Electric Actuator Cooling Element with Shielding
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric actuators in motor vehicles face challenges in dissipating heat effectively at elevated ambient temperatures, leading to potential deactivation or failure of electric components due to insufficient cooling, especially with increasing miniaturization of vehicle components.
Innovation Solution
An electric actuator with a cooling element and coolant line that conducts coolant to dissipate heat from electric components, combined with a shielding element to reduce ambient temperature influence and thermal radiation, allowing for efficient cooling and direct mounting on electric components within a compact housing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If electric actuators are installed in locations with increased ambient temperature to save space, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to dissipate heat effectively deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into multiple cooling channels formed within the housing structure, allowing independent coolant flow paths that efficiently distribute cooling throughout the actuator components without requiring complex external cooling systems
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling function is merged with the housing structure itself, where the housing serves dual purposes as both structural enclosure and heat dissipation pathway, eliminating the need for separate cooling components and reducing overall device complexity
2Weight of moving object
If miniaturization of vehicle components is pursued to reduce vehicle weight, then weight is reduced, but the ability to dissipate heat from electric components deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
Cooling channels are strategically positioned in specific regions of the housing where heat generation is highest, providing localized cooling exactly where needed rather than uniform cooling throughout, maximizing cooling efficiency in the miniaturized structure
Solution Approach 2:
A coolant circulation system is implemented using hydraulic principles, where coolant flows through channels in the housing to actively remove heat from electric components, enabling effective heat dissipation in the compact miniaturized design
3Reliability
If cooling elements are added to cool electric components, then operating temperature is controlled, but device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The housing structure is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: structural support, heat dissipation pathways, and coolant distribution channels, eliminating the need for dedicated separate cooling components and reducing overall system complexity while maintaining operational reliability
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables reliable operation of electric actuators at high ambient temperatures by maintaining electric components at optimal operating temperatures, reducing the risk of thermal-induced failures and allowing for installation near hot components.
Implementation Method 1
a cooling element (42) having a coolant line (44) through which a coolant can be conducted
Implementation Method 2
The cooling element is assigned a coolant line through which a coolant can be conducted. Thus, the electric components of the electric drive unit and the electric control unit can be cooled effectively
Implementation Method 3
The shielding element may have an absorption layer to reduce heating of the cooling element as a result of thermal radiation
Data Source
AI summary
An electric actuator (32) for a clutch arrangement (26, 28, 52) of a motor vehicle (10) has an electric drive unit (40) for providing mechanical driving force, an electric control unit (38) that is connected to the electric drive unit (40) to control the drive unit (40), and a cooling element (42) that is connected thermally to electric components of the drive unit (40) and/or the control unit (38). The cooling element (42) is assigned a coolant line (44), through which a coolant can be conducted to dissipate heat from the electric components.