Housing for mechanical or electrical component and oil pump

Abstract

A housing for a mechanical or electrical component is disclosed, the housing comprising a cavity (10) for receiving an oil pump (11) for cooling a circuit of the mechanical or electrical component (2), the receiving cavity (10) being formed in a lower portion (1b) of the housing (1) opposite an upper portion (1a) of the housing (1).

Description

[0001] The present invention relates generally to cooling circuits for mechanical or electrical components and, more particularly, to protecting an oil pump in a cooling circuit for a mechanical or electrical component.

[0002] More particularly, the present invention relates to casings for mechanical or electrical components, such as casings for motor vehicles.

[0003] Typically, an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle includes an electric motor and a motor cooling circuit in which a cooling fluid circulates.

[0004] The cooling fluid in the cooling circuit is, for example, oil which is pushed by an oil pump.

[0005] Typically, the oil pump is located on the side of the motor.

[0006] It is also possible to mount the oil pump below the motor.

[0007] However, the location below the motor is disadvantageous and the oil pump needs to be protected.

[0008] This is because the oil pump is then subject to attack from external elements (such as gravel, impacts from foreign objects, road surface, etc.), which can lead to damage and risk of leakage.

[0009] Therefore, it is proposed to overcome some or all of the above mentioned disadvantages.

[0010] In view of the above, an object of the present invention is a housing for a mechanical component or an electrical component, which includes a housing for receiving an oil pump of a cooling circuit of the mechanical component or the electrical component, the receiving housing being formed in a lower portion of the housing opposite to an upper portion of the housing.

[0011] Preferably, the receiving housing has an opening providing access to the oil pump.

[0012] Advantageously, the opening may be located opposite the bottom of the housing of the mechanical component or the electrical component.

[0013] Advantageously, the receiving housing may be formed by a set of main ribs extending from the bottom of the housing.

[0014] Advantageously, the housing may comprise secondary ribs extending from one or more primary ribs.

[0015] Advantageously, at least one of the main ribs may include a notch for the passage of an electrical harness for the oil pump.

[0016] In one embodiment, the receiving housing can also be designed to receive an oil exchanger for the cooling circuit.

[0017] Advantageously, the receiving shell and the base of the housing can be made in one piece.

[0018] The invention also relates to a drive assembly comprising a mechanical or electrical component arranged in a housing according to any of the preceding claims and a cooling circuit for the mechanical or electrical component, the cooling circuit comprising an oil pump positioned in a receiving shell of the housing.

[0019] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one drive assembly as described above.

[0020] Preferably, the motor vehicle comprises a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels, the receiving housing of the housing being arranged in front of an axis where the front wheels are located.

[0021] Further objects, advantages and features will become apparent from the following description, which is given by way of illustration only and is made with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which:

[0022] Figure 1 A drive assembly comprising a housing according to the invention for an electric motor of a motor vehicle is shown.

[0023] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 A cross-sectional view of the drive assembly is shown in FIG.

[0024] Figure 3 is a schematic illustration of the underside of a motor vehicle comprising a drive assembly according to the invention.

[0025] In the rest of this specification, Figures 1 to 3 As shown in , the terms "front" and "rear", "lower" and "upper" are used relative to a common orthogonal reference frame for motor vehicles, and include:

[0026] - a horizontal longitudinal axis X extending from the front to the rear of the vehicle;

[0027] a horizontal transverse axis Y, which is perpendicular to the axis X and points from the left side to the right side of the vehicle moving forwards;

[0028] - Axis Z, orthogonal to axis X and axis Y and vertical from bottom to top.

[0029] Figure 1 A drive assembly for an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle is shown, the drive assembly comprising a housing 1 (which comprises a casing 1 ) in which an electric motor 2 is located.

[0030] Advantageously, the housing 1 shown comprises a first part 3 and a second part 4 which are independent and form a space for receiving the electric motor in the upper part 1 a of the housing 1 .

[0031] In another embodiment, the housing 1 may be a housing containing a mechanical component such as a heat engine, or a gearbox or an electric machine other than an electric motor.

[0032] According to the example shown, the space for accommodating the electric motor 2 is delimited on the one hand by two side walls 5 and 6 formed by the first part 3 of the housing 1, a rear wall (not visible), a top wall 7 and a base 8, and on the other hand by a cover 9 opposite the rear wall and formed by the second part 4 of the housing 1.

[0033] The first part 3 and the second part 4 of the housing 1 are connected to each other by removable fixing means (such as bolts) to allow the electric motor 2 to be integrated, removed or maintained.

[0034] In a lower part 1 b of the housing 1 , opposite the upper part 1 a , the housing 1 comprises a housing 10 for receiving an oil pump 11 of a cooling circuit designed to cool the electric motor 2 .

[0035] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, the receiving housing 10 is formed by a set of main ribs extending from the bottom 8 of the housing 1 in a direction away from the receiving space in which the electric motor 2 is accommodated in this example.

[0036] The housing 1 as shown advantageously comprises a first 12 , a second 13 , a third 14 and a fourth 15 vertical main rib which, together with the bottom 8 of the housing 1 , define a housing 10 for receiving an oil pump 11 .

