Drive assembly and vehicle

Abstract

This disclosure relates to a drive assembly and a vehicle. The drive assembly includes an oil pan, a drive unit, a lubrication system, and a control unit. The lubrication system delivers lubricating oil stored in the oil pan to the drive unit. The oil pan is equipped with an oil temperature detection element for detecting the temperature of the lubricating oil stored in the oil pan. The oil temperature detection element is connected to the control unit. The control unit controls the lubrication system or issues an alarm based on the oil temperature information collected by the oil temperature detection element. Through the above structural design, this disclosure avoids signal distortion, improves signal accuracy and reliability, and mitigates electromagnetic compatibility issues in the drive assembly. This disclosure avoids the problem of varnish dripping in the stator windings, ensuring the uniformity and integrity of the insulating varnish in the stator windings and improving the manufacturing quality of the motor. This disclosure improves the ease of disassembly and assembly of the oil temperature detection element, significantly reducing maintenance difficulty, maintenance time, and costs, which is beneficial for the maintenance of the drive assembly.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This disclosure relates to the field of vehicle technology, and more particularly to a drive assembly and a vehicle. Background Technology

[0002] Current drive assembly designs do not collect lubricating oil temperature information, instead placing temperature sensors on heat-generating components such as the stator windings or the oil pumps in the lubrication system. However, in these existing designs, the temperature sensors and their leads are prone to signal distortion due to their proximity to strong electromagnetic interference sources such as high-voltage copper busbars, affecting the accuracy and reliability of the oil temperature detection signal. When the temperature sensor is placed on the stator winding, it can easily lead to poor varnish dripping, affecting the uniformity and integrity of the stator winding insulation varnish. Furthermore, the placement of the temperature sensor in existing designs makes installation and removal inconvenient, resulting in high maintenance difficulty and wasted replacement time and costs. Summary of the Invention

[0003] To overcome the problems existing in the related technologies, this disclosure provides a drive assembly and a vehicle.

[0004] According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, a drive assembly is provided, wherein: the drive assembly includes an oil pan, a drive unit, a lubrication system, and a control unit; the lubrication system is used to deliver lubricating oil stored in the oil pan to the drive unit; the oil pan is provided with an oil temperature detection element for detecting the temperature of the lubricating oil stored in the oil pan; the oil temperature detection element is connected to the control unit; the control unit is used to control the lubrication system or issue an alarm based on the oil temperature information collected by the oil temperature detection element.

[0005] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the oil temperature detection element includes a body and a temperature sensing part; the body is mounted on the oil pan and connected to the control unit; the temperature sensing part is connected to the body and located inside the oil pan for contact with lubricating oil.

[0006] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the body portion is mounted on the outer surface of the oil pan wall, and the temperature sensing portion extends into the oil pan.

[0007] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the oil pan is provided with a mounting hole that penetrates the wall of the oil pan and the wall of the mounting hole is provided with an internal thread; the outer periphery of the body is provided with an external thread, and the body is threadedly connected to the mounting hole; the temperature sensing part extends into the oil pan through the mounting hole.

[0008] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, a sealing structure is provided between the mounting hole and the body portion; and / or, a nut structure is further provided on the outer periphery of the body portion.

[0009] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the inner surface of the oil pan wall is provided with an oil collecting pit for accumulating lubricating oil; at least a portion of the temperature sensing part is located in the oil collecting pit.

[0010] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the oil pan is provided with an oil supply channel for conveying lubricating oil; the main body is installed on the shell wall of the oil pan at a position corresponding to the oil supply channel, and the temperature sensing part extends into the oil supply channel.

[0011] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the oil pan has a channel in its shell wall, which forms the oil supply channel.

[0012] In some exemplary embodiments of this disclosure, the oil temperature detection element is an NTC temperature sensor.

[0013] According to a second aspect of the present disclosure, a vehicle is provided, wherein the vehicle includes the drive assembly proposed in the present disclosure and described in the above embodiments.

