Inclined Intake Path for Electric Storage Module Liquid Discharge

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing temperature adjusting structures for electric storage modules in vehicles fail to effectively discharge foreign matter, such as liquids, from the intake path, leading to potential damage and temperature regulation issues.

Innovation Solution

A temperature adjusting structure with an inclined intake path and a discharge mechanism that uses gravity to expel liquids outside, combined with a protruding face to guide foreign matter to a discharge port, ensuring efficient removal and simplified design.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If beads are placed on the air movement path to prevent liquid from reaching the battery pack, then liquid prevention is improved, but the path shape becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid preventionVSAvoidpath shape
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of trying to block liquid with beads in the air path, the invention inverts the approach by providing an inclined face that actively guides liquid back to the intake port. The inclined face is positioned to receive liquid and guide it back outside the duct, transforming the problem from blocking liquid to directing liquid away from the battery pack.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

2Reliability

If a tank is used to house liquid entering through the intake port, then liquid containment is improved, but liquid may move to the duct depending on vehicle running state

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveliquid containmentVSAvoidliquid position
Core Design Contradiction:
ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

The inclined face is pre-configured in the duct to intercept and redirect liquid before it can reach the battery pack. By providing this guiding structure in advance, the system proactively prevents liquid from entering the battery pack regardless of vehicle running state or liquid accumulation in the tank.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #10Preliminary action

3Temperature

If the intake port is opened toward the vehicle interior to guide air to the battery pack, then temperature adjustment is improved, but liquid can enter through the intake port

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvebattery pack temperatureVSAvoidliquid entry
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The inclined face acts as an intermediary structure between the intake port and the battery pack. It intercepts liquid that enters through the intake port and redirects it back outside the duct, allowing air to pass through to cool the battery pack while preventing liquid from reaching the battery pack.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

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 structure effectively discharges foreign matter from the intake path, preventing damage and maintaining temperature stability by using an inclined face and discharge port, while simplifying the design and ensuring efficient air supply to the electric storage module.

Implementation Method 1

A bottom face of the intake path has an inclined face that is provided for a second intake duct including the intake port, and the inclined face extends upward from a lower end portion of the intake port and faces the intake port

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectGravity: Gravitation

Data Source

PatentEP2368740B1Temperature control structure for electricity storage module
Publication Date: 2020.04.15 TOYOTA JIDOSHA KK
  • EP2368740B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP2368740B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP2368740B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

[PROBLEM] To provide a temperature adjusting structure including an intake duct for guiding air in the vehicle interior to a electric storage module wherein, even when a foreign matter such as a liquid enters the intake duct, the foreign matter can be discharged easily to the outside. [SOVING MEANS] A temperature adjusting structure adjusting the temperature of an electric storage module (20) mounted on a vehicle has an intake path (14, 31, 32) which takes in air in the vehicle interior from an intake port (32a) and guides the air to the electric storage module located below a horizontal plane on which the intake port is located. A bottom face of the intake path has an inclined face (32c) extending upward from a lower end portion (32a1) of the intake port and facing the intake port.