Motor vehicle comprising a front axle drivable by a drive device

Abstract

This invention relates to a motor vehicle, comprising a front axle drivable by a drive unit, the drive unit having: a first motor together with an associated first transmission mechanism connected to a first drive hub; a second motor together with an associated second transmission mechanism connected to a second drive hub, the first and second motors being asynchronous motors, and having a power supply device and a coolant and / or lubricant supply device arranged in a common structural unit, the first motor being connected to the power supply device via a first power supply line assembly, the second motor being connected to the power supply device via a second power supply line assembly, the first motor and / or the first transmission mechanism being connected to the coolant and / or lubricant supply device via a first coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly, and the second motor and / or the second transmission mechanism being connected to the coolant and / or lubricant supply device via a second coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor vehicle, which includes a front axle that can be driven by a drive unit. Background Technology

[0002] Motor vehicles can have purely rear-axle drive, purely front-axle drive, or drive via both. Increasingly, electric motors are used as the drive assembly. If both rear and front axle drive are provided, the rear axle drive is usually used for sustained, primary power output and is designed accordingly. There, a motor, typically a synchronous motor, is usually positioned in the center of the axle. The front axle drive is primarily used to provide temporary additional power, where an asynchronous motor, also positioned in the center of the axle, is used as the drive assembly.

[0003] A motor vehicle is known from EP 2 679 425 A1, which has four separate motors, each connected to a wheel hub or drive hub of either the rear or front axle. For power supply, a central inverter assembly is provided, comprising four inverters, each controlling or supplying power to one of the motors. A similar design is known from DE 10 2022 132 659 A1. Summary of the Invention

[0004] The problem to be solved by the present invention is to provide an improved design for a motor vehicle.

[0005] To address this problem, the present invention provides a motor vehicle comprising a front axle drivable by a drive unit, the drive unit having: a first motor together with an associated first transmission mechanism connected to a first drive wheel hub; and a second motor together with an associated second transmission mechanism connected to a second drive wheel hub, wherein the first and second motors are asynchronous motors; wherein a power supply device / electrical energy supply device and a coolant and / or lubricant supply device are arranged in a common structural unit; wherein the first motor is connected to the power supply device via a first power supply line assembly, and the second motor is connected to the power supply device via a second power supply line assembly; wherein the first motor and / or the first transmission mechanism are connected to the coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly via a first coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly, and the second motor and / or the second transmission mechanism are connected to the coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly via a second coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly.

[0006] The motor vehicle according to the invention is characterized by a compact structural unit comprising a power supply device and a coolant and / or lubricant supply device, wherein the structural unit supplies power to two motors respectively assigned to corresponding front axle wheel hubs and corresponding transmission mechanisms connected downstream of the motors.

[0007] The motor vehicle has a first motor and an associated first transmission mechanism, wherein the first transmission mechanism is connected downstream of the first motor and connected to the first wheel hub of the front axle. Additionally, a second motor and an associated second transmission mechanism are provided, wherein the second transmission mechanism is connected downstream of the second motor and connected to the second wheel hub of the front axle. Thus, direct drive of each wheel hub is achieved.

[0008] This common structural unit, including the power supply device and the coolant and / or lubricant supply device, is positioned near the front axle, specifically in the area between the two wheel hubs or drive hubs, that is, as close as possible to the two motors or transmission mechanism. The power supply device supplies power to both motors, for which two power supply line assemblies are provided. A first power supply line assembly connects the power supply device to the first motor, and a second power supply line assembly connects the power supply device to the second motor. Thus, each motor is supplied via the common power supply device, i.e., the corresponding stator of the preceding motor (i.e., the corresponding asynchronous motor) is applied a corresponding AC voltage, wherein the two motors are supplied or controlled separately.

[0009] As described, the common structural unit also includes a coolant and / or lubricant supply device, through which coolant and / or lubricant is supplied to the two motors and / or two transmission mechanisms. For this purpose, the first motor and / or the first transmission mechanism is connected to the coolant and / or lubricant supply device via a first coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly. Similarly, the second motor and / or the second transmission mechanism is connected to the coolant and / or lubricant supply device via a second coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly. A common coolant and / or lubricant supply device is also provided here, through which coolant and / or lubricant is supplied to the two motors or two transmission mechanisms.

