WO2023046646A1

WO2023046646A1 - Positioning unit

Info

Publication number: WO2023046646A1
Application number: PCT/EP2022/076001
Authority: WO
Inventors: Michel Marty; Marc FROESE
Original assignee: B&R Industrial Automation GmbH
Priority date: 2021-09-22
Filing date: 2022-09-20
Publication date: 2023-03-30

Abstract

The invention relates to a stator segment (1) for a long stator linear motor, wherein: the stator segment (1) comprises a main body (2) having a plurality of driving coils (5) and a casing (12); at least one main body recess (6) in which a positioning unit (7) is disposed is formed in the main body (2), and the casing (12) is formed from a housing (3) and at least one cover plate (4) which can be connected to one another; characterised in that: the main body (2) with the driving coils (5) is surrounded on all sides by the casing (12); an outer mating surface (8) is provided on an outer peripheral surface (22) of the positioning unit (7) and an inner mating surface (20) is provided on an inner peripheral surface (17) of the main body recess (6), and the positioning unit (7) with the outer mating surface (8) is disposed with a form fit in the inner mating surface (20); a positioning recess (9), which is disposed in a defined position relative to the outer mating surface (8) of the positioning unit (7) and is accessible from outside the casing (12) via a housing recess (11) of the casing (12), is provided on the positioning unit (7); and a positioning portion (23) extending in the axial direction and having an inner positioning mating surface (25) is provided in the positioning recess (9).

Description

positioning unit

The present invention describes a stator segment for a long-stator linear motor, the stator segment comprising a base body with a plurality of drive coils and a casing, wherein at least one base body recess is formed in the base body, in which a positioning unit is arranged, and the casing consists of a housing and at least one Cover plate is formed, which are connected to each other.

In a well-known long-stator linear motor (LLM), a large number of electric drive coils, which form the stator, are arranged in a stationary manner next to one another along a transport path. A number of drive magnets, either as permanent magnets or as electrical coils or short-circuit windings, are arranged on a transport unit and interact with the drive coils. Through the interaction of the (electro)magnetic fields of the drive magnets and the drive coils, a propulsion force acts on the transport unit, which moves the transport unit forward along the transport path. The long-stator linear motor can be designed as a synchronous machine, either self-excited or separately excited, or as an asynchronous machine. By controlling the individual drive coils by applying coil voltages to regulate the magnetic flux, the size of the propulsion force is influenced and the transport unit can be moved along the transport path in the desired manner.

The long stator or a transport route is often constructed in the form of individual route sections, which in turn consist of stator segments that have been joined together. Due to this modularity, a long-stator linear motor can be constructed more easily, in particular if stator segments that are defined in terms of their geometry and/or extent are used. The structural design of the long-stator linear motor, e.g. the design of the drive coils, the conveyor section, the transport units, the guides of the transport unit, etc., can of course be different, but the basic functional principle of a long-stator linear motor remains the same.

Examples of such long-stator linear motors can be found in WO 2013/143783 A1, US Pat. No. 6,876,107 B2, US 2013/0074724 A1 or WO 2004/103792 A1.

The drive coils are usually spaced apart from one another in the longitudinal direction by what is known as a slot division on the transport path or on a stator segment. In order to generate a propulsion force on the transport unit, a coil voltage is generally applied to the individual drive coils, the parameters of which (eg level and duration of the voltage) are usually controlled by a control unit according to the desired movement of the transport unit (position, speed, acceleration) continuously during operation of the transport device. The voltage is supplied by means of a power electronics unit, which is normally arranged in the form of an electronic circuit board on the transport section or a stator segment.

The drive coils in a stator segment should therefore be arranged with only small tolerances in order to enable a transport unit to move as precisely as possible along the transport route. Slight changes in the air gaps between the drive coils and the drive magnets on a transport unit can, for example, have a negative effect on a propulsion force. On the other hand, the movement of a transport unit can also be negatively influenced by an imprecise position of the drive coils in the direction of movement along the transport path.

