Patent Application
20120112566
The present disclosure relates to a small electrical appliance and more particularly, to an electric motor drive unit which can be used therein, and to a method for operating such an electric motor drive unit.
Small electrical appliances are known in which a head element carries out simultaneously a rotational movement and a translational vibration movement. Such appliances include, for example, electric shaving apparatuses and in particular electric toothbrushes.
Such an electric toothbrush is described in EP 0 850 027 B1. In a handle housing on the known electric toothbrush, there is provided an electric motor drive unit which transmits on the one hand a rotational movement to a shaft, which can be converted, for example, into a rotating movement of a brush head of the toothbrush. To this end, the rotational movement of an electric motor is transmitted by means of a gear mechanism. A second component of the electric motor drive unit is connected eccentrically to the output of the electric motor and thus brings about a translational vibration movement of a rocker about an axis transverse to the motor axis. This pivoting movement is followed by the rocker and the shaft guided therein, which serves to transmit the rotational vibration movement.
Electric motors are known which can generate a rotational and a linear vibration movement and can be used for example for electric toothbrushes. For example, an electric motor described in WO 2005/062445 has two vibratable motor components and one magnet arrangement comprising a plurality of permanent magnets. A coil is provided for generating a magnetic field. In cooperation with the magnet arrangement, this magnetic field acts to generate a force for inducing a linear vibration movement of one of the vibratable components. The cooperation of the magnetic field generated by the coil and of the magnet arrangement additionally generates a torque for inducing a rotational vibration movement of a second vibratable motor component. With such an arrangement, both a linear and a rotational vibration movement can be generated, without any gear mechanism being necessary.
According to the present disclosure, an improved small electrical appliance having a simple and compact structure is provided.
In one embodiment, a small electrical appliance is provided. The small electrical appliance includes a head element which carries out a rotational movement and a translational vibration movement; a housing; an electric motor drive unit in the housing, with a first output for generating a rotational movement relative to the housing, which includes at least a first component of the electric motor drive unit, and a second output for generating a translational vibration movement relative to the housing, which includes at least a second component of the electric motor drive unit; a shaft which is connected to the first component of the electric motor drive unit in order to transmit the rotational movement to the head element; and a rocker which is connected to the second component of the electric motor drive unit in order to transmit the translational vibration movement to the head element. The first component and the second component are decoupled in such a way that the first component does not follow the vibration movement of the second component.
In another embodiment, an electric motor drive unit for a small electrical appliance is provided. The electric motor drive unit includes at least one first and at least one second vibratable component; a coil for generating a magnetic field; a first magnet arrangement which includes at least one first permanent magnet which, in cooperation with a magnetic field generated by the coil, generates a force for inducing a rotational vibration of the at least one first vibratable component; a second magnet arrangement which includes at least one second permanent magnet which, in cooperation with a magnetic field generated by the coil, generates a force for inducing a linear vibration movement of the at least one second vibratable component; and at least one flux conducting element which is arranged in such a way that it conducts magnetic flux generated by the coil to interact with the at least one second permanent magnet. The at least one flux conducting element includes a metal yoke which passes through the coil windings.
These and other features, aspects and advantages of specific embodiments will become evident to those skilled in the art from a reading of the present disclosure.
The embodiments set forth in the drawings are illustrative in nature and not intended to limit the invention defined by the claims. The following detailed description of the illustrative embodiments can be understood when read in conjunction with the following drawings, where like structure is indicated with like reference numerals and in which:
The following text sets forth a broad description of numerous different embodiments of the present disclosure. The description is to be construed as exemplary only and does not describe every possible embodiment since describing every possible embodiment would be impractical, if not impossible. It will be understood that any feature, characteristic, component, composition, ingredient, product, step or methodology described herein can be deleted, combined with or substituted for, in whole or part, any other feature, characteristic, component, composition, ingredient, product, step or methodology described herein. Numerous alternative embodiments could be implemented, using either current technology or technology developed after the filing date of this patent, which would still fall within the scope of the claims. All publications and patents cited herein are incorporated herein by reference.
According to the present disclosure, a small electrical appliance is provided. In one embodiment, the small electrical appliance includes a head element which carries out a rotational movement and a translational vibration movement. It may be for example, the brush head of an electric toothbrush. The small electrical appliance according to one embodiment, includes a housing with an electric motor drive unit. The latter has a first output for generating a rotational movement relative to the housing, wherein the output includes at least a first component of the electric motor drive unit. A second output of the electric motor drive unit serves for generating a translational vibration movement relative to the housing and includes at least a second component of the electric motor drive unit. A shaft is connected to the first component of the electric motor drive unit in order to transmit the rotational movement to the head element, and a rocker is connected to the second component of the electric motor drive unit in order to transmit the translational vibration movement to the head element.