[0014] The technical solutions provided by the embodiments of this disclosure can include the following beneficial effects: The drive assembly proposed in this disclosure includes an oil pan, a drive unit, a lubrication system, and a control unit; the lubrication system is used to transport the lubricating oil stored in the oil pan to the drive unit; the oil pan is provided with an oil temperature detection element for detecting the temperature of the lubricating oil stored in the oil pan; the oil temperature detection element is connected to the control unit; the control unit is used to control the lubrication system or issue an alarm based on the oil temperature information collected by the oil temperature detection element. Through the above structural design, this disclosure places the oil temperature detection element on the oil pan, keeping the oil temperature detection element away from the electromagnetic interference source of the drive assembly, avoiding signal distortion, improving the accuracy and reliability of the signal, and improving the electromagnetic compatibility problem of the drive assembly. Furthermore, this disclosure avoids the problem of poor varnish dripping in the stator winding, ensuring the uniformity and integrity of the insulating varnish of the stator winding, and improving the manufacturing quality of the motor. Moreover, this disclosure allows for the disassembly and assembly of the oil temperature detection element without disassembling the motor or oil pump, improving the convenience of disassembly and assembly of the oil temperature detection element, significantly reducing maintenance difficulty, maintenance time and cost, and facilitating the maintenance of the drive assembly.

[0015] It should be understood that the above general description and the following detailed description are exemplary and explanatory only, and are not intended to limit this disclosure. Attached Figure Description

[0016] The accompanying drawings, which are incorporated in and form a part of this specification, illustrate embodiments consistent with this disclosure and, together with the description, serve to explain the principles of this disclosure.

[0017] Figure 1 This is a perspective view of a drive assembly illustrated according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0018] Figure 2 yes Figure 1 An enlarged view of part A in the image;

[0019] Figure 3 yes Figure 1 A perspective view of a portion of the drive assembly structure is shown.

[0020] Figure 4 yes Figure 3 An enlarged view of part B in the image;

[0021] Figure 5 This is a perspective view of a drive assembly illustrated according to some other exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure;

[0022] Figure 6 yes Figure 5 An enlarged view of part C in the image;

[0023] Figure 7 yes Figure 5 A side view of the drive assembly is shown.

[0024] Figure 8 It is along Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the straight line EE in the diagram;

[0025] Figure 9 yes Figure 8 An enlarged view of part G in the image;

[0026] Figure 10 It is along Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the line FF in the diagram;

[0027] Figure 11 yes Figure 10 An enlarged view of part H in the image;

[0028] Figure 12 This is a block diagram of a vehicle illustrated according to some exemplary embodiments of the present disclosure.

[0029] Explanation of reference numerals in the attached figures:

[0030] 100. Oil pan;

[0031] 110. Mounting holes;

[0032] 120. Oil collection pit;

[0033] 130. Oil supply channel;

[0034] 131. Aperture;

[0035] 210. Electric motor;

[0036] 310. Oil pump;

[0037] 400. Oil temperature detection element;

[0038] 410. Ontology part;

[0039] 412. Nut structure;

[0040] 420. Temperature sensing element;

[0041] 600. Vehicles;

[0042] 610. Infotainment system;

[0043] 620. Sensing system;

[0044] 630. Decision control system;

[0045] 640. Drive system;

[0046] 650. Computing platform;

[0047] 651. Processor;

[0048] 652. Memory;

[0049] 653. Instructions. Detailed Implementation

[0050] Some embodiments of this disclosure will now be described in detail, examples of which are illustrated in the accompanying drawings. When the following description refers to the drawings, unless otherwise indicated, the same numbers in different drawings denote the same or similar elements. Various changes, modifications, and equivalents of the methods, apparatus, and / or systems described herein will become apparent upon understanding this disclosure. For example, the order of operations described herein is merely illustrative and is not limited to those orders set forth herein, but can be changed as will become apparent upon understanding this disclosure, except for operations that must be performed in a particular order. Furthermore, for clarity and brevity, descriptions of features known in the art may be omitted.

[0051] The embodiments described in the following examples of this disclosure are not representative of all embodiments consistent with this disclosure. Rather, they are merely examples of apparatuses and methods consistent with some aspects of this disclosure as detailed in the appended claims.

