On-vehicle Electric Compressor Collision Protection
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Solution Overview
Problem
On-vehicle electric compressors are vulnerable to damage from external forces during vehicle collisions, as existing protectors can transmit forces to the motor driving circuit, potentially causing damage.
Innovation Solution
A protecting member with contact and receiving portions of higher rigidity than the cover is integrated between the housing and cover, absorbing and redirecting external forces to prevent deformation and damage to the motor driving circuit.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Strength
If a protector is provided in the cover to prevent deformation from external force, then the cover is protected against collision damage, but the external force is transmitted through the protector to the motor driving circuit, causing potential damage
Solution Approach 1:
The patent introduces a receiving portion with higher rigidity than the cover as an intermediary structure. When external force is applied to the protecting member, the force is transmitted to the receiving portion (which has greater rigidity) rather than directly to the motor driving circuit. This intermediary structure with superior rigidity acts as a mediator that prevents harmful force transmission to the vulnerable motor driving circuit components.
2Force
If the cover rigidity is increased to resist external force, then collision resistance is improved, but the cover may still deform under sufficient force and damage the motor driving circuit
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the rigidity parameter by introducing a receiving portion with higher rigidity than the cover. This parameter change creates a structural hierarchy where the receiving portion (with superior rigidity) absorbs and withstands external forces that would otherwise deform the cover and damage the motor driving circuit. The receiving portion's enhanced rigidity parameter ensures reliable protection under collision conditions.
Data Source
AI summary
An on-vehicle electric compressor for a vehicle includes a compression mechanism compressing a refrigerant, an electric motor driving the compression mechanism and a housing accommodating therein the compression mechanism and the electric motor. The on-vehicle electric compressor further includes a cover fixed to the housing, a motor driving circuit disposed between the housing and the cover and driving the electric motor, and a protecting member protecting the cover against an external force caused when the vehicle has a collision. The protecting member has a contact portion that is contactable with a receiving portion when the external force is applied to the protecting member, the receiving portion having a greater rigidity than the cover to receive the external force through the contact portion.