The small electrical appliance according to one embodiment is characterized in particular in that the first component and the second component are decoupled from one another in such a way that the first component does not follow the vibration movement of the second component. That is to say that the first component of the electric motor unit, which drives the shaft in order to transmit the rotational movement, does not follow the translational vibration movement of the rocker. At least in the region in which the shaft is connected to the first component of the electric motor drive unit, therefore, the shaft does not carry out any vibration movement in the translational direction. It is therefore not necessary, as in the prior art cited above for example, to configure a gear ratio in such a way that the rotational movement can be transmitted to the shaft even though the point of introduction of the rotational movement from the output of the electric motor drive unit into the shaft also follows the translational movement.
The small electrical appliance according to one embodiment therefore allows a simple structure and in particular also a small shape.
The decoupling of the first and second component can be achieved for example in an electric motor drive unit in which the first component and the second component include permanent magnets which move independently of one another in the field of a correspondingly excited electromagnetic coil, for example, do not comprise any rigid mechanical connection.
In one embodiment, the rocker moves in the translational direction relative both to the housing and also at least to the point of introduction of the rotational movement into the shaft. In one example, a seal is provided between the rocker and the housing, which seal is configured as a buffer in such a way that, during this translational relative movement between the rocker and the housing, a sealed connection between the rocker and the housing is ensured, in order for example to keep moisture away from the interior of the housing.
The rotational movement carried out by the head element of the small electrical appliance may be a continuous rotational movement.
In one embodiment, an electric motor drive unit can be used in a small electrical appliance according to the present disclosure, in particular in a small electrical appliance in which a translational vibration movement and a rotational vibration movement are transmitted to the head element. Thus, both the first and the second component of the electric motor drive unit according to the invention are designed to be vibratable. As will be explained below, the electric motor drive unit according to the invention makes it possible that both linear movements and rotational movements can be generated independently of one another and without a complicated additional gear mechanism. Thus, both the first and the second vibratable components are parts of an electric motor which is responsible for generating these linear movements and rotational movements. In the description of the electric motor drive unit above, the first and the second component are also referred to as the first and second motor component.
An electric motor drive unit according to one embodiment, includes at least one first and at least one second vibratable motor component, which are at least partially made of metal, and a coil for generating a magnetic field. A first magnet arrangement includes at least one first permanent magnet which, in cooperation with a magnetic field generated by the coil, generates a force for inducing a rotational vibration of the at least one first vibratable motor component. A second magnet arrangement is provided which comprises at least one second permanent magnet which, in cooperation with a magnetic field generated by the coil, generates a force for inducing a linear vibration movement of the at least one second motor component. The electric motor drive unit according to one embodiment includes at least one flux conducting element which conducts magnetic flux generated by the coil to interact with the at least one second permanent magnet. The flux conducting element in this case comprises for example a suitably shaped metal body.
In one embodiment, the electric motor drive unit can generate both linear movements and rotational movements independently of one another and without a complicated additional gear mechanism. The flux conducting element makes it possible in a simple manner to use the magnetic field generated by the coil not only for inducing the rotational vibration movement but rather also for inducing the linear vibration movement by conducting the magnetic flux out of the coil. With the flux conducting element according to one embodiment, it is possible that the rotational movement and the linear movement are independent of one another.
One simple embodiment provides that the flux conducting element includes a metal yoke which passes through the coil windings of the coil which generates the magnetic field. In this embodiment, it is provided that the flux conducting element is U-shaped, wherein the base of the U-shape passes through the coil windings (the yoke is therefore arranged inside the coil), while the legs of the U-shape extend symmetrically away from the base in order to make magnetic flux available outside the coil windings (the legs therefore end outside the coil).
It may for example be provided that the flux conducting element does not move relative to the first magnet arrangement. A particularly compact structure can be achieved if the first motor component does not follow the movement of the second motor component but the flux conducting element nevertheless follows the rotational movement of the first vibratable component.
In the electric motor drive unit according to one embodiment, a coil is used to induce different vibrations. If the vibratable component which carries out the rotational vibration movement and the vibratable component which carries out the linear vibration movement have different resonant frequencies, the two vibrations can be induced independently of one another. Depending on the frequency supplied, therefore, an isolated linear vibration movement or an isolated rotational vibration movement can be generated.
One particularly cost-effective and structurally simple embodiment provides that the at least one first vibratable motor component and the first magnet arrangement are configured in such a way that a reluctance torque which acts after the coil current has been switched off and which causes an angular movement acts as a return torque for the first vibratable motor component. With the coil current switched on, the coil induces a magnetic flux in the first vibratable motor component, which orients itself in accordance with the magnetic field generated by the first magnet arrangement in order to minimize energy. If, after this orienting movement, the current through the coil is switched off, the magnetic field lines of the first magnet arrangement across the first vibratable component can be short-circuited. As a result, the first vibratable component experiences a return torque (reluctance torque) which returns the first vibratable motor component to its starting position. In such a system, no complicated additional return springs are necessary.
