Machine housing for machine arrangement, method for producing machine arrangement, and machine arrangement for motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a machine housing (10) for a machine arrangement (100) designed to drive a motor vehicle (K), said machine housing being designed to accommodate a first electric machine (80) and at least one second electric machine (90) and having a first machine housing section (20) and at least one second machine housing section (40). The first machine housing section (20) comprises a first recess (22) for inserting a first electric machine (80) and a second machine housing section (40), different from the first machine housing section (20), comprises a second recess (42) for receiving a second electric machine (90).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to a machine housing for a machine arrangement which is designed to drive a motor vehicle. Further aspects of the invention relate to a method for producing a machine arrangement and a motor vehicle having a machine arrangement. Background Art

[0002] The machine housing for a drive machine or an arrangement for multiple drive machines (machine arrangement for short) is also used to protect sensitive components from environmental influences and to guide coolants and / or lubricants. For example, a modular electric axle drive for a vehicle, a method for manufacturing such a modular axle drive, and a method for installing a modular axle drive in a vehicle are known from WO2021 / 099034 A1. The machine housing of the motor of the modular axle has a motor coolant channel. The transmission housing of the transmission of the modular axle has at least one transmission coolant channel. The electronics housing of the power electronics of the modular axle has at least one electronics coolant channel. The machine housing is mechanically connected to the transmission housing in a detachable manner on its drive side located in the front in the axial direction. The electronics housing is mechanically connected to the transmission housing and the machine housing in a detachable manner. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a machine housing which enables a simplified method for producing a machine arrangement having such a machine housing, and a motor vehicle having a corresponding machine arrangement.

[0004] This object is achieved by a machine housing having the features of claim 1, a method for producing a machine arrangement having such a machine housing having the features of claim 8, and a motor vehicle having the features of claim 10. Advantageous embodiments with suitable developments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims.

[0005] A first aspect of the invention relates to a machine housing for a machine arrangement which is designed to drive a motor vehicle, the machine housing being designed to accommodate a first electric machine and at least one second electric machine and having a first machine housing section and at least one second machine housing section.

[0006] According to the invention, it is provided that the first machine housing segment comprises a first recess for inserting the first electric motor and that a second machine housing segment different from the first machine housing segment comprises a second recess for accommodating the second electric motor. This is advantageous because the first electric motor and the second electric motor can thus be inserted into the respective machine housing segments independently of one another, the machine housing segments in particular being designed as mutually different components of the machine housing. Overall, this allows simplified production of the machine housing and the machine arrangement because the individual machine housing segments can be provided separately, the respective electric motors inserted and finally the machine housing segments equipped with the respective electric motors can be joined together during production of the machine housing and / or the machine arrangement.

[0007] Preferably, the first machine housing section and the second machine housing section can be separated from each other in the machine housing by at least one gap. The gap can be defined in particular only by the first machine housing section and the second machine housing section. In the finished machine housing, the gap can be filled at least partially with a sealant, thereby enabling a targeted, required sealing to be achieved.

[0008] The first machine housing segment and the second machine housing segment can preferably each be designed as mutually different cast parts. This makes it possible to manufacture the corresponding machine housing segment particularly cost-effectively with a reliably reproducible quality.

[0009] The first machine housing section and the second machine housing section can be reversibly disassembled (in other words, non-destructively disassembled) components of the machine housing that are connected to each other. This can make it possible, if necessary, to easily replace one of the machine housing sections, for example within the scope of maintenance work. Preferably, the first machine housing section and the second machine housing section can be screwed to each other.

[0010] The first recess and, in addition or as an alternative, the second recess can be designed as a hollow cylinder. This allows a particularly reliable, circumferential positional fixation of the respective electric machine in the respective recess.

[0011] The present invention is based on the following understanding: in the machine housing assembly, there are differences in principle in the working steps during installation, which depends on whether the corresponding machine housing assembly is constructed to support only one motor or multiple motors. In the machine housing assembly known from the prior art, which is constructed to accommodate two motors, the two motors are usually arranged in the side-by-side recesses of the single housing component of the machine housing assembly, that is, for example, inserted into the recess that is usually constructed as a cylindrical hole. In order to achieve the orientation of the corresponding rotor shafts of the corresponding motors in different directions, one of the motors is usually first inserted into the corresponding recess, the housing component is rotated together with the motor, and then the second motor is inserted into the remaining recess. In order to avoid possible undesirable axial offset, the motor inserted first must be axially stopped during rotation, that is, for example, fixed. After the motor is inserted, the two corresponding recesses are usually closed with another housing component of the machine housing assembly that is constructed as a cover. The cover is usually used to close the two recesses.

