Electric Transaxle Wire-Gathering Box and Sealing
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric transaxle units face challenges in simple and secure assembly of components, particularly with the need for sealing electric wires connected to the motor within the casing, which complicates the assembly process and requires additional holes for harness passage.
Innovation Solution
The design incorporates a wire-gathering box on the casing's outer surface, allowing the motor shaft's second end to exit through this box, eliminating the need for a casing hole and enabling secure sealing without additional seals, while a cooling fan is mounted on the motor shaft's end, and a deceleration gear train transmits power from the motor shaft to the axle within a defined gear chamber.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of operation
If a hole is provided in the casing for harness passage, then electric wires can be connected to the motor, but the sealing of the casing is compromised and additional seals are required
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts the wire management function from the casing structure by providing a dedicated wire-gathering box on the outer surface. The motor shaft extends through this box to the outside, separating the wire passage function from the main casing body. This eliminates the need for holes in the casing while maintaining sealing integrity, as the wire-gathering box provides a dedicated, sealed pathway for the motor shaft and associated wires.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are assembled within the casing, then the electric transaxle unit becomes functional, but the assembly process becomes complex and time-consuming
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the casing into functional zones: a motor chamber for the motor assembly, a gear chamber for the deceleration gear train, and a wire-gathering box for electrical connections. This spatial segmentation allows each component to be positioned and assembled in its designated area, simplifying the overall assembly process while maintaining full functional capability of the electric transaxle unit.
3Productivity
If the motor shaft extends through the casing, then power transmission is enabled, but additional seals and holes are required in the traditional configuration
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the motor shaft extension function with the wire-gathering box. The motor shaft passes through the wire-gathering box to the outside, combining the shaft extension and wire management functions in a single integrated structure. This eliminates the need for separate seals and holes in the casing, simplifying the overall design while enabling power transmission from the motor to the external load.
Data Source
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AI summary
An electric transaxle unit (C) comprises a casing (300), an axle (4), an electric motor assembly (302), a motor shaft (3), and a deceleration gear train (G). The casing (300) defines a motor chamber (MC) and a gear chamber (GC) therein. The axle (4) is supported by the casing (300). The electric motor assembly (302) is disposed in the motor chamber (MC). The motor shaft (3) is disposed in the motor chamber (MC) so as to serve as an output shaft of the electric motor assembly (302). The motor shaft (3) has opposite first and second ends. The first end of the motor shaft (3) is extended from the motor chamber (MC) into the gear chamber (GC). The deceleration gear train (G) is disposed in the gear chamber (GC) so as to transmit power from the first end of the motor shaft (3) to the axle (4). A wire-gathering box (332) for the electric motor assembly (302) is provided on an outer surface of the casing (300). The second end of the motor shaft (3) is extended from the motor chamber (MC) to the outside of the casing (300) through the wire-gathering box (332). A cooling fan (25) is provided on the second end of the motor shaft (3).