IP Library Patent Application 15323549
Patent Application
App. No. 15/323,549

DRIVE UNIT WITH MAGNETIC INTERFACE

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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US None
App. No.
15/323,549
Abstract

A drive unit ( 8 ) for driving a tool. The drive unit ( 8 ) has at least one first drive module ( 18 ) comprising a motor ( 12 ) and a wheel ( 32 ) driven in a rotary manner around an axis ( 16 ) by the drive module ( 18 ). The drive module ( 18 ) comprises a magnetic ring ( 22 ) surrounding the wheel ( 32 ), with which the wheel ( 32 ) is connected in a magnetically force-transmitting manner and with which the motor ( 12 ) is connected in a mechanically force-transmitting manner.

Claims (19)

1 . A drive unit ( 8 ) comprising:

at least one first drive module ( 18 ) comprising a motor ( 12 ), and a first wheel ( 32 ) driven in a rotary manner around an axis ( 16 ) by the at least one first drive module ( 18 ),

wherein the at least one first drive module ( 18 ) further comprises a first magnetic ring ( 22 ) surrounding the first wheel ( 32 ), said magnetic ring ( 22 ) coupled to the first wheel ( 32 ) in a magnetically force-transmitting manner; and

wherein said first magnetic ring ( 22 ) is mechanically coupled to the motor ( 12 ) in a force-transmitting manner.

2 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 1 , further including a plurality of permanent magnets ( 25 ) distributed around a circumference of at least one of the first wheel ( 32 ) and of the first magnetic ring ( 22 ), for coupling said first magnetic ring ( 22 ) to the first wheel ( 32 ) in said magnetically force-transmitting manner.

3 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 1 , characterised in that the mechanically force-transmitting connection between said first magnetic ring ( 22 ) and said motor ( 12 ) comprises a worm gear ( 26 ).

4 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 1 , further including at least a second drive module ( 18 ), arranged coaxially with the axis ( 16 ), said at least a second drive module ( 18 ) further including a second magnetic ring ( 23 ), driven in a rotary manner by a second motor ( 13 ), and by a second wheel ( 33 ) surrounded by said second magnetic ring ( 23 ).

5 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the first wheel ( 32 ) is connected in a mechanically force-transmitting manner with a shaft ( 42 ) which extends through the second wheel ( 33 ).

6 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 5 , wherein a connection of the shaft ( 42 ) with the first wheel ( 32 ) is rotationally fixed in a form-locking manner and yet axially moveable.

7 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 5 , wherein the mechanically force-transmitting manner connection of one of the first and second wheels ( 32 , 33 ) with the shaft ( 42 ) is a threaded connection.

8 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the at least a first and at least a second drive modules ( 18 ) are arranged at intervals along the axis ( 16 ).

9 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 8 , wherein the at least a first and at least a second drive modules ( 18 ) include an intermediate space between the first and second magnetic rings ( 22 , 23 ) and the first and second wheels ( 32 , 33 ), and wherein the intermediate spaces of the at least a first and at least a second drive modules ( 18 ) align axially with one another.

10 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 9 , further including a germ-impermeable barrier ( 59 ) extending through the intermediate spaces of the at least a first and at least a second drive modules ( 18 ).

11 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 4 , characterised in that each drive module ( 18 ) includes a mounting segment ( 20 ) in which the magnetic ring ( 22 , 23 ) of a respective drive module ( 18 ) is held by at least one roller bearing ( 29 ).

12 . The Drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the first and second magnetic rings ( 22 , 23 ) include a gear ring ( 28 ), and wherein an outer diameter of said gear ring ( 28 ) is larger than that of the roller bearing ( 29 ).

13 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 11 , wherein the mounting segments ( 20 ) of a plurality of drive modules ( 18 ) are plug-connected with one another.

14 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 4 , wherein the first and second wheels ( 32 , 33 ) surrounded by the first and second magnetic rings ( 22 , 23 ) respectively are connected to form assembly which is accommodated removably in the first and second magnetic rings ( 22 , 23 ).

15 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 14 , wherein the first and second wheels ( 32 , 33 ) are connected with one another in a rotatable and axially immovable manner through roller bearings ( 47 ).

16 . The drive unit ( 8 ) according to claim 14 , wherein the assembly includes two contact elements ( 45 , 46 ) disposed between which the first and second wheels ( 32 , 33 ), and which contact elements ( 45 , 46 ) are fixed radially to a housing ( 15 ) accommodating the first and second magnetic rings ( 22 , 23 ).

Assignments (2)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Dec 10, 2018
From: ABB GOMTEC GMBH
To: ABB SCHWEIZ AG
Reel/Frame 047723/0864 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jan 20, 2017
From: GOMBERT, BERND; HÖSL, WERNER; ROTHFUSS, PATRICK; BOCK-KRAUSEN, LEOPOLD
To: ABB GOMTEC GMBH
Reel/Frame 041027/0177 →