Device for transmitting motion between the rotor of a synchronous permanent-magnet motor and a working part

An improved device for transmitting motion between the rotor of a synchronous permanent magnet motor and a working part. The device includes a first coupling, provided with a driving element, which is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of the rotor, at a rotor shaft end. A second coupling cooperates in a kinematic series with the first coupling and is provided with a driven element, that is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of the rotor and rigidly formed with said working part. The driving and driven elements lie in distinct and non-interfering axial positions. The device further includes two elastic elements, which are set angularly after each other, one of them interfering with the driving element of the first coupling and the other one interfering with the driven element of the second coupling.

FIELD OF APPLICATION

The present invention relates to an improved device for transmitting motion between the rotor of a synchronous permanent-magnet motor and a working part.

As is known, the construction of an electric motor with a permanent magnet rotor includes a stator, stator core laminations, stator windings, and a rotor placed between at least two stator poles.

A shaft extends longitudinally through the rotor and is mounted rotatably on a bearing structure.

It is also known that the starting phase of a synchronous motor is harder as the inertia of the working part increases.

As a matter of fact, the motor starting phase is a transient mode wherein the direction of rotation, the speed, and the current, are all bound to change before a synchronised mode is reached.

During this transient mode, the rotor is imparted a rocking movement by the stator generating an alternating magnetic field. This rocking movement, by inducing a torque on the permanent magnet rotor, forces the rotor to move into a position where the rotor magnetic field is aligned to the stator field.

Under this “rocking” condition, as the rotor gathers up a sufficient amount of kinetic energy to move just a trifle out of its aligned position, it receives an additional acceleration that forces it to rotate another fraction of a turn. These effects cumulate until the synchronised mode is reached.

PRIOR ART

Actually, a wide use is made of mechanical couplings for connecting the rotor to the working part; at the starting phase these couplings allow the rotor to freely rock through a predetermined angle.

Such is the case with the so-called dog couplings, wherein a first engaging tooth, which is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis, is rigidly coupled to the rotor and a second engaged tooth, which is also eccentric with respect to the rotation axis, is rigidly coupled to the working part.

In this manner, during the transient starting phase the rotor is relieved from the inertia of the working part, and this makes achieving the synchronised mode of operation easier.

In other words, a free angular movement (typically of 180 degrees) of idle rotation is allowed, at the end of which the load is engaged with a shock, locking the rotor and the working part to rotate together. In actual operation, a positive type of motion transmission is thus established.

Thus, the idle rotation transient enables the motor to reach the synchronised mode of operation and to develop a sufficient amount of torque to overcome the inertia of the working part on starting.

A device for transmitting motion between the rotor of a synchronous permanent magnet motor and a working part is disclosed in European Patent Application No. 99910348.4 in the name of this Applicant. This device comprises at least two motion transmission couplings which mutually cooperate in a kinematic series.

A first coupling of said device comprises at least one driving element which is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis and is rigidly coupled to the rotor and at least one driven element which is also eccentric with respect to the rotation axis and can rotate freely with respect to said rotor.

A second coupling of said device comprises at least one driving element which is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis and one driven element which is also eccentric with respect to the rotation axis and is rigidly coupled to the working part.

The angle covered by the elements of each coupling is, as a whole, less than a round angle, but the driving element of the second coupling correspond to the driven element of said first coupling, so that the angle of freedom between the rotor and the working part is increased.

In other words, the driving member of the first coupling and the driven member of the second coupling are placed at discrete axial locations clear of each other, and the intermediate component working as driven member of the first coupling and driving member of the second coupling interferes with its axial outline in the paths of motion of both members.

This intermediate component placed between the driving and driven members of the first and second coupling is a single elastic element made of rubber.

A problem faced by this kind of driving couplings is that the very high acceleration rates (on the order of 16,000 rad/sec2) of the rotor cause a shock between the driving and driven members to propagate through the intermediate elastic element.

The resulting shock wave is trapped within the intermediate elastic element, causing the latter to fail prematurely.

A principal object of this invention is to provide an improved device for transmitting motion between the rotor of a synchronous permanent-magnet motor and a working part having structural and functional features obviating the prior art shortcoming above mentioned.

Another object of the invention is to improve the acoustic efficiency (quiet running feature) of the device from the motor starting phase to the steady state for the whole life of the motor.

A further object of the invention is to provide a motion transmission device of simple construction and compact size.

Still another object of the invention is to provide a motion transmission device of relatively low cost.

