Axial Heat Base for Electric Motor Steering
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing electric power steering devices face challenges in size reduction in the radial direction due to the integration of electronic control units and the need for efficient heat radiation, particularly in the engine room where space is limited, and require a redundant system for safety, which increases the size and component count.
Innovation Solution
The electric drive device incorporates a heat radiation base body that extends along the axial direction of the electric motor, allowing electronic control units to be fixed with thermal conduction, and a rotation position detection circuit board that connects neutral terminals of the electric motor, simplifying wiring and reducing the overall size by efficiently radiating heat.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If electronic control units are integrated into the electric motor to reduce component count, then device complexity is reduced, but the radial size increases due to heat radiation requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions the heat radiation direction from radial to axial by extending the heat radiation base body along the axial direction of the electric motor. This allows the electronic control units to be arranged axially rather than radially, reducing the radial size while maintaining heat dissipation efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent integrates the heat radiation function with the mounting structure for electronic control units by combining the heat radiation base body with the support structure. This merged structure serves dual purposes: radiating heat from the electronic control units and providing mechanical support, thereby reducing overall device complexity.
2Reliability
If a redundant system is implemented for safety, then reliability is improved, but device complexity and radial size increase
Solution Approach 1:
The heat radiation base body serves multiple functions simultaneously: it radiates heat, supports electronic control units, and provides a mounting structure for the redundant system components. This multi-functionality allows the redundant system to be integrated without proportionally increasing device complexity.
3Ease of manufacture
If electronic control units are mounted on boards arranged in radial direction, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the radial size of ECU housing necessarily increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the arrangement dimension of electronic control units from radial to axial by extending the heat radiation base body axially. The boards are now arranged in the axial direction, which reduces the radial size of the ECU housing while maintaining manufacturing feasibility through standard mounting techniques.
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
This configuration achieves size reduction in the radial direction while maintaining efficient heat dissipation and simplifying the wiring structure, thereby reducing the overall size and component count of the electric drive device.
Implementation Method 1
having a board that is fixed to the heat radiation base body with thermal conduction to the heat radiation base body allowed
Data Source
AI summary
Heat radiation base body 23 that is adjacent to electric motor unit EM and extends in direction of rotation shaft of electric motor is provided close to rotation shaft of electric motor. Board 24 of one electronic control unit of redundant system is fixed to heat radiation base body along direction in which heat radiation base body 23 extends with thermal conduction to heat radiation base body 23 allowed. Board 26 of the other electronic control unit of redundant system is fixed to heat radiation base body so as to face to board 24 of one electronic control unit of redundant system, with thermal conduction to heat radiation base body 23 allowed. Rotation position detection circuit board 22 to which neutral terminals 31 of electric motor for each phase are connected is provided between heat radiation base body 23 and motor housing 20.