Drive train

Abstract

The invention relates to a drive train having a transmission, a power electronics and a housing, the transmission and / or a gearwheel being arranged in a transmission chamber and the power electronics being arranged in a power electronics chamber, the transmission chamber and the power electronics chamber being separated from one another by means of a separating wall, the transmission has an oil pan and a collecting container such that during operation of the transmission, transmission oil present in the oil pan can be thrown up by means of at least one of the gears and thus can be supplied to the collecting container. By providing a cooling chamber, the power electronics can be cooled more simply and efficiently, the cooling chamber being arranged between a collection container and a partition wall, transmission oil can be supplied from the collection container to the cooling chamber, the cooling chamber having a cooling chamber overflow opening, and the cooling chamber having a cooling chamber overflow opening. The transmission oil can be led away from the cooling chamber via the cooling chamber overflow opening when reaching a specific liquid level of the transmission oil in the cooling chamber.

Description

Technical Field

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

[0002] In the prior art, drive systems for electric vehicles are known, which include a transmission device, power electronics, and a housing. Power electronics can be used to convert energy that can be supplied to or diverted from the motor of the electric vehicle, for example, to enable connection between the motor and a battery.

[0003] Such a drive system for electric vehicles is known, for example, from DE 10 2021213 004 A1, and particularly includes a transmission, power electronics, and a housing. A transmission chamber and a power electronics chamber are constructed horizontally side-by-side within the housing. A transmission with four gears for constructing two transmission stages is arranged in the transmission chamber. The power electronics are arranged in the power electronics chamber. The transmission chamber and the power electronics chamber are separated from each other by partition walls. A heat shield for cooling the power electronics and for cooling the transmission is functionally and technically efficient constructed between the transmission chamber and the power electronics chamber. A cooling channel is arranged and / or constructed within the heat shield. The heat shield has an inlet and an outlet. Cooling fluid can flow through the cooling channel. Cooling fluid can be supplied to the heat shield via the inlet and can be withdrawn from the heat shield via the outlet after flowing through the cooling channel. The heat shield is part of a cooling fluid circuit, wherein the cooling fluid circuit has additional components, such as a pump, a reservoir, and / or a heat exchanger.

[0004] US 2023 / 0120835 A1 discloses another drive system for an electric vehicle, comprising a transmission, power electronics, and a housing. Within the housing, a transmission compartment and a power electronics compartment are vertically arranged. The transmission is disposed in the transmission compartment, and the power electronics are disposed in the power electronics compartment. The transmission has an oil pan and a collection container constructed by means of the housing, such that, during operation of the transmission, transmission oil present in the oil pan can be thrown up by one of the gears of the transmission and thereby supplied to the collection container. A cooling channel is constructed within the housing, extending laterally from a vertically extending supply area next to the collection container, through a horizontally extending wall area between the transmission compartment and the power electronics compartment, and returning to a vertically extending guide area constructed next to the supply area.

[0005] However, these known systems for thermal management of transmissions, power electronics, and transmission oils are not optimally designed. For example, the cooling channels require a costly structure. Furthermore, the high heat input of the power electronics can only be diverted again with correspondingly high costs, particularly through the aforementioned cooling channels and by means of the corresponding operation of the cooling circuit constructed with the cooling channels. Summary of the Invention

[0006] The present invention is now based on the objective of designing and / or improving drive systems in such a way that the aforementioned problems are avoided, or at least reduced, and in particular, power electronic devices can be cooled more simply and effectively.

[0007] The task upon which this invention is based is now first solved by the drive system according to the invention.

[0008] One aspect of the invention is primarily that at least one cooling chamber is provided and / or is defined, in particular at least in part, by a housing and / or by a partition wall and / or by a collection container, wherein the cooling chamber is arranged and / or constructed between the collection container and the partition wall, wherein transmission oil can be supplied to the cooling chamber from the collection container, wherein the cooling chamber has a cooling chamber overflow port, and wherein the transmission oil can be drained from the cooling chamber via the cooling chamber overflow port when a specific level of transmission oil in the cooling chamber is reached.

