Hybrid vehicle

Abstract

To provide a hybrid vehicle mounted with a hybrid system in a compact configuration.SOLUTION: A hybrid vehicle comprises: an engine with a dry sump lubrication system; a motor generator which is arranged on a power transmission path between the engine and a drive wheel and capable of both generating power and starting the engine; and a scavenge pump to recover oil supplied to the engine in an oil tank. The scavenge pump is arranged at a lower lateral section of the engine.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to hybrid vehicles. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, various proposals have been made to enable a compact engine layout (see, for example, Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 6-272569 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in a hybrid vehicle that combines an engine and a motor, it is required not only to realize a compact configuration for the engine alone, but also to make the entire hybrid system, including the motor and auxiliary equipment, into a compact package. Patent Document 1 proposes an engine alone, and does not propose an engine to be installed in a hybrid vehicle.

[0005] Therefore, an object of the invention disclosed in this specification is to provide a hybrid vehicle equipped with a hybrid system with a compact configuration. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The above object is achieved by a hybrid vehicle comprising a hybrid system having an engine employing a dry sump lubrication system, a motor generator arranged in a power transmission path from the engine to the drive wheels and capable of generating electricity and starting the engine, and a scavenge pump that recovers oil supplied to the engine into an oil tank, the scavenge pump being arranged on the lower side of the engine. Effect of the Invention

[0007] The invention disclosed in this specification can provide a hybrid vehicle equipped with a hybrid system with a compact configuration. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a hybrid vehicle according to an embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the engine and major components installed around the engine when the hybrid vehicle according to the embodiment is viewed from the front. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the engine and major components installed around the engine when the hybrid vehicle of the comparative example is viewed from the front. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0009] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, in the drawings, the dimensions, ratios, and the like of each part may not be illustrated to be completely consistent with the actual ones. In addition, in some drawings, details may be omitted. Furthermore, in some drawings, only main components are illustrated.

[0010] (Embodiment) [Hybrid vehicle] Referring to FIG. 1, a hybrid vehicle (hereinafter simply referred to as "vehicle") 100 of this embodiment includes a vehicle body 101, front wheels 102, and rear wheels 103. A hybrid system 1 is mounted on the vehicle body 101. The hybrid system 1 includes an engine 10, a motor generator (hereinafter referred to as "MG") 30, and a transaxle 40. The engine 10 is mounted on the vehicle body 101 forward of a right seat 104a and a left seat 104b. The MG 30 and the transaxle 40 are mounted on the vehicle body 101 rearward of a right seat 104a and a left seat 104b. The engine 10 and the MG 30 are connected via a torque tube 20. The rear wheels 103 are connected to the transaxle 40 via a drive shaft 45. The hybrid system 1 of this embodiment is a one-motor hybrid system that includes the MG 30 and the transaxle 40 in a power transmission path from the engine 10 to the rear wheels 103, which are drive wheels. An air conditioning unit 50a is disposed to the side of MG 30.

[0011] The vehicle 100 is equipped with a steering shaft 15 for changing the direction of the front wheels 102, a steering rack 16a, a steering intermediate shaft 17a, and a steering wheel 18a. The steering rack 16a, the steering intermediate shaft 17a, and the steering wheel 18a are right-hand drive specifications, and the steering wheel 18a is disposed so as to be located in front of the right-side seat 104a. The vehicle 100 may be a right-hand drive specification or a left-hand drive specification depending on the destination. If the vehicle 100 is a left-hand drive specification, it is equipped with a steering rack 16b, a steering intermediate shaft 17b, and a steering wheel 18b shown by dotted lines in FIG. 1.

[0012] [engine] The engine 10 serves as a driving power source. In the present embodiment, the engine 10 is assumed to be a V-type 8-cylinder engine, but the type is not limited thereto. The engine 10 may be an in-line engine. The number of cylinders of the engine 10 can be appropriately selected. The engine 10 is attached to a vehicle body 101 via engine mounts 11 provided on both sides of the engine 10. The engine 10 employs a dry sump lubrication system. The engine 10 includes an oil collection section 10a at its lower portion that collects oil supplied to each part of the engine. The oil collection section 10a is connected to an oil tank 13 via an oil flow path 14. The oil tank 13 is disposed behind the right front wheel 102. A scavenge pump 12 is provided in the oil flow path 14. The scavenge pump 12 is driven by a crankshaft provided in the engine 10, and sucks up the oil collected in the oil collection section 10a. The sucked up oil is collected in the oil tank 13. The oil collected in the oil tank 13 is again supplied to each part of the engine 10 by a feed pump 19, which is a high-pressure pump.

[0013] [MG] The MG 30 functions as a driving power source and also as a generator. The MG 30 also functions as a starter that starts the engine 10 connected via the torque tube 20. For this reason, the alternator and starter are eliminated in the vehicle 100 of this embodiment. The electricity generated by the MG 30 is stored in a battery (not shown) provided in the vehicle 100.

[0014] [Scavenge pump placement] Here, the arrangement of the scavenge pump 12 in the vehicle 100 will be described with reference to Fig. 1, Fig. 2 and Fig. 3. Fig. 2 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the engine 10 and the main components installed around the engine 10 when the vehicle 100 of the embodiment is viewed from the front side. Fig. 3 is a diagram showing a schematic diagram of the positional relationship between the engine 10 and the main components installed around the engine 10 when the vehicle 200 of the comparative example is viewed from the front side. In Fig. 3, the same reference numerals are used for the components common to the vehicle 100. In Figs. 2 and 3, the engine mount 11, the steering shaft 15 and the steering intermediate shaft 17a depicted in Fig. 1 are omitted.

