Vehicle drive device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11870327-B2
Application number	US-202117559508-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Dec 22, 2021
Priority date	Jan 13, 2021
Publication date	Jan 9, 2024
Grant date	Jan 9, 2024

Abstract

A vehicle drive device includes: a first electric machine; an electric machine housing accommodating the first electric machine; a live part that is provided inside the electric machine housing and is electrically connected to the first electric machine; and a temperature-control circuit for temperature control for the first electric machine. The temperature-control circuit includes: a first temperature-control circuit through which a non-conductive first temperature-control medium circulates; a second temperature-control circuit through which a conductive second temperature-control medium circulates; and a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the first temperature-control medium and the second temperature-control medium. A protection cover including a first protection wall is provided inside the electric machine housing.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A vehicle drive device comprising:
a first electric machine;
an electric machine housing accommodating the first electric machine;
a live part that is provided inside the electric machine housing and is electrically connected to the first electric machine; and
a temperature-control circuit for temperature control for the first electric machine, wherein
the temperature-control circuit includes:
a first temperature-control circuit through which a non-conductive first temperature-control medium circulates;
a second temperature-control circuit through which a conductive second temperature-control medium circulates; and
a heat exchanger configured to exchange heat between the first temperature-control medium and the second temperature-control medium,

at least some of the first temperature-control medium passes inside the electric machine housing for the temperature control for the first electric machine,
the first temperature-control circuit includes a dropping pipe that is disposed inside the electric machine housing and above the first electric machine, extends in an axial direction of the first electric machine, and from which the first temperature-control medium drops onto the first electric machine,
the live part is provided on a radially outer side of the first electric machine such that the live part overlaps with the first electric machine in the axial direction of the first electric machine, and
a protection cover including a first protection wall extending in the axial direction of the first electric machine on the radially outer side of the first electric machine and between the first electric machine and the live part is provided inside the electric machine housing.

2. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein
the protection cover is provided with a guiding inclined portion that protrudes from the first protection wall toward the first electric machine and extends in an up-down direction and in the axial direction of the first electric machine.

3. The vehicle drive device according to claim 2 , wherein
the axial direction of the first electric machine extends horizontally in a first direction,
the first electric machine includes:
a substantially annular-shaped first rotor; and
a first stator disposed at a predetermined distance in the radial direction from an outer surface of the first rotor,

the first stator includes: a first stator core; and a first coil that is attached to the first stator core and has a substantially annular shape when viewed in the axial direction of the first electric machine,
the first coil includes a first coil end portion protruding outward in the axial direction of the first electric machine from a first stator core end surface that is an end surface of the first stator core on one side in the axial direction of the first electric machine,
the first electric machine is provided with a coil protection member covering the first coil end portion at least in part in a circumferential direction, and
the guiding inclined portion is formed, when viewed from the first direction, such that an end portion of the guiding inclined portion overlaps with an upper end portion of the coil protection member above the coil protection member in a second direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the first direction.

4. The vehicle drive device according to claim 3 , wherein
a second electric machine is accommodated in the electric machine housing,
both the axial direction of the first electric machine and an axial direction of the second electric machine extend horizontally in the first direction,
a storage unit in which the first temperature-control medium is stored is formed in a lower portion of the electric machine housing,
the second electric machine is disposed below the live part when viewed from the first direction such that the second electric machine overlaps with the live part in the second direction at least in part,
the second electric machine is immersed in the first temperature-control medium stored in the storage unit at least in part, and
the protection cover includes a second protection wall extending in the up-down direction and in the second direction to cover one side of the live part in the first direction at least in part.

5. The vehicle drive device according to claim 2 , wherein
a second electric machine is accommodated in the electric machine housing,
both the axial direction of the first electric machine and an axial direction of the second electric machine extend horizontally in the first direction,
a storage unit in which the first temperature-control medium is stored is formed in a lower portion of the electric machine housing,
the second electric machine is disposed below the live part when viewed from the first direction such that the second electric machine overlaps with the live part in the second direction at least in part,
the second electric machine is immersed in the first temperature-control medium stored in the storage unit at least in part, and
the protection cover includes a second protection wall extending in the up-down direction and in the second direction to cover one side of the live part in the first direction at least in part.

6. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein
a second electric machine is accommodated in the electric machine housing,
both the axial direction of the first electric machine and an axial direction of the second electric machine extend horizontally in the first direction,
a storage unit in which the first temperature-control medium is stored is formed in a lower portion of the electric machine housing,
the second electric machine is disposed below the live part when viewed from the first direction such that the second electric machine overlaps with the live part in a second direction perpendicular to both the up-down direction and the first direction at least in part,
the second electric machine is immersed in the first temperature-control medium stored in the storage unit at least in part, and
the protection cover includes a second protection wall extending in the up-down direction and in the second direction to cover one side of the live part in the first direction at least in part.

7. The vehicle drive device according to claim 6 , wherein
the second protection wall has an opening in the first direction into which a first wiring member configured to electrically connect the live part and the first electric machine is inserted, and
an opening protection wall protruding from the second protection wall in a direction away from the live part in the first direction is provided at a lower edge portion of the opening.

Assignees

• Honda Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Honjo Takuya

Classifications

• H02K9/19 Primary

  for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil · CPC title

• H02K5/04

  Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof · CPC title

• H02K5/225 Primary

  Terminal boxes or connection arrangements (specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132) · CPC title