Stator segments usually have a large number of drive coils, which are firmly fixed in the stator segment. For this purpose, the drive coils are positioned precisely on a base body and surrounded by a housing. The drive coils in the housing are also often potted with a casting compound made of a polymer such as epoxy resin. In many applications, these base bodies are arranged directly next to one another with a precise fit, thereby forming the long stator. For this purpose, the base bodies are arranged directly on a corresponding support structure. Since you work directly on the base body, the position of the drive coils is precisely known and the movement of the transport units can be precisely controlled after installation.

However, in many applications, especially in the food and pharmaceutical industries, all surfaces of a long-stator linear motor must meet the "hygienic design" standards. These are issued, for example, by various working groups such as the European Hygienic Design Group or the FDA (US Food and Drug Administration). For example, surfaces in food processing plants must meet the following criteria: smooth, impervious, free from cracks and crevices, non-porous, non-absorbent, non-contaminable, non-reactive, corrosion-resistant, durable and with little or no maintenance, non-toxic, cleanable. These features are important to avoid microbial contamination and to be able to perform cleaning in place (CIP) and sterilization in place (steam/sterilization in place, SIP) procedures. For example, CIP is carried out with 0.1 molar caustic soda, while SIP is operated with superheated steam. Accordingly, durable surfaces are of great importance. However, it can also be necessary to ensure resistance to chemicals, especially in the case of corrosive chemicals such as acids, for example hydrochloric acid, or salts containing chloride, which primarily attack unalloyed or low-alloy steels. Therefore, LLMs must also be designed in such a way that they are suitable for applications in the areas mentioned above and for the possible application situations.

As a rule, stainless steels are used for plant construction in the food and pharmaceutical industries. For example, suitable stainless steels are listed in the DIN EN ISO 3506-1 standard, e.g. WNr.: 1.4301 / X5CrNi18 10, an austenitic chromium-nickel steel for such applications.

However, the base body on which the drive coils are arranged cannot usually be made of stainless steel, if only for reasons of the resulting weight and costs. Therefore, the housing in which the drive coils are housed is often made of stainless steel sheet. The housing is then placed on the base body. Such a design of a stator segment can be found in EP 2 390 992 A2. In this case, the base body forms part of the outer surface of the stator segment. This has the advantage that the base body, and thus the drive coils arranged on it, can be precisely positioned. However, a hygiene standard cannot be achieved in this way because the base body usually does not meet the hygiene requirements. Designing the base body in such a way that it satisfies the hygiene requirements would be possible in principle, but hardly practical for the reasons mentioned above, at least not in the case of a long-stator linear motor that consists of a large number of such stator segments.

A complete housing of the drive coils in a stainless steel housing would also be conceivable in principle, but also has disadvantages. Due to the housing, the position, position and alignment of the drive coils in the housing is imprecise and a precisely defined arrangement of the drive coils along the transport route can hardly be implemented in this way with justifiable effort. Although this leads to a sealing of the base body and a hygiene-compliant housing, it also means that the exact position of the drive coils in the base body is no longer accessible and, after the stator segment has been positioned in the LLM, inaccuracies can arise when the transport units are moved.

The objective technical task is therefore to provide a stator segment with drive coils that meets the requirements of "hygienic design" but still enables a highly precise arrangement of the drive coils along a transport route.

The object is achieved in that the casing encloses the base body with the drive coils on all sides, that an outer fitting surface is provided on an outer peripheral surface of the positioning unit and an inner fitting surface is provided on an inner peripheral surface of the base body recess, and the positioning unit with the outer fitting surface is form-fitting in the inner Mating surface is arranged, and that at the A positioning recess is provided in the positioning unit, which is arranged in a defined position relative to the outer mating surface of the positioning unit and which is accessible from outside the casing via a housing recess of the casing, with a positioning section extending in the axial direction having an inner positioning mating surface being provided in the positioning recess.

This makes it possible to know the exact position of the drive coils in the casing, since the positioning unit serves as a reference point to the base body. The outer mating surface of the positioning unit is arranged on the inner mating surface of the base body recess and thus enables direct contact with the base body or the drive coils. The known dimensioning of the positioning unit therefore enables conclusions to be drawn about the position of the drive coils, even if the casing is warped or even deformed as a result of mechanical or thermal stress.