[0009] Therefore, power electronics can be cooled using transmission oil in a particularly simple manner. That is, good and efficient heat transfer is achieved from the power electronics through the partition wall to the transmission oil. For this purpose, the transmission oil arranged in the cooling chamber is always in direct contact with the partition wall. Through the cooling chamber overflow port, it is ensured that a specific level of transmission oil is maintained in the cooling chamber under all operating conditions of the drive system, thereby achieving effective cooling of the power electronics under all operating conditions. Even when the drive is stopped, when no transmission oil is supplied to the cooling chamber, the level remains constant, thus achieving sufficiently good cooling of the power electronics even then.

[0010] Preferably, the collection container has a collection container overflow port, through which transmission oil can be supplied to the cooling chamber, particularly through the upper side of the cooling chamber which is at least partially open.

[0011] Therefore, an oil pump is not needed to supply transmission oil to the cooling chamber, thereby reducing costs in terms of equipment technology and control and / or regulation technology. Advantageously, gravity is also used to transport transmission oil to a significant extent, thus saving energy overall in the operation of the drive system.

[0012] More preferably, multiple cooling chambers are provided and / or present. The cooling chambers are arranged adjacent to the partition wall and constructed in a row and / or side by side in a substantially horizontal direction.

[0013] This allows for particularly good control of the distribution of transmission oil relative to the partition wall. It ensures, in a simple way, that during drive system operation, the transmission oil is available in sufficient quantity at the desired area of ​​the partition wall for heat transfer from the power electronics.

[0014] According to a preferred embodiment of the drive system, two adjacent cooling chambers are each defined by a common partition rib. In particular, the cooling chamber overflow outlet is constructed using the partition rib.

[0015] The partition ribs are preferably oriented substantially perpendicular to the partition wall, where substantially means that they can deviate from this perpendicular orientation by a maximum of 10°. The number of partition ribs corresponds to one less than the number of cooling chambers. The cooling chamber overflow outlet is preferably constructed by means of the upper edge of the partition rib. This upper edge is preferably formed as a straight line. By means of such partition ribs, multiple cooling chambers can be constructed in a particularly simple structural manner. Furthermore, the partition ribs occupy only a small space, thus minimizing the contact area available for cooling between the transmission oil and the partition wall.

[0016] According to a particularly preferred embodiment, the cooling chamber of the drive system is defined at its lower side by means of a bottom element. Separating ribs or multiple separating ribs are arranged and / or constructed protruding from the bottom element. It should be noted that the separating ribs defining the respective one or more cooling chambers are therefore specifically implemented in a wall-like manner.

[0017] The bottom element and one or more partition ribs are preferably integrally implemented and transition into each other. The bottom element and one or more partition ribs are then preferably implemented as a single injection-molded part. The bottom element is also preferably oriented substantially perpendicular to the partition wall, wherein, substantially, means that it may deviate from this vertical orientation by up to 10°. The bottom element is arranged in a horizontal orientation, and then preferably horizontally oriented during operation of the drive system in the electric vehicle on a flat road.

[0018] It may be advantageous to provide and / or include at least one flow guide element, wherein transmission oil flowing in, particularly via the overflow port of the collection container, can be supplied by means of the flow guide element to a first cooling chamber disposed at one end of the row. In particular, the flow guide element has at least one convexly curved lower side region facing the corresponding intermediate region of the respective cooling chamber.

[0019] The flow guiding element is preferably constructed as a plate and / or in a plate-like form. The flow guiding element particularly covers the upper side of the open portion of the cooling chamber, except for the upper side of the open portion of the first cooling chamber. Preferably, a vertical gap is formed between the flow guiding element and the cooling chamber. The convexly curved lower region can influence the flow of transmission oil during operation from one cooling chamber to its adjacent cooling chamber, wherein the transmission oil is specifically guided into the adjacent cooling chamber by means of the convexly curved lower region, even if the transmission oil is thrown upwards from the respective cooling chamber, for example, due to impacts on the drive system or the associated electric vehicle.

