Coaxial Ring Motor Support With H-Shaped Elastomer Decoupling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing motor supports for heating, ventilation, and air conditioning devices in motor vehicles face challenges in effectively decoupling vibrations, leading to potential breakage of decoupling elements and increased noise within the vehicle.

Innovation Solution

A motor support design featuring two coaxial rings with a decoupling means comprising H-shaped elastomeric blocks interposed between the rings, which enhances mechanical endurance and reduces vibration transmission while maintaining a low natural frequency to minimize noise.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Object-affected harmful factors

If a decoupling element allows significant relative movement between inner ring and outer ring to reduce vibration transmission, then vibration isolation is improved, but the decoupling element deteriorates and breaks due to repeated movements

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevibration transmissionVSAvoidmechanical endurance of decoupling element

Core Design Contradiction:

Object-affected harmful factorsVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The decoupling element is segmented into multiple blocks (at least two blocks) distributed around the circumference between the inner and outer rings. Each block independently absorbs vibrations and relative movements, distributing the mechanical stress across multiple segments rather than concentrating it in a single element, thereby preventing early deterioration while maintaining effective vibration isolation.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The decoupling element uses composite construction combining elastomeric material blocks with a central rod or core structure. The elastomeric blocks provide vibration damping and flexibility, while the rod provides structural support and positioning, creating a composite system that maintains mechanical endurance under repeated movements.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #40Composite materials

2Reliability

If the decoupling element is reinforced to prevent breakage, then mechanical endurance is improved, but the natural frequency increases leading to increased noise

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvemechanical endurance of decoupling elementVSAvoidnoise from increased natural frequency

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSObject-generated harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The decoupling element exhibits local quality variations: the elastomeric blocks provide soft, compliant characteristics for vibration absorption, while the central rod provides rigid structural support. This localized differentiation allows the system to maintain low natural frequency through the compliant blocks while preventing breakage through the rigid rod, avoiding the noise problem associated with uniformly reinforced structures.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The design carefully controls the physical parameters of the decoupling element, including the dimensions, material properties, and distribution of the blocks and rod, to optimize the balance between mechanical strength and natural frequency. By adjusting parameters such as block thickness, material hardness, and rod diameter, the system achieves both durability and low noise operation.

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

The proposed motor support effectively reinforces the decoupling element, preventing early deterioration and reducing noise within the vehicle by maintaining a relatively low natural frequency.

Implementation Method 1

a decoupling means for decoupling the two coaxial rings and comprising a plurality of blocks which are made of an elastomeric material and are interposed between the inner ring and the outer ring

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Implementation Method 2

each block being substantially H-shaped... the ratio NB is greater than or equal to 1.4 and the ratio A/D is greater than or equal to 2

Methodology Applied

Scientific EffectElasticity: Elasticity

Data Source

PatentUS12224645B2Shaped decoupling means of two coaxial rings in a motor, and support for a motor and heating, ventilation for a motor vehicle

Publication Date: 2025.02.11 VALEO SYST THERMIQUES SAS

AI summary

The motor support (16) comprises an inner ring (20) able to receive an element of the motor and an outer ring (22) able to be fastened to a housing, and a means (24) of decoupling between the two coaxial rings (20; 22) comprising a plurality of pads (46) of elastomer material that are interposed between the inner ring (20) and the outer ring (22). Each pad (46) is substantially “H”-shaped in form. The two arms (46int, 46ext; 461, 462) of the «H» are separated by a distance B. Each arm (46int, 46ext; 461, 462) has a width D measured in the radial direction. The web (46a) of the “H” has a width A measured in the orthoradial direction. The ratio A/B B is greater than or equal to 1.4, and the ratio A/D is greater than or equal to 2.