According to the invention, a positioning portion extending in the axial direction and having an inner positioning mating surface is provided in the positioning recess. This can have a positive effect on the fixation by means of the holding device, since complex complementary structures can be formed as a result. Furthermore, play in the holding device or in the shape of the holding device itself can be made possible in order to be able to compensate for positional inaccuracies when installing the transport section. Furthermore, an exact positioning of external components, such as a holding device, can thus be guaranteed.

In a preferred embodiment, on the outer peripheral surface of the positioning unit, a first portion extending in the axial direction with the outer mating surface and a second portion extending in the axial direction with an external thread are provided. A thread on the positioning unit enables a form-fitting connection between the positioning unit and the base body recess within the design tolerances, which advantageously also closes tightly and complies with hygiene regulations.

Advantageously, a first section extending in the axial direction with the inner fitting surface and a second section with an internal thread are also provided on the inner peripheral surface of the base body recess, the positioning unit being screwed with the external thread into the internal thread of the base body recess. The thread in the base body recess is provided to match the thread in the positioning unit. Advantageously, the dimensions of the sections in the positioning unit and the base body recess are formed with an exact fit. It can but it can also be possible for a thread to be longer or shorter, so that the screw-in depth can be adapted.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a screw-in section which extends in the axial direction and has a non-circular cross-section is provided in the positioning recess. Such a portion may be, for example, hexagonal, square, star-shaped, or any other suitable shape to interact with a tool attachment. For example, a tool attachment, such as a bit in a drill/screwdriver, can then be used to attach to the screw-in section and screw the positioning unit slightly into the base body receptacle.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a fastening section which extends in the axial direction and has a fastening internal thread is provided in the positioning recess. This is advantageous for arranging the fixed positioning unit in a form-fitting manner on an external holding device. For this purpose, a complementary thread is provided on a holding device, which can be screwed into the positioning recess and thus represents a fixed connection and is also advantageous for aligning a transport route.

In a further advantageous embodiment, a collar is provided on an axial end of the positioning unit facing the casing, which collar is arranged at least partially in the housing recess. The collar can be used to allow the positioning unit to be hermetically sealed to the shroud. This can be done via gaskets, or the collar and shroud are welded together.

The collar advantageously rests on the base body. This allows gaps and joints to be avoided in order to comply with hygiene standards.

In an advantageous embodiment, the housing and the at least one cover plate are made of corrosion-resistant material, preferably stainless steel. This means that good protection against chemicals can be achieved, especially during cleaning processes, since even aggressive chemicals cannot destroy the coating due to its corrosion resistance.

In an advantageous embodiment of the stator segment, the housing is welded to the at least one cover plate. For this purpose, the base body is surrounded by a housing according to the invention from a number of sides, for example from five sides, but a different number of sides is also possible. If there are several casings in close proximity, it may also be possible for them to share at least one cover plate. The cover plates are then welded to the housing to create a hermetically sealed enclosure that meets sanitary standards. With that can a transport route in extreme environments, e.g. with aggressive chemicals, can be used without any problems.

In an advantageous embodiment, the casing is welded to the positioning unit at the axial end facing the casing. This is advantageous so that there are no gaps or gaps that could damage the base body and the coils arranged therein. Advantageously, a collar can be attached to the axial end in order to facilitate welding.

In a further advantageous embodiment, the base body recess is designed as a through hole and completely penetrates the base body. This is advantageous in order to be able to use long positioning units and also to be able to adjust the depth of the positioning unit in the base body recess. Continuous positioning units are also conceivable, in which case the positioning recess is continuous and can be fixed from both sides via a holding unit.

Advantageously, a positioning unit can also be used on each side of the through hole. This is advantageous because only one hole can be drilled through the base body and the penetration depth of the positioning units in the base body recess can therefore also be adjusted.

The sheathing advantageously corresponds to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EG Annex I 2.1 and/or EN ISO 14159 and/or EN 1672-2. The sheathing is therefore certified and can be used in GMP (good manufacturing practice) environments, for example.

