Vehicle drive device

Abstract

A vehicle drive device integrates a power control device and a housing regardless of the posture of internal components. The vehicle drive device includes a housing that houses a rotary electric machine, a bracket that supports the housing to a vehicle body, and a power control device that controls the rotary electric machine. The bracket includes a bracket body fixed to the vehicle body, a mounting member fixed to the housing, and an elastic member provided between the bracket body and the mounting member. The power control device is fixed to the mounting member. The mounting member has a horizontal surface at an upper portion as a mounting surface for mounting the power control device. The power control device and the housing are integrated via the mounting member.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This invention relates to a drive system for vehicles. Background Technology

[0002] Regarding the drive unit mounted on an electric vehicle, Patent Document 1 discloses a structure in which an electric control device is mounted on the upper part of a housing that houses a rotary motor and a transmission drive axle.

[0003] [Existing Technical Documents]

[0004] [Patent Documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2020-092503 Summary of the Invention

[0006] [The problem the invention aims to solve]

[0007] In the structure described in Patent Document 1, although the power control device is mounted on the outer peripheral wall of the housing housing the rotary motor, this outer peripheral wall is inclined. Therefore, it is necessary to integrate the power control device with the housing in a way that takes into account the orientation of the internal components.

[0008] The present invention was made in view of the above circumstances, and its object is to provide a vehicle drive device that can integrate the power control device with the housing without considering the posture of internal components.

[0009] [Solution to the problem]

[0010] This invention relates to a vehicle drive unit comprising: a housing housing a rotary motor; a bracket supporting the housing to a vehicle body; and an electrical control device controlling the rotary motor. The bracket has: a bracket fixed to the vehicle body; a mounting member fixed to the housing; and an elastic member disposed between the bracket and the mounting member. The vehicle drive unit is characterized in that the electrical control device is fixed to the mounting member, the mounting member having a horizontal surface at its upper part as a mounting surface for mounting the electrical control device, and the electrical control device and the housing being integrated via the mounting member.

[0011] According to this structure, since the power control device can be mounted on the horizontal plane of the mounting component, the power control device can be integrated with the housing without considering the orientation of the internal components.

[0012] Alternatively, the horizontal plane may be positioned lower than the uppermost part of the housing in the vertical direction of the vehicle, and at least a portion of the power control device may be disposed above the housing.

[0013] This structure can suppress the height when an electric control device is installed.

[0014] Alternatively, the vehicle drive unit may include a mounting bracket sandwiched between the power control device and the mounting member, wherein the upper surface of the mounting bracket contacts the power control device and the lower surface contacts the horizontal plane.

[0015] According to this structure, the power control device can be fixed to the mounting component using a mounting bracket.

[0016] Alternatively, the upper surface of the mounting bracket may be positioned lower than the uppermost part of the housing in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

[0017] According to this structure, the height of the power control device mounted on the mounting component via the mounting bracket can be suppressed.

[0018] Alternatively, the power control device may have a through hole through which a bolt passes, which is a part that is fastened to the horizontal plane, and a bolt hole for the bolt to be screwed in is provided at a position in the horizontal plane corresponding to the through hole.

[0019] According to this structure, since the power control device is directly fixed to the mounting component without using a mounting bracket, the increase in the number of components can be suppressed.

[0020] [Invention Effects]

[0021] In this invention, an electrical control device can be mounted on the horizontal plane of the mounting component, thus enabling the electrical control device to be integrated with the housing without considering the orientation of the internal components. Attached Figure Description

[0022] Figure 1 This is a schematic diagram illustrating the drive device in the embodiment.

[0023] Figure 2 This is a diagram used to illustrate the configuration of the power control device.

[0024] Figure 3 It is a three-dimensional diagram used to illustrate the drive device.

[0025] Figure 4 It is a three-dimensional diagram showing the installation components.

[0026] Figure 5 This is a perspective view used to illustrate the mounting bracket.

