Textile Machine Actuator Assembly With Same-Level Spools
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing actuator assemblies for textile machines have a large overall height due to the alternated arrangement of spools, which increases the size of the weaving machine and affects the depth of the working area, leading to interference issues between warp and weft threads.
Innovation Solution
The actuator assembly features a configuration where spools are arranged between magnetic plates with opposed permanent magnets, allowing for reduced height by positioning spools at the same level, combined with a cooling circuit and capacitors to manage heat and energy efficiently, eliminating the need for springs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of stationary object
If spools are arranged in an alternated manner to limit the overall depth of the actuator assembly, then the depth of the working area is reduced, but the overall height of the actuator assembly increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from an alternated arrangement (spools above and below heddles) to a side-by-side arrangement where all spools are positioned at the same level. This dimensional reorganization places spools adjacent to each other in the horizontal plane rather than stacking them vertically, thereby reducing the overall height while maintaining an acceptable depth through optimized magnetic plate positioning.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the vertical positioning of all spools to the same level, eliminating the alternated above-below configuration. By combining all spool positions into a single horizontal plane and using shared magnetic plates, the structure achieves compactness in height while managing depth through the integrated magnetic plate-spool-magnetic plate sandwich configuration.
2Length of stationary object
If the overall depth of the actuator assembly is reduced, then the size of the weaving machine is minimized, but the vertical stroke of heddle frames must be increased to avoid interference
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the geometric parameters of the actuator assembly by reducing depth through the side-by-side spool arrangement and optimized magnetic plate positioning. This parameter change is compensated by adjusting the vertical stroke of heddle frames, ensuring that the reduced depth does not cause interference between warp and weft threads while maintaining compact overall dimensions.
3Length of moving object
If spools are positioned at the same level, then the overall height of the actuator assembly is reduced, but heat management becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a cooling circuit as an intermediary system to manage heat generated by spools positioned side-by-side. The cooling circuit, with channels formed in the magnetic plates, acts as a thermal mediator that extracts heat from the spool assembly, enabling the compact horizontal configuration without compromising thermal management.
4Loss of energy
If springs are eliminated from the actuator assembly, then energy loss is minimized, but a alternative mechanism is needed to enable spool movement
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces the mechanical spring system with an electromagnetic field-based actuation mechanism. Instead of using springs to enable spool movement, the invention uses electromagnetic forces generated between the spools and magnetic plates to achieve the same functional outcome, thereby eliminating energy losses associated with mechanical springs while maintaining the required movement capability.
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 configuration reduces the overall height of the actuator assembly, minimizes energy loss, and maintains functionality while allowing for a smaller footprint and efficient heat management, addressing the limitations of prior art.
Implementation Method 1
each magnetic plate comprises an upper permanent magnet and a lower permanent magnet... each spool is movable between an upper position and a lower position... each spool can be electrically powered in two opposed ways
Implementation Method 2
The actuator assembly features a configuration where spools are arranged between magnetic plates with opposed permanent magnets, allowing for reduced height by positioning spools at the same level, combined with a cooling circuit and capacitors to manage heat and energy efficiently
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to an actuator assembly 20 for a textile machine 22, wherein: the actuator assembly comprises a plurality n of spools 24 distributed along depth d; the actuator assembly comprises a plurality n+1 of magnetic plates 26 distributed along depth d; the magnetic plates and the spools are alternated along depth d such that each spool is received between two adjacent magnetic plates; each magnetic plate comprises an upper permanent magnet 28 and a lower permanent magnet 30 having opposed orientation; the upper permanent magnets of all the magnetic plates have the same orientation; the lower permanent magnets of all the magnetic plates have the same orientation; each spool is movable along height h between an upper position and a lower position and vice versa.