Development of in-wheel magnetic-geared motor for walking support machines

Issue title: Selected papers from the International Symposium on Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics - ISEM 2019

Guest editors: Jinhao Qiu, Ke Xiong and Hongli Ji

Article type: Research Article

Authors: Ito, Koki^a; | Kadomatsu, Takahisa^a | Obana, Kohei^a | Nakamura, Kenji^a

Affiliations: [a] Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, Sendai, Japan

Correspondence: [*] Corresponding author: Koki Ito, Graduate School of Engineering, Tohoku University, 6-6-11 Aoba Aramaki Aoba-ku, Sendai, Miyagi 980-8579, Japan. E-mail: koki.ito@ecei.tohoku.ac.jp

Abstract: This paper deals with development of in-wheel magnetic-geared motor for walking support machines. In a previous paper, a magnetic-geared motor for a walking support machine was prototyped. However, its efficiency was low, therefore improving the efficiency is necessary for practical use. This paper presents the improving efficiency of the magnetic-geared motor from the viewpoint of torque increasing and loss reducing by using a three-dimensional finite element method (3D-FEM). In addition, supporting method of pole-pieces and eddy current loss in housing were discussed. Furthermore, the proposed motor is prototyped. The experimental results show that its efficiency is 15% higher than the previous motor. Finally, the walking support machine installed with two magnetic-geared motors is prototyped and demonstrated.

Keywords: Magnetic-geared motor, walking support machines

DOI: 10.3233/JAE-209318

Journal: International Journal of Applied Electromagnetics and Mechanics, vol. 64, no. 1-4, pp. 157-163, 2020