Separator Direct Drive Motor Cooling and Lubrication
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing separator designs are complex, large, and lack flexibility, with inadequate cooling and lubrication systems, making them inefficient and difficult to maintain.
Innovation Solution
A compact separator design with a radially movable drive spindle, integrated cooling circuit, and lubrication system that uses flowing liquid lubricant to prevent oil mist entry into the electric motor, allowing for efficient cooling and lubrication of both the motor and bearings.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Stability of the object's composition
If the drive motor and centrifugal drum are rigidly connected to form a structural unit, then the separator achieves structural stability, but the radial dimensions and overall size increase significantly
Solution Approach 1:
The separator is divided into functionally independent modules: the centrifugal drum assembly (with bearing support) and the drive motor assembly (with stator support), connected through a coupling mechanism. This segmentation allows each module to be optimized independently and reduces the overall radial footprint while maintaining structural stability through precise coupling.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent transitions from a rigid radial connection to a flexible coupling that allows relative movement in multiple dimensions. The coupling mechanism accommodates misalignment and enables the drive spindle to move radially, effectively using dimensional flexibility to reduce the required radial space while maintaining operational stability.
2Reliability
If a lubricant mist system is used for bearing lubrication, then the bearings are lubricated, but lubricant inevitably enters the electric motor causing contamination and increased maintenance
Solution Approach 1:
The lubrication system is extracted and isolated from the motor compartment. A separate lubrication circuit with dedicated lubricant reservoir, pump, and filtration system serves the bearings exclusively. This extraction prevents lubricant from entering the motor while ensuring reliable bearing lubrication through a controlled, isolated system.
Solution Approach 2:
A sealed bearing housing with integrated lubrication circuit acts as an intermediary between the lubricant source and the bearings. This intermediary structure contains the lubricant within a sealed environment, delivering it to the bearings through controlled pathways while preventing any migration into the motor compartment.
3Device complexity
If the stator is attached directly to the inner circumference of the drive housing, then the structure is simplified, but the design lacks flexibility for different applications
Solution Approach 1:
The stator mounting system incorporates adjustable and reconfigurable elements that allow the stator position and orientation to be dynamically adjusted for different applications. The simplified base structure provides easy adaptability through modular mounting interfaces, enabling the same basic design to serve multiple purposes without requiring complete redesign.
4Volume of moving object
If the separator is designed for compact dimensions, then space is reduced, but the cooling system becomes inadequate
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling circuit is nested within the existing structural components of the separator. Cooling channels are integrated into the drive housing and bearing supports, allowing coolant flow paths to be embedded within the compact structure without requiring additional external cooling components, thus maintaining compact dimensions while ensuring adequate cooling.
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 simplifies assembly and maintenance, reduces weight, and enhances cooling efficiency, making it adaptable to various applications while minimizing maintenance requirements and operational costs.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling circuit for a cooling fluid, in particular water, is preferably and advantageously completely or partially integrated directly into the drive housing
Implementation Method 2
the bearings of the drive spindle can be lubricated directly with flowing, liquid lubricant
Implementation Method 3
a centrifugal drum 2 with a vertical axis of rotation D
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
AI summary
The invention relates to a separator (1) having the following: a centrifugal drum (2) with a vertical rotational axis (D); a drive spindle (5) for the centrifugal drum (2), said spindle being rotatably mounted in a drive housing (4), which surrounds or forms a drive compartment (28), by means of a neck bearing (6) and a base bearing (7); and an electric drive motor (20) which has a stator (22) and a rotor (21), said rotor (21) being arranged in the drive compartment (28) of the drive housing (4) directly on the drive spindle (5) in the axial region between the base bearing (7) and the neck bearing (6), wherein the stator (22) is further directly supported in the drive housing (4) and an air gap is formed between the stator (22) and the rotor (21). The stator (22) and the rotor (21) are arranged between the neck bearing (6) and the base bearing (7) in an open manner in the drive compartment (28), which is otherwise completely or substantially closed towards the outside. A lubricating system is provided for lubricating the neck bearing (6) and the base bearing (7) in particular, said system being entirely or partly integrated directly into the drive compartment (28). Furthermore, at least one or more of the additional features are implemented: a coolant circuit is provided for a flowable coolant, said circuit being entirely or partly integrated directly into the drive housing (4), and the stator (22) has a flange portion (25) for contacting, in particular resting on, a corresponding collar portion (26) of the drive housing.