[0020] Advantageously, the last cooling chamber located at the end of the row opposite to the first cooling chamber has a cooling chamber overflow port configured as a baffle and / or a drain opening. Transmission oil can be supplied to the oil pan via the baffle and / or the drain opening.

[0021] Thus, the transmission oil circuit is completed. The transmission oil is then thrown up from the oil pan during the operation of the drive system and collected by means of a collection container. From the collection container, the transmission oil flows into the first cooling chamber through the overflow port of the collection container. From the first cooling chamber, it fills other cooling chambers through the overflow ports of the corresponding cooling chambers until the final cooling chamber, so that it can flow back to the oil pan from the final cooling chamber.

[0022] Preferably, the cooling chamber is defined on the side away from the partition wall by means of a cover element and / or by means of a collection container.

[0023] The use of a cover element allows for the use of collection containers that were not originally intended for use with the cooling chamber, or collection containers that can be used without a cooling chamber, thus enabling the increased number of these collection containers to be manufactured with a corresponding cost advantage. If the cooling chamber is defined by the collection container on the side facing away from the partition wall, the number of components required to construct the drive system can be advantageously reduced, particularly by omitting the cover element. The sidewall of the cooling chamber facing the collection container is then used to construct both the collection container itself and the cooling chamber, i.e., for two different purposes.

[0024] According to another embodiment of the drive system, the overflow port of the last cooling chamber located at the end opposite to the first cooling chamber in the row of cooling chambers is in a cover element, by means of a collection container and / or by means of a shell structure.

[0025] The final cooling chamber's overflow outlet is formed through corresponding openings in the cover element, in the collection container, particularly in the cantilevered flow guiding area of ​​the collection container, and / or in the shell, particularly in the cantilevered flow guiding area of ​​the shell. This further reduces the total number of required components.

[0026] More preferably, the partition wall and / or housing has at least one cooling channel. Cooling fluid can be guided through the cooling channel. The transmission oil arranged in the cooling chamber can be cooled by means of the cooling fluid flowing through the cooling channel.

[0027] Thus, the cooling of the transmission oil itself, the cooling and / or lubrication of the transmission components by means of the transmission oil, and, in addition, the cooling of the power electronics can be performed particularly effectively and with relatively low costs in terms of device technology and control and / or regulation technology. The cooling power for the power electronics can be further increased by the cooling fluid guided through the cooling channels. However, it is also particularly conceivable for relatively low-power drive systems, where sufficient cooling power for the power electronics can be provided even in the absence of such cooling channels or in cooling channels designed with very simple structural characteristics. Attached Figure Description

[0028] There are now several possibilities for designing and improving the drivetrain in an advantageous manner. Preferred designs of the drivetrain according to the invention are now explained or described in more detail below with reference to the accompanying drawings and description. Wherein: Figure 1a The first embodiment of the drive system is shown schematically in a side view, partially in cross section. Figure 1b A first embodiment of the drive system is shown in a top view with a highly schematic schematic diagram. Figure 1c With highly schematic schematic diagrams in Figure 1a The first embodiment of the drive system is shown in the side view, which is offset by 90°. Figure 2a A second embodiment of the drive system is shown schematically in a side view, partially in cross-section. Figure 2b A second embodiment of the drive system is shown in a top view with a highly schematic schematic diagram. Figure 2c With highly schematic schematic diagrams in Figure 2a A second embodiment of the drive system is shown in the side view, which is offset by 90°. Figure 3 A third embodiment of the drive system is shown schematically in a side view, partially in cross-section. Figure 4 A fourth embodiment of the drive system is shown schematically in a side view, partially in cross-section, and Figure 5 The drive system according to the first to fourth embodiments is shown in detail in a side view, partially in cross section, having a cooling chamber disposed and / or present in the drive system. Detailed Implementation

