Search

EP-4738667-A1 - CONDUCTOR BUNDLE SEPARATION DEVICE AND CONDUCTOR BUNDLE SEPARATION METHOD

EP4738667A1EP 4738667 A1EP4738667 A1EP 4738667A1EP-4738667-A1

Abstract

A conductor bundle 4M firmly bonded in the slot 2b is separated without causing deformation of a silicon steel plate and without chucking the processed stator 1A with excessive force. A conductor bundle separation device 6 for separating a conductor bundle 4M from a stator 1 having a stator core 2 having a central hole 2a and a plurality of slots 2b around the central hole 2a, and the conductor bundle 4M bonded in the slot 2b, comprising a press unit 30 having a stay 33, a press rod 34 which is driven up and down by a press actuator 31 on the upper part of the stay 33, and an abutment 37 on the lower part of the stay 33, the abutment 37 having a hollow portion 37a through which the conductor bundle 4M positioned on the axis L of the press rod 34 can pass, wherein with the slot 2b being aligned with the axis L, and the lower surface of the stator core 2 being supported by the abutment 37, the press rod 34 is inserted into the slot 2b by driving the press actuator 31.

Inventors

  • KUBO, CHIKANARI

Assignees

  • Eishin Technology Co., Ltd

Dates

Publication Date
20260506
Application Date
20230628

Claims (7)

  1. A conductor bundle separation device for separating a conductor bundle from a stator, the stator including a stator core having a central hole and at least one slot therearound, and a conductor bundle bonded in said slot, said device comprising: a press unit comprising: a stay, a press rod which is driven up and down by a press actuator on an upper part of the stay, and an abutment, wherein the abutment has a hollow portion through which the conductor bundle located on the axis of the press rod can pass, and wherein in a state in which the slot is aligned with the axis and the lower surface of the stator core is supported by the abutment, the conductor bundle is pushed out from the slot by inserting the press rod into the slot by driving the press actuator.
  2. The conductor bundle separation device according to claim 1, further comprising: a table having an opening through which the abutment fixed to a device body can pass, a linear guide for guiding the stay fixed to the device body up and down, and a balance spring biasing the stay upwardly, wherein the stay is supported such that the upper surface of the abutment is positioned below the table by balancing between the weight of the press unit and the biasing force of the balance spring, and wherein the biasing force of the press rod is applied to the stator on the table, whereby the abutment is raised to a position in contact with the lower surface of the stator core on the table.
  3. The conductor bundle separation device according to claim 1, further comprising: a chuck unit comprising: a chuck housing having an outer shape capable of passing through the central hole, a plurality of chuck claws slidable in a radial direction at different angular positions of the chuck housing, and a rotary actuator for intermittently rotating the chuck housing, and a linear actuator that moves the chuck unit up and down between three height positions of: an origin height at which an upper end of the chuck housing is disposed below the table; a first operating height at which the chuck claws can be engaged with the central hole of the stator placed on the table; and a second operating height above said first operating height.
  4. The conductor bundle separation device according to claim 3, wherein the chuck unit comprises: a tapered shaft movable up and down in a central shaft hole of the chuck housing, a cam follower for driving the chuck claws radially outwardly by sliding on the tapered shaft which moves up and down, and a fluid pressure actuator for driving the tapered shaft up and down in the shaft hole.
  5. The conductor bundle separation device according to claim 4, wherein the rotary actuator further comprises: a hollow rotating shaft, and a drive fluid line through said hollow rotating shaft, wherein one end of the drive fluid line is connected to the fluid pressure actuator, and the other end of the drive fluid line is connected to a swivel joint.
  6. The conductor bundle separation device according to claim 1, wherein the press unit further comprises a guide member having a guide bore formed on the axis for guiding the press rod, the press rod has a distal end portion and a proximal end portion having a cross-sectional shape having a larger second moment of area than the distal end portion, and the guide bore has a cross-sectional shape through which both the distal end portion and the proximal end portion can pass.
  7. A conductor bundle separation method for separating a conductor bundle from a stator using a conductor bundle separation device, the stator including a stator core having a central hole and at least one slot therearound and a conductor bundle bonded in said slot; the conductor bundle separation device comprising a press unit, the press unit comprising: a stay, a press rod which is driven up and down by a press actuator on the upper part of the stay, and an abutment, wherein the abutment has a hollow portion through which the conductor bundle located on the axis of the press bar can pass, and wherein said method comprises, in a state in which the slot is aligned with the axis and the lower surface of the stator core is supported by the abutment, inserting the press rod into the slot by the drive of the press actuator to push out the conductor bundle from the slot.