The present invention is explained in more detail below with reference to FIGS. 1a to 4, which show advantageous configurations of the invention by way of example, schematically and not restrictively. while showing

1 shows an exploded view of a stator segment according to the invention,

2 shows an advantageous embodiment of the positioning unit,

3a an advantageous embodiment of the stator segment,

3b shows a further advantageous embodiment of the stator segment with a continuous main body recess,

Fig. 3c shows a further advantageous embodiment of the stator segment, main body recess and the positioning unit and

4 shows a long-stator linear motor with a stator segment.

1 shows a stator segment 1 according to the invention in its individual parts. The

Stator segment 1 is part of a long-stator linear motor 30 (shown in FIG. 4) and can have various geometric shapes. For example, straight or curved stator segments 1 are conceivable. Stator segments 1 can also be designed as points, or be shaped in any way in space. Stator segments 1 are arranged next to one another on a long-stator linear motor 30, for example on a stationary support structure 32, and together form a transport path 33, along which transport units 31 of the long-stator linear motor 30 can be moved for a wide variety of applications. The stator segments 1 are arranged on a holding device 34 . All possible designs and combinations of stator segments 1 are conceivable, which a person skilled in the art deems necessary.

According to the invention, a stator segment 1 comprises at least one base body 2. A base body 2 has at least a plurality of drive coils 5, which are designed to generate a magnetic field with which a propulsive force for at least one transport unit 31 can be generated. For this purpose, a number of drive coils 5 are energized in a known manner by applying a coil voltage. A drive magnet arrangement 35 , generally an arrangement of permanent magnets, is arranged on the transport unit 31 in order to generate a drive magnetic field which interacts with the magnetic field of the drive coils 5 . The transport unit 31 is held on the transport unit 31 and on the transport route 33 by means of guide devices and is guided along the transport route 33 . This basic principle of a long-stator linear motor 30 is well known, which is why it is not discussed in detail here.

The drive coils 5 are arranged on the base body 5 with a pole pitch L spaced from each other. In order to be able to regulate the movement of the transport unit 31 along the transport route 33 as precisely as possible, it is important to arrange the drive coils 5 as precisely as possible relative to the stationary support structure 32 .

The power electronics required for the operation of the long-stator linear motor 1 for energizing the drive coils 5 can also be arranged directly on the base body 2 . However, it is also conceivable that the power electronics are arranged outside of the base body 2, or even outside of the stator segment 1, and only one suitable electrical connection for the drive coils 5 is provided in the base body 2, for example in the form of an electronic circuit board. For example, such an electronic circuit board can be present on the base body 2 or in a suitable separate unit. The base body 2 itself can be made of different metals or their alloys. In order to keep the specific weight of the base body 2 low, for example aluminum or mechanically stable and corrosion-resistant alloys of aluminum with one or more metals or semi-metals such as magnesium, manganese, copper, silicon, zinc can be used. The drive coils 5 can be cast on the base body 2, as is customary, for example using a polymer such as an epoxy resin. In this way, the drive coils 5 can be protected in particular against the ingress of moisture. It is also conceivable to fasten the drive coils 5 to the base body 2 using mechanical means such as screws, rivets and the like. The drive coils 5 are suitably arranged in the base body 2 regardless of the fixing method.

According to the invention, at least one base body recess 6 is provided on the base body 2 . A positioning unit 7 is arranged in the base body recess 6 . The stator segment 1 can be arranged on the holding device 34 via the positioning unit 7 .

In the simplest case, a base body recess 6 can be a cylindrical bore. Such a bore can be incorporated by machining after the base body 2 has been manufactured. The main body recess 6 can also be designed in the form of a stepped bore with a plurality of axial sections, with different axial sections being able to fulfill different functions, as will be explained in more detail below.

However, it is also conceivable that the base body recess 6 itself is already present when the base body 2 is produced. Then, for example, when a base body 2 is cast, recesses for the base body recess 6 can already be provided. If necessary, these can then be reworked by machining. It is possible that a base body 6 is produced by powder metallurgy due to the complex structure. Very complex structures of a base body recess 6 can then be realized in a blank. Such a base body 2 can then be sintered, for example in a sintering furnace. Depending on the size of the base body 2, hot isostatic pressing (HIP) is also conceivable. It is also possible that only individual, high-precision parts of the base body 2 are sintered and then connected to one another using other production methods, such as welding, soldering, etc. In any case, the base body 2 with the base body recess 6 is suitably designed to accommodate the plurality of drive coils 5 and the at least one positioning unit 7 .