[0029] Figures 1a to 5 The drive system 1, particularly for electric vehicles, is shown at least partially, and includes at least one transmission 2, at least one power electronics device 3, and a housing 4. The transmission chamber 5 and the power electronics device chamber 6 are constructed, particularly horizontally side-by-side, within the housing 4. The transmission 2 and / or at least two gears 7.1, 7.2 for at least one transmission stage 7 of the transmission 2 are arranged in the transmission chamber 5, and the power electronics device 3 is arranged in the power electronics device chamber 6. The transmission chamber 5 and the power electronics device chamber 6 are separated from each other by a partition wall 8. The partition wall 8 can be constructed as a single piece with the base of the housing 4, wherein the wall portion of the housing 4 then transitions into the partition wall 8. The partition wall 8 can also be implemented as a separate component, particularly as a cover, wherein the power electronics device chamber 6 can be closed by means of such a cover after the power electronics device 3 is assembled in the power electronics device chamber 6.

[0030] The transmission device 2 has an oil pan 9 constructed, particularly by means of a housing 4, and a collection container 10, so that during operation of the transmission device 2, the transmission oil 11 present in the oil pan 9 can be thrown up by at least one of the gears 7.1, 7.2 and thereby supplied to the collection container 10. For this purpose, the collection container 10 has a correspondingly positioned supply opening, not shown here. A hollow chamber for containing the transmission oil 11 is constructed in the collection container 10.

[0031] At least one cooling chamber 12, 12.1-12.7 is provided and / or is present, particularly defined at least in part by the housing 4 and / or by the partition wall 8 and / or by the collection container 10. The cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 are arranged and / or constructed between the collection container 10 and the partition wall 8. Transmission oil 11 can be supplied from the collection container 10 to the cooling chambers 12, 12.1. The cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 have cooling chamber overflow ports 13. The transmission oil 11 can be drained from the cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 via the cooling chamber overflow ports 13 when a specific level of transmission oil 11 is reached in the cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7. This ensures that during the operation of the drive system 1, a specific fluid level is always achieved in the cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 by means of the transmission oil 11, regardless of the operating state of the drive system 1 or the rotational speed of the gear 7.1 immersed in the transmission oil 11 present in the oil pan 9. Thus, good heat transfer is always achieved from the power electronics 3 via the partition wall 8 to the transmission oil 11 present in the cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7. The specific fluid level is constructed in a horizontal plane. When referring herein to the relationship of the components of the drive system 1 relative to this horizontal plane or relative to a vertical plane offset by 90°, it is assumed that the drive system 1 is oriented in a configuration where it is mounted in a vehicle and the vehicle stands on a horizontal surface with its wheels. Preferably, multiple horizontal planes pass through the power electronics 3 and the cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7.

[0032] The collection container 10 has a collection container overflow port 14. The transmission oil 11 can be supplied to the cooling chambers 12, 12.1 via the collection container overflow port 14, especially via the upper side of the cooling chambers 12, 12.1 which is at least partially open, especially by means of gravity.

[0033] The overflow port 14 of the collection container is configured as an opening in the shell wall of the collection container 10. It is conceivable that multiple openings may also be provided and / or present, which then form or construct the overflow port. The collection container 10 has essentially two collection container shell portions connected to each other. The overflow port 14 of the collection container is specifically configured as an opening in the shell wall of the collection container shell portion facing the partition wall 8. The overflow port 14 of the collection container is particularly kidney-shaped. During operation of the drive system 1, transmission oil 11 accumulates in the collection container 10, rises to the overflow port 14 of the collection container, and then flows through the overflow port 14 of the collection container to the cooling chambers 12, 12.1 in the case of further supply of transmission oil 11.