Description

[Technical Field] The present invention relates to a conductor bundle separation device and a conductor bundle separation method for separating a conductor bundle from a stator, the stator having a stator core in which a central hole and slots around the central hole are formed, and a conductor bundle bonded in the slots. [Background of the Invention] There are four major categories of electric vehicles, which are collectively referred to as xEV. Among them, the hybrid car was marketed first, and 20 years have already passed since its product release, and now the establishment of the recycling technique of xEV is becoming a big problem. Dismantling and recycling of batteries and xEV motors is a major challenge, which differs from conventional dismantling and recycling of automobiles. No technological method has been established for the dismantling and recycling of xEV motors. Therefore, the dismantling of motors for household appliances will be explained first as a reference. Since the enactment of the Home Appliance Recycling Law, the dismantling technology of cooling compressor motors (hereinafter referred to as black motors) for refrigerators and air conditioners for household or business use, water supplies, vending machines and the like, has evolved. The most valuable resource after the dismantling of the black motor is the coiled conductor (mainly copper wire). The black motor is a device for compressing a refrigerant gas to a high pressure, and the motor and the compressor are integrally sealed in a welded iron container called a shell. The input and output from the shell are only gas inlet ports, discharge ports, and electrical leads, whereby the shell is completely sealed to prevent gas leakage. For this reason, it is not easy to dismantle it. In general, there is a method comprising crushing iron, copper, silicon steel plate, aluminum, and a magnet containing rare earth in some cases by a crusher, and then sorting. However, since the black motor is extremely sturdy, the blade of the crusher is not long lasting. Also, it is not always possible to distinctly sort because the conductor is sturdy. Moreover, complete separation is difficult because copper powder is adhered to the iron piece, for example. Another method comprises fusion cutting or mechanically cutting the shell of the black motor to remove the contents and further break them apart. The dismantling process of the black motor is outlined below. First step: Shell cutting process of black motor The rotary type black motor is cut at two points up and down, and the reciprocating type black motor is cut at one point along the circumference. As the cutting method, there are methods such as fusing by gas or plasma, cutting by machining, or cutting by biting of a rotary blade using plastic deformation. Second step: Separation of motor portion and compressor The stator with the conductor wound is taken out. Third step: Cutting of conductor One of the conductors exposed at both ends of the stator is cut along the stator surface. Fourth step: Pulling out of conductor The stator is fixed, and the conductor exposed from the other end of the cut conductor is grasped and pulled out (drawn out). The above is the case of the black motor. For the dismantling and recycling of xEV motor, dismantling in the first step and the second step are easy because the motor is not sealed in the welded container. The third step can be dealt with by applying the cutting machine for home appliances. The biggest problem is the fourth step. FIG. 1 (a) to (f) shows various stators 1 of xEV motors (reference numerals of the respective members of the stator 1 are attached only to FIG. 1 (a)). The stator core 2 is configured by stacking several hundred or more silicon steel plates having a thickness 0.1mm. Round conductor or corner conductor is wound in accordance with a certain law between a plurality of slots 2b, and the upper conductor 4U and the lower conductor 4L are exposed on the upper and lower stator surface 3U, 3L of the stator core 2, respectively. In the case of round conductor, both the upper and lower conductors are fixed on the circumference by a string or the like, and in the case of square conductor, since it has no flexibility like round conductors, in both upper and lower, conductors are joined to each other by welding or the like. Corner conductors have become the mainstream of xEV motors because of their high current density. [Patent Document 1] JP 2011-062030 JP [Summary of the invention] [Problem to be solved by the invention] Problems in the conductor extraction method (conductor pulling-out method) from the stator will be described below. Problem 1 In order to withstand severe vibrations, the winding (conductor) wound around the stator core 2 of xEV motor shown in FIG. 1 is firmly fixed in the slot 2b with an adhesive or the like. Therefore, it cannot be easily pulled out like a conductor of a black motor for household appliances which is not fixed in t