[0052] See Figure 1The diagram shows a perspective view of the drive assembly. In this exemplary embodiment, the drive assembly proposed in this disclosure is illustrated using a dual-motor drive assembly as an example. It will be readily understood by those skilled in the art that various modifications, additions, substitutions, deletions, or other changes may be made to the specific embodiments described below in order to apply the relevant designs of this disclosure to other types of drive assemblies, and these changes shall still be within the scope of the principles of the drive assembly proposed in this disclosure.

[0053] like Figure 1 As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the drive assembly proposed in this disclosure includes an oil pan 100, a drive unit, a lubrication system, and a control unit. (See also...) Figures 2 to 4 , Figure 2 China representatively shows Figure 1 An enlarged view of part A in the image; Figure 3 The diagram shows a representative perspective view of a portion of the drive assembly structure, specifically showing a portion of the oil pan 100 structure to illustrate the interior of the oil pan 100. Figure 4 China representatively shows Figure 3 The enlarged view of section B is shown below. The structure, connection method, and functional relationship of the main components of the drive assembly proposed in this disclosure will be described in detail below with reference to the above-mentioned figures.

[0054] like Figures 1 to 4As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the lubrication system is used to deliver lubricating oil stored in the oil pan 100 to the drive unit. For example, the lubrication system uses an oil pump 310 to deliver the lubricating oil stored in the oil pan 100 to multiple lubrication points of the drive unit via an oil supply line. These lubrication points may include, but are not limited to, multiple lubrication points of the motor 210 (e.g., stator windings and rotor shaft) and the reducer. The oil pan 100 is provided with an oil temperature detection element 400, which is used to detect the temperature of the lubricating oil stored in the oil pan 100. The oil temperature detection element 400 can be located in a relatively low area of ​​the oil pan 100, such as at the bottom or near the bottom of the oil pan 100, so that when the vehicle is at the maximum designed climbing angle and maximum diving angle, the lowest oil level in the oil pan 100 can still submerge or effectively contact the temperature sensing part 420 of the oil temperature detection element 400. The oil temperature detection element 400 is connected to a control unit (e.g., the vehicle's thermal management system), for example, via a lead wire. The control unit controls the lubrication system or issues an alarm based on the oil temperature information collected by the oil temperature detection element 400. Through this structural design, the oil temperature detection element 400 is positioned on the oil pan 100, keeping it away from electromagnetic interference sources in the drive assembly, avoiding signal distortion, improving signal accuracy and reliability, and mitigating electromagnetic compatibility issues in the drive assembly. Furthermore, this disclosure avoids varnish dripping problems in the stator windings, ensuring the uniformity and integrity of the stator winding insulation varnish, and improving the manufacturing quality of the motor 210. Moreover, this disclosure allows for the removal and installation of the oil temperature detection element 400 without disassembling components such as the motor 210 or oil pump 310, improving the ease of installation and removal, significantly reducing maintenance difficulty, time, and cost, and facilitating drive assembly maintenance.

[0055] Furthermore, compared to existing solutions that place temperature sensors in the stator windings, this disclosure also has the following advantages or benefits:

[0056] Existing solutions require additional low-voltage connectors, while this disclosure eliminates the need for such connectors, significantly reducing system costs. During the manufacturing process of the existing drive assembly, additional testing procedures are required; specifically, the temperature sensor inside the motor 210 needs to be electrically tested when it comes off the production line. This disclosure eliminates the need for electrical testing of the temperature sensor when the motor 210 comes off the production line, saving electrical testing time in the motor 210 manufacturing process (e.g., saving 1 / 3 of the testing time). Furthermore, existing solutions require additional workstations on the production line for installing the temperature sensor in the motor 210. This disclosure eliminates the need for such workstations on the motor 210 production line, reducing manpower and equipment investment. In existing solutions, replacing a damaged temperature sensor is extremely inconvenient, typically requiring disassembly of the assembly. The oil temperature detection element 400 of this disclosure is located in the oil pan 100, allowing for direct removal and replacement from the outside of the oil pan 100 after damage, significantly reducing maintenance difficulty, time, and cost.