A casing 12 is also provided in the stator segment 1 according to the invention, which surrounds the base body 2 with the drive coils 5 on all sides. Encasing the base body 2 on all sides is particularly important for a hygienic design of the stator segment 1 . The casing 12 is formed by a housing 3 and at least one cover plate 4 . A cover plate 4 is provided in the embodiment according to FIG. The housing 3 and the cover plate 4 can be made of materials that meet the standards for a hygienic design, for example without joints, gaps, depressions, etc. Preferably, a stainless steel is used for the housing 3 and the at least one cover plate 4, with the stainless steel being preferred intended as sheet metal with a sheet thickness of 0.3 - 1 mm. The sheet metal thicknesses can also differ between the housing 3 and the cover plate 4 . This can be advantageous if the cover plate 4 and the housing 3 are exposed to different loads from mechanical loads, chemicals or cleaning steps. Stainless steel has several advantages, as it is easy to process, particularly easy to weld and highly resistant to chemicals. The housing 3 can be designed to enclose a base body 2 with the drive coils 5 and to surround it from five sides, for example. However, it can also be conceivable for the housing 3 to surround a base body 2 on only three sides. Then several cover plates 4, in different dimensions, can be provided, which form the casing 12 with the housing 3. Recesses or connections can be formed in the housing 3 in order to allow electrical lines or also cooling lines to access the base body 2 . Guides can be arranged on the base body 2 in order to enable precise positioning of the housing 3 relative to the base body 2 .

The at least one cover plate 4 is preferably made from the same material as the housing 3. According to the invention, the housing 3 and the at least one cover plate 4 are connected in order to produce a casing 12 for the base body 2. For this purpose, the cover plate 4 can preferably be welded to the housing 3, as a result of which a hermetically sealed casing 12 can be produced. However, other joining methods are of course also conceivable, for example an adhesive method, screws, rivets or the like. For this purpose, after the housing 3 has been positioned on the base body 2, the cover plate 4 can be connected to the housing 3 using the selected joining method. Guides or positioning aids can also be provided for positioning the cover plate 4 relative to the housing 3 in order to facilitate the joining process.

The casing 12 is advantageously made of corrosion-resistant material. Good corrosion resistance can be achieved with stainless steel in particular. Thus, in addition to the hygienic design, maintenance of the stator segment 1 can also be delayed or avoided.

The casing 12 preferably corresponds to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EG Annex I 2.1, ISO 14159 or EN 1672-2. Thus, those skilled in the art can design the shroud 12 to conform to the guidelines required in the field of application. For example, the casing 12 can be designed in such a way that it conforms to GMP. According to the invention, the casing 12 surrounds the base body 2 on all sides. This can be advantageous because stainless steel, as mentioned above, has higher tolerances to chemicals and cleaning methods compared to the base body 2, which is made of aluminum and its alloys, for example. The base body 2 can thus be protected against external influences in a production or packaging system.

The casing 12 is advantageously designed to be liquid-tight. Thus, the base body 2 can be sealed against ingress of liquids from the outside. In use, for example, no bases or superheated steam can get into the inner area and damage the drive coils 5, the cast material or the base body 2 through moisture or corrosion. This is advantageously achieved by welding the cover plate 4 to the housing 3.

On the one hand, this can prevent excessive wear of the stator segment 1 and, on the other hand, delay maintenance or, in the best case, completely avoid it. However, complete encasing of the base body 2 with the drive coils 5 makes it more difficult to arrange the drive coils 5 in the exact position on the stationary support structure, because the base body 2 is not accessible from the outside for attachment due to the encapsulation 12 and its position, in particular the position of the drive coils 5 on the Body 2, is therefore set only with a large tolerance.

According to the invention, the base body recess 6, the positioning unit 7 and the casing 12 are designed in a specific way for this reason, which is explained in more detail below with reference to FIG.

