Drive Wheel Speed Sensor Protection via Merged Support Bracket

Solution Overview

Problem

Existing vehicle designs that protect drive wheel speed sensors from external forces often increase the number of parts and vehicle body weight, making them costly and inefficient.

Innovation Solution

A structure that uses a support bracket positioned to cover the drive wheel speed sensor from behind, integrated with a rear cushion and pivotally supported, reduces the number of parts and weight by utilizing existing components, while also incorporating a protective cover to prevent sideways impacts and rainwater exposure.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a rear protective wall is specially formed on the power transmitting case to protect the drive wheel speed detection sensor from external forces from behind, then the sensor protection is improved, but the number of parts increases and vehicle body weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor protectionVSAvoidnumber of parts

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support bracket for supporting the rear cushion is merged with the protective function for the drive wheel speed detection sensor. The support bracket is positioned to project in a position to cover at least a part of the drive wheel speed detection sensor from behind, combining two functions (supporting rear cushion and protecting sensor) into a single component, thereby reducing the number of parts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The support bracket is designed to serve multiple purposes: it supports the rear cushion and simultaneously protects the drive wheel speed detection sensor from external forces. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for a separate protective wall, reducing part count and vehicle weight while maintaining protection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

2Reliability

If a rear protective wall is specially formed on the power transmitting case to protect the drive wheel speed detection sensor from external forces from behind, then the sensor protection is improved, but the vehicle body weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvesensor protectionVSAvoidvehicle body weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The support bracket for supporting the rear cushion is merged with the protective function for the drive wheel speed detection sensor. The support bracket is positioned to project in a position to cover at least a part of the drive wheel speed detection sensor from behind, combining two functions (supporting rear cushion and protecting sensor) into a single component, thereby reducing the number of parts

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The support bracket is designed to serve multiple purposes: it supports the rear cushion and simultaneously protects the drive wheel speed detection sensor from external forces. This multi-functional design eliminates the need for a separate protective wall, reducing part count and vehicle weight while maintaining protection reliability

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Device complexity

If a support bracket is positioned to cover the drive wheel speed detection sensor from behind, then the number of parts is reduced and cost is lowered, but the sensor may be exposed to sideways impacts

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvenumber of partsVSAvoidsideways impact exposure

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSObject-affected harmful factors

Solution Approach 1:

The drive wheel speed detection sensor is nested within the power transmitting case, and the support bracket is positioned to cover the sensor from behind. The protective cover is integrated with the power transmitting case cover, creating a nested protective structure that protects the sensor from multiple directions without adding separate protective components

Inventive Principle:

Principle #7Nested doll (Nesting)

Solution Approach 2:

The support bracket extends in the rearward direction to cover the sensor, while the protective cover provides protection in the sideways direction. By utilizing the existing power transmitting case cover structure, the design adds protection in multiple dimensions without requiring separate protective components for each direction

Inventive Principle:

Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

Data Source

PatentEP3299270B1Vehicle with a structure for protecting a sensor

Publication Date: 2020.05.27 HONDA MOTOR CO LTD

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AI summary

A structure or device for protecting a drive wheel speed sensor for a power unit on a vehicle is disclosed, wherein a drive wheel speed detection sensor (200) is inserted in and projects from a portion of a power transmitting case (31L) above a rear axle (115), and a support bracket (15) projects from a rear portion of the power transmitting case (31L) to support a rear cushion (22). The support bracket (15) covers at least a part of the drive wheel speed detection sensor (200) from behind as the vehicle is viewed in rear elevation. The speed detection sensor (200) is thus protected from external forces from behind, using existing components, thereby reducing the number of parts used and avoiding an increase in the weight of a vehicle body.