Blower Unit Wire Harness Outlet Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

The challenge is to prevent moisture from entering the motor of a blower unit through the wire harness, especially when the attachment position and angle of the blower unit in a vehicle are changed, which increases design and manufacturing costs due to the need for customized blower case designs.

Innovation Solution

The blower unit design includes a hollow blower case with a wire harness outlet aligned in the same direction as the exhaust port, ensuring that moisture does not enter the motor, and allows for standardization of the blower unit design regardless of attachment position or angle changes.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Adaptability or versatility

If the blower unit attachment position and angle are changed to adapt to different vehicle models, then the adaptability of the blower unit is improved, but the design complexity and manufacturing costs increase due to the need for customized blower case designs

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveattachment position adaptabilityVSAvoidblower case design complexity

Core Design Contradiction:

Adaptability or versatilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The wire harness outlet is positioned at the same location as the exhaust port, allowing the blower case to maintain a standardized design across different vehicle models. This universal positioning ensures that the wire harness outlet naturally faces downward regardless of attachment orientation, eliminating the need for model-specific design modifications.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of designing the wire harness outlet position separately from the exhaust port, the invention inverts the conventional approach by aligning them at the same location. This reversal ensures that the wire harness outlet inherits the downward-facing orientation from the exhaust port design, automatically preventing moisture entry without requiring additional design efforts.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If the wire harness outlet is positioned to always face downward to prevent moisture entry, then the reliability of the motor is improved, but the design flexibility for different attachment positions is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemotor protection from moistureVSAvoidattachment position flexibility

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The wire harness outlet and exhaust port are merged into the same location on the blower case. This combination ensures that both functions share the same downward-facing orientation, providing reliable moisture protection while maintaining design flexibility for various attachment positions and angles.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

By positioning the wire harness outlet at the same location as the exhaust port, both openings achieve the same downward-facing orientation regardless of the blower unit's attachment position or angle. This equipotential positioning ensures consistent moisture protection across all installation scenarios.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #12Equipotentiality

3Ease of operation

If customized blower case designs are created for each vehicle model to accommodate different attachment positions, then the ease of installation is improved, but the manufacturing costs and development time increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveinstallation easeVSAvoidmanufacturing cost

Core Design Contradiction:

Ease of operationVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

A single standardized blower case design with the wire harness outlet positioned at the exhaust port location can be used across all vehicle models. This universal design maintains ease of installation while significantly reducing manufacturing costs and development time by eliminating the need for model-specific customization.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

Instead of changing the blower case design parameters for each vehicle model, the invention maintains constant design parameters while achieving adaptability through the strategic positioning of the wire harness outlet at the exhaust port, which naturally faces downward in all attachment configurations.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

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 effectively prevents moisture from entering the motor, reducing design and manufacturing costs by eliminating the need for customized blower case designs and ensuring reliable operation across various vehicle models.

Implementation Method 1

a centrifugal fan housed in the blower case and coupled to the rotational shaft of the motor in an integrally rotatable manner

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectCentrifugal force: Centrifugal Force

Data Source

PatentUS11988215B2Blower unit, and blower unit attachment structure

Publication Date: 2024.05.21 PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO LTD

AI summary

A blower unit includes at least a blower case that is hollow and a centrifugal fan coupled to a rotational shaft of a motor that is housed in the blower case and has the rotational shaft in an integrally rotatable manner. The blower case includes an outer surface including two side surfaces facing each other at a predetermined interval, and an outer circumferential surface continuous with the two side surfaces. The blower case includes a suction port, an air discharge portion provided with an exhaust port at a distal end, and a wire harness outlet. The exhaust port and the wire harness outlet face in the same direction as viewed from the side surface.