[0012] The proposed invention makes it possible, for example, for the electric machine to be installed without axial locking, thereby making it possible overall to achieve a simpler assembly and thus an overall simplified method for producing the machine arrangement.

[0013] In an advantageous development of the invention, the first machine housing segment and the second machine housing segment overlap in at least two different spatial directions. This is advantageous because the overlap in at least two different spatial directions allows the machine housing segments to be supported against each other and thus allows the machine housing segments to be precisely aligned relative to each other. Preferably, the machine housing segments can overlap at least in a direction parallel to the respective center axis of the first recess and / or the second recess, thereby allowing a particularly precise axial alignment of the electric machine to be accommodated or accommodated in the respective recess.

[0014] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first machine housing segment and the second machine housing segment are reversibly detachably connected to one another. This is advantageous because, for example, one of the machine housing segments can be replaced as part of a repair or maintenance measure and the other machine housing segment can continue to be used, thereby saving resources. The expression "reversibly detachably connected" is understood here to mean that the machine housing segments can be non-destructively detachably connected to one another, for example, screwed to one another.

[0015] In another advantageous embodiment of the invention, the first machine housing segment and the second machine housing segment are designed as corresponding castings. This advantageously allows for cost-effective and high-quality reproducible production of the machine housing segments. In addition, the castings have particularly good vibration-damping properties, thereby enabling advantageous acoustic properties of the machine arrangement to be achieved.

[0016] In another advantageous development of the invention, each machine housing segment has a bearing cap for the electric machine to be mounted in the respective other machine housing segment. This is advantageous because the respective machine housing segment thus has an increased functionality and fewer parts overall must be connected to one another during assembly. In other words, a first machine housing segment can then have a first bearing cap for a second electric machine to be mounted in a second machine housing segment, and conversely, a second machine housing segment can have a second bearing cap for a first electric machine to be mounted in the first machine housing segment.

[0017] In another advantageous development of the invention, the first machine housing segment has a first sealing surface area and the second machine housing segment has a second sealing surface area, which together form a circumferential sealing surface when the machine housing segments are connected as specified. This is advantageous because the joint formation of a circumferential sealing surface means that the machine housing segments can be aligned and oriented relative to each other. By arranging the corresponding sealing surface areas in a common plane, it can be ensured that the corresponding machine housing segments and therefore also, for example, their corresponding recesses are also correctly positioned relative to each other. The first sealing surface area and the second sealing surface area can form two gaps in the machine housing segments connected to each other, at which gaps the circumferential sealing contact surface can be interrupted.

[0018] In another advantageous development of the invention, at least one of the machine housing segments has at least one transmission housing component, which is used to accommodate a transmission shaft that can be driven by means of at least one of the electric motors. This is advantageous because the functionality of the corresponding machine housing segment can be further improved, so that overall fewer parts must be connected to each other when the machine housing or the machine arrangement is installed. The transmission shaft can be designed as an intermediate gear shaft, for example. The transmission housing component can preferably be designed in the form of a shell. In other words, the transmission housing component can be designed as a transmission housing shell. The design as such a shell is particularly advantageous because a storage space for a transmission can be provided in a simple manner by covering the transmission housing shell with another shell element (shell-shaped element).

[0019] A second aspect of the invention relates to a method for manufacturing a machine arrangement having a machine housing according to the first aspect of the invention. The method comprises at least the following steps:

[0020] - providing a first machine housing segment, a second machine housing segment, a first electric machine and a second electric machine;

[0021] - inserting the first electric machine into the first machine housing segment and thereby producing a first electric machine housing segment assembly;

[0022] - inserting the second electric machine into the second machine housing segment and thereby producing a second electric machine housing segment assembly;

[0023] - rotating at least one of the electric machine housing segment assemblies relative to the other electric machine housing segment assembly; and

[0024] - Joining the first electric machine housing segment assembly and the second electric machine housing segment assembly, thereby completing the machine arrangement and the machine housing.

[0025] By means of this method, for example, the electric motor which is installed first does not need to be axially fixed during the installation of the electric motor which is installed subsequently, so that overall a simple installation and thus a simplified production of the machine arrangement is possible.

[0026] In an advantageous extension of the invention, the first motor is inserted into the first machine housing segment along a first insertion direction and the second motor is inserted into the second machine housing segment along a second insertion direction oriented at least substantially in the same direction as the first insertion direction. This is advantageous because the respective motors can thus be engaged with the respective machine housing segment from the same direction, so to speak. Thus, for example, a possible pivoting or tilting of at least one of the motors before being mounted on the respective machine housing segment is avoided. The first insertion direction and the second insertion direction can preferably be oriented parallel to each other. The term "at least substantially in the same direction" is to be understood in the context of the present disclosure as meaning that the first insertion direction and the second insertion direction are at an angle of less than 45°, preferably less than 15° and particularly preferably less than 5° to each other.