[0010] This results in an extremely compact structure, which, on the one hand, combines the power supply device and the coolant and / or lubricant supply device into a common structural unit, and on the other hand, creates a short connection path between the structural unit or corresponding device and the motor or transmission mechanism by arranging the structural unit as close as possible to the drive hub.

[0011] Preferably, the design or arrangement according to the invention is configured as an additional drive unit, i.e., the motor vehicle includes a rear axle drive, which includes a correspondingly high-power motor arranged in the center of the axle along with an associated power supply device. That is, the rear axle drive is separate from the front axle drive. The two are decoupled, and cooling of only the power supply devices of the front and rear axle drives can be achieved through a common cooling circuit, wherein cooling water is preferably used as the coolant.

[0012] For the cooling of the first and second motors on the front axle via a coolant and / or lubricant supply device integrated in the structural unit, an oil is preferably used as both a coolant and a lubricant.

[0013] As described, preferably, the structural unit is arranged in the area between the two drive wheel hubs. This means that, if there is sufficient mounting space in this area, the structural unit will either be located within the axle connecting the two drive wheel hubs or slightly offset from this location. In either case, the structural unit is arranged as close as possible to the two drive wheel hubs to achieve a compact overall design of the front axle and a short connection path.

[0014] In an improved embodiment of the invention, the power supply device includes a pulse inverter that generates a corresponding AC voltage from the DC voltage provided by the battery accumulator. This AC voltage is used to supply the corresponding stators of the first and second motors, which are designed as asynchronous motors as described. In other words, the power supply device in the structural unit ultimately includes only the pulse inverter, which is connected to the battery accumulator in a suitable manner. This battery accumulator can be located anywhere in the vehicle and, in particular, supplies power to the rear axle motor via it.

[0015] Preferably, the pulse inverter supplies power to both the first motor and the second motor; that is, only one pulse inverter is used to supply power to both motors.

[0016] In an improved embodiment of the invention, a first motor and / or first transmission mechanism and a coolant and / or lubricant device are incorporated into a first supply circuit via a first coolant and / or lubricant line assembly, and a second motor and / or second transmission mechanism and a coolant and / or lubricant device are incorporated into a second supply circuit via a second coolant and / or lubricant line assembly. That is, two supply circuits are provided, each incorporating the motor and / or associated transmission mechanism and the coolant and / or lubricant device via a corresponding coolant and / or lubricant line assembly. Therefore, the first coolant and / or lubricant line assembly has at least two coolant or lubricant lines leading from the structural unit to the first motor or first transmission mechanism—one input line and one return line. Similarly, the second coolant and / or lubricant line assembly also has at least two coolant or lubricant lines leading from the structural unit to the second motor or second transmission mechanism. Since the corresponding motor is also fluidly connected to the transmission mechanism, connecting two coolant or lubricant lines to the motor housing or transmission mechanism housing is sufficient for supplying both structural components.

[0017] Here, the coolant and / or lubricant supply device may include at least one tank containing coolant and / or lubricant, at least one pump, and at least one heat exchanger. The tank contains the corresponding coolant and / or lubricant, preferably oil, which is distributed to two circuits by at least one pump. The oil is cooled by the at least one heat exchanger.

