Electric Vehicle Drive Device Cover Safety Interlock
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Solution Overview
Problem
Drive devices for electric vehicles face challenges in preventing accidental contact with live components when the cover is removed, as existing safety measures cannot transfer the components to a safe state in time due to the ease of cover removal after releasing the signal plug connection.
Innovation Solution
The first fastening means and first connection means are arranged such that access to the second fastening means is only possible after the second connection means is released, creating additional time and difficulty in transferring the cover from the first to the second position, thereby enhancing safety by preventing accidental contact during maintenance or repair.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If the cover is fastened to the housing body using only the second fastening means after signal plug removal, then the cover can be removed quickly for maintenance access, but the safety device cannot transfer live components to a safe state in time before cover removal
Solution Approach 1:
The first connection means (signal socket) is positioned to be disconnected before the second fastening means (screw) becomes accessible. This preliminary arrangement ensures that the electrical connection is severed first, allowing the safety device sufficient time to transfer live components to a safe state before the cover can be removed for maintenance access.
Solution Approach 2:
The first connection means acts as an intermediary safety mechanism between the signal plug removal and cover removal. The guide structure ensures that the second connection means must be fully disconnected before the second fastening means can be accessed, creating a controlled sequence that mediates between operational ease and safety requirements.
2Object-affected harmful factors
If the second connection means is positioned to cover the first fastening means during connection, then access to fastening means is restricted for safety, but maintenance access becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening and connection functions are segmented into separate means: the first fastening means (hole with internal thread) and second fastening means (screw), along with first and second connection means. This segmentation allows the connection means to be positioned to provide safety protection while the fastening means remain accessible through the guide structure for maintenance purposes.
Solution Approach 2:
The guide structure creates a spatial dimension constraint where the second connection means must be fully disconnected along the guide direction before the second fastening means becomes accessible. This dimensional arrangement ensures safety protection during normal operation while allowing controlled maintenance access when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A drive device for an electrically drivable vehicle includes a housing body with a first fastening device, a cover which, after release of a second fastening device interacting with the first fastening device for fastening the cover to the housing body, is movable from a first position, in which the cover covers live components of the drive device during operation of the drive device, into a second position, in which the components are exposed, and a first connection device, to which a second connection device is connectable for establishing an electrically conductive connection and/or a data connection. The first fastening device and the first connection device are arranged such that in the first position access to the second fastening means in its position fastening the cover is only possible after the second connection device has been released from the first connection device.