Team Member, S-HERO Co-oP project in Partnership with [HD Hyundai Infracore]
Role: Hardware Design
Received Excellence Prize (SKKU S-HERO Corporate Problem Solving Program)
Accepted an internship at HD Hyundai Infracore after the project, and being offered for full-time job
Key skills: 3D CAD / Matlab Simulink
Motivation
This project entails the redesigning of the front part of an excavator to operate electrically instead of using hydraulic cylinders. While hydraulic systems are capable of generating large forces, they emit environmental pollutants, contributing to global warming and various environmental issues.
By embarking on this project, we aim to contribute towards the ongoing global efforts to mitigate environmental challenges posed by traditional hydraulic systems in construction machinery, by exploring and hopefully proving the viability of electrically driven systems in such heavy machinery setups.
Planetary Gear
The traditional excavator relies on a hydraulic system to move heavy objects. In order to adequately replace the performance of a hydraulic excavator with an electric power source, it was necessary to significantly increase the speed of the electric motor, and maximize the excavator's force through a large gear ratio. To achieve this, we decided to utilize a planetary gear system. Planetary gears have a relatively compact structure and provide a high degree of stability as the force is symmetrically distributed. Additionally, they are characterized by a large gear ratio with fewer stages, which makes them an ideal choice for this application. Through the use of a planetary gear system, we aim to harness the high-speed capabilities of the electric motor, and effectively translate that into the powerful force required for excavation tasks, mirroring the performance of traditional hydraulic excavators but with an electric power source.
Application of Planetary Gear to the Excavator Arm
The planetary gear system is composed of a sun gear at the center, which rotates like the sun, planet gears that revolve around the sun gear like planets, and a ring gear on the outermost perimeter. Additionally, there's a carrier that moves the planet gears as a single unit.
In our design, the output from the motor is input into the sun gear, which is then converted into a gear ratio of 216 times. By employing this high gear ratio, we aim to significantly amplify the force generated by the electric motor, thus providing the necessary power for the excavator's operations while maintaining a compact and stable gear arrangement. The planetary gear system plays a crucial role in efficiently translating the motor's speed into the powerful force required for excavation tasks, aligning with our goal of electrically replicating the performance of traditional hydraulic excavators.
