Electrical Vehicle Component Support Plate with Integrated Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing electrical vehicle components face space constraints and accessibility issues, making maintenance and cooling difficult due to their placement in hidden locations, which complicates their installation and replacement.

Innovation Solution

A plate-shaped support element with integrated fluid flow channels for heat transport, allowing for secure mounting and efficient cooling of electrical components, even in constrained vehicle spaces, without additional cooling systems.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Area of stationary object

If electrical vehicle components are placed in hidden locations to satisfy space constraints, then space utilization is improved, but accessibility for maintenance and exchange deteriorates

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace utilizationVSAvoidaccessibility for maintenance
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSEase of operation

Solution Approach 1:

The support element is designed as a modular component with a removable support plate that can be detached from the vehicle body. This segmentation allows the electrical vehicle component to be easily accessed, removed, and replaced without disassembling the entire vehicle interior structure, thus maintaining space utilization while improving maintenance accessibility.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Solution Approach 2:

The support element acts as an intermediary structure between the vehicle body and the electrical vehicle component. It provides a dedicated mounting interface that facilitates easy access to the component for maintenance purposes while keeping the component in a space-efficient location. The support element can be removed independently to access the component below.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Area of stationary object

If electrical vehicle components are placed in hidden locations, then space constraints are satisfied, but complexity of mounting arrangements increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvespace constraintsVSAvoidmounting arrangements
Core Design Contradiction:
Area of stationary objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The support element serves multiple functions: it provides structural support for the electrical vehicle component, acts as a mounting interface for easy installation and removal, and facilitates access for maintenance. This multi-functionality reduces the need for additional specialized mounting arrangements, simplifying the overall system while satisfying space constraints.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

3Temperature

If additional cooling systems are added for electrical vehicle components, then cooling performance is improved, but device complexity and space requirements increase

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecooling performanceVSAvoidcooling systems
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The fluid flow channels are integrated directly into the support element structure, merging the cooling function with the support function. This eliminates the need for separate cooling systems and additional components, reducing device complexity while providing effective cooling through the integrated channels that allow heat transporting fluid to flow through the support element.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

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

Facilitates easy access and reliable cooling of electrical components, enabling their installation in compact spaces and simplifying maintenance, while reducing the need for additional cooling elements.

Implementation Method 1

The plate-shaped body (3) comprises at least one fluid flow channel (7) for guiding at least one heat transporting fluid

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectHeat transport: Convection

Data Source

PatentEP4611494A1Support element for an electrical vehicle component
Publication Date: 2025.09.03 VOLVO CAR CORP
  • EP4611494A1 patent drawingFigure 1A~1B
  • EP4611494A1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4611494A1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A support element (1) for supporting an electrical vehicle component (100) inside a vehicle (200), wherein the support element (1) comprises a plate-shaped body (3) extending essentially along a height direction (50) in an operational orientation of the vehicle (200), wherein the plate-shaped body (3) comprises at least one connecting portion (5) for connecting at least one electrical vehicle component (100) to the support element (1), and wherein the support element (1) comprises at least one fluid flow channel (7) for guiding at least one heat transporting fluid.