[0057] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the oil temperature detection element 400 may include a body portion 410 and a temperature sensing portion 420. The body portion 410 is mounted on the oil pan 100 and connected to a control unit, for example, one end of the body portion 410 is connected to the control unit via a lead wire. The temperature sensing portion 420 is connected to the body portion 410 and is located inside the oil pan 100. The temperature sensing portion 420 is used to contact the lubricating oil, thereby realizing the detection of the oil temperature of the lubricating oil by the temperature sensing portion 420. Taking the oil temperature detection element 400 as an NTC temperature sensor as an example, the temperature sensing portion 420 may include an NTC thermistor device.

[0058] like Figure 2 and Figure 4 As shown, based on the structural design of the oil temperature detection element 400, which includes a body portion 410 and a temperature sensing portion 420, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the body portion 410 can be installed on the outer surface of the oil pan 100's casing wall, and the temperature sensing portion 420 extends into the oil pan 100. Through this structural design, the body portion 410 is installed on the outer surface of the casing wall, which facilitates the overall installation of the oil temperature detection element 400 and its connection to the control unit, for example, facilitating the connection and lead-out of leads.

[0059] like Figure 2 and Figure 4As shown, based on the structural design of the main body 410 being mounted on the outer surface of the oil pan 100, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the oil pan 100 may be provided with a mounting hole 110, which penetrates the oil pan 100's wall, and the wall of the mounting hole 110 is provided with an internal thread. The outer periphery of the main body 410 of the oil temperature sensing element 400 is provided with an external thread that mates with the aforementioned internal thread, and the main body 410 is threadedly connected to the mounting hole 110. Furthermore, the temperature sensing part 420 extends into the oil pan 100 through the mounting hole 110. Through the above structural design, this disclosure enables convenient installation and removal of the oil temperature sensing element 400 on the oil pan 100, reducing assembly and maintenance difficulties.

[0060] Based on the structural design of the oil temperature sensing element 400 being assembled in the mounting hole 110 of the oil pan 100, in one embodiment of this disclosure, a sealing structure, such as a gasket or sealing ring, can be provided between the mounting hole 110 and the body portion 410 of the oil temperature sensing element 400. Through this structural design, this disclosure can ensure the sealing performance of the oil pan 100, preventing gas from entering the oil pan 100 or oil leakage.

[0061] like Figure 2 As shown, based on the structural design of the threaded engagement between the body portion 410 and the mounting hole 110, in one embodiment of this disclosure, a nut structure 412, such as a hexagonal nut structure 412, can also be provided on the outer periphery of the body portion 410 of the oil temperature detection element 400. Through the above structural design, this disclosure can utilize the nut structure 412 for the operator to hold or to cooperate with loading and unloading tools (such as wrenches), making the loading, unloading, and tightening process more convenient and labor-saving.

[0062] like Figure 4As shown, based on the structural design of the oil temperature detection element 400, which includes a body portion 410 and a temperature sensing portion 420, in one embodiment of this disclosure, an oil collecting pit 120 can be provided on the inner surface of the oil pan 100's shell wall. This oil collecting pit 120 can accumulate lubricating oil. At least a portion of the temperature sensing portion 420 is located within the oil collecting pit 120. Through the above structural design, when the vehicle is driving uphill or downhill, the oil pan 100 tilts forward or backward with the vehicle as a whole, causing the oil level in the oil pan 100 to tilt. In this regard, this disclosure utilizes the oil collecting pit 120 to accumulate a portion of lubricating oil, so that in the above scenarios, a certain amount of lubricating oil can still remain in the oil collecting pit 120 and contact the temperature sensing portion 420, thereby ensuring that the oil temperature detection function of the oil temperature detection element 400 is properly realized. Accordingly, by optimizing the internal structural design of the oil pan 100 and rationally arranging the installation position of the oil temperature detection element 400 in the oil pan 100, this disclosure can ensure that even when the vehicle is going uphill or downhill at a large angle, the oil temperature detection element 400 can still effectively contact the oil in the oil pan 100, thereby more accurately reflecting the overall oil temperature in the oil pan 100 and providing more reliable data input for the control unit.

