Currently , absolutely any machine includes three main parts, including the engine, the executive body and the transmission mechanism. For the technological machine to properly perform its own functions, its executive body, one way or another, must make sufficiently certain movements that are implemented through the drive. What should be understood by this concept? How is the drive controlled ? What is the history of its occurrence? Answers to these and other equally serious questions can be found in the process of reading the materials of this article.
Introduction
It is important to know that the following types of drives are known today:
- Manual, mechanical or horse drive.
- The drive from the wind engine.
- Gas turbine drive.
- The drive of a hydraulic, pneumatic or electric motor (for example, a ball electric drive ) .
- Water wheel drive.
- Steam drive.
- Drive internal combustion engine.
- Drive hydraulic, pneumatic or electric motor.
Today, a part serves as the main structural component of any technological machine; its key task is to ensure the required movement of the executive body of the mechanism in accordance with a given law. It should be noted that it is advisable to present the technical machine of modern time as a complex of interacting drives, which are combined through a control system that fully provides the enforcement authorities with the necessary movements along complex paths.
Electric drive is a modern solution
It is interesting to know that in the process of the rapid development of industrial production, the electric drive today has taken first place not only in terms of the industry represented, but also in everyday life in terms of the total specific engine power and, of course, quantitative characteristics. It is important to keep in mind that in any electric drive, a power unit is allocated, through which energy is transferred to the executive body from the engine, and a management system that fully ensures its movement in accordance with the given law.
An electric drive is a concept whose definition together with the development of technology has been expanded and refined both in terms of the aspect of control systems and the aspect of mechanics. It is interesting to know that in the book “The Use of Electric Motors in Industry”, published in 1935 by V.K. Popov (professor at the Industrial Leningrad Institute), a very interesting concept of an adjustable electric drive is defined. So, by an electric drive, one should understand such a mechanism in relation to which a change in speed is possible, which does not depend on the load.
The modern concept of electric drive
Over time, the functions and applications of the electric drive expanded. So, for example, a sewing electric drive or a keyhole electric drive appeared. That is why, when automating production processes in the complex, a need arose to clarify the concept under consideration. So, at the third conference related to the automation of production processes in the field of mechanical engineering and automated electric drives in industry, which was held in Moscow in May 1959, a new definition was approved. An electric drive is nothing more than a comprehensive device that converts electricity into mechanical energy, and also provides electrical control of the mechanical energy that has been converted.
Electric drive in literature
It is interesting to note that S.I. Artobolevsky in 1960 in the work “Drive is a key structural element of a machine” concluded that consideration of drives as complex systems, which include an actuator, gear mechanism and engine, is not given due attention. So, he emphasized that the theory of electric drive deals with the operating conditions of the electric motor, not taking into account the auxiliary organ and the transmission mechanism, and the mechanics, in terms of theory, studies the executive bodies and transmission devices, without taking into account the influence of the engine.
It is important to note that in the textbook “Base for an automated electric drive” in 1974, M. Chilikin and other authors cited the following term: “An electric drive is an electromechanical device that is designed to automate and electrify production processes and consists of a control, converter, transmission and electric motor devices. "
Electric drive operation
How is the operation of the electric drive? For example, take the electric drive of the lock . So, mechanical energy from the transmission device is transferred directly to the working (executive) body of the production mechanism. An electric drive implements the conversion of electricity into mechanical energy, and also fully provides electrical control of the energy that has been converted, according to current technological requirements relating to the operating modes of the production mechanism.
What other definitions are known today?
It is interesting to know that in the Polytechnic Dictionary in 1977, which was edited by I.I. Artobolevsky (academician), the following terms were cited: “An electric drive is nothing but an electromechanical device designed to drive machines and mechanisms in motion whose source of energy is an electric motor. ” It was noted there that any electric drive (for example, a wheelchair-electric drive ) includes one or a number of electric motors, a transmission mechanism, and also control equipment.
Features of modern electric drives
Today, a wide variety of electric drives is known. A striking example of this is the electric valve , because, it would seem, just recently, society could not imagine such a mechanism. It is important to note that modern electric drives are characterized by an extremely high level of automation, which allows them to fully operate in accordance with economical modes, as well as to accurately produce the necessary motion parameters of the machine executive body. That is why already at the beginning of the 1990s the term in question was expanded into the field of automation.
GOST determination
The following concept was presented in GOST R50369-92 "Electric drives": "An electric drive is an electromechanical system that includes energy converters that interact with each other, mechanical and electromechanical converters, information and control devices, as well as mechanisms for interfacing with external mechanical, electrical , information and control systems. They are intended to bring the executive bodies of the machine into motion, as well as to control this movement for the implementation of the process. ”
V.I. Klyuchev about electric drive
As it turned out, absolutely any electric drive, for example, an electric mirror drive, consists of several parts. It would be advisable to disclose this topic in more detail. So, the textbook of V. I. Klyuchev, “Theory of electric drive”, which was published in 2001, gives the following definition of the concept under consideration as a technical device: “An electric drive is nothing but an electromechanical device that is designed to drive executive machine organs and process control of technological nature. It consists of a control device, an electric motor and a transmission device. " At the same time, the textbook provides clear explanations in terms of the purpose and composition of these components of the electric drive. It will be advisable to consider this issue in more detail in the next chapter.
Electric drive parts
The transmission device of any electric drive (for example, a wheelchair with an electric drive ) contains couplings and mechanical gears, which are necessary for transferring the mechanical energy generated by the engine to the actuator.
The conversion mechanism is designed to control the flow of electricity that comes from the network, for the proper regulation of the operating modes of the mechanism and the engine. It should be added that it is the energy part of the electric drive control system.
The control device serves as an information low-current part of the management system, which is intended for the collection and subsequent processing of incoming information regarding the state of the system, the driving actions, and also the generation of control signals for the converter of the electric motor based on this system.
Two interpretations
From the material presented in the article, we can conclude that the concept of an electric drive is currently defined by two interpretations: as a combination of different devices and as a branch of science. In the textbook for higher educational institutions “Theory of Automated Electric Drive”, which was published in 1979, it is emphasized that the theory of electric drive as an independent field of science originated in our country.
It is important to note that it is advisable to consider the starting point of its development in 1880, because it was then that in the well-known magazine called "Electricity" published an article by D. A. Lachinov, "Electromechanical Work." It was the first to describe the advantages of the electrical distribution of mechanical energy.
It is necessary to add that this same study guide assumes the definition of an electric drive as a field of applied science: “The theory of an electric drive is a technical science that studies the general features of electromechanical systems, the methods of their synthesis in accordance with given indicators, as well as the laws of motion control of these systems” .
Today, electric drive is part of the most important, rapidly growing area of technology and science, which occupies a leading position in the automation and electrification of household and industry. Its application and development, one way or another, implies an increase in requirements regarding electrical complexes and systems.