EV Drive Unit Cover Structure for High-Voltage Vibration Isolation

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Solution Overview

Problem

In existing driving devices, vibration applied to the cover is directly transmitted to the high voltage component, such as an inverter body, leading to potential damage and inefficiency.

Innovation Solution

The driving device design includes a casing that accommodates the electric motor and gear, with the high voltage component fixed to the casing's side wall, allowing the cover to be connected to a constituent member via a bracket, thereby reducing vibration transmission through the side wall, which dampens and redirects the vibration away from the high voltage component.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Ease of manufacture

If the high voltage component is fixed to the cover, then the structure is simple and easy to manufacture, but vibration applied to the cover is directly transmitted to the high voltage component

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructure simplicityVSAvoidvibration resistance
Core Design Contradiction:
Ease of manufactureVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

The patent introduces the casing as an intermediary component between the cover and the high voltage component. The high voltage component is fixed to the casing rather than directly to the cover, creating a decoupling structure that interrupts the vibration transmission path while maintaining structural integrity and ease of assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Reliability

If the high voltage component is fixed to the side wall of the casing from the outside, then vibration transmission is reduced, but the structure becomes more complex

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvevibration resistanceVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The patent segments the mounting structure into distinct functional components: the cover, the casing with side wall, and the high voltage component. By separating the fixation function (performed by the casing) from the protective enclosure function (performed by the cover), the design achieves vibration isolation without excessive complexity, as each component performs its designated function independently.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

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 reduces vibration transmission to the high voltage component, enhancing the device's durability and operational stability by decoupling the vibration source from the high voltage component.

Implementation Method 1

the vibration transmitted from the constituent member to the cover is transmitted to the high voltage component through the side wall of the casing. Thus, with each aspect of the present disclosure, vibration transmitted from the constituent member to the high voltage component can be reduced

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectVibration damping: Damping

Data Source

PatentEP4385778A1Driving device
Publication Date: 2024.06.19 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP4385778A1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4385778A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4385778A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A driving device (10) includes an electric motor (42) configured to drive a wheel of a vehicle, a gear (32) connected to the electric motor (42), a casing (11) accommodating at least one of the electric motor (42) and the gear (32), a high voltage component (22) fixed to a side wall of the casing (11) from outside of the casing (11) and electrically connected to the electric motor (42), and a cover (21) fixed to the side wall of the casing (11) from outside of the casing (11) and covering the high voltage component (22). The cover (21) is connected to a constituent member located outside the cover (21).