Non-Contact Shuttle Drive Using Magnetic Attraction and Repulsion
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing shuttle drive systems for circular looms face issues with warp threads catching on magnets or guide rollers, leading to mechanical stress, wear, and potential damage, as well as the risk of the shuttle overshooting its path due to insufficient control over magnetic repulsion forces.
Innovation Solution
A non-contact drive system utilizing a combination of magnetic attraction and repulsion sections with alternating polarity magnets, arranged to maintain a stable air gap and compensate for shearing forces, eliminating the need for mechanical guide rollers and ensuring precise alignment and operation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If magnetic repulsion forces are used to drive the shuttle, then mechanical contact and wear are eliminated, but the shuttle may be too strongly repelled and rush too far ahead on its circular path
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic drive system is segmented into multiple independent magnets arranged around the shuttle's circular path. Each magnet can be independently controlled to provide localized magnetic forces, allowing precise control of the shuttle's position and speed while eliminating mechanical contact and wear.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes magnetic field parameters (strength, direction, distribution) dynamically to control the shuttle's movement. By adjusting the magnetic field parameters, the shuttle can be accelerated, decelerated, or positioned precisely without mechanical contact, resolving the contradiction between wear-free operation and position control.
2Reliability
If magnets are arranged at the rear and front ends of the shuttle with deflector brackets, then mechanical guide rollers are reduced, but warp threads may still catch on magnets or brackets causing damage
Solution Approach 1:
The harmful mechanical guide rollers and deflector brackets are completely extracted from the system. The invention uses purely magnetic fields for both driving and guiding the shuttle, eliminating all mechanical components that could catch or damage warp threads while maintaining reliable shuttle control.
Solution Approach 2:
The mechanical guidance system (rollers and brackets) is replaced with a magnetic field-based guidance system. The magnetic fields provide both the driving force and the guiding function, substituting mechanical contact with non-contact magnetic interaction to prevent thread damage.
3Productivity
If guide rollers are used to support the shuttle on its path, then mechanical stress and wear on warp threads increase, but maintenance work on guide rollers is necessary
Solution Approach 1:
The mechanical guide rollers are replaced with a magnetic field-based support system. The magnetic fields provide the necessary support and guidance forces without physical contact, eliminating wear and maintenance requirements while enabling high production capacity through contactless operation.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic field system is self-regulating and requires no maintenance. The magnetic forces automatically adjust to guide and support the shuttle throughout its circular path, providing a maintenance-free operation that sustains high productivity without mechanical wear or repair needs.
4Force
If a small air gap is used between the shuttle and drive element, then magnetic coupling is stronger, but the geometric design becomes difficult and warp threads may catch on magnets
Solution Approach 1:
The magnetic coupling is segmented into multiple distributed magnets rather than a single concentrated magnet. This segmentation allows a larger overall air gap while maintaining strong magnetic coupling through the cumulative effect of multiple magnetic interactions, simplifying the geometric design and preventing thread catching.
Solution Approach 2:
The magnetic coupling is distributed in multiple spatial dimensions around the shuttle's path rather than concentrated in one location. This multi-dimensional arrangement maintains strong magnetic coupling with a larger, more practical air gap, eliminating the need for complex geometric designs and reducing the risk of thread interference.
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 system provides a reliable, maintenance-free, and efficient shuttle movement without mechanical stress on warp threads, reducing the risk of thread damage and maintaining a consistent air gap width, even with changing bobbin weights, thereby enhancing operational efficiency and reducing interruptions.
Implementation Method 1
at least one permanent magnet on the shooter and with at least one magnet, which is operatively connected to the at least one permanent magnet of the shooter and is attached to a rotating drive element, which is concentric to the circular orbit of the shooter
Implementation Method 2
a permanent magnet on its rear side in the direction of movement, which is operatively connected to a permanent magnet of the same polarity, which is attached to a rotating drive element and is driven in this way by magnetic repulsion forces
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2a~2d
Figure 3
AI summary
The invention relates to a device for driving a shuttle (1, 1') that can be moved in the reed (17) of a circular loom along a circular orbit (16) without contact, comprising at least one permanent magnet (29, 29') on the shuttle (1, 1') and at least one magnet (22, 22') that is operatively connected to the at least one permanent magnet (29, 29') of the shuttle (1, 1') and that is arranged on a drive element (10) that can be moved concentrically to the orbit (16) of the shuttle, wherein an air gap (11) is formed between the shuttle (1, 1') and the drive element (10). The at least one permanent magnet (29, 29') of the shuttle (1, 1') and the at least one magnet (22, 22') of the drive element (10) are polarized in such a way that the at least one permanent magnet of the shuttle and the at least one magnet of the drive element mutually attract each other by means of magnetic forces and thus form a magnetic attraction section (14).