[0018] Advantageously, a first pump and a first heat exchanger are incorporated into the first supply circuit, and a second pump and a second heat exchanger are incorporated into the second supply circuit. In this case, the two circuits are self-sufficient, meaning they are not interconnected, and therefore can be supplied separately and individual cooling of components can be achieved. Attached Figure Description

[0019] Other advantages and details of the invention will become apparent from the embodiments described below and from the accompanying drawings. These are shown herein:

[0020] Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the principle of a motor vehicle according to the present invention is shown;

[0021] Figure 2 Show Figure 1 A schematic diagram of the front axle of a motor vehicle; and

[0022] Figure 3 This diagram illustrates the principle of the motor together with the transmission mechanism and the power supply circuit assembly and coolant and / or lubricant supply circuit assembly connected thereto. Detailed Implementation

[0023] Figure 1 A motor vehicle 1 according to the present invention is shown, the motor vehicle including a rear axle 2, the rear axle being designed as an electric axle and having a motor 3 and a transmission mechanism 4 connected to the motor 3, the motor being centrally located relative to the rear axle and driving two rear wheels 5 via the transmission mechanism. The motor 3 is typically designed as a correspondingly high-power synchronous motor, which can be a permanent magnet synchronous motor or a separately excited synchronous motor. The main drive of the motor vehicle 1 is provided by the rear axle 2.

[0024] Furthermore, the motor vehicle 1 has a front axle 6, which includes: a first motor 7 together with an associated first transmission mechanism 8, which drives a first drive wheel hub 9; and a second motor 10 together with an associated second transmission mechanism 11, which drives a second drive wheel hub 12. Therefore, wheel hub motors are provided, each with its own associated transmission mechanism, meaning that each front wheel 13 is directly driven by motor 7 or 10.

[0025] Furthermore, a structural unit 14 is provided, in which a power supply device 15 (particularly in the form of a pulse inverter 21) and a coolant and / or lubricant supply device 16 are integrated. That is, these two devices are combined into a common power supply and cooling / lubrication unit, thus forming a compact structural unit. Structural unit 14 is arranged as close as possible to the motors 7, 10 and therefore to the drive hubs 9, 12, thereby forming a short connection path and achieving a compact axle design. Naturally, the two motors 7, 10 and their associated transmission mechanisms 8, 11 are also positioned as close as possible to the corresponding drive hubs 9, 12 to which the transmission mechanisms 8, 11 are connected.

[0026] Structural unit 14 is connected to the first motor 7 via a first power supply line assembly 17 and to the second motor 10 via a second power supply line assembly 18. Similarly, structural unit 14 is connected to the first motor 7, or the first transmission mechanism 8, via a first coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly 19 and to the second motor 10, or the second transmission mechanism 11, via a second coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly 20. Through power supply line assemblies 17 and 18, the respective stators of the corresponding motors 7 and 10 are supplied with AC voltage provided by the power supply device 15 or the pulse inverter 21, and are thus controlled and operated accordingly. Through the two coolant and / or lubricant supply line assemblies 19 and 20, the two motors 7 and 10, or the two transmission mechanisms 8 and 11, are supplied with a coolant and / or lubricant, preferably an oil that serves two functions. For this purpose, the coolant and / or lubricant supply device 16 has corresponding components, in the form of one or more pumps, one or more filters, one or more heat exchangers, and at least one tank as a storage container.

[0027] Figure 2An enlarged partial view of the front axle 6 is shown in the schematic diagram. Two motors 7 and 10 and associated transmission mechanisms 8 and 11 are shown, which may be, for example, planetary gear transmissions. Additionally, a structural unit 14 is shown, which includes a power supply device 15 (here in the form of a pulse inverter 21) and a coolant and / or lubricant supply device 16. As an example, a common pump 22, a common heat exchanger 23, a common filter 24, and a tank 25 are shown.

[0028] Also shown are the first power supply line assembly 17 and the second power supply assembly 18, both formed by cables 26 and 27 for three-phase power supply. Cables 26 and 27 are connected in a suitable manner to the power supply device 15 or the pulse inverter 21.

