Motor Apparatus Shared Cooling Fan Air Duct Design
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motor systems with integrated inverter devices are costly due to separate cooling mechanisms for motors and inverter devices, with inefficiencies in heat management and increased size.
Innovation Solution
A motor apparatus that shares a cooling device by utilizing cooling air from a cooling fan to cool both the motor and inverter, reducing costs and enhancing cooling efficiency through integrated cooling fins and air duct designs.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If separate cooling mechanisms are provided for motor and inverter, then cooling reliability is improved, but device cost and complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the motor cooling system and inverter cooling system into a single integrated cooling apparatus. The cooling fan, housing with cooling fins, and air flow path are shared between both components, eliminating the need for separate cooling mechanisms while maintaining effective heat dissipation for both the motor and inverter.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the inverter housing, provides cooling fins for inverter heat dissipation, directs cooling air to the motor, and integrates the cooling fan. This multi-functional design reduces overall system complexity while maintaining cooling reliability.
2Reliability
If separate cooling mechanisms are provided for motor and inverter, then cooling performance is improved, but manufacturing cost increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the motor cooling system and inverter cooling system into a single integrated cooling apparatus. The cooling fan, housing with cooling fins, and air flow path are shared between both components, eliminating the need for separate cooling mechanisms while maintaining effective heat dissipation for both the motor and inverter.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling housing serves multiple functions simultaneously: it acts as the inverter housing, provides cooling fins for inverter heat dissipation, directs cooling air to the motor, and integrates the cooling fan. This multi-functional design reduces overall system complexity while maintaining cooling reliability.
3Volume of moving object
If inverter is provided on anti-load side of motor, then device size is reduced, but heat management becomes more difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The patent places the inverter inside or adjacent to the motor housing structure, with the inverter housing integrated into the motor housing. The cooling fins are arranged on the inverter housing which is positioned within the motor's anti-load side space, effectively nesting the inverter within the motor's structural envelope.
Solution Approach 2:
The cooling housing acts as an intermediary structure that manages heat from both the motor and inverter. It provides a dedicated air flow path that separates hot and cold air streams, directs cooling air to both heat-generating components, and dissipates heat through integrated cooling fins, effectively mediating the thermal management of the compact integrated system.
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 shared cooling system reduces costs and improves cooling efficiency for both motor and inverter devices, addressing heat management issues and size constraints.
Implementation Method 1
the inverter is cooled by a cooling fan and cooling fins provided on an inverter housing
Implementation Method 2
the inverter is cooled by a cooling fan and cooling fins provided on an inverter housing
Implementation Method 3
the inverter is cooled by a cooling fan and cooling fins provided on an inverter housing
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B~2C
AI summary
The invention is to reduce the cost by sharing a cooling device between a motor and a motor control device by using cooling air from a cooling fan for cooling the motor control device also for cooling the motor. A motor apparatus includes a motor; a motor control device which is configured to control the motor; a motor housing which includes a plurality of motor housing cooling fins, extending in a rotation shaft direction of the motor, on an outer periphery thereof and is configured to accommodate the motor; a motor control device housing which is provided on an anti-load side of the motor housing and is configured to accommodate the motor control device; motor control device cooling fins which are provided on the anti-load side of the motor control device housing; a cooling fan which is provided on the anti-load side of the motor control device cooling fins; and an air duct cover which is configured to guide cooling air from the cooling fan, which is blown to the motor control device cooling fins, to the motor housing cooling fins.