[0034] Especially Figure 5As shown, multiple cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 are provided and / or present. A first cooling chamber 12, 12.1, a second cooling chamber 12, 12.2, a third cooling chamber 12, 12.3, a fourth cooling chamber 12, 12.4, a fifth cooling chamber 12, 12.5, a sixth cooling chamber 12, 12.6, and a final seventh cooling chamber 12, 12.7 are provided and / or present. Cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 are arranged adjacent to partition wall 8 and in a row and / or side-by-side in a substantially horizontal direction. Cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 are preferably square in shape. However, other shapes of cooling chambers are also conceivable. Cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 preferably have substantially the same volume, wherein substantially the same means that the volumes differ from each other by a maximum of 10%.

[0035] Two adjacent cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 are defined by common partition ribs 15, 15.1-15.6. In particular, the cooling chamber overflow port 13 is constructed using partition ribs 15, 15.1-15.6. When transmission oil 11 is further supplied to cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 after reaching a specific liquid level, the transmission oil 11 then flows from one cooling chamber 12, 12.1-12.7 to an adjacent cooling chamber 12, 12.1-12.7 via the upper edges of the partition ribs 15, 15.1-15.6. Preferably, the upper edges of the partition ribs 15, 15.1-15.6 lie in a common plane, so that the same specific liquid level can be reached in cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.6. However, it is also conceivable that the upper edges of the partition ribs lie in horizontal planes at different heights. The dividing ribs 15, 15.1-15.6 are preferably arranged parallel to each other.

[0036] Cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 are defined at their lower sides by means of a bottom element 16. One or more partition ribs 15, 15.1-15.6 are arranged and / or constructed protruding from the bottom element 16. The bottom element 16 is preferably horizontally oriented. The partition ribs 15, 15.1-15.6 are preferably implemented in one piece with the bottom element 16, such that the bottom element 16 transitions into the partition ribs 15, 15.1-15.6.

[0037] Setting and / or having at least one in Figure 5The flow guide element 17 is shown in the diagram. In particular, the transmission oil 11 flowing in via the overflow port 14 of the collection container can be supplied to the first cooling chamber 12.1 located at one end of the row by means of the flow guide element 17. The flow guide element 17 has at least one convexly curved lower side region 18 facing the respective intermediate region of the corresponding cooling chambers 12, 12.2-12.6. Preferably, each of the second to sixth cooling chambers 12, 12.2-12.6 faces such a convexly curved lower side region 18. The flow guide element 17 has a distance between the upper edges of the separating ribs 15, 15.1-15.6, particularly between the convexly curved lower side regions 18. Except for the open upper side of the first cooling chamber 12, 12.1, all the other open upper sides of the other cooling chambers 12, 12.2-12.7 are covered relative to the overflow port 14 of the collection container by means of the flow guide element 17. Preferably, the flow guiding element 17 has a substantially constant thickness, which deviates by a maximum of 10%. Then, opposite the convexly curved lower region 18, a correspondingly concavely curved upper region is constructed, which respectively serve as a flow reservoir and thereby smooth the flow of the transmission oil 11 across the upper side of the flow guiding element 17. The plane defining the upper side of the flow guiding element 17 (which is formed particularly by means of the region between the concavely curved upper regions) is preferably horizontally oriented or inclined at a maximum of 10° relative to the horizontal plane towards the first cooling chamber 12.1.

