Blower Motor Support with Overmolded Elastomeric Vibration Absorption
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current vibration-absorbing solutions for motor vehicle heating, ventilation, and air-conditioning unit blowers are inadequate in absorbing a wide range of frequencies, leading to discomfort for passengers and increased component wear due to unaddressed vibrations and noise, and are unreliable over time, especially under climatic and mechanical stress.
Innovation Solution
The integration of vibration-absorbing means into the motor support, featuring cylindrical pads and longitudinal strands made of thermoplastic elastomer, overmolded onto the fixing housing, which collaborate with a cylindrical sleeve to effectively absorb vibrations across various frequencies, providing both rigidity and softness for optimal noise reduction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Object-affected harmful factors
If rubber pads are used to acoustically insulate the motor from the support, then noise transmission is reduced, but vibration absorption across the full frequency range is insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The patent uses a composite structure combining a rigid plastic sleeve with overmolded elastomeric vibration-absorbing means. This composite material approach allows the support to simultaneously provide structural rigidity through the plastic sleeve and effective vibration absorption across multiple frequencies through the elastomeric material, resolving the contradiction between noise reduction and comprehensive vibration absorption.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes the material parameters by selecting an elastomeric material with specific viscoelastic properties that can dissipate energy across a broad frequency spectrum. The elastomeric overmold is designed with specific hardness and damping characteristics that enable it to absorb both low-frequency vibrations from motor imbalance and high-frequency vibrations from brush contact, thereby improving vibration absorption effectiveness while maintaining noise reduction.
2Strength
If the support structure is made rigid to withstand external vibrations, then structural strength is improved, but vibration transmission from motor imbalance is amplified
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies local quality by providing vibration isolation only at the motor mounting locations through elastomeric overmolded pads, while the rest of the support structure maintains its rigid plastic construction for overall structural strength. This localized approach allows the support to be rigid where needed for strength while being compliant where needed for vibration absorption, resolving the contradiction between structural strength and vibration transmission.
Solution Approach 2:
The elastomeric overmolded vibration-absorbing means act as an intermediary layer between the motor and the rigid plastic support structure. This intermediary material absorbs and dissipates vibration energy from motor imbalance before it can be transmitted to the rigid support, thereby preventing the amplification of vibrations while maintaining the structural strength of the rigid support.
3Object-affected harmful factors
If soft material is used to reduce noise transmission, then vibration absorption is improved, but rigidity to withstand external knocks is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges two previously separate components into a single integrated structure: the rigid plastic support sleeve and the soft elastomeric vibration-absorbing pads are overmolded together to form a unified component. This merging allows the structure to simultaneously provide rigidity for withstanding external knocks and softness for vibration absorption, as the rigid plastic portion handles impact forces while the elastomeric portions absorb vibrations.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated support structure combines rigid plastic and elastomeric materials in a composite construction. The rigid plastic provides structural strength and resistance to external knocks, while the elastomeric material provides vibration absorption and noise reduction. This composite material approach resolves the contradiction between rigidity and softness by allowing each material to perform its optimal function within the same component.
4Reliability
If separate vibration-absorbing components are used, then vibration isolation is achieved, but device complexity and manufacturing steps increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the support structure and vibration-absorbing components into a single integrated part through overmolding. The elastomeric vibration-absorbing means are directly overmolded onto the plastic support sleeve, eliminating the need for separate vibration isolation components and their associated mounting hardware. This merging maintains effective vibration isolation while significantly reducing device complexity and the number of discrete components.
Solution Approach 2:
The integrated support structure serves multiple functions simultaneously: it provides structural support for the motor, absorbs vibrations across the frequency spectrum, reduces noise transmission, and resists external knocks. By combining these functions into a single multi-functional component through overmolding, the patent achieves effective vibration isolation without increasing device complexity, as the same structure performs all these roles.
5Strength
If traditional mounting methods are used, then motor fixation is achieved, but motor removal for repair or replacement becomes complicated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the support structure into a removable motor mounting section and a fixed housing section. The motor is mounted on the plastic sleeve which can be independently removed from the housing by releasing the elastomeric vibration-absorbing pads. This segmentation allows the motor to be easily removed for repair or replacement while maintaining strong fixation during operation, as the pads can be released and reattached without complex fastening mechanisms.
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 solution significantly reduces vibration transmission, enhancing passenger comfort and extending component lifespan by effectively decoupling the motor from its support, while allowing for easy motor removal and replacement, thus reducing component failure rates.
Implementation Method 1
vibration-absorbing means, in which said vibration-absorbing means are overmolded onto the fixing housing, so as to collaborate with the sleeve
Implementation Method 2
the vibration-absorbing means are based on an elastically deformable material such as an elastomer
Data Source
AI summary
A support (10) for a motor, particularly for a motor vehicle heating, ventilation and/or air-conditioning unit blower, includes a more or less cylindrical hollow sleeve (20) intended to accept the motor, and a fixing housing (30) intended to accept the hollow sleeve (20). The support (10) also includes insulating pads (40) and longitudinal strands (60) for absorbing vibrations.