Inverter Support Bracket Layout for Vibration and Collision Protection
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric vehicles lack an effective protection mechanism for electrical components, such as inverters, located at the upper portion of the drivetrain, as the existing protectors are positioned at the lower portion and are inadequate in suppressing vibration and protecting cover members during frontal collisions.
Innovation Solution
An electrical component support structure is designed to fix the electrical component, including a cover member, to the internal combustion engine using an upper bracket that covers the upper portion of the cover member, while a lower bracket secures the component to the drive device, thereby suppressing vibration and protecting the cover member during collisions.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the electrical component is fixed only to the drive device by a lower bracket, then the installation structure is simple, but the vibration of the upper portion of the electrical component increases
Solution Approach 1:
The support structure is divided into two separate brackets: a lower bracket for mounting the electrical component to the drive device, and an upper bracket for additional support and protection. This segmentation allows each bracket to perform its specific function optimally - the lower bracket provides stable mounting while the upper bracket suppresses vibration and protects the cover member.
2Device complexity
If the protector is located at the lower portion of the inverter, then the protection structure is simple, but the cover member at the upper portion is not protected from obstacles
Solution Approach 1:
The protection is extended from the lower dimension to the upper dimension by adding an upper bracket that covers the upper portion of the cover member. This dimensional extension ensures that obstacles moving rearward during collision cannot reach the cable connection portion, providing comprehensive protection throughout the vertical space.
3Reliability
If the upper bracket covers the upper portion of the cover member, then the cover member is protected from obstacles, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The upper bracket is designed to serve multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as a protective shield for the cover member during collisions, provides additional mounting support to reduce vibration, and maintains a compact structure that integrates well with the existing drivetrain assembly. This multi-functionality justifies the added structural element.
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3
AI summary
To provide an electrical component support structure capable of suppressing vibration of an electrical component disposed above a drive device, and protecting a cover member of the electrical component in the event of a frontal collision of a vehicle. [Solution] In a support structure of an inverter 9, an upper wall 9B of the inverter 9 is provided with a cable connection portion connected to a high-voltage cable 12 supplying electric power to a motor-generator 6, and a cover member 21 covering the cable connection portion. The inverter 9 is fixed to an engine by an upper bracket 22 connected to the upper wall 9B of the inverter 9, and the upper bracket 22 covers an upper portion of the cover member 21.