[0038] The last seventh cooling chamber 12.7, located at the end of the row opposite to the first cooling chamber 12.1, has a cooling chamber overflow port 13 configured as a baffle and / or drain opening 19. Transmission oil 11 can be supplied to the oil pan 9 via the baffle and / or drain opening 19. Preferably, a lower liquid level can be achieved in the last seventh cooling chamber 12.7 than in the preceding cooling chambers 12.1-12.6, i.e., through the vertical spacing of the cooling chamber overflow port 13 of the last seventh cooling chamber 12.7 relative to the cooling chamber overflow ports 13 of the preceding cooling chambers 12.1-12.6. During operation of the drive system 1, transmission oil 11 flows from the oil pan 9 to the collection container 10, from the collection container 10 via the collection container overflow port 14 and via the flow guide element 17 to the first cooling chamber 12.1, from the first cooling chamber 12.1 to the second cooling chamber 12.2, from there to the third, then to the fourth, then to the fifth, then to the sixth, then to the seventh cooling chamber 12.7, and finally from the seventh cooling chamber 12.7 back to the oil pan 9 via the baffle and / or drain opening 19. Preferably, the same high liquid level is constructed in the cooling chambers 12.1-12.6 preceding the last cooling chamber, which... Figure 5The liquid level is symbolized by a single triangle. The first cooling chamber 12.1 and the last cooling chamber 12.7 are defined on their opposite sides, opposite the corresponding partition ribs 15.1 and 15.6, by means of corresponding outer wall portions, which are higher than the opposite partition ribs 15.1 and 15.6 and terminate at a higher height in the vertical direction. The flow guiding element 17 is connected to and / or cantilevered from the outer wall portion defining the last cooling chamber 12.7.

[0039] Cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 are located on the side opposite to partition wall 8, according to... Figure 1a , Figure 1b , Figure 1c , Figure 2a , Figure 2b and Figure 2c Defined by means of cover element 20, and / or according to Figure 3 and Figure 4 Defined by means of collection container 10. According to Figure 1a , Figure 1b , Figure 1c , Figure 2a , Figure 2b and Figure 2c The cover element 20 abuts against the partition ribs 15, 15.1-15.6 (not shown) and is in full contact with these partition ribs at its end face. The cover element 20 is preferably constructed in a plate-like shape. The cover element 20 is preferably connected to the outer wall portion and / or bottom element 16 of the cooling chambers 12.1, 12.7 by means of a screw connection and / or a clamping connection. If according to... Figure 3 and Figure 4 Cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 are defined on their sides away from the partition wall 8 by means of a collection container 10. The collection container 10 has an enlarged wall facing the cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7, which has a cantilevered flow guiding region. This cantilevered flow guiding region is preferably vertically oriented.

[0040] The overflow outlet 13 of the last cooling chamber 12.7, located at the end opposite to the first cooling chamber 12.1 in this row of cooling chambers 12.1-12.7, is according to... Figure 1a , Figure 1c , Figure 2a and Figure 2c In the cover element 20, according to Figure 3 and Figure 4 By means of a collection container 10 and / or by means of a shell structure. Figure 1c and Figure 2c A cylindrical through-hole is provided in the cover element 20 to construct the cooling chamber overflow 13, particularly the baffle and / or discharge opening 19. Other shapes of such through-holes are conceivable, such as square or slit-shaped through-holes. Also according to Figure 3and Figure 4 It is provided with a through opening in the cantilevered flow guiding area of ​​the collection container 10, which may also be implemented in a cylindrical, square or slit shape, for example.

[0041] The partition wall 8 and / or the housing 4 have at least one cooling passage 21. Cooling fluid 22 can be guided through the cooling passage 21. The transmission oil 11 arranged in the cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 can be cooled by means of the cooling fluid 22 flowing through the cooling passage 21.

[0042] according to Figure 1b and Figure 2b A power electronic device cooler 23 is provided and / or present, wherein the power electronic device cooler 23 is intermediately connected to the cooling channel 21 in a flow technique and thereby can be supplied with cooling fluid 22.

[0043] according to Figure 1a , Figure 1b , Figure 1c and Figure 3 In the first and third embodiments of the drive system 1, the power electronic device cooler 23 is connected on one hand to the inlet of the cooling channel 21 constructed in the housing 4 via a supply section of the cooling channel 21 that is substantially perpendicular to the partition wall 8 and extends through the cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7, and on the other hand to the outlet of the cooling channel 21 constructed in the housing 4 via a guide section of the cooling channel 21 that is substantially perpendicular to the partition wall 8 and extends through the cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7, wherein the supply section and the guide section are located on the opposite sides of the cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7. In particular, according to Figure 1a , Figure 1b , Figure 1c and Figure 3 The partition wall 8 is solidly constructed and does not have a section with cooling passage 21. Thus, heat transfer is achieved from the transmission oil 11 present in the cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 to the cooling fluid 22 present in or flowing in the supply section and the drainage section of the cooling passage 21.