It may likewise be provided that the at least one flux conducting element and the second magnet arrangement are configured in such a way that a reluctance torque which acts after the coil current has been switched off and which causes a linear movement provides at least partially the return torque for the second vibratable motor component.
As described above, in order to couple out the rotational movement, a shaft is provided which is connected to the first component of the electric motor drive unit and in the arrangement according to one embodiment is collinear with the axis of rotation of the first component. The linear vibration movement is transmitted to a rocker which comprises a mount that can be plugged onto, for example, the brush head of an electric toothbrush. Within the brush head, the shaft which transmits the rotational movement is connected for example to a corresponding holder which transmits the rotational movement to a brush mount, for example, by means of suitably arranged toothed wheels which mesh with one another. Since in the small electrical appliance according to the present disclosure the point of introduction of the rotational movement into the shaft does not follow the translational movement, the shaft must for this purpose be configured in a sufficiently flexible manner or must be provided with sufficient play in the holder of the brush head. Alternatively, the shaft may also have an articulation which divides the shaft into two sections, the rotational movement being transmitted to a first section. The rotational movement is transmitted via the articulation to the second section of the shaft, which is connected to the rocker. The articulation ensures that the shaft has sufficient flexibility. In one particularly simple embodiment of the articulation, the shaft is tapered in the articulation region and is thus locally weakened in the lateral direction.
A method according to one embodiment, serves for operating an electric motor drive unit and is characterized in particular in that magnetic flux generated by the coil is conducted by means of a flux conducting element to interact with the at least one second permanent magnet.
According to one embodiment, an electric motor drive unit for a small electrical appliance includes at least one first and at least one second vibratable component, a coil for generating a magnetic field, a first magnet arrangement which includes at least one first permanent magnet which, in cooperation with a magnetic field generated by the coil, generates a force for inducing a rotational vibration of the at least one first vibratable component, a second magnet arrangement which includes at least one second permanent magnet which, in cooperation with a magnetic field generated by the coil, generates a force for inducing a linear vibration movement of the at least one second vibratable component, wherein the first component and the second component are decoupled in such a way that the first component does not follow the vibration movement of the second component.
The electric motor drive unit can be used with particular advantage in a small electrical appliance in which a rotational vibration movement and a translational vibration movement are required.
As can be seen in particular in the two right-hand diagrams of
The housing of a toothbrush head is plugged onto the rocker 146 so that the pivoting movement S is transmitted directly to the brush head and can be used for example to provide a poking movement in order to remove plaque. At the same time, the shaft 162 engages in a holder within the brush head, which can transmit the rotational vibration movement R to a brush head in order to allow cleaning of the teeth.
In an electric toothbrush 2 according to one embodiment of the present disclosure, as shown in
The electric motor drive unit (not shown here) in the housing comprises at least two motor components, one of which is responsible for the rotational vibration movement R and can transmit a corresponding movement to the shaft 62, and another of which is responsible for the translational vibration movement L. However, as shown in
The brush head of the toothbrush is plugged onto the rocker 46 so that it follows the translational vibration movement L of the latter. This can be used for example to generate a poking movement in order to remove plaque from the teeth. At the same time, the shaft 62 engages in a holder provided in a manner known per se within the toothbrush head and transmits the rotational movement, for example in order to generate a rotational vibration movement of the brush head. In a manner which will be described below, the shaft is to this end either provided with sufficient play or is sufficiently flexible to compensate the vibration movement L.
With reference to
The permanent magnets 16 and 18 are in this case arranged with opposing poles in the radial direction. For example, in the case of the permanent magnet 16, the south pole is arranged radially inward and the north pole is arranged radially outward. In the case of the permanent magnet 18, the north pole is arranged radially inward and the south pole is arranged radially outward. In the illustrated arrangement of
Also located within the coil winding of the coil 14 is a U-shaped flux conducting element 40 made from metal, for example made from iron, having a base 41 and two flux conducting legs 42, 44. When the coil current is switched on, a magnetic flux is induced therein, said flux being picked up by a second magnet arrangement 38 which includes two permanent magnets, wherein for example, the segments 30 and 36 are south poles and the elements 32 and 34 are north poles. The magnet arrangement 38 is fixedly connected to the second vibratable motor component, which is configured as an armature 28. In the illustrated embodiment, the U-shaped flux conducting element 40 has a base 41 (also referred to as the yoke), which extends through the interior of the split coil 14, and two flux conducting legs 42, 44, which extend outside the coil 14, so that the magnetic flux can be made available by the flux conducting element 40 outside the coil 14 at the ends of the flux conducting legs 42, 44. The armature 28 and the magnet arrangement 38 attached thereto can thus be arranged outside the coil 14, as a result of which a decoupling of the two desired movements is achieved in a simple manner.