An inner mating surface 20 is provided on the inner peripheral surface 17 of the base body recess 6 . The inner mating surface 20 extends along an axial section of the inner peripheral surface 17 of the base body recess 6. The inner mating surface 20 has a defined cross section with a defined tolerance range, for example a defined diameter with an internal tolerance according to ISO 286. On the positioning unit 7 is on its outer Circumferential surface 22 an outer mating surface 8 is provided. The outer fitting surface 8 extends along an axial section of the outer peripheral surface 22 of the positioning unit 7. The outer fitting surface 8 has a defined cross section with a defined tolerance range, for example a defined outer diameter with an outer tolerance according to ISO 286. The cross sections of the inner fitting surface 20 and the Outer mating surface 8 are complementary, so that outer mating surface 8 can be positively arranged in inner mating surface 20 . If the positioning unit 7 is arranged in the main body recess 6, then the axial positions of the outer mating surface 8 and the inner mating surface are such that the outer mating surface is form-fitting is arranged in the inner mating surface 20 . By appropriately selecting the tolerance range, the positioning unit 7 can be arranged in the base body recess 6 with a specific tolerance. For example, a slight clearance fit or a transition fit can thus be implemented, eg an H6/g5 fit.

A positioning recess 9 is additionally provided on the positioning unit 7 and is arranged in a defined position relative to the outer mating surface 8 of the positioning unit 7 . The positioning recess 9 is, for example, an axial bore in the positioning unit 7, for example coaxial with the longitudinal axis of the positioning unit 7. After the positioning unit 7 has been positioned precisely (within a selected tolerance) relative to the base body 2 via the outer fitting surface 8, the positioning recess is also there 9 positioned accurately (within a selected tolerance) relative to the base body 2 arranged. A housing recess 11 is additionally provided in the casing 12, through which the positioning recess 9 is accessible. The housing recess 11 and the base body recess 6 are, for example, bores which are preferably arranged coaxially on the stator segment 1 .

The stator segment 1 can thus be arranged from the outside on a holding device 34 via the positioning recess 9 and at the same time it can be ensured that the base body 2 with the drive coils 5 is arranged within the casing 12 in a defined position (within a selected tolerance) relative to the holding device 34 . This enables the drive coils 5 of a long-stator linear motor 30 to be arranged in the correct position, which are completely enclosed by a casing 12 .

By knowing the position of the positioning recess 9 in the positioning unit 7, which is in a defined position relative to the outer fitting surface 8 of the positioning unit 7, to the inner fitting surface 20 of the base body recess 6 and thus to the base body 2 with the drive coils 5, the positioning recess 9 can be used as a reference point for the positioning of the drive coils 5 in the stator segment 1 on the transport path 33 can be used. Deviations in the positioning of the drive coils 5 can thus be kept small. Otherwise existing negative influences on the positioning can thus be avoided or reduced. The casing 12 can easily move or be distorted, for example due to installation work. A plastic deformation of the casing 12 can also happen during the installation of a transport section. Furthermore, due to the high temperatures occurring during operation of the long-stator linear motor 1 in the area of the stator segments 1, thermal expansion effects can also occur. As a result, deformations can occur, especially in the event of temperature fluctuations during operation. The positioning unit 7, which is positively connected directly to the base body 2 via the inner fitting surface 20, can but also with sheath 12, the exact position of the drive coils 5 can be ensured.

The housing recess 11 can have the same diameter as the main body recess 6, but is preferably slightly larger in diameter than the main body recess 6. The casing 12 can thus have a certain amount of play on the stator segment 1 (as indicated in FIG. 1), which Production can facilitate, especially if several body recesses 6 are provided with positioning units 7 on the body 2. Any gap that may remain between the casing 12 and the positioning unit 7 can then be filled or sealed as required. For example, the casing 12 could be welded to the positioning unit 7 or a suitable seal could be provided, for example made of a plastic such as polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE) or silicone.

The positioning unit 7 can protrude at least partially through a housing recess 11 (as indicated in FIG. 2), but can also end flush with the surface of the base body 2.

