At present, absolutely any machine includes three main parts, including the engine, the executive body and the transmission mechanism. For the proper performance of its own functions by a technological machine, its executive body, one way or another, must perform sufficiently certain movements implemented by means of a drive. What should be understood by this concept? How is the drive controlled? What is the history of its origin? These and other equally serious questions can be answered 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.
- Powered by a wind turbine.
- Gas turbine drive.
- Drive hydraulic, pneumatic or electric motor (such as a ball actuator).
- Water wheel drive.
- Steam drive.
- Driveinternal combustion engine.
- Drive hydraulic, pneumatic or electric motor.
Today, the part is the main structural component of any machine for technological purposes, 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 expedient to present the technical machine of modern times as a complex of interacting drives, which are united through a control system that fully provides the enforcement bodies with the necessary movements along complex trajectories.
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 there is a power part, through which energy is transmitted to the executive body from the engine, and a control system that fully ensures its movement in accordance with a given law.
Electric drive is a concept, the definition of which, along with the development of technology, has been expanded and refined both in terms of the aspect of control systems, and regarding 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 of the Industrial Leningrad Institute) defined a very interesting concept of an adjustable electric drive. Thus, an electric drive should be understood as such a mechanism, in relation to which a change in speed is possible, which does not depend on the load.
Modern concept of electric drive
Over time, the functions and applications of the electric drive have expanded. So, for example, a sewing electric drive or a keyhole electric drive appeared. That is why, when automating production processes in the complex, it became necessary 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 drive in industry, which took place in May 1959 in Moscow, a new definition was approved. An electric drive is nothing more than a complex 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 his work “The drive is a key structural element of the machine” concluded that considering drives as complex systems that include an executive body, a transmission mechanism and an engine, due attention is not given. So, he emphasized that the theory of electric drive deals with the working conditionselectric motor, not taking into account the auxiliary body and transmission mechanism, and 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 "Basis of an automated electric drive" in 1974 by M. G. Chilikin and other authors, the following term was given: "An electric drive is an electromechanical device that is designed to automate and electrify production processes and consists from control, converting, transmission and electric motor devices.”
Electric drive operation
How does the electric drive work? Let's take an electric lock as an example. So, mechanical energy from the transmission device is transferred directly to the working (executive) body of the mechanism for production purposes. The electric drive implements the conversion of electrical energy into mechanical, and also fully provides electrical control of the energy that has been converted, according to the current technological requirements related to the operating modes of the mechanism of a production nature.
What other definitions are known today?
It is interesting to know that in the polytechnical dictionary in 1977, which was published under the editorship of I. I. Artobolevsky (academician), the following term was given: “An electric drive is nothing more than an electromechanical device designed to set in motion machines and mechanisms, in which the sourceenergy - electric motor. It was noted there that any electric drive (for example, an electric wheelchair) includes one or a number of electric motors, a transmission mechanism, and control equipment.
Features of modern electric drives
Today, a wide variety of electric drives are known. A vivid example of this is the electric gate valve, because, it would seem, quite recently, society could not even imagine such a mechanism. It is important to note that modern electric drives are distinguished by an extremely high level of automation, which allows them to fully operate in accordance with economical modes, as well as produce the necessary parameters of movement of the machine executive body with high accuracy. That is why, already at the beginning of the 1990s, the term in question was expanded into the field of automation.
Determination according to GOST
In GOST R50369-92 "Electric drives" the following concept was introduced: "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 interface mechanisms with external mechanical, electrical, information and control systems. They are intended to set the executive bodies of the machine in motion, as well as to control this movement in order to implement the technological process.”
B. I. Klyuchev about the electric drive
As it turned out, absolutely any electric drive, for example, electric mirror drive, consists of several parts. It would be useful to explore this topic in more detail. So, the textbook by 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 more than an electromechanical device that is designed to set in motion executive organs of the machine and process control of a technological nature. It consists of a control device, an electric motor mechanism and a transmission device. At the same time, the textbook provides clear explanations in terms of the purpose and composition of the named components of the electric drive. It will be useful 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 that are necessary to transfer the mechanical energy generated by the engine to the actuator.
The converter mechanism is designed to control the flow of electricity that comes from the network, to properly regulate 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 control system, which is designed tocollection and subsequent processing of incoming information regarding the state of the system, setting influences, as well as the generation of control signals for the converter device 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. The textbook for higher educational institutions "Theory of automated electric drive", which was published in 1979, emphasizes 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 year 1880 as the starting point of its development, because it was then that D. A. Lachinov’s article “Electromechanical work” was published in a well-known magazine called “Electricity”. In it, for the first time, the advantages of the electrical distribution of mechanical energy were characterized.
It should be added that the same textbook 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, methods of motion control of these systems.”
Today, the electric drive is part of the most important, rapidly developing field of technology and science, which occupies a leading position inautomation and electrification of everyday life and industry. Its application and development, one way or another, implies an increase in requirements regarding electrical complexes and systems.