[0037] Advantageously, the main ribs 12 , 13 , 14 and 15 extend from the base 8 of the housing 1 , such that the main ribs 12 , 13 , 14 and 15 are a single piece with the base 8 of the housing 1 .

[0038] The extension of the housing 1 in the lower part 1b thus enables the oil pump 11 to be located below the motor 2 and protected by a simple modification of the housing 1. The oil pump 11 can be mounted and protected without requiring additional parts of the housing 1 or additional protective plates.

[0039] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of the housing 1 , wherein, for a better understanding, the second part 4 of the housing forming the cover is not shown.

[0040] See also Figure 2 The housing 1 may advantageously comprise secondary ribs 16 extending from one or more of the primary ribs 12, 13, 14, 15. Advantageously, the secondary ribs 16 extend in a plane orthogonal to the plane in which the primary ribs (on which they are formed) extend.

[0041] The presence of the secondary ribs 16 strengthens the protective structure of the oil pump formed by the primary ribs 12, 13, 14 and 15, and helps to redirect gravel and other foreign matter that may hit the oil pump 11 when the motor vehicle is running.

[0042] Furthermore, the receiving housing 10 may comprise an opening providing access to the oil pump 11. This facilitates access to the oil pump 11, in particular for maintenance purposes.

[0043] Preferably, the opening of the receiving housing 10 for the oil pump 11 is located opposite the base 8 of the casing 1. In other words, in the example shown, the receiving housing 10 has no base.

[0044] Advantageously, at least one of the main ribs 12 , 13 , 14 , 15 may include a cutout 17 for the passage of an electrical harness 18 of the oil pump 11 , which in the example shown is carried by the fourth main rib 15 .

[0045] Then, the electric wire harness 18 of the oil pump 11 is also protected by the fourth main rib 15 .

[0046] In the example shown, the second portion 4 of the shell 1 includes a rib 19, which includes a cutout 20, and the cutout 20 is configured to coincide with the cutout 17 of the fourth main rib 15 of the first portion 3 of the shell 1, so as to maintain the passage of the wiring harness 18 when the first portion 3 and the second portion 4 of the shell 1 are connected.

[0047] Figure 3 An electric vehicle or hybrid vehicle is shown, the vehicle comprising a pair of rear wheels 21a, 21b and a pair of front wheels 22a, 22b.

[0048] The housing 1 containing the electric motor 2 is positioned so that the housing 10 of the oil pump 11 is located in front of the axis X where the pair of front wheels are located. Positioning the oil pump 11 in front of the axis X of the front wheels 22a, 22b protects the oil pump 11 from impacts from the front wheels and in particular from the rims of the front wheels 22a, 22b.

[0049] exist Figure 3 In the embodiment shown, a plate 23 (such as a skid) may extend below the motor vehicle, between the front wheels 22a, 22b, in particular for aesthetic purposes and / or to protect the motor vehicle. Such a plate 23, positioned opposite the opening of the housing 10 of the oil pump 11, provides additional protection for the oil pump 11.

[0050] In the example shown, the receiving housing 10 has no base and a corresponding opening facilitates access to the oil pump 11. The presence of a plate 23 opposite the opening of the receiving housing 10 advantageously protects the oil pump 11 while ensuring easy access to it.

[0051] In one embodiment, the housing 10 can also be designed to receive an oil exchanger of a cooling circuit in addition to the oil pump 11. The oil exchanger accommodated in the receiving housing 10 can also be an oil / water exchanger.

Claims

1. A housing for a mechanical component or an electrical component, the housing comprising a housing (10) for receiving an oil pump (11) for a cooling circuit of the mechanical component or the electrical component (2), the receiving housing (10) being formed in a lower portion (1b) of the housing (1) opposite to an upper portion (1a) of the housing (1).

2. The housing according to claim 1, in, The receiving housing (10) has an opening which forms an inlet to the oil pump (11).

3. The housing according to claim 2, in, The opening is arranged opposite to the bottom (8) of the housing (1) of the mechanical component or the electrical component (2).

4. A housing according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The receiving housing (10) is formed by a set of main ribs (12, 13, 14, 15) extending from the bottom (8) of the housing (1).

5. The housing according to claim 4, comprising secondary ribs (16) extending from one or more of the primary ribs (12, 13, 14, 15).

6. The housing according to claim 4 or 5, in, At least one of the main ribs (12, 13, 14, 15) includes a cutout (17) for passing an electrical harness (18) from the oil pump (11).

7. A housing according to any one of the preceding claims, in, The receiving housing (10) is also designed to receive an oil exchanger of the cooling circuit.

8. A drive assembly comprising a mechanical component or an electrical component (2) arranged in a housing (1) according to any of the preceding claims and a cooling circuit for the mechanical component or the electrical component (2), the cooling circuit comprising an oil pump (11) located in a receiving shell (10) of the housing (1).

9. A motor vehicle comprising at least one drive assembly according to claim 8.

10. The motor vehicle according to claim 9 comprises a pair of front wheels (22a, 22b) and a pair of rear wheels (21a, 21b), the receiving shell (10) of the housing (1) being arranged in front of the axis (X) where the front wheels (22a, 22b) are located.

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