Electric Drive Unit Venting Layout to Prevent Oil Blockage
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric drive units face issues with venting due to oil being flung around by rotating parts, which can block or impair the venting process, leading to pressure imbalances in the oil chambers.
Innovation Solution
The drive unit incorporates a housing cover with strategically positioned vent openings that are angled and located away from the radial outer region of the housing cover, preventing oil from being flung directly into the vent openings. Additionally, the vent openings are connected to elements for venting the oil chamber via connection pipes, ensuring effective air equalization.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a vent is provided in the housing for venting the oil chamber, then pressure equalization is achieved, but the vent can be blocked or impaired by oil flung around by rotating parts
Solution Approach 1:
A screen is introduced as an intermediary element between the oil chamber and the vent opening. The screen allows air to pass through for pressure equalization while blocking oil droplets from reaching and blocking the vent opening, thus resolving the contradiction between maintaining venting reliability and preventing oil interference
Solution Approach 2:
The vent opening is repositioned from the housing to the housing cover, which is a different spatial dimension and location. This relocation places the vent opening in a region less affected by oil splashing from rotating parts, while the screen provides an additional protective layer
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the vent opening is positioned in the housing away from the oil chamber, then oil cannot block the vent, but the venting path becomes longer and more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The housing cover is given multiple functions: it closes the oil chamber axially, provides mounting for the vent opening, and incorporates a screen for oil protection. By integrating these functions into a single component, the design avoids adding complex separate vent ducts while still achieving oil protection
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 enhances the venting efficiency of the electric drive unit by preventing oil from blocking the vent openings, thereby maintaining proper pressure balance in the oil chambers, even when the drive unit is tilted or operating under varying conditions.
Implementation Method 1
the pressure in the air region of the oil chamber does not become too high or too low
Implementation Method 2
oil can flow from one oil chamber to the adjacent one
Implementation Method 3
oil is moved from an oil reservoir through the drive unit with the aid of a pump
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is a drive unit (1) comprising a housing (2), an electric motor (3) disposed inside the housing, and at least one oil chamber (15) which is disposed in the housing (2). The oil chamber (15) comprises an oil region (21) and an air region (22) and is closed off to the outside by a housing cover (35). The housing cover (35) comprises at least one vent opening (36, 37) for venting the oil chamber (15), which is disposed at a distance from a radial outer region of the housing cover (35) and is fluidically connected to an element (32, 38, 47, 48) for venting the oil chamber (15).