Wireless Power Coil Mounting with Upward Airflow Cooling

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Solution Overview

Problem

The existing wireless charge device for electric vehicles increases the size of the coil unit due to the cooling air path, which is inefficient in heat dissipation.

Innovation Solution

A vehicle-mounting structure for a wireless power reception device where an electric-component container is mounted on the upper surface of the power-reception-side coil unit, forming an upward-airflow generation surface that generates airflow to dissipate heat, and is accommodated in a closed-cross-section part with the floor tunnel, allowing natural convection to discharge hot air outside.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Temperature

If a cooling air path is provided through the case of the coil unit, then the coil can be cooled, but the size of the coil unit is increased

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvecoil temperatureVSAvoidcoil unit size
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSVolume of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent combines the cooling function with the existing floor tunnel structure of the vehicle. The floor tunnel, which is part of the vehicle's original design for other purposes, is utilized as the cooling air path for the coil unit. This merging eliminates the need for a separate cooling structure, thereby cooling the coil without increasing the coil unit's size.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Solution Approach 2:

The floor tunnel is given a dual function: it serves both as a structural component of the vehicle and as a cooling air path for the wireless power reception device. By making the floor tunnel multi-functional, the patent avoids adding dedicated cooling infrastructure that would increase the coil unit's volume.

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

2Temperature

If the electric-component container is mounted on the upper surface of the coil unit, then the heat dissipation is improved through natural convection, but the available space on the coil unit is reduced

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveheat dissipation efficiencyVSAvoidavailable surface area
Core Design Contradiction:
TemperatureVSArea of stationary object

Solution Approach 1:

The patent utilizes the vertical dimension above the coil unit for heat dissipation by positioning the electric-component container on the upper surface. This creates a three-dimensional heat dissipation path where hot air rises vertically through the space above the coil, allowing effective cooling without requiring additional horizontal surface area.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #17Another dimension (Dimensionality change)

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

This structure effectively suppresses the increase in size of the coil unit and reduces heat retention within the closed space, enhancing heat dissipation through natural convection and maintaining efficient power transfer.

Implementation Method 1

this exposed part is formed as an upward-airflow generation surface configured to generate an upward airflow with heat of the power-reception-side coil

Methodology Applied
Scientific EffectNatural convection: Free Convection

Data Source

PatentEP3136406B1Vehicle-mounting structure for wireless power reception device
Publication Date: 2019.01.16 NISSAN MOTOR CO LTD
  • EP3136406B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP3136406B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP3136406B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

A vehicle-mounting structure for a wireless power reception device includes: a power-reception-side coil unit (23) including a power-reception-side coil (49) configured to wirelessly receive power transmitted from a power-supply-side coil; and a junction box (13) accommodating a rectifier (45) and mounted on a front part of the upper surface (23a) of the power-reception-side coil unit (23). A floor tunnel part (7) and the power-reception-side coil unit (23) form a closed-cross-section part (61), and the junction box (13) is accommodated in the closed-cross-section part (61). A rear part of the upper surface (23a) of the power-reception-side coil unit (23) is formed as an upward-airflow generation surface (47) configured to generate an upward airflow with heat of the power-reception-side coil (49).