary bonding agent, the patent eliminates the need for high-strength disk pack materials. The plastic absorbs the torque transmission function, allowing the use of standard, cost-effective materials for the disk pack while maintaining adequate strength through the adhesive bonding mechanism.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

3Manufacturing precision

If a positive fit connection is used between the disk pack and rotor carrier, then assembly precision is improved, but assembly complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveassembly precision of rotorVSAvoidassembly process complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Manufacturing precisionVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The plastic material serves as a compensating intermediary that fills gaps and accommodates dimensional variations between the disk pack and rotor carrier. This eliminates the need for tight tolerances and complex alignment procedures required by positive fit connections, simplifying the assembly process while maintaining adequate positioning accuracy.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

4Quantity of substance

If the gap between protrusion and groove is reduced to minimize plastic material, then material usage is optimized, but mechanical stability may be compromised

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveamount of plastic materialVSAvoidmechanical stability of rotor connection
Core Design Contradiction:
Quantity of substanceVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The patent optimizes the gap dimensions and plastic material properties to achieve the right balance. By carefully selecting the gap size and using plastic with appropriate adhesive strength and mechanical properties, the design achieves adequate mechanical stability with minimized material usage, avoiding both excessive material consumption and insufficient bonding strength.

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

The design increases mechanical stability, robustness, and service life by reducing mechanical stresses and simplifying assembly, allowing for higher operational speeds and reduced production costs.

Implementation Method 1

the gap being completely filled with an injection-moldable plastic, so that the disk pack is rotatably connected to the rotor arm

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectInjection molding:

Implementation Method 2

in one Plastic injection molding process and / or a transfer molding process can be filled

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectTransfer molding:

Implementation Method 3

the injection-mouldable plastic can be characterized in that it can harden relatively quickly and, in the hardened state, has high mechanical stability or strength and high temperature resistance

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectPhase change (hardening): Phase Change

Data Source

PatentEP3262739B1Rotor for an electric machine with advantageous torque transfer and corresponding electric machine
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 ROBERT BOSCH GMBH
  • EP3262739B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3262739B1 patent drawingFigure 2~3

AI summary

A rotor (14) for an electric machine (10) and an electric machine (10) are disclosed. The rotor (14) has a rotor support (24) and at least one laminated core (16) comprising laminations (18) stacked over one another in the longitudinal extension direction of the rotor (14), wherein the laminated core (16) is arranged coaxial to the rotor support (24) and completely surrounds the rotor support (24) on an outer circumference of the rotor support (24). The laminated core (16) has at least one projection (26) on an inner circumference, and the rotor support (24) has at least one groove (28) on the outer circumference, which groove is designed to cooperate with the projection (26) of the laminated core (16). The rotor (14) according to the invention is characterized in particular in that the projection (26) of the laminated core (16) and the groove (28) of the rotor support (24) are spaced apart from one another via a gap (32) in order to facilitate an assembly of the rotor (14), wherein the gap (32) is completely filled with an injectable plastic material (34) so that the laminated core (16) is rotationally fixed to the rotor support (24). All together, this can simplify manufacturing of the rotor (14) and increase a load-bearing capacity of the rotor (14).