[0027] Figure 6 This is a diagram illustrating the structure of directly fixing an electrical control device to a mounting component.

[0028] Figure 7 This diagram illustrates the method of fastening the power control device to the mounting components.

[0029] [Explanation of Labels in the Attached Image]

[0030] 1. Drive unit

[0031] 2 Rotary motor

[0032] 3-speed drive axle

[0033] 4. Shell

[0034] 5, 7, and 8 brackets

[0035] 6. Body

[0036] 9. Power control device

[0037] 10 Mounting bracket

[0038] 11. Top surface

[0039] 12 Connecting parts

[0040] 13 Through holes

[0041] 21 Installation components

[0042] 22 Elastic Components

[0043] 23 Brackets

[0044] 24 Horizontal plane

[0045] 25 Bolt holes

[0046] 26. Cylindrical section Detailed Implementation

[0047] Hereinafter, with reference to the accompanying drawings, a vehicle drive device according to embodiments of the present invention will be specifically described. It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to the embodiments described below.

[0048] Figure 1 This diagram schematically illustrates the drive unit in the embodiment. Drive unit 1 is a vehicle drive unit mounted on an electric vehicle. Drive unit 1 comprises a rotary motor (MG) 2 and a transmission axle (TA) 3. The rotary motor 2 is the power source of the electric vehicle, functioning as both an electric motor and a generator. The transmission axle 3 transmits the power output from the rotary motor 2 to the drive wheels. The rotary motor 2 and the transmission axle 3 are housed inside a housing 4. Housing 4 is a transmission axle housing that internally houses the rotary motor 2 and the transmission axle 3.

[0049] For example, the drive unit 1 is mounted at the rear of the platform in an electric vehicle. The rear of the platform has less space (extra space) compared to the front. Therefore, when the drive unit 1 is mounted at the rear of the platform, the rotary motor 2 becomes smaller, and thus the housing 4 also becomes smaller.

[0050] The housing 4 is supported on the vehicle body 6 via a bracket 5. The bracket 5 is an MG bracket that supports the rotary motor 2 on the vehicle body 6, and a TA bracket that supports the transmission drive axle 3 on the vehicle body 6. The bracket 5 includes a bracket 7 mounted on the front of the housing 4 in the longitudinal direction of the electric vehicle and a bracket 8 mounted on the rear of the housing 4. The bracket 7 is a front bracket (FR bracket), and the bracket 8 is a rear bracket (RR bracket).

[0051] Additionally, in drive unit 1, such as Figure 2 As shown, a power control unit (PCU) 9 is installed on bracket 8. It should be noted that... Figure 2 The bracket 7 is omitted in the middle.

[0052] The power control device 9 is fixed to the bracket 8 with its internal components housed within the PCU housing. The power control device 9 controls the rotary motor 2. The power control device 9 is electrically connected to the rotary motor 2. For example, the power control device 9 is electrically connected to the rotary motor 2 via an electrical cable provided between the housing 4 and the PCU housing.

[0053] In addition, such as Figure 2 and Figure 3 As shown, a mounting bracket 10 is sandwiched between the power control device 9 and the bracket 8. The power control device 9 is fixed to the bracket 8 via the mounting bracket 10. The bracket 8 supports the housing 4 and the power control device 9 to the vehicle body 6. The bracket 8 has a mounting member 21, an elastic member 22, and a bracket 23.

[0054] Mounting member 21 is a component fixed to the power control device 9. In the drive unit 1, the power control device 9 and the housing 4 are integrated via mounting member 21. Mounting member 21 is a metal component. The power control device 9 is fixed to mounting member 21 via mounting bracket 10. Figure 3 As shown, the mounting bracket 10 is fastened to the mounting member 21 by bolts 31. For example, after fixing the mounting bracket 10 to the housing (PCU housing) of the power control device 9, the mounting bracket 10 is bolted to the upper surface of the bracket 8.