[0027] A third aspect of the invention relates to a motor vehicle having a machine arrangement which is produced according to the method according to the second aspect of the invention and / or has a machine housing according to the first aspect of the invention. Such a motor vehicle can be produced with particularly low complexity.

[0028] Preferred embodiments and their advantages described with respect to one aspect apply correspondingly to the respective other aspects of the invention, and vice versa.

[0029] The features and feature combinations mentioned above in the description and the features and feature combinations mentioned below in the description of the figures and / or shown individually in the figures can be used not only in the respectively stated combination but also in other combinations or alone without departing from the scope of the present invention.

[0030] Further advantages, features and details of the invention are apparent from the claims, from the following description of preferred embodiments and from the drawings. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0031] The present invention will be explained again below with the help of specific embodiments. The accompanying drawings are as follows:

[0032] Figure 1 A schematic perspective view of a machine housing assembly known from the prior art is shown;

[0033] Figure 2 A schematic perspective view of a first machine housing segment of a machine housing for a variant of a machine arrangement;

[0034] Figure 3 a schematic perspective view of a second machine housing segment of a machine housing showing said variant of the machine arrangement;

[0035] Figure 4 A schematic perspective view showing a machine housing;

[0036] Figure 5 A schematic top view of a first machine housing segment and a second machine housing segment is shown, wherein the two machine housing segments are oriented relative to one another such that a first electric machine of the machine arrangement can be inserted into a first recess of the first machine housing segment along a first insertion direction and a second electric machine of the machine arrangement can be inserted into a second recess of the second machine housing segment along a second insertion direction oriented parallel to the first insertion direction;

[0037] Figure 6 A further schematic top view of machine housing segments is shown, wherein, in the method for producing a machine arrangement having a machine housing, a second machine housing segment together with a second electric machine inserted into a second recess is rotated relative to a first machine housing segment and a first electric machine inserted into a first recess; and

[0038] Figure 7 A schematic top view of a machine arrangement is shown. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0039] Figure 1 By way of example, a machine housing assembly 110 known from the prior art is shown in which two electric machines (not shown in detail) are accommodated. The two electric machines are arranged in recesses 114, 116 arranged next to each other in a single first housing part 112 of the electric machine housing assembly 110. The recesses 114, 116 are designed as cylindrical holes and thus, as in Figure 1 114 , 116 . In order to achieve the orientation of the corresponding rotor shafts of the corresponding motors in different directions, one of the motors is usually first inserted into the corresponding recesses 114 , 116 , the housing component 112 is rotated together with the motor, and then the second motor is inserted into the remaining recesses 114 , 116 . In order to avoid possible undesired axial displacement, the motor inserted first must be axially stopped during rotation, i.e., fixed, for example. After the motor is inserted, the two corresponding recesses 114 , 116 are usually closed with another second housing component 118 of the machine housing assembly that is configured as a cover, whereby the recesses 114 , 116 are mainly covered by the second housing component 118 .

[0040] Figure 2 Shown for Figure 4 Schematic perspective view of a first machine housing segment 20 of a machine housing 10 shown in FIG. Figure 3 A schematic perspective view is shown of a second machine housing segment 40. In the present case, the first machine housing segment 20 and the second machine housing segment 40 are designed as corresponding, in particular metallic, cast parts.

[0041] The first machine housing segment 20 has a first recess 22 for inserting a first machine housing segment 20. Figure 5 The second machine housing segment 40, which is different from the first machine housing segment 20, has a second recess 42 for accommodating a second motor 80 which is also in the Figure 5 The second motor 90 is schematically shown in FIG. The two motors 80 and 90 can also be referred to as electric drive machines. The motors 80 and 90 are used to drive the Figure 7 A motor vehicle K is shown in a highly abstract manner.

[0042] The machine housing 10 has two machine housing sections 20, 40 (which are Figure 4 is shown in a schematic perspective view in Figure 7 The motor vehicle K is a component of a machine arrangement 100 used as a drive unit of a motor vehicle K. In other words, the machine arrangement 100 comprises overall at least the machine housing 10 and the electric motors 80 , 90 additionally arranged in the respective machine housing sections 20 , 40 or in their recesses 32 , 42 .

