EPS Control Unit Air Passage for Pressure Buffering and Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Electric power steering devices face internal pressure fluctuations due to heat generation, leading to potential waterproof function loss and damage from water penetration, and limited heat radiation performance due to size constraints.
Innovation Solution
An air circulation passage connects the electronic control unit's accommodation space to the outside, forming a divided air circulation passage with a smaller cross-sectional area to buffer pressure fluctuations and enhance heat radiation by increasing air flow velocity.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Temperature
If a heat sink member is used to radiate heat from the electronic control unit, then heat radiation performance is improved, but the device size increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the heat dissipation function with the existing device structure by forming the air circulation passage through the housing that accommodates the electronic control unit. The housing serves dual purposes: structural enclosure and heat dissipation pathway, eliminating the need for separate heat sink components.
Solution Approach 2:
The housing structure is designed to perform multiple functions: it provides mechanical protection for the electronic control unit, defines the accommodation space, and simultaneously serves as a heat dissipation structure through the integrated air circulation passage. This multi-functionality reduces overall device size while maintaining effective heat radiation.
2Reliability
If the accommodation space is sealed to prevent water penetration, then waterproof reliability is improved, but internal pressure fluctuations cause sealing failure
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs an elastic sealing member (O-ring) that can deform elastically to accommodate pressure differences between the interior and exterior of the housing. This flexible sealing approach maintains waterproof reliability while allowing the sealing structure to adapt to internal pressure fluctuations without failure.
Solution Approach 2:
The air circulation passage is designed to equalize pressure between the accommodation space and the external environment, preventing extreme pressure differences that would stress the sealing members. This pressure buffering effect protects the sealing structure from pressure-induced failure before it occurs.
3Temperature
If air circulation passage cross-sectional area is increased to improve heat radiation, then heat transfer performance is improved, but internal pressure fluctuations increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent optimizes the cross-sectional area of the air circulation passage to achieve a balance between heat transfer performance and pressure stability. By carefully selecting the passage dimensions, sufficient air flow for heat dissipation is maintained while pressure fluctuations are kept within acceptable limits for the sealing structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The air circulation passage is designed with a cross-sectional area that is sufficient to enable effective heat radiation but not excessively large. This partial action approach provides adequate cooling performance while avoiding the excessive pressure fluctuations that would occur with a much larger passage, achieving an optimal compromise.
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 buffers internal pressure fluctuations and efficiently radiates heat from the electronic control unit, preventing water damage and improving heat transfer performance.
Implementation Method 1
an air circulation passage connecting an accommodation space of an electronic control unit to the outside so as to circulate air to buffer internal pressure fluctuations is provided
Implementation Method 2
the accommodation space side of the air circulation passage is formed as a divided air circulation passage divided into a plurality of passages, a cooling object member is arranged so as to come in thermal contact with the air flowing through the divided air circulation passage
Implementation Method 3
a cooling object member is arranged so as to come in thermal contact with the air flowing through the divided air circulation passage
Data Source
AI summary
Air circulation passages connect an accommodation space of an electronic control unit to the outside to circulate air to buffer internal pressure fluctuations. The accommodation space side of the air circulation passages is formed as a divided air circulation passage with a plurality of passages, a cooling object member is arranged to come in thermal contact with air flowing through the divided air circulation passage, and the total cross-sectional area of the divided air circulation passage is smaller than the cross-sectional area of the air circulation passages that are not divided. Because the accommodation space of the electronic control unit is connected to the outside, internal pressure fluctuations can be buffered, and increasing the flow velocity of the air flowing through the divided air circulation passage on the accommodation space side of the air circulation passages allows heat inside the accommodation space to be efficiently radiated to the outside.