Not least an object of the invention is to enhance the fatigue resistance of the component and its application.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

These and other objects are reached by an improved device for transmitting motion between the rotor of a synchronous permanent-magnet motor and a working part associated to said rotor, comprising:a first coupling, provided with a driving element, which is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of the rotor, at a rotor shaft end,a second coupling, which cooperates in a kinematic series with said first coupling and is provided with a driven element, that is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of the rotor and rigid with said working part, said driving and driven elements lying in distinct and non-interfering axial positions,
said driven element of the first coupling and said driving element of the second coupling comprising two elastic elements, which are set angularly after each other, one of them interfering with the driving element of the first coupling and the other one interfering with the driven element of the second coupling.

Further features and advantages of the invention should be more clearly understood from a detailed description of an embodiment thereof, given by way of non-limiting example with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

With reference to the drawing views, the rotor of a synchronous permanent-magnet electric motor is generally shown at10. The motor is not shown being of a conventional type.

The synchronous motor is suitable for rotating a working part; for instance the motor could be incorporated into a centrifugal pump having as working part an impeller17. The following description is given with reference to this specific field of application with the only purpose to simplify the overall exposition.

The rotor10includes a permanent-magnet11having a cylindrical and annular shape mounted as a sleeve on an inner hub13of plastic element12having an axial passage15.

The plastics element12has oppose flanged ends14and is integrally formed with shaft16passing through said axial passage15.

The shaft16is coupled to the impeller17through a device1for transmitting motion realised according to the present invention.

The device1comprises at least a first2and a second coupling3which mutually cooperate in a kinematic series.

The first coupling2comprises a driving element23comprising a portion22which is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of the rotor10and is connected to one end of the shaft16. Such driving element23includes a tooth22.

The first coupling2also comprises a driven element5, which, in turn, is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis.

This driven element5comprises at least a pair of elastic elements25and26placed in angular succession to each other to occupy a predetermined angular width of about one half of a full turn.

The second coupling3comprises a driving element, which is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of rotor10and which is rotatably housed in a hollow body18, that is described hereinbelow.

Advantageously, the driving element of the second coupling3corresponds and is coincident with the driven element5of the first coupling2.

The second coupling3also comprises a driven element24, which is rigid with the working part, i.e. the impeller17.

This element24essentially consists of a tooth, which is eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of rotor10. Moreover, teeth22,24lie in axial positions, which are distinct and not interfering with one another.

The first and the second couplings are housed in a hollow body18provided in the impeller17toward the shaft16end.

Such a hollow body18is sealed by a cover19, having a central hole8crossed by the shaft16end and provided with a ring seal20located in a seat near the central hole8.

The driven element24of the second coupling3, which substantially consists of a tooth that has been integrally molded with the impeller, projects inside the hollow body18.

Element5, which acts both as driven element of the first coupling2and as driving element of the second coupling3, is rotatably mounted inside the hollow body18, between the abutting teeth22,24.

In practice, teeth22and24lie on distinct and non-interfering planes transverse to the rotor axis and they are kinematically connected only through element5, which is in interference with both of them. The angular profile of the teeth22and24obviously would be low enough for the elastic elements25and26to enjoy freedom of movement.

Each elastic element,25or26of element5is a ring segment preferably (although not necessarily) spanning one quarter of a full turn. The elements25,26have rounded edges as shown inFIG. 2.

The elements25,26may also have angular widths which are different from one another.

Advantageously, elements25and26can be made a one-piece construction by means of a diaphragm or bridge27located in a middle position. This brings about the advantage that element5, comprising elements25,26, can be individually handled for instance by machines or apparatus of “pick and place” type, suitable for an automatic assembling.

The elements25and26may be made of the same material (e.g. rubber) or different materials.

The two elements25and26represent an elastic system, which is capable of progressively dampening the shock between teeth22and24, of which the second, rigid with the impeller17, is initially still.

Advantageously, elements25and26spread the shock energy over a larger volume of material than heretofore, at the same time as they deaden the reflected shock wave by the gap provided therebetween.

As a matter of fact, the optional presence of the diaphragm or bridge27has no effects the diaphragm is even very likely to break in the long run, but this does not impair in any way the proper working of the motion transmission device1.

The device according to the invention effectively solves the technical problem and attains several advantages, the first of which lies in that a synchronous motor equipped with the device of the present invention displays a noise, which is definitely lower with respect to the solutions that are presently offered by the state of the art.

Furthermore, a remarkable increase of the working life of such motors has been noted, essentially by virtue of the longer life and the reduced wear of the thus conceived motion transmission device.

Finally, it is worthwhile remarking that the device according to the invention has a simple and reliable structure and a strongly reduced cost. It is also suited for a production on a very large scale, thus reducing the overall manufacture costs and times over automated assembling lines.