[0015] 2, the scavenge pump 12 is disposed at the lower right side of the engine 10. A lower portion of the scavenge pump 12 is located above a lower end portion 10a1 of the oil collecting portion 10a provided at the lower portion of the engine 10. The height from the lower end portion 10a1 of the oil collecting portion 10a to the upper edge of the engine 10 is T1. The scavenge pump 12 may be disposed at the lower left side of the engine 10. The lateral position of the scavenge pump 12 with respect to the engine 10 may be selected depending on whether the vehicle 100 is a right-hand drive model or a left-hand drive model.

[0016] Referring to FIG. 3, an alternator 51 is disposed in the region where the scavenge pump 12 is disposed in FIG. 2. The alternator 51 is also driven by a crankshaft provided in the engine 10, similarly to the scavenge pump 12. An engine mount 11 is provided on the side of the engine 10. Therefore, the scavenge pump 12 and the alternator 51 are arranged in a vertically displaced state in order to avoid interference with the engine mount 11 and mutual interference. As a result, the scavenge pump 12 is disposed in a state of protruding below the lower end portion 10a1 of the oil collection portion 10a. In the vehicle 200 of the comparative example shown in FIG. 3, a pipe connecting the oil collection portion 10a and the scavenge pump 12 further protrudes downward. The height from this pipe to the upper edge of the engine 10 is T2. In the comparative example, an air conditioner unit 50b is disposed on the left side of the engine 10.

[0017] In the present embodiment, MG30 generates electricity. For this reason, the alternator is abolished. And the scavenge pump 12 is disposed in the region where the alternator 51 was disposed in the comparative example. As a result, the height T1 can be lowered, and T1 < T2 can be achieved when compared with the height T2. By lowering the height T1, the center of gravity of the vehicle 100 can be lowered. Also, the position of the bonnet can be lowered, and the aerodynamic characteristics of the vehicle 100 can be improved.

[0018] Further, by arranging the scavenge pump 12 so as not to protrude from the lower end portion 10a1 of the oil collection portion 10a, the lower portion of the engine 10 can be made flat. Thereby, the degree of freedom in arranging the cross member provided on the vehicle body 101 is improved. By effectively arranging the cross member, the rigidity of the vehicle body 101 can be improved. Also, by effectively arranging the cross member, the number of members can be reduced while ensuring the rigidity required for the vehicle body 101, so that the weight of the vehicle body 101 can be reduced.

[0019] Furthermore, the vehicle 100 of this embodiment is not equipped with an alternator or a starter, which reduces the weight of the vehicle 100. Also, the vehicle 100 can be made compact.

[0020] In addition, by disposing the scavenge pump 12 in the area where the alternator is eliminated, a larger space is created on the side of the engine 10. This space can be used to pass the steering intermediate shaft 17a through. This allows the steering intermediate shaft 17a to be disposed closer to the center of the vehicle body 101. As a result, the dimension of the vehicle 100 in the vehicle width direction can be shortened.

[0021] In the vehicle 200 of the comparative example, the air conditioning unit 50b is disposed to the left of the engine 10. In contrast, the air conditioning unit 50a of the vehicle 100 of this embodiment is disposed to the side of the MG 30 at the rear of the vehicle. Therefore, there is a space to the left of the engine 10. This space can be used to pass the steering intermediate shaft 17b of the left-hand drive specification. As a result, the steering intermediate shaft 17b can be disposed closer to the center of the vehicle body 101. As a result, even if the vehicle 100 has a left-hand drive specification, the dimension in the vehicle width direction can be shortened.

[0022] In this way, the vehicle 100 of this embodiment is equipped with a hybrid system 1 with a compact configuration. The compact hybrid system can be adapted to a wide range of vehicle models. In addition, the ratio of parts shared between mass-produced vehicles that are intended to run on general public roads and racing vehicles can be improved. These features can reduce vehicle development costs.

[0023] [effect] The vehicle 100 of this embodiment includes an MG 30 that is capable of generating electricity and is capable of starting the engine 10. This makes it possible to eliminate the need for an alternator and a starter. The vehicle 100 includes a scavenge pump 12 in the space below the side of the engine 10 that is secured by eliminating the alternator. This makes it possible to form a compact hybrid system 1 and to lower the position of the upper edge of the engine 10.

[0024] The above-described embodiments are merely examples for implementing the present invention, and the present invention is not limited to these. Various modifications of these embodiments are within the scope of the present invention. Furthermore, it is self-evident from the above description that various other embodiments are possible within the scope of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0025] 1 hybrid system, 10 engine, 10a oil collection section, 11 engine mount, 12 scavenge pump, 13 oil tank, 14 oil flow path, 15 steering shaft, 16a, 16b steering rack, 17a, 17b steering intermediate shaft, 18a, 18b steering wheel, 19 feed pump, 20 torque tube, 30 motor generator (MG), 40 transaxle, 45 drive shaft, 50a air conditioning unit, 100 hybrid vehicle, 101 vehicle body, 102 front wheels, 103 rear wheels, 104a right seat, 104b left seat

Claims

[Claim 1] A hybrid system including an engine that employs a dry sump lubrication system, a motor generator that is disposed in a power transmission path from the engine to drive wheels and is capable of generating electricity and starting the engine, and a scavenge pump that recovers oil supplied to the engine into an oil tank, The scavenge pump is disposed on the lower side of the engine. Hybrid vehicle.

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