Inducing a magnetic flux in the flux conducting element 40 gives rise to an energy-minimizing movement of the magnets of the second magnet arrangement 38, as a result of which the armature 28 is moved in the X direction, that is to say in the radial direction relative to the axis of rotation of the rotor 12.
The rotor 12, the flux conducting element 40 and the armature 28 in each case have a central bore, through which a shaft is guided in a manner which will be described below, said shaft being moved by the rotor 12 to carry out the rotational movement. At least the central bore of the armature 28 is in this case dimensioned to be large enough that a shaft connected to the rotor 12 does not follow the linear vibration movement L of the armature 28.
The indicated rotor opening angle a is an indication of the circumferential size of the rotor 12. The angle formed by a magnet segment 16, 18, 20 or 24 is denoted b. In
The geometries of the magnet arrangement 26 and of the rotor 12 are selected in such a way that a reluctance torque is produced which can act as a return torque for the rotational movement of the rotor 12. When the coil current is switched on, a magnetic field is induced in the rotor 12, which magnetic field orients itself in the magnetic field of the first magnet arrangement 26 and thus leads to a rotational movement of the rotor 12. If the coil current is switched off, the magnetic field lines of the permanent magnets 16, 18, 20 and 24 across the metal rotor 12 can be short-circuited and thus can generate a reluctance torque in a manner known per se. Given a suitable choice in particular of the rotor opening angle a and of the magnet segment angle b, a resulting reluctance torque can be set which is essentially linearly dependent on the movement angle of the rotor 12 about the axis of rotation z.
In particular, with the coil current switched on, a magnetic field is induced in the flux conducting element 40, the magnetic field being guided via the flux conducting legs 42, 44 to the second magnet arrangement 38. The armature 28 is moved in the X direction in order to minimize the energy of the system. If the coil current is now switched off, the magnetic field lines of the poles of the magnets of the magnet arrangement 38 across the ends of the flux conducting legs 42, 44 can be short-circuited and thus lead to a reluctance torque which moves the armature 28 back in the X direction. The armature 28 has, together with the second magnet arrangement 38, a specific resonant frequency fL. If, alternatively or additionally, mechanical spring elements are used to bring the armature 28 back into its original position after the movement, the resonant frequency changes accordingly.
The described embodiments of the electric motor drive unit according to the present disclosure are used as follows when used in an electric toothbrush.
An alternating current is applied to the coil 14. Its frequency is adapted to the desired effect. If the frequency corresponds for example to the resonant frequency fR of the rotational oscillation movement of the rotor 12, then mainly this movement is induced. If, on the other hand, the frequency applied to the coil corresponds to the resonant frequency fL of the linearly oscillating armature 28, then mainly the linear vibration movement thereof is induced. Superposed movements can be achieved for example, by superposing different frequency components. With the system, therefore, the individual movement modes can be induced essentially independently of one another. Depending on the intensity of the supplied current at the respective frequency, the movement amplitude of the respective vibration movement can also be adjusted.
The vibration movements of the armature 28 and of the shaft 62 are transmitted in the described manner to the brush head of the electric toothbrush.
The dimensions and values disclosed herein are not to be understood as being strictly limited to the exact numerical values recited. Instead, unless otherwise specified, each such dimension is intended to mean both the recited value and a functionally equivalent range surrounding that value. For example, a dimension disclosed as “40 mm” is intended to mean “about 40 mm”
Every document cited herein, including any cross referenced or related patent or application, is hereby incorporated herein by reference in its entirety unless expressly excluded or otherwise limited. The citation of any document is not an admission that it is prior art with respect to any invention disclosed or claimed herein or that it alone, or in any combination with any other reference or references, teaches, suggests or discloses any such invention. Further, to the extent that any meaning or definition of a term in this document conflicts with any meaning or definition of the same term in a document incorporated by reference, the meaning or definition assigned to that term in this document shall govern.
While particular embodiments of the present invention have been illustrated and described, it would be obvious to those skilled in the art that various other changes and modifications can be made without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention. It is therefore intended to cover in the appended claims all such changes and modifications that are within the scope of this invention.
| Number | Date | Country | Kind |
|---|---|---|---|
| PCT/IB2010/052621 | Jun 2010 | IB | international |
This application is a continuation of International Application No. PCT/IB2010/052621, filed Jun. 11, 2010, the substance of which is incorporated by reference in its entirety herein.
