Motor Drive Cover Assembly for Vibration-Resistant Alignment

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Solution Overview

Problem

There is a risk of misalignment between the cover member and the base member in drive devices for electric motors due to vibrations, which can compromise the protection and functionality of electrical components.

Innovation Solution

A drive device design featuring a base member with protrusions and a cover member connected via connecting units, where the protrusions on the base member contact the inner wall surface of the cover member to ensure precise alignment and minimize deformation, using a fitting mechanism to secure the components together.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a cover member is placed on the base member to protect electrical components, then protection and functionality are enabled, but misalignment occurs due to vibrations

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveprotection of electrical componentVSAvoidpositional relationship between cover member and base member

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSStability of the object's composition

Solution Approach 1:

Protrusions are provided on the base member before assembly to define the positional relationship with the cover member in advance. These protrusions contact the inner wall surface of the cover member, pre-establishing alignment references that prevent vibration-induced misalignment during operation

Inventive Principle:

Principle #10Preliminary action

Solution Approach 2:

The protrusions act as intermediary elements between the base member and cover member. By contacting the inner wall surface of the cover member, these protrusions serve as mediators that maintain the positional relationship and transmit alignment information, preventing direct misalignment caused by vibrations

Inventive Principle:

Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Manufacturing precision

If the cover member is fitted to the base member to secure components, then alignment is improved, but deformation of the wall portion may occur

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvealignment between cover member and base memberVSAvoidstructural integrity of wall portion

Core Design Contradiction:

Manufacturing precisionVSStrength

Solution Approach 1:

The protrusions are designed with specific local properties - they are less deformable than the wall portion of the cover member. This local quality difference allows the protrusions to maintain rigid contact points for alignment while the more deformable wall portion absorbs assembly stresses without compromising overall structural integrity

Inventive Principle:

Principle #3Local quality

Solution Approach 2:

The design changes the deformability parameter of different components: protrusions are made less deformable (higher stiffness) compared to the wall portion. This parameter differentiation ensures that during fitting, the protrusions maintain precise positional relationships while the wall portion can deform elastically to accommodate assembly variations without permanent damage

Inventive Principle:

Principle #35Parameter changes

Data Source

PatentUS12470107B2Drive device

Publication Date: 2025.11.11 DENSO CORP

AI summary

A drive device of a motor comprises an electric component, a base member and a cover member. The base member and the cover member forms a cavity which accommodates the electric component. The base member and the cover member are connected by a plurality of connecting portions each of which includes a hooking portion and an anchoring portion. The base member further includes a plurality of protrusions which come in contact with an inner surface of the cover member. The protrusions includes a first protrusion and a second protrusion protruding in an opposite direction.