Linear motor with an improved cooling structure

• US 6,300,691 B1
• Filed: 04/10/2000
• Issued: 10/09/2001
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/1999
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Mirae Corporation
• Original Assignee: Mirae Corporation
• Inventors: Kim, Do Hyun, Hwang, Hyun Joo, Hwang, Ji Hyun, Chun, Jang Sung
• Primary Examiner(s): Ramirez, Nestor
• Assistant Examiner(s): JONES, JUDSON
• Application Number:
  US09/547,057
• Time in Patent Office: 547 Days
• Field of Search: 310/12, 310/13, 310/14, 33/1.M, 744/71.XY
• US Class Current: 310/12.29
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 41/03 Synchronous motors; Motors moving step by step; Reluctance motors H02K41/035 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/00 Arrangements for cooling or ventilating channels or ducts in parts of the magnetic circuit H02K1/20, H02K1/32; channels or ducts in or between conductors H02K3/22, H02K3/24
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 9/227 Heat sinks

Abstract

The present invention relates to a linear motor with an improved cooling structure for cooling heat generated from a coil block of the motor. The linear motor includes a stator element having a stator element frame, a movable element having a movable element frame, adapted to linearly move along the stator, and a heat dissipation plate mounted on the stator element frame and the movable element frame, for externally dissipating heat generated from a coil block. Such a structure can prevent over-heating of the linear motor by dissipating heat generated from the motor coil to thereby cool the motor.

Claims

1. A linear motor having an electromagnetically operable coil block comprising:

(a) a stator element having a stator element frame;

(b) a movable element having a movable element frame, said movable element being linearly displaceable relative to said stator element; and

,

(c) at least first and second heat dissipation plate portions mounted respectively to said stator element frame and said movable element frame for dissipating heat generated by the coil block, each of said first and second heat dissipation plate portions including a plurality of dissipation fins.

2. The linear motor as recited in claim 1 wherein each said stator element frame includes a pair of outer sidewalls, said first heat dissipation plate portion overlaying said stator element frame outer sidewalls.

3. A cooled linear motor comprising:

(a) a movable element including an electromagnetically operable coil block, said movable element having formed therein a plurality of air passages, at least one of said air passages having a substantially L-shaped section;

(b) at least one temperature sensor coupled to said coil block for sensing heat generated thereby;

(c) a stator element having formed therein a plurality of through holes spaced one from the other for the passage of air therethrough;

(d) at least one first air flow control valve coupled to at least one said through hole of said stator element;

(e) at least one second air flow control valve coupled to at least one said air passages of said movable element; and

,

(f) a temperature controlling unit coupled to said temperature sensor and said air flow control valves, said temperature controlling unit being operable responsive to a temperature signal generated by said temperature sensor to selectively open and close said air flow control valve.

4. A cooled linear motor comprising:

(a) a movable element including an electromagnetically operable coil block;

(b) at least one temperature sensor coupled to said coil block for sensing heat generated thereby;

(c) a stator element having formed therein a plurality of through holes spaced one from the other for the passage of air therethrough;

(d) at least one air flow control valve coupled to at least one said through hole of said stator element; and

,

(e) a temperature controlling unit coupled to said temperature sensor and said air flow control valve, said temperature controlling unit being operable responsive to both a temperature signal generated by said temperature sensor and the relative positions of said movable and stator elements to selectively open and close said air flow control valve.

5. A cooled linear motor comprising:

(a) a pair of movable elements each including a movable element frame having an electromagnetically operable coil block;

(b) a pair of stator elements each including an inner side portion having at least one set of permanent magnets sequentially arranged thereon;

(c) a connecting member coupled to extend between said movable element frames; and

,

(d) at least one cooling assembly disposed between said connecting member and at least one said movable element frame, said cooling assembly defining an air flow passage for guiding the escape of heat generated by said coil block.

6. The cooled linear motor as recited in claim 5 wherein said cooling assembly includes upper and lower frames and at least one air pipe seated therebetween, said air pipe defining said air flow passage.

7. The cooled linear motor as recited in claim 5 wherein said cooling assembly includes a substantially U-shaped air pipe describing said air flow passage.

8. A cooled linear motor comprising:

(a) a movable element including an electromagnetically operable coil block, said movable element having formed therethrough a plurality of air pipes;

(b) at least one temperature sensor coupled to said coil block for sensing heat generated thereby;

(c) a stator element having formed therein a plurality of through holes spaced one from the other for the passage of air therethrough, said through holes being disposed in open communication with said air pipes of said movable element;

(d) a first air flow control valve coupled to at least one said through hole of said stator element;

(e) a second air flow control valve coupled to at least one said air pipe of said movable element; and

,

(f) a temperature controlling unit coupled to said temperature sensor and said air flow control valves, said temperature controlling unit being operable responsive to a temperature signal generated by said temperature sensor to selectively open and close said air flow control valve.