Insulating Bridging Ring for Thermal Decoupling in Control Units
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing control units in motor vehicles face excessive heat transfer from the transmission housing, leading to a temperature exceedance that can damage electronic components due to direct thermal coupling during operation.
Innovation Solution
An insulator element with a bridging ring made of a thermally poor conductive material, featuring snap-in hooks for fixation, is positioned between the housing and the carrier element, creating a thermal decoupling and secure locking mechanism, allowing for assembly without additional elements and protecting against unintentional removal.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the control unit housing is directly fastened to the transmission housing, then the assembly is simple and secure, but heat is transferred from the transmission housing to the control unit housing, exceeding the permissible operating temperature
Solution Approach 1:
An insulator element is introduced as an intermediary component between the control unit housing and the transmission housing. This insulator element serves as a thermal barrier that prevents heat transfer from the hot transmission housing to the control unit housing, while still allowing mechanical fastening through its design with fastening openings and snap-in hooks.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulator element is made from a composite material structure combining a thermally insulating material with integrated fastening features. The material properties are selected to provide both thermal insulation and mechanical attachment capabilities, creating a multi-functional component that addresses both thermal protection and assembly requirements.
2Temperature
If an insulator element is added to prevent heat transfer, then temperature control is improved, but the assembly complexity increases due to additional components
Solution Approach 1:
The insulator element is designed to combine multiple functions into a single component: thermal insulation, mechanical fastening, and positioning. By integrating fastening openings and snap-in hooks directly into the insulator element, the design eliminates the need for separate fastening components, thereby reducing overall assembly complexity despite adding thermal protection.
Solution Approach 2:
The insulator element serves multiple purposes simultaneously: it provides thermal insulation to protect the control unit from heat, acts as a mounting structure for fastening screws, and includes snap-in hooks for additional mechanical attachment. This multi-functionality reduces the need for separate specialized components.
3Stability of the object's composition
If the insulator element is securely fastened to the housing, then assembly stability is improved, but the risk of unintentional removal increases
Solution Approach 1:
The fastening system incorporates both rigid fastening elements (screws through fastening openings) and flexible retention elements (snap-in hooks). The snap-in hooks provide a dynamic retention mechanism that holds the insulator element securely during normal operation but allows for intentional removal when needed, balancing stability with operational flexibility.
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 solution effectively reduces heat transfer, preventing temperature exceedance in control units and simplifying assembly by providing a secure, thermally decoupled connection that maintains component safety and operational integrity.
Implementation Method 1
the insulator element of the arrangement has a bridging ring made of a thermally poorly conductive material, which is designed to be positioned between the housing in the region of a fastening opening of the housing and a fastening surface of a carrier element
Implementation Method 2
latching hooks are provided as means for fixing the bridging ring in the region of the fastening opening, as a result of which the means form a latching connection with the housing
Data Source
Figure 1~2
Figure 3~4
AI summary
The invention relates to an insulating element (10) for a housing (1) for a control unit (2), the insulating element (10) comprising a bridging ring (11) which is made of a material with poor thermal conductivity and is designed to be positioned between the housing (1) and an attachment surface (52) of a support element (50), in the region of an attachment opening (6) in the housing (1), and having means for fixing the bridging ring (11) in the region of the attachment opening (6).