[0055] Specifically, such as Figure 4As shown, the mounting member 21 has a horizontal surface 24 on its upper part as a mounting surface for mounting the power control device 9. The horizontal surface 24 includes a surface above the housing 4 and a surface located behind the housing 4. Bolt holes 25 for bolts 31 are provided on the horizontal surface 24. The bolts 31 pass through a through hole provided in the mounting bracket 10 and are screwed into the bolt holes 25 provided in the mounting member 21. When the power control device 9 and the mounting bracket 10 are fixed together to the mounting member 21, the upper surface 11 of the mounting bracket 10 contacts the power control device 9, and the lower surface of the mounting bracket 10 contacts the horizontal surface 24. It should be noted that... Figure 5 The power control device 9 is omitted.

[0056] With the mounting component 21 fixed to the housing 4, as follows: Figure 2 As shown, the upper surface 11 of the mounting bracket 10 is positioned lower than the uppermost part 41 of the housing 4. That is, the upper surface (horizontal plane 24) of the mounting member 21 is positioned lower than the uppermost part 41 of the housing 4. Furthermore, at least a portion of the power control device 9 fixed to the mounting member 21 is located above the housing 4, and a portion is located behind the housing 4.

[0057] In addition, such as Figure 4 As shown, the mounting member 21 has a cylindrical portion 26 extending through the vehicle width direction. (As shown...) Figure 3 As shown, an elastic member 22 is provided inside the cylindrical part 26.

[0058] The elastic member 22 is an elastic member disposed between the mounting member 21 and the bracket 23. The elastic member 22 is a member capable of elastic deformation, such as mounting rubber. Inside the elastic member 22 is a metal member extending through the cylindrical portion 26. This metal member extends along the vehicle width direction inside the elastic member 22. Both ends of the metal member in the vehicle width direction are mounted to the bracket 23 in a state of protrusion from the elastic member 22.

[0059] The bracket 23 is a component fixed to the vehicle body 6. In the bracket 8, the mounting component 21 and the bracket 23 are integrated via an elastic member 22 capable of elastic deformation. The mounting member 21 is a fixing member located closer to the housing 4 than the elastic member 22. The bracket 23 is a fixing member located closer to the vehicle body 6 than the elastic member 22.

[0060] In the drive unit 1 configured in this way, the weight of the electric control unit 9 acts on the housing 4 via the mounting member 21. That is, the weight of the electric control unit 9 acts on the power transmission system within the housing 4, thus achieving the effect of reducing the resonant frequency of the power unit. Therefore, it can be used even in regions where the rotational speed of the rotating member housed within the housing 4 is low.

[0061] Furthermore, even if the fastening point becomes narrow due to the miniaturization of the housing 4 associated with the miniaturization of the rotary motor 2, the fastening point can be obtained more widely regardless of the size of the housing 4 by configuring the power control device 9 to be fixed to the mounting member 21.

[0062] Furthermore, since the mounting surface of the power control device 9 is horizontal due to the horizontal plane 24, it can be mounted without considering the orientation of the internal components of the power control device 9.

[0063] It should be noted that the power control device 9 is not limited to the bracket 8 as a rear bracket, but can also be the bracket 7 as a front bracket. In short, the power control device 9 can be any mounting member fixed in the bracket on the side closer to the housing than the elastic member, and the mounting object is not particularly limited to the rear bracket or the front bracket.

[0064] Furthermore, the internal configuration of the housing 4 is not particularly limited. The rotary motor 2 and the transmission drive axle 3 can be configured on different axes. Moreover, in the left-right direction of the electric vehicle, the rotary motor 2 can be configured on the right side and the transmission drive axle on the left side.

[0065] Furthermore, housing 4 is only required to house the rotary motor 2; it is not necessary to house the variable speed drive axle 3. That is, housing 4 is not limited to being a variable speed drive axle housing.