[0043] Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 The overview shows that in Figure 4 In the machine housing 10 shown in FIG. 1 , the first machine housing section 20 and the second machine housing section 40 overlap in at least two mutually different spatial directions x, y, namely a first spatial direction x and a second spatial direction y, which together form a plane.

[0044] In the present case, the first machine housing section 20 and the second machine housing section 40 are screwed to one another and are thus connected to one another in a reversibly detachable manner.

[0045] Figure 2 , 35 show that the first machine housing segment 20 has a first bearing shield 24 for the electric machine 90 to be mounted in the second machine housing segment 40. In contrast, the second machine housing segment 40 has a second bearing shield 44 for the electric machine 80 to be mounted in the first machine housing segment 20. Thus, when the machine arrangement 100 is assembled, the first bearing shield 24 serves to support the rotor shaft (not shown in detail here) of the second electric machine 90 and also protects the second electric machine 90 from environmental influences. In contrast, the second bearing shield 44 serves to support the (second) rotor shaft (also not shown in detail here) of the first electric machine 80 and accordingly protects the first electric machine 80 from environmental influences.

[0046] pass Figure 2 , Figure 3 and Figure 4 The overview also shows that the first machine housing segment 20 has a first sealing surface area 26 and the second machine housing segment 40 has a second sealing surface area 46, which together form a circumferential sealing surface 12 when the machine housing segments 20, 40 are connected as required to form the machine housing 10, and the machine housing segments are separated from each other only at the corresponding separation points of the machine housing segments 20, 40 by the first gap 14 and the second gap 16.

[0047] Figure 2 , 3 5 also show that the first machine housing section 20 has a first transmission housing part 28 and the second machine housing section 40 has a (second) transmission housing part 48. The respective transmission housing parts 28, 48 are used to accommodate a drive shaft that can be driven by a respective electric machine 80, 90, but which is not shown in detail here.

[0048] The machine arrangement 100 is based on the following reference Figure 5 and Figure 6 The method described is to manufacture and comprises at least the following steps:

[0049] First, the first machine housing segment 20 , the second machine housing segment 40 , the first motor 80 , and the second motor 90 are provided.

[0050] Then, the first electric machine 80 is inserted into the first machine housing segment 20 , thereby producing the first electric machine housing segment assembly 30 .

[0051] Furthermore, the second electric machine 90 is inserted into the second machine housing segment 40 and thereby produces the second electric machine housing segment assembly 50. The first electric machine 80 is inserted into the first electric machine housing segment 20 along a first insertion direction E1 and the second electric machine 90 is inserted into the second machine housing segment 40 along a second insertion direction E2 oriented in the same direction and therefore parallel to the first insertion direction E1.

[0052] The first electric machine housing segment assembly 30 and the second electric machine housing segment assembly 50 are schematically shown in Figure 5 , in which the electric motor 80 , 90 inserted into the respective recess 22 , 42 is visible and slightly protrudes from the respective recess 22 , 42 .

[0053] In a further method step, a rotation 60 is performed, which Figure 5 and Figure 6 During this rotation 60 , one of the motor machine housing segment assemblies 30 , 50 rotates relative to the other motor machine housing segment assemblies 50 , 30 . In this example, the second motor machine housing segment assembly 50 rotates relative to the first motor machine housing segment assembly 30 .

[0054] Next, the first electric machine housing segment assembly 30 and the second electric machine housing segment assembly 50 are joined, thereby completing the machine arrangement 100 and the machine housing 10. During this joining, the gaps 14, 16 can be filled with a sealant and thus sealed. The surrounding sealing surface 12 can thus be closed. When the machine arrangement 100 is installed in the motor vehicle K, another vehicle component can be brought to the sealing surface 12 and a sealing element can be arranged and / or clamped between the sealing surface 12 and the vehicle component, for example, to prevent the ingress of dirt from the surroundings or to prevent lubricant from escaping between the sealing surface 12 and the component.

[0055] In summary, the invention makes it possible to insert two electric machines 80, 90 into two different machine housing sections 20, 40 having corresponding bearing shields 24, 44, instead of into corresponding recesses 114, 116 of a one-piece first housing part 112 known from the prior art. When the machine housing sections 20, 40 are arranged in a defined abutting relationship, the bearing shields 24, 44 lie opposite one another, preferably along the center axis (rotation axis) of the rotor of at least one electric machine 80, 90.

[0056] The invention makes it possible to overcome at least the problem known from the prior art, according to which, when installing the systems known from the prior art, after the motors have been joined into the housing, at least one of the motors must always be fixed before the arrangement is turned over for further installation operations, since only one motor is always axially secured at this time.