[0063] See Figures 5 to 11 , Figure 5 A perspective view of a drive assembly embodying the principles of this disclosure is shown in another exemplary embodiment. Figure 6 China representatively shows Figure 5 An enlarged view of part C in the image; Figure 7 China representatively shows Figure 5 A side view of the drive assembly is shown. Figure 8 The middle section represents the direction along Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the straight line EE in the diagram; Figure 9 China representatively shows Figure 8 An enlarged view of part G in the image; Figure 10 The middle section represents the direction along Figure 7 A cross-sectional view of the line FF in the diagram; Figure 11 China representatively shows Figure 10 An enlarged view of part H in the image.

[0064] like Figures 5 to 11As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, an oil supply channel 130 for conveying lubricating oil is provided inside the oil pan 100. Based on this, the body 410 of the oil temperature detection element 400 can be installed on the wall of the oil pan 100 at a position corresponding to the oil supply channel 130, and the temperature sensing part 420 can extend into the oil supply channel 130. Through the above structural design, since the oil supply channel 130 is a channel for conveying lubricating oil, theoretically, there is always lubricating oil in the oil supply channel 130 during vehicle startup and driving. This disclosure, by extending the temperature sensing part 420 into the oil supply channel 130, ensures that the oil temperature detection function is not affected by the vehicle's attitude.

[0065] like Figures 8 to 11 As shown, in one embodiment of this disclosure, a channel 131 may be provided in the shell wall of the oil pan 100, forming an oil supply channel 130 for the oil pan 100. Through the above structural design, this disclosure utilizes the shell wall of the oil pan 100 to form the oil supply channel 130, eliminating the need for additional independent pipelines within the oil pan 100, thus simplifying the structural complexity and reducing assembly difficulty.

[0066] like Figure 9 and Figure 11 As shown, based on the structural design of the oil pan 100 having a channel 131 in its shell wall, in one embodiment of this disclosure, the oil pan 100 may be provided with a mounting hole 110 for mounting an oil temperature sensing element 400, and the position of the mounting hole 110 may correspond to the position of the channel 131. Accordingly, the main body of the oil temperature sensing element 400 may be mounted in the mounting hole 110, and the temperature sensing part 420 may extend into the channel 131 (oil supply channel 130) through the mounting hole 110.

[0067] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the oil temperature detection element 400 can be an NTC temperature sensor.

[0068] It should be noted that the drive assemblies shown in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification are merely a few examples among many drive assemblies capable of employing the principles of this disclosure. It should be clearly understood that the principles of this disclosure are by no means limited to any detail or component of the drive assemblies shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification.

[0069] Based on the above detailed description of several exemplary embodiments of the drive assembly proposed in this disclosure, an exemplary embodiment of the vehicle proposed in this disclosure will be described below.

[0070] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the vehicle proposed in this disclosure includes the drive assembly proposed in this disclosure and described in detail in the above embodiments.

[0071] In one embodiment of this disclosure, the vehicle proposed in this disclosure can be a hybrid vehicle, a non-hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, or other types of vehicles. The vehicle can be an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle, or a non-autonomous vehicle.

[0072] Figure 12 This is a block diagram illustrating a vehicle 600 according to an exemplary embodiment. For example, vehicle 600 may be a hybrid vehicle, an electric vehicle, a fuel cell vehicle, or other types of vehicle. Vehicle 600 may be an autonomous vehicle, a semi-autonomous vehicle, or a non-autonomous vehicle.

[0073] Specifically, this disclosure can be applied to at least the following types of vehicles:

[0074] Battery electric vehicles (BEVs), especially mid-to-high-end BEVs, typically employ a dual-motor (e.g., one motor on each axle for electric four-wheel drive) or even a tri-motor (e.g., two motors on the rear axle plus a single motor on the front axle) powertrain layout to achieve stronger acceleration, better handling stability, and more intelligent torque distribution. In these complex electric drive assemblies, precise monitoring of the lubricating oil temperature of the motor and reducer is crucial for ensuring continuous power output, system durability, and driving safety. This disclosure, by optimizing the arrangement of oil temperature sensors, provides a more reliable and economical thermal management basis for the electric drive systems of these vehicle types.