A radially projecting collar 10 can also be provided on one axial end of the positioning unit 7 (as shown in FIG. 3a). However, the collar 10 does not have to extend over the entire circumference of the positioning unit 7 . In the intended arrangement of the positioning unit 7 in the base body recess 6 , the collar 10 is arranged on the axial end facing away from the base body recess 6 . The collar 10 can be used to arrange the positioning unit 7 in a defined axial position in the main body recess 6 . For this purpose, the collar 10 rests on the base body 2 when the positioning unit 7 is arranged in the base body recess 6 . The diameter of the housing recess 11 is adapted to the diameter of the collar 10. The axial thickness of the collar 10 can be selected such that it corresponds to the sheet metal thickness of the casing 12 in the area of the housing recess 11, so that the collar 10 ends flush with it. However, it is also possible for the collar 10 to be thicker or thinner than the sheet metal thickness of the casing 12 . As described for FIG. 1, any remaining gap between the positioning unit 7 can be filled or sealed. For example, the collar 10 can be welded to the casing 12.

In addition to the axial section with the outer fitting surface 8 , the positioning unit 7 can also have an axial section with an external thread 18 . Such an external thread 18 is independent of a collar 10 on the positioning unit 7 . In addition to the axial section with the inner fitting surface 20 , in the base body recess 6 there is an axial section with a thread complementary to the external thread 18 Internal thread 21 provided. The positioning unit 7 can thus be screwed into the base body recess 6 , which enables the positioning unit 7 to be arranged in the base body 2 in a particularly simple and secure manner. Such an embodiment is indicated in FIG. 3a.

In FIG. 3a it is also indicated by dashed lines that a base body recess 6 can be provided on both sides of the base body 2, it also being possible for a positioning unit 7 to be arranged in each of the two base body recesses 6.

3b shows an embodiment in which the base body recess 6 extends through the entire base body 2. FIG. In this embodiment, the positioning unit 7 also extends through the entire base body 2 , just as the positioning recess 9 extends through the entire axial length of the positioning unit 7 . The stator segment 1 can thus be held and positioned on both sides with a positioning unit 7 . A weld seam between the collar 10 and the casing 12 is also indicated in FIG. 3b. Of course, the positioning unit 7 can also be designed without a collar 10 in this configuration. Likewise, an external thread 18 can also be provided on the positioning unit 7 and an associated internal thread 21 on the base body recess 6 .

In the embodiment according to FIG. 3c, a collar 10 is provided on the positioning unit 7 again. In addition, an external thread 18 is provided on the positioning unit 7 with which the positioning unit 7 is screwed into an internal thread 21 of the base body recess 6 . In this embodiment, an axial screw-in section 14 with a non-circular cross-section, for example a triangular, square or hexagonal cross-section, is provided in the positioning recess 9 . The screw-in section 14 can, for example, facilitate screwing the positioning unit 7 into the base body recess 6 with a suitable tool, such as an Allen key. Such a screw-in section 14 can, of course, also be provided in an embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, 3a or 3b. In this embodiment, a fastening internal thread 19 is also provided as a fastening section 23 on another axial section of the positioning recess 9 . The stator segment 1 can be fastened to the holding device 34 via this fastening internal thread 19, for example with a corresponding fastening screw. Such a fastening section 23 can, of course, also be provided in an embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, 3a or 3b, regardless of whether a screw-in section 14 is also provided. In this embodiment, an inner positioning mating surface 25 is also provided as a positioning section 24 on a further axial section of the positioning recess 9 . This inner positioning mating surface 25 can a corresponding outer positioning mating surface of a fastening means 13 for fastening the stator segment 1 to a holding device 34. In this way, a suitable fit or tolerance pairing can be selected with the inner positioning mating surface 25 and the outer positioning mating surface. Such a positioning section 24 can, of course, also be provided in an embodiment as shown in FIG. 2, 3a or 3b, regardless of whether a screw-in section 14 and/or a fastening section 23 is also provided.

Connections for accessing electrical lines or also cooling lines to the base body 2 can be arranged in the casing 12 . Such connections can be designed, for example, as screw connections, which can then be sealed, for example, using suitable seals in order to ensure a hermetic casing 12 .

A casing 12 can also be designed in such a way that a plurality of base bodies 2 can be accommodated. The construction of a transport path 34 can thus be simplified by using larger stator segments 1 .

