Cooling Fan Torque Coupling for Fast, Concentric Motor Mounting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional cooling modules for electric vehicles have aerodynamic inefficiencies due to the reduced number of cooling openings, which can impact performance and autonomy, and require improved ventilation devices that can efficiently mount and cool electric motors without compromising aerodynamics.
Innovation Solution
A ventilation device comprising a bladed member and a torque transmission part with dual fixing assemblies that allow for easy mounting and alignment of the bladed member on the electric motor, ensuring good concentricity and high-speed rotation, while maintaining cooling efficiency and reducing bulk, using a combination of snap-fastening elements and screw fixation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Loss of energy
If the number of cooling openings is reduced to improve aerodynamic characteristics, then aerodynamic efficiency and autonomy are improved, but cooling efficiency deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The ventilation device uses a variable-speed electric motor that can dynamically adjust its rotation speed based on cooling demands. At high speeds, it generates strong airflow for effective cooling; at low or zero speed, it minimizes energy consumption and maintains aerodynamic efficiency. This dynamic adaptability resolves the contradiction between cooling performance and aerodynamic efficiency.
Solution Approach 2:
The system changes the operational parameters of the ventilation device by controlling the electric motor's rotation speed rather than maintaining constant operation. The motor can operate across a wide speed range, allowing the system to optimize between cooling capacity (high speed) and aerodynamic drag (low speed), thereby resolving the contradiction between these two opposing requirements.
2Strength
If conventional screw-based mounting is used for the bladed member, then secure fixation is achieved, but mounting complexity and time increase
Solution Approach 1:
The mounting system is segmented into two distinct fixing assemblies: a first fixing assembly with a snap-fastening element for rapid attachment, and a second fixing assembly with screw fixation for secure locking. This segmentation allows the snap-fastening mechanism to provide quick initial mounting while the screw mechanism ensures long-term security, thereby reducing overall mounting time without compromising strength.
Solution Approach 2:
The snap-fastening element performs a preliminary action by quickly securing the bladed member to the torque transmission part before the screw fixation is fully tightened. This preliminary securing reduces mounting time significantly while the subsequent screw tightening ensures the required mounting strength, effectively resolving the contradiction between speed and security.
3Strength
If the torque transmission part is made bulky to ensure structural strength, then mechanical strength is improved, but device weight and aerodynamic drag increase
Solution Approach 1:
The torque transmission part utilizes a thin-walled cylindrical structure that provides sufficient structural strength through optimized wall thickness and geometric design rather than bulk material. This thin-walled design significantly reduces the weight of the torque transmission part while maintaining the necessary mechanical strength to transmit motor torque to the bladed member, thereby resolving the contradiction between strength and weight.
4Ease of manufacture
If manual alignment is used for mounting the bladed member, then positioning accuracy is achieved, but mounting precision and concentricity deteriorate
Solution Approach 1:
A guide pad acts as an intermediary element between the bladed member and the torque transmission part. The guide pad fits into a corresponding guide recess, automatically aligning the bladed member with the rotation axis during assembly. This intermediary mechanism ensures high concentricity and positioning accuracy without requiring complex manual alignment procedures, thereby resolving the contradiction between ease of manufacture and manufacturing precision.
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 solution enhances the mounting process, ensures efficient cooling, and improves aerodynamic characteristics by allowing for a streamlined design with reduced weight and improved torque transmission, thereby enhancing the performance and autonomy of electric vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor, a torque transmission part arranged so as to transmit a torque developed by the electric motor toward the bladed member
Implementation Method 2
a bladed member... transmit a torque developed by the electric motor toward the bladed member... generate a stream of air in contact with the at least one heat exchanger
Data Source
AI summary
The invention relates to a ventilation device (5) for a motor vehicle cooling module, comprising: 1. a member (6) with blades; 2. an electric motor (7); 3. a torque transmission part (8) arranged to transmit a torque developed by the electric motor (7) to the member (6) with blades; characterized in that the torque transmission part (8) comprises: a. a first attachment assembly for attaching the torque transmission part (8) to the member (6) with blades; b. and a second attachment assembly for attaching the torque transmission part (8) to the electric motor (7).