Slatted Motor Rotor for Magnet Retention and Radial Cooling
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Existing rotors for electric motors in aerial vehicles face challenges in effectively holding permanent magnets in place and dissipating heat, which can lead to performance issues such as overheating and displacement of magnets.
Innovation Solution
A rotor design featuring an inner hub, outer rim, and slats with retaining structures that hold magnets securely and facilitate heat dissipation through radial airflow, enhancing structural strength and cooling efficiency.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If conventional rotor designs are used, then the structure is simple, but the permanent magnets become loose or displaced during operation
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor structure is segmented into multiple functional components: inner hub, outer rim, slats, and retaining structures. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function - the slats create airflow channels while the retaining structures secure the magnets, resolving the contradiction between reliability and complexity by distributing functions across modular elements.
Solution Approach 2:
The retaining structures are nested within the rotor assembly, with magnets positioned between the slats and secured by retaining features integrated into the rotor structure. This nesting approach allows the retention mechanism to be incorporated without adding external components, improving magnet retention while minimizing increases in overall device complexity.
2Temperature
If conventional rotor designs are used, then the manufacturing process is simple, but heat dissipation is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The rotor is divided into slats that create distinct airflow channels, segmenting the heat dissipation function across multiple pathways. This segmentation improves heat dissipation efficiency by increasing surface area and airflow interaction, while the modular nature of slats allows for standardized manufacturing processes that mitigate the complexity increase.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor utilizes pneumatic principles by designing slats that force air to flow radially outward through defined channels during rotation. This pneumatic approach to heat dissipation uses the motor's operational airflow to actively cool the permanent magnets and windings, improving temperature management while relying on natural convection and pressure differentials that require minimal additional manufacturing complexity.
3Productivity
If the rotor operates at higher speeds, then motor performance improves, but heat generation increases causing overheating
Solution Approach 1:
The slat design ensures continuous airflow through the rotor during rotation, creating uninterrupted cooling channels that operate throughout the entire rotational cycle. This continuous cooling action maintains effectiveness across a wide speed range, allowing the motor to operate at higher speeds without heat accumulation, as the cooling function persists continuously rather than intermittently.
Solution Approach 2:
The rotor design uses its own rotational motion to generate the cooling airflow - the slats force ambient air to flow radially outward through the rotor structure during operation. This self-service cooling mechanism eliminates the need for separate cooling systems, allowing higher operating speeds to be achieved while the motor's own operation provides the cooling necessary to manage heat generation.
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 provides reliable magnet retention and improved heat dissipation, allowing for higher operating speeds and enhanced motor performance by reducing overheating and maintaining magnet position.
Implementation Method 1
The rotor is formed of aluminum, one or more other metals, carbon fiber composite, and/or other materials. The rotor includes a singular integrated component that includes the inner hub, the outer rim, and the plurality of slats. In some examples, the rotor forces air radially outward, which can provide a cooling effect.
Implementation Method 2
The rotor includes a housing that comprises a first retaining structure and a second retaining structure that are configured to apply a force that is directed radially outward against a magnet to hold the magnet against the housing.
Implementation Method 3
When a battery forces electric current though stator windings of a motor, a rotor that includes permanent magnets rotates in response to the magnetic field generated by the electric current.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
In an example, a rotor for an electric motor includes an inner hub, an outer rim, and a plurality of slats. Each slat of the plurality of slats has a first end at the inner hub and a second end at the outer rim. The rotor is configured to drive a plurality of propeller blades that provide force for an aerial vehicle. Additionally or alternatively, a rotor for an electric motor includes a housing that includes a first retaining structure and a second retaining structure that are configured to apply a force that is directed radially outward against a magnet to hold the magnet against the housing. The rotor is configured to drive a plurality of propeller blades that provide force for an aerial vehicle.