Electric Power Steering Motor Forced Air Cooling
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric power steering systems capable of delivering high mechanical power are often large and heavy, making them difficult to integrate into smaller vehicles or those where weight is a concern, and they lack effective cooling solutions to prevent overheating.
Innovation Solution
An electric power steering system with an electric motor cooled by forced air cooling, where the motor is housed in a thermally conductive enclosure with defined air flow paths to efficiently remove heat, allowing for a smaller and lighter design while maintaining high mechanical power output.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Power
If conventional electric power steering systems are designed to deliver high mechanical power, then the power output is improved, but the size and weight of the system increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies parameter changes by implementing forced air cooling to alter the thermal parameters of the electric motor. This cooling mechanism allows the motor to operate at higher power levels continuously without overheating, effectively increasing the sustainable mechanical power output without proportionally increasing the motor size or system weight
Solution Approach 2:
The patent utilizes pneumatic principles through forced air cooling systems. Air is circulated through the motor housing and internal passages to remove heat generated during high-power operation. This pneumatic cooling approach enables compact motor design while maintaining high continuous power output, resolving the contradiction between power density and system weight
2Power
If conventional electric power steering systems are designed to deliver high mechanical power, then the power output is improved, but the system becomes difficult to integrate into smaller vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the thermal management parameters through forced air cooling, the system achieves higher power density. This allows the electric motor to be downsized while maintaining the required continuous power output for high-performance steering applications, thereby reducing the volume occupied in the vehicle
3Power
If electric motor operates at high power levels without effective cooling, then the mechanical power output is maintained, but the risk of motor failure due to overheating increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements forced air cooling where air is actively circulated through the motor housing and internal heat dissipation passages. This pneumatic cooling system continuously removes heat generated during high-power operation, maintaining the motor within safe operating temperature ranges and preventing thermal failure, thus ensuring reliability during sustained high-power steering demands
Solution Approach 2:
The system incorporates temperature monitoring and control mechanisms that provide feedback on motor thermal state. Based on this feedback, the cooling system adjusts air flow rates to maintain optimal operating temperatures, preventing overheating while allowing the motor to operate at high power levels with improved reliability
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 system achieves improved steering performance and safety by enabling higher continuous power output, reducing the risk of motor failure due to overheating, and allowing for integration into vehicles with size and weight constraints.
Implementation Method 1
the electric motor is cooled by forced air cooling
Data Source
AI summary
Disclosed is an electric power steering system for a vehicle, the power steering system including: an electric motor configured to provide mechanical power to a steering mechanism of the vehicle for steering the vehicle; a housing in which the electric motor is disposed, wherein the housing comprises an inner housing in which the electric motor is disposed, and an outer housing disposed around the inner housing, and wherein an air flow path is defined within the housing, the air flow path being defined at least in part by a gap between the inner housing and the outer housing; and an air flow source arranged to generate an air flow along the air flow path to cool the electric motor, wherein the air flow source is independent from the electric motor.