# US 12,184,145 B2 · Breathing device and electric power steering device

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- Number: US 12,184,145 B2
- Document ID: US12184145B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/980,595
- Filed: 2018-07-05
- Published: 2021-02-25
- Granted: 2024-12-31
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-05
- Assignees: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Applicants: Mitsubishi Electric Corporation
- Inventors: Toyoaki Udo; Yoshihito Asao
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12184145B2

## CPC

- H02K 5/10: with arrangements for protection from ingress, e.g. water or fingers
- B60R 16/0207: {Wire harnesses}
- B62D 5/046: {Controlling the motor}
- H02K 5/225: {Terminal boxes or connection arrangements (specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132)}
- H02K 11/33: Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics (H02K11/38 takes precedence)
- B62D 5/0403: {characterised by constructional features, e.g. common housing for motor and gear box}
- B62D 5/0406: {including housing for electronic control unit}
- H02K 2205/09: Machines characterised by drain passages or by venting, breathing or pressure compensating means
- H02K 2211/03: Machines characterised by circuit boards, e.g. pcb
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M)

## Abstract

A breathing device includes a ventilator, which is arranged on an end surface of the control unit provided with a connector on an opposite side of an output shaft of a rotating machine so as to protrude from an inside of the electric power steering device toward an outside of the electric power steering device, and is configured to provide a breathing action through ventilation between the inside and the outside. The ventilator protrudes in a horizontal direction or upward with respect to the horizontal direction.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A breathing device, comprising a ventilator, which is provided to an electric power steering device, and is arranged so as to protrude from an inside of the electric power steering device to an outside of the electric power steering device, the ventilator being configured to provide a breathing action through ventilation between the inside and the outside, the electric power steering device being mounted to a vehicle and including a rotating machine and a controller configured to drive the rotating machine, which are integrated with each other so as to have waterproof structure,
wherein the ventilator protrudes in a horizontal direction,
wherein the breathing action comprises ventilation of at least the rotating machine,
wherein the ventilator is formed of a gap defined between a terminal and a connector housing in a connector provided on an end surface of the controller on a side opposite to an output shaft of the rotating machine,
wherein the gap is through the connector housing, and
wherein, between the terminal and the connector housing, a width of the gap is less than a width of the terminal, and
wherein the terminal comprises a first side and a second side both facing the connector housing from within the gap, and
wherein the gap is at both of the first side and the second side of the terminal.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The breathing device according to claim 1, wherein, between the terminal and the connector housing, the width of the gap is less than half of the width of the terminal.