Arrangement for maintaining a machine element at a controlled temperature in electrically operated production machines

Abstract

An arrangement includes an electrically operated production machine having at least one electrically operated motor and a machine element, and a temperature control system for maintaining the machine element at a controlled temperature. The temperature control system includes a heating unit which is integrated in a machine-internal heat exchange process to use thermal losses generated by the motor to heat the machine element.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . An arrangement, comprising: 
 an electrically operated production machine having at least one electric motor and a machine element; and    a temperature control system for maintaining the machine element at a controlled temperature, said temperature control system including a heating means for using thermal losses generated by the motor to heat the machine element.    
     
     
         2 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the heating means includes a heat exchanging circuit for directing the thermal losses of the motor to the machine element.  
     
     
         3 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the heating means is a heat exchanger forming part of the motor.  
     
     
         4 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the heat exchanger is constructed to have at least one tube for ensheathing the motor.  
     
     
         5 . The arrangement of  claim 3 , wherein the heating means includes a liquid or gaseous fluid for circulation through the heat exchanger.  
     
     
         6 . The arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the heating means is constructed such that the fluid flows around the machine element.  
     
     
         7 . The arrangement of  claim 5 , wherein the heating means is constructed such that the fluid is able to flow through the machine element.  
     
     
         8 . The arrangement of.  Claim 2 , and further comprising an active conveying means operatively connected to the heat exchanging circuit for conveying the fluid.  
     
     
         9 . The arrangement of  claim 8 , wherein the conveying means is a pump.  
     
     
         10 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , and further comprising a cooling element for decreasing a heat flux dissipated from the motor.  
     
     
         11 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , and further comprising a heating element for increasing a heat flux dissipated from the motor.  
     
     
         12 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , wherein the motor includes a motor control for controlling the motor such as to optimize the use of the thermal losses from the motor to heat the machine element.  
     
     
         13 . The arrangement of  claim 1 , and further comprising a bypass to circumvent the machine element to allow a decrease of a heat flux through the machine element.  
     
     
         14 . A production machine, comprising: 
 an electrically operated motor;    a machine element; and    a temperature control system for maintaining the machine element at a controlled temperature, said temperature control system including a heating means for using thermal losses generated by the motor to heat the machine element.    
     
     
         15 . The production machine of  claim 14 , wherein the heating means is a heat exchanger formed integrally with the motor.  
     
     
         16 . The production machine of  claim 14 , wherein the heating means is a tube wrapped around the motor.  
     
     
         17 . The production machine of  claim 14 , and further comprising a pump for returning the fluid exiting the machine element in a direction of the heating means.  
     
     
         18 . The production machine of  claim 17 , and further comprising a cooling element disposed between the pump and the heating means for decreasing a heat flux dissipated from the motor.  
     
     
         19 . The production machine of  claim 15 , and further comprising a heating element disposed downstream of the heat exchanger and upstream of the machine element for increasing a heat flux dissipated from the motor.  
     
     
         20 . The production machine of  claim 14 , and further comprising a motor control for controlling the operation of the motor to suit a demand of heat for the overall production process.  
     
     
         21 . The production machine of  claim 14 , and further comprising a bypass to circumvent the machine element to allow a decrease of a heat flux through the machine element.