Depending on the dimensions of the stator segment 1 it can also be provided that several positioning units 7 are arranged on the stator segment 1 . This can make it easier to fix a stator segment 1 to the transport section 34 .

Claims

patent claims

1. Stator segment for a long-stator linear motor, wherein the stator segment (1) comprises a base body (2) with a plurality of drive coils (5) and a casing (12), wherein at least one base body recess (6) is formed in the base body (2), in which a positioning unit (7) is arranged, and the casing (12) is formed from a housing (3) and at least one cover plate (4) which can be connected to one another, characterized in that the casing (12) comprises the base body (2) surrounded on all sides with the drive coils (5), that an outer fitting surface (8) is provided on an outer peripheral surface (22) of the positioning unit (7) and an inner fitting surface (20) is provided on an inner peripheral surface (17) of the base body recess (6) and the positioning unit (7) with the outer mating surface (8) is arranged in a form-fitting manner in the inner mating surface (20), and that a positioning recess (9) is provided on the positioning unit (7) which, in a defined position, e.g is arranged on the outer mating surface (8) of the positioning unit (7) and which is accessible from outside the casing (12) via a housing recess (11) of the casing (12), wherein in the positioning recess (9) there is a positioning section extending in the axial direction (23) is provided with an inner positioning mating surface (25).

2. Stator segment according to claim 1, characterized in that on the outer peripheral surface (22) of the positioning unit (7) a first section extending in the axial direction with the outer mating surface (8) and a second section extending in the axial direction with an external thread (18) is provided.

3. Stator segment according to claim 2, characterized in that on the inner peripheral surface (17) of the base body recess (6) there is a first section extending in the axial direction with the inner fitting surface (20) and a second section with an internal thread (21). is, wherein the positioning unit (7) is screwed with the external thread (18) into the internal thread (21) of the base body recess (6).

4. Stator segment according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that in the positioning recess (9) extending in the axial direction screw-in section (14) is provided with a non-circular cross-section.

5. Stator segment according to one of claims 1 to 4, characterized in that in the positioning recess (9) extending in the axial direction fastening section (23) is provided with a fastening internal thread (19).

6. Stator segment according to one of claims 1 to 5, characterized in that a collar (10) is provided on an axial end of the positioning unit (7) facing the casing (12) and is at least partially arranged in the housing recess (11). .

7. stator segment according to claim 6, characterized in that the collar (10) rests on the base body (2).

8. Stator segment according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the housing (3) and the at least one cover plate (4) are made of corrosion-resistant material, preferably stainless steel.

9. Stator segment according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the housing (3) is welded to the at least one cover plate (4).

10. Stator segment according to one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that the casing (12) is welded to the positioning unit (7) at the casing-facing axial end.

11. Stator segment according to one of claims 1 to 10, characterized in that the base body recess (6) is designed as a through hole and the base body (2) penetrates completely.

12. Stator segment according to claim 11, characterized in that a positioning unit (7) is inserted on each side of the through hole.

13. Stator segment according to one of claims 1 to 12, characterized in that the casing (12) corresponds to the Machinery Directive 2006/42/EC Annex I 2.1 and/or EN ISO 14159 and/or EN 1672-2.

14. A method for producing a stator segment (1) for a long-stator linear motor, wherein at least one base body (2) with a plurality of drive coils (5) and at least one base body recess (6) is provided, with a housing (3) surrounding the base body (2 ) is arranged, and the housing (3) is then connected to at least one cover plate (4) and a casing (12) of the base body (2) is thus formed, characterized in that the casing (12) surrounds the base body (2) on all sides surrounds, that the at least one positioning unit (7) is guided through at least one housing recess (11) of the casing (12), that the positioning unit (7) is arranged with an outer fitting surface (8) on the outer surface in a form-fitting manner on an inner fitting surface (20) of an inner peripheral surface of the base body recess (6), and that via a positioning recess (9) on the positioning unit (7) the defined position of the outer mating surface (8) of the positioning unit (7) is accessible from outside via the housing recess (11) in the casing (12), wherein in the positioning recess (9) there is a positioning section (23) extending in the axial direction with an inner Positioning mating surface (25) is provided.

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