[0044] according to Figure 2a , Figure 2b , Figure 2c and Figure 4In the second and fourth embodiments of the drive system 1, the cooling channel 21 is partially constructed in the partition wall 8. The partition wall 8 then has a first partition wall cooling channel section 21.1 and a second partition wall cooling channel section 21.2. By means of the cooling fluid 22 flowing through the first partition wall cooling channel section 21.1 and / or the second partition wall cooling channel section 21.2, not only the transmission oil 11 in the cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7 but also the power electronics 3 can be cooled at least partially, respectively. The cooling fluid 22 can be supplied from the first partition wall cooling channel section 21.1 to the power electronics cooler 23. The cooling fluid 22 can be diverted from the power electronics cooler 23 via the second partition wall cooling channel section 21.2. The flow path of the cooling fluid 22 is indicated accordingly by arrows. Figure 2a , Figure 2b , Figure 2c and Figure 4 The second partition wall cooling channel section 21.2 is located above the first partition wall cooling channel section 21.1, wherein, Figure 2b These sections are shown side-by-side in the highly schematic diagram only to illustrate the flow path. Preferably, the cooling fluid 22 is guided in the loop by means of a pump and, in particular, is resupplied to the drive system 1, especially the first partition wall cooling channel section 21.1, after it has been cooled.

[0045] The first partition wall cooling channel section 21.1 and the second partition wall cooling channel section 21.2 are arranged and / or constructed to extend substantially parallel to each other in space. The first partition wall cooling channel section 21.1 and / or the second partition wall cooling channel section 21.2 are substantially horizontally oriented. Alternatively, an inclined or even vertical orientation is also conceivable. Preferably, a vertical plane passes through the first partition wall cooling channel section 21.1 and the second partition wall cooling channel section 21.2.

[0046] Preferably, a heat-conducting element 24 is arranged between the power electronics 3 and the partition wall 8. Such a heat-conducting element 24 is also called a "gap filler" or "gap pad" and is used to achieve a high heat transfer coefficient from the power electronics 3 to the transmission oil 11 present in the cooling chambers 12, 12.1-12.7, especially by avoiding air gaps. It can also be said that such a heat-conducting element 24 is arranged in and thus fills the structurally unavoidable air gaps.

[0047] List of reference numerals 1. Drive System 2. Transmission device 3 Power Electronic Devices 4. Shell 5. Transmission Unit Room 6 Power Electronic Equipment Room 7. Transmission Unit Stage 7.1 The first gear of transmission stage 7 7.2 The second gear of transmission stage 7 8. Partition wall 9. Oil pan 10 Collection Container 11 Transmission Equipment Oil 12 Cooling Chamber 12.1 First Cooling Chamber 12.2 Second Cooling Chamber … 12.7 Seventh Cooling Chamber 13 Cooling chamber overflow outlet 14. Collection container overflow port 15 Separating Ribs 15.1 First dividing rib 15.2 Second dividing rib … 15.6 Sixth dividing rib 16 Bottom Components 17 Flow guiding elements 18. Lower region of flow guiding element 17 19. Partitions and / or discharge openings 20 Cover Components 21 Cooling Channels 21.1 First partition wall cooling channel section 21.2 Second partition wall cooling channel section 22 Cooling fluid 23 Power Electronic Equipment Coolers 24. Thermal conductive elements.

