Compact Drive Device Axial Layout Overlap
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional driving apparatuses for vehicle wiper systems tend to be larger in the axis direction due to the side-by-side disposition of terminal holders and positioning members.
Innovation Solution
The driving apparatus overlaps the layout regions of the positioning member and terminal holder in the axis direction, incorporating a stator, rotor, gear case, bearing, worm, worm wheel, cover, control board, and load receiving mechanism to determine the position of the rotating shaft, allowing for a compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If the terminal holder and positioning member are disposed side by side in the axis direction, then the functions are clearly separated and easy to manufacture, but the driving apparatus is increased in size in the axis direction
Solution Approach 1:
The terminal holder and positioning member are merged into a single integrated component that performs both functions simultaneously. The terminal holder includes a positioning protrusion that engages with a positioning groove in the gear case, allowing the component to both hold terminals and determine the axial position of the rotating shaft, thereby reducing the overall size in the axis direction while maintaining ease of manufacture through integral formation
Solution Approach 2:
The terminal holder is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as an electrical connection component (holding terminals) and as a positioning component (determining axial position of the rotating shaft). This universal design eliminates the need for separate dedicated positioning members, reducing the axial dimension while maintaining both functions
2Length of moving object
If the layout region of the positioning member and terminal holder are overlapped in the axis direction, then the size of the driving apparatus is suppressed, but the structural complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
By merging the terminal holder and positioning member into one integrated component, the patent achieves overlapping layout regions in the axis direction without significantly increasing structural complexity. The integration is accomplished through simple geometric features (positioning protrusion and groove) that add minimal complexity while enabling both functions to coexist in overlapping spatial regions
Solution Approach 2:
The positioning function is nested within the terminal holder structure through the positioning protrusion feature. This nested arrangement allows the positioning mechanism to be contained within the overall terminal holder assembly, enabling overlapping layout regions while maintaining relatively simple structural complexity
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 reduces the size of the driving apparatus in the axis direction by overlapping the terminal holder and positioning member layouts, enabling a more compact design without the need for additional space for terminal connections.
Implementation Method 1
an armature rotatably installed inside the yoke. The armature is formed by winding an energizing coil around it... forming a rotating magnetic field together with the stator
Implementation Method 2
a bearing disposed inside the gear case, the bearing rotatably supporting the rotating shaft
Implementation Method 3
a worm formed on the rotating shaft; and a worm wheel rotatably disposed in the gear case, the worm wheel having a worm gear which is meshed with the worm
Data Source
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AI summary
In a driving apparatus (10) in which a position of a rotating shaft (27) of an electric motor (16) in a direction of an axis (B1) is determined, the driving apparatus (10) has: a stopper (77) which determines a position of the rotating shaft (27) in the direction of the axis (B1), and a terminal holder (31) which holds a first terminal for supplying an electric current to the electric motor (16), wherein a layout region of the stopper (77) in the direction of the axis (B1) and a layout region of the terminal holder (31) in the direction of the axis (B1) are overlapped with each other.