[0066] Furthermore, the rotary motor 2 can be a structure that primarily functions as a generator. For example, an electric vehicle can be a vehicle equipped with a rotary motor 2 for generating electricity and an engine that generates electricity via the rotary motor 2. When the electric vehicle is equipped with a drive unit 1, the weight of the power control unit 9 acts on the power transmission system, thus achieving a 2Hz reduction in the resonant frequency of the power unit. As a result, the operating range of the generator engine is also expanded by 150 rpm. It can even be used at engine speeds 150 rpm lower.

[0067] Furthermore, if the platform or mounting space is altered, and the gaps between components are reduced, interference with surrounding components will restrict the storage location of the power control device 9. In the drive unit 1, this restriction can be eliminated by fixing the power control device 9 to the mounting member 21.

[0068] Furthermore, there are no particular limitations on the fastening points between the mounting bracket 10 and the mounting member 21. For example, the power control device 9 can be fixed to the mounting member 21 from its upper surface (horizontal plane 24). Alternatively, the mounting bracket 10 can be fixed from both the upper surface and the side of the mounting member 21. Bolt holes are provided on the side of the mounting member 21 facing the vehicle width direction; by screwing bolts into these holes, the mounting bracket 10 can be fixed to the mounting member 21 from the side.

[0069] Alternatively, vibration-damping sleeves can be used to fix the power control device 9 to the mounting member 21. For example, when using the mounting bracket 10 and vibration-damping sleeves to fix the power control device 9 to the mounting member 21, the power control device 9 and the mounting bracket 10 can be fixed at three or four points using vibration-damping sleeves. In this way, the vibration transmitted between the power control device 9 and the mounting member 21 can be reduced by using vibration-damping sleeves.

[0070] Furthermore, when the power control device 9 is fixed solely by the mounting bracket 10 without using a vibration damping sleeve, the through hole (through hole) provided in the mounting bracket 10 and the threaded hole provided in the lower part of the PCU housing can be fastened with bolts. In this way, the increase in the number of components can be suppressed by not using a vibration damping sleeve.

[0071] Alternatively, the power control device 9 can be directly fixed to the mounting member 21 without using the mounting bracket 10. For example... Figure 6 As shown, the power control device 9 is mounted on the horizontal surface 24 of the mounting member 21. The horizontal surface 24 is positioned lower than the uppermost part 41 of the housing 4. Figure 7 As shown, the power control device 9 includes a connecting portion 12 that is fastened to the horizontal plane 24. The connecting portion 12 has a through hole 13 for a bolt to pass through. A bolt hole 25 for bolt engagement is provided in the horizontal plane 24 at a position corresponding to the through hole 13. For example, a flange provided on the lower surface of the housing of the power control device 9 can be used as the connecting portion 12, and a through hole (through hole 13) can be formed in the flange. In this way, the increase in the number of components can be suppressed since the mounting bracket 10 is not used.

Claims

1. A drive unit for a vehicle, comprising: Housing, which houses the rotary motor; A bracket, which supports the housing to the vehicle body; and The power control device controls the rotating motor. The bracket includes: a bracket fixed to the vehicle body; a mounting member fixed to the housing; and an elastic member disposed between the bracket and the mounting member. The vehicle drive unit is characterized in that... The power control device is fixed to the mounting component. The mounting component has a horizontal surface at its upper part to serve as a mounting surface for mounting the power control device. The power control device is integrated with the housing via the mounting member.

2. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that, The horizontal plane is positioned lower than the uppermost part of the housing in the vertical direction of the vehicle. At least a portion of the power control device is disposed above the housing.

3. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The vehicle drive unit includes a mounting bracket sandwiched between the power control device and the mounting component. The upper surface of the mounting bracket is in contact with the power control device, and the lower surface is in contact with the horizontal plane.

4. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 3, characterized in that, The upper surface of the mounting bracket is positioned lower than the uppermost part of the housing in the vertical direction of the vehicle.

5. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 2, characterized in that, The power control device has a through hole for a bolt to pass through, which is the part for fastening to the horizontal plane. A bolt hole is provided in the horizontal plane at a position corresponding to the through hole for the bolt to be screwed in.

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