Claims

1. A drive system (1), particularly for electric vehicles, having at least one transmission (2), at least one power electronics device (3), and a housing (4), wherein, In the housing (4), a transmission chamber (5) and a power electronics chamber (6) are constructed, particularly horizontally side by side. The transmission (2) and / or at least two gears (7.1, 7.2) for constructing at least one transmission stage (7) of the transmission (2) are arranged in the transmission chamber (5), and the power electronics (3) are arranged in the power electronics chamber (6). The transmission chamber (5) and the power electronics chamber (6) are separated from each other by a partition wall (8). The transmission (2) has an oil pan (9) and a collection container (10), constructed particularly by means of the housing (4), so that during operation of the transmission (2), the transmission oil (11) present in the oil pan (9) can be swung up by at least one of the gears (7.1, 7.2) and thereby supplied to the collection container (10). The device is characterized by having at least one cooling chamber (12, 12.1-12.7) defined, in particular at least partially, by the housing (4) and / or by the partition wall (8) and / or by the collection container (10), wherein the cooling chamber (12, 12.1-12.7) is arranged and / or constructed between the collection container (10) and the partition wall (8), wherein transmission oil (11) is available to be supplied from the collection container (10) to the cooling chamber (12, 12.1), wherein the cooling chamber (12, 12.1-12.7) has a cooling chamber overflow port (13), and wherein the transmission oil (11) is available to be drained from the cooling chamber (12, 12.1-12.7) via the cooling chamber overflow port (13) when a specific liquid level of the transmission oil (11) in the cooling chamber (12, 12.1-12.7) is reached.

2. The drive system (1) according to claim 1, characterized in that, The collection container (10) has a collection container overflow port (14), through which the transmission oil (11) can be supplied to the cooling chamber (12, 12.1), particularly through the upper side of the cooling chamber (12, 12.1) which is at least partially open for this purpose.

3. The drive system (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, Multiple cooling chambers (12, 12.1-12.7) are provided and / or present, wherein the cooling chambers (12, 12.1-12.7) are adjacent to the partition wall (8) and are arranged in a row and / or side by side in a substantially horizontal direction.

4. The drive system (1) according to claim 3, characterized in that, Two adjacent cooling chambers (12, 12.1-12.7) are defined by common partition ribs (15, 15.1-15.6), wherein the cooling chamber overflow port (13) is constructed by means of the partition ribs (15, 15.1-15.6).

5. The drive system (1) according to claim 4, characterized in that, The cooling chamber (12, 12.1-12.7) is defined on its lower side by means of a bottom element (16), wherein the partition rib (15) or the plurality of partition ribs (15, 15.1-15.6) are arranged and / or constructed to protrude from the bottom element (16).

6. The drive system (1) according to any one of claims 3 to 5, characterized in that, At least one flow guide element (17) is provided and / or present, wherein the transmission oil (11) flowing in, in particular via the overflow port (14) of the collection container, can be supplied by means of the flow guide element (17) to a first cooling chamber (12.1) arranged at one end of the row, wherein the flow guide element (17) has at least one convexly curved lower side region (18) facing the respective intermediate region of the corresponding cooling chamber (12, 12.2-12.6).

7. The drive system (1) according to claim 6, characterized in that, The last cooling chamber (12.7) located at the end of the row opposite to the first cooling chamber (12.1) has a cooling chamber overflow port (13) configured as a baffle and / or a drain opening (19), wherein the transmission oil (11) can be supplied to the oil pan (9) via the baffle and / or the drain opening (19).

8. The drive system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that, The cooling chambers (12, 12.1-12.7) are defined on the side away from the partition wall (8) by means of a cover element (20) and / or by means of the collection container (10).

9. The drive system (1) according to claim 8, characterized in that, The cooling chamber overflow (13) of the last cooling chamber (12.7) at the end opposite to the first cooling chamber (12.1) of the cooling chambers (12.1-12.7) in the row is in the cover element (20), by means of the collection container (10) and / or by means of the shell structure.

10. The drive system (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 9, characterized in that, The partition wall (8) and / or the housing (4) have at least one cooling channel (21) through which cooling fluid (22) can be guided, wherein transmission oil (11) arranged in the cooling chamber (12, 12.1-12.7) can be cooled by means of the cooling fluid (22) flowing through the cooling channel (21).

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