[0057] The present invention overcomes this problem. In addition, in the machine arrangement, the respective shift ring (Schaltring), which is not shown in detail here and is assigned to the motor, can have a larger outer diameter than the respective inner diameter of the recess 22, 42, whereby there is a greater degree of freedom in design, since in the present invention the rotation 60 and the engagement of the motor housing segment assembly 30, 50 is not carried out until after the motor 80, 90 has been installed in its respective recess 22, 42.

[0058] In the systems known from the prior art, there are limitations according to which the respective stator diameter must always be at least as large as the shift ring, since both electric machines must be engaged from the same side in the first housing part 112 (also referred to as the central housing), and the shift ring inner diameter must always be at least as large as the rotor diameter of the respective electric machine, since the rotor in the electric machine must always be able to be installed through the shift ring. This limitation or the above-mentioned problem can always be overcome by the present invention.

[0059] Reference numerals list

[0060] 10 Machine housing

[0061] 12 Surrounding sealing surface

[0062] 14 First Gap

[0063] 16 Second Gap

[0064] 20 First machine housing segment

[0065] 22 first recess

[0066] 24 First bearing cap

[0067] 26 First sealing surface area

[0068] 28 First transmission case component

[0069] 30 First motor housing segment assembly

[0070] 40 Second machine housing segment

[0071] 42 Second recess

[0072] 44 Second bearing cap

[0073] 46 Second sealing surface area

[0074] 48 Second transmission case component

[0075] 50 Second motor housing segment assembly

[0076] 60 rotations

[0077] 80 First Motor

[0078] 90 Second Motor

[0079] 100 Machine layout structure

[0080] 110 machine housing assembly

[0081] 112 first housing component

[0082] 114 first recess

[0083] 116 second recess

[0084] 118 second housing component

[0085] K Motor Vehicle

[0086] E1 First insertion direction

[0087] E2 Second insertion direction

[0088] x first spatial direction

[0089] y Second spatial direction

Claims

1. A machine housing (10) for a machine arrangement (100) which is designed to drive a motor vehicle (K), the machine housing being designed to accommodate a first electric machine (80) and at least one second electric machine (90) and having a first machine housing section (20) and at least one second machine housing section (40), characterized in that: The first machine housing segment (20) includes a first recess (22) for inserting a first motor (80), and a second machine housing segment (40) different from the first machine housing segment (20) includes a second recess (42) for accommodating a second motor (90).

2. The machine housing (10) according to claim 1, characterized in that: The first machine housing section (20) and the second machine housing section (40) overlap in at least two spatial directions (x, y) that are different from each other.

3. The machine housing (10) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that: The first machine housing section (20) and the second machine housing section (40) are reversibly detachably connected to each other.

4. The machine housing (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The first machine housing section (20) and the second machine housing section (40) are designed as corresponding cast parts.

5. The machine housing (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that Each machine housing section (20, 40) has a bearing cover (24, 44) for an electric machine (80, 90) to be mounted in the respective other machine housing section (20, 40).

6. The machine housing (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that The first machine housing section (20) has a first sealing surface area (26) and the second machine housing section (40) has a second sealing surface area (46), which together form a circumferential sealing surface (12) when the machine housing sections (20, 40) are connected in a defined manner.

7. The machine housing (10) according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that At least one of the machine housing sections (20, 40) has at least one transmission housing component (28, 48) for accommodating a drive shaft that can be driven by at least one of the electric machines (80, 90).

8. A method for producing a machine arrangement (100) having a machine housing (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, the method comprising at least the following steps: - providing a first machine housing segment (20), a second machine housing segment (40), a first electric machine (80) and a second electric machine (90); - inserting the first electric machine (80) into the first machine housing segment (20) and thereby producing a first electric machine housing segment assembly (30); - inserting the second electric machine (90) into the second machine housing segment (40) and thereby producing a second electric machine housing segment assembly (50); - rotating at least one of the electric machine housing segment assemblies (30, 50) relative to the other electric machine housing segment assembly (50, 30); and - Joining the first electric machine housing segment assembly (30) and the second electric machine housing segment assembly (50), thereby completing the machine arrangement (100) and the machine housing (10).

9. The method according to claim 8, characterized in that A first electric machine (80) is inserted into a first machine housing section (20) along a first insertion direction (E1) and a second electric machine (90) is inserted into a second machine housing section (40) along a second insertion direction (E2) oriented at least substantially in the same direction as the first insertion direction (E1).

10. A motor vehicle (K) having a machine arrangement (100) which is produced according to the method as claimed in claim 8 and / or has a machine housing (10) according to any one of claims 1 to 7.

Images