[0029] Furthermore, a first coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly 19 and a second coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly 20 are shown, each formed via two lines 28 and 29, one an input line and the other a return line. The corresponding lines 28 and 29 are also connected, of course, to the coolant and / or lubricant supply device 16 in a suitable manner. A first supply loop 30 is formed via line 28, incorporating the coolant and / or lubricant supply device 16, a first motor 7, and a first transmission mechanism 8. A second supply loop 31 is formed via line 29, also incorporating the coolant and / or lubricant supply device 16, a second motor 10, and a second transmission mechanism 11. Here, only a pump 22 can be provided to supply both loops 30 and 31, formed via line 28 (on one hand) and line 29 (on the other hand). For this purpose, a suitable valve unit can be provided to switch the corresponding flow rates. Alternatively, a separate pump 22 can be assigned to each loop 30 and 31 formed via lines 28 and 29. The same applies to heat exchanger 23; either a single heat exchanger can be provided to cool all the coolant or lubricant circulating in the two loops 30 and 31, or a separate heat exchanger 23 can be assigned to each loop 30 and 31. Similarly, a single filter 24 can be provided, or a separate filter 24 can be assigned to each loop 30 and 31. Tank 25 suitably supplies the two loops 30 and 31. Of course, the various components are interconnected via appropriate wiring.

[0030] Figure 3A first motor 7, a first transmission mechanism 8, and a first drive hub 9 driven by them are illustrated in a more detailed schematic diagram. The following description also applies to the design of the second motor 10, the second transmission mechanism 11, and the additional drive hub 12. The first motor 7, designed as an asynchronous motor, has a stator 32 connected to lines 26 of a first supply line assembly 17, through which it is supplied with AC voltage provided by a pulse inverter 21. A rotor 33 is also provided, whose output shaft 34 is connected to the transmission input 35 of a transmission mechanism 8, shown herein as a planetary gear transmission mechanism. The transmission mechanism 8 is in turn connected to and drives the wheel hub or drive hub 9 via its output shaft 36.

[0031] like Figure 3 As shown, a line 28 serving as an input line is connected to the housing 37 of the motor 7, through which coolant or lubricant is supplied, as indicated by arrow P1. A second line 28 connected to the housing 37 then supplies coolant or lubricant out, as indicated by arrow P2. Since the motor 7 and the transmission mechanism 8 are open to each other, i.e., fluidly connected, coolant or lubricant, i.e., oil, can be supplied to both components.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle comprising a front axle (6) drivable by a drive unit, wherein, The drive unit comprises: a first motor (7) together with an associated first transmission mechanism (8), the first transmission mechanism being connected to a first drive hub (9); and a second motor (10) together with an associated second transmission mechanism (11), the second transmission mechanism being connected to a second drive hub (12), wherein the first motor (7) and the second motor (10) are asynchronous motors, wherein a power supply device (15) and a coolant and / or lubricant supply device (16) are provided in a common structural unit (14), wherein the first motor (7) is connected to a first power supply line. Component (17) is connected to power supply device (15), and second motor (10) is connected to power supply device (15) through second power supply line assembly (18). The first motor (7) and / or the first transmission mechanism (8) are connected to coolant and / or lubricant line supply device (16) through first coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly (19), and the second motor (10) and / or the second transmission mechanism (11) are connected to coolant and / or lubricant supply device (16) through second coolant and / or lubricant supply line assembly (20).

2. The motor vehicle according to claim 1, characterized in that, The structural unit (14) is arranged in the area between the two drive hubs (9, 12).

3. The motor vehicle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that, The power supply device (15) includes a pulse inverter (21).

4. The motor vehicle according to claim 3, characterized in that, The pulse inverter (21) is used for both the first motor (7) and the second motor (10).

5. The motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The first motor (7) and / or the first transmission mechanism (8) and the coolant and / or lubricant supply device (16) are incorporated into the first supply circuit (30) through the first coolant and / or lubricant line assembly (19), and the second motor (10) and / or the second transmission mechanism (11) and the coolant and / or lubricant supply device (16) are incorporated into the second supply circuit (31) through the second coolant and / or lubricant line assembly (20).

6. The motor vehicle according to any one of the preceding claims, characterized in that, The coolant and / or lubricant supply device (16) includes at least one tank (25) for containing coolant and / or lubricant, at least one pump (22) and at least one heat exchanger (23).

7. The motor vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that, A first pump and a first heat exchanger are incorporated in the first supply loop (30), and a second pump and a second heat exchanger are incorporated in the second supply loop (31).

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