Electric Unit Mounting Structure for Inverter Collision Isolation
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing vehicle mounting structures for electric units are prone to insulation breakage of inverters due to interference with deformed side members during vehicle collisions, leading to potential short circuits.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle mounting structure featuring a side member with a high rigidity portion and a low rigidity portion in the vehicle front-rear direction, where the side member includes a curved portion overlapping with the inverter, allowing the low rigidity portion to deform and absorb energy during collisions, preventing interference with the inverter.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the inverter is disposed in the vicinity of the side member, then space utilization is improved, but the inverter is vulnerable to interference and damage during vehicle collision
Solution Approach 1:
The side member is divided into a high rigidity portion and a low rigidity portion, allowing different sections to serve different functions: the high rigidity portion maintains structural strength while the low rigidity portion deforms to protect the inverter during collision
Solution Approach 2:
The low rigidity portion acts as an intermediary element between the side member and the inverter, absorbing collision energy through deformation and preventing direct interference with the inverter
2Strength
If the side member is designed with high rigidity throughout, then structural strength is improved, but the side member cannot deform to absorb collision energy
Solution Approach 1:
Different portions of the side member are assigned different rigidity characteristics: the high rigidity portion maintains overall structural strength while the low rigidity portion locally deforms to absorb collision energy
Solution Approach 2:
The side member is segmented into distinct high rigidity and low rigidity portions, allowing each segment to perform its specific function independently
3Loss of energy
If the side member deforms during collision, then collision energy is absorbed, but the deformed side member interferes with and damages the inverter
Solution Approach 1:
By dividing the side member into high and low rigidity portions, the deformation is controlled to occur only in the low rigidity portion, which is positioned away from the inverter, thus absorbing energy without interfering with the inverter
Solution Approach 2:
The low rigidity portion is positioned in a different spatial dimension (below the inverter in the vertical direction) allowing it to deform without interfering with the inverter's horizontal space
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 prevents insulation breakage and short circuits by allowing the side member to bend away from the inverter, ensuring the electric unit remains fixed and avoiding interference, thus enhancing safety and reliability.
Implementation Method 1
The side member includes a low rigidity portion, and attenuates energy by deforming a shape thereof at the time of a vehicle collision
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
A vehicle mounting structure for an electric unit 1 includes a side member 10, a suspension member 5 including a high rigidity portion 5a and a low rigidity portion 5b in a vehicle front-rear direction, and an electric unit 1 in which an inverter 2 and a motor 3 are integrated. The side member 10 includes a curved portion 10c having an upwardly convex curved shape. The curved portion 10c is disposed at a position overlapping with the inverter 2 in the vehicle front-rear direction. The electric unit 1 is fixed to the low rigidity portion 5b.