[0075] Plug-in hybrid electric vehicles (PHEVs) and range-extended electric vehicles (EREVs): These types of vehicles also include an electric drive system as the primary or essential drive unit. Their electric drive systems operate in various modes, and the motor and reducer may experience different thermal loads under different conditions. This disclosure provides effective oil temperature monitoring for the electric drive components of these vehicles, helping to optimize their energy efficiency and reliability in pure electric drive mode.

[0076] High-performance electric vehicles and racing cars: In electric racing cars or high-performance sports cars that demand extreme power performance, the electric drive system often operates under extreme conditions, generating enormous amounts of heat in the motor and reducer, placing extremely stringent requirements on the thermal management system. This disclosure, by providing more reliable oil temperature data, helps to achieve more precise thermal control strategies, ensuring stable output and safe operation of the electric drive system under high loads. Its ease of maintenance also meets the needs of rapid maintenance in high-intensity usage scenarios such as racing cars.

[0077] Commercial electric vehicles, including electric buses, electric logistics vehicles, and electric trucks, have high requirements for operational economy and reliability. This disclosure helps reduce the total lifecycle operating costs of commercial electric vehicles by reducing initial and maintenance costs related to sensors while improving system reliability.

[0078] Other vehicles or industrial equipment using integrated electric drive modules: As mentioned above, the design concept of this technical solution can also be extended to other integrated power units that require monitoring of oil temperature, such as propulsion systems of electric ships, power heads of electric engineering machinery, and servo motor drive units on automated production lines, as long as they include motors and transmission mechanisms that require oil lubrication and cooling, and have high requirements for reliability, cost, and maintainability.

[0079] In the aforementioned application scenarios, this technical solution places the oil temperature detection element on the oil pan and optimizes the oil pan structure to ensure that the sensor can effectively contact the oil under various operating conditions (including steep inclines), thereby accurately monitoring the oil temperature. This provides a key input parameter for the thermal management system of the electric drive assembly, enabling the controller to adopt corresponding cooling or heating strategies based on real-time oil temperature information (e.g., controlling the start / stop and speed of the cooling oil pump, or preheating the oil in low-temperature environments) to ensure that the motor and reducer operate within the optimal temperature range, thereby improving system efficiency, extending service life, and preventing failures caused by overheating or overcooling.

[0080] Reference Figure 12 The vehicle 600 may include various subsystems, such as an infotainment system 610, a perception system 620, a decision control system 630, a drive system 640, and a computing platform 650. The vehicle 600 may also include more or fewer subsystems, and each subsystem may include multiple components. Furthermore, each subsystem and each component of the vehicle 600 can be interconnected via wired or wireless means.

[0081] In some embodiments, the infotainment system 610 may include a communication system, an entertainment system, and a navigation system, etc.

[0082] The perception system 620 may include several sensors for sensing information about the environment surrounding the vehicle 600. For example, the perception system 620 may include a global positioning system (which may be GPS, BeiDou, or other positioning systems), an inertial measurement unit (IMU), lidar, millimeter-wave radar, ultrasonic radar, and a camera device.

[0083] The decision control system 630 may include a computing system, a vehicle controller, a steering system, a throttle, and a braking system.

[0084] The drive system 640 may include components that provide powered motion to the vehicle 600. In one embodiment, the drive system 640 may include an engine, an energy source, a transmission system, and wheels. The engine may be one or a combination of internal combustion engines, electric motors, and compressed air engines. The engine is capable of converting energy provided by the energy source into mechanical energy.

[0085] Some or all of the functions of vehicle 600 are controlled by computing platform 650. Computing platform 650 may include at least one processor 651 and memory 652, and processor 651 may execute instructions 653 stored in memory 652.

[0086] Processor 651 can be any conventional processor, such as a commercially available CPU. The processor may also include, for example, a Graphics Processing Unit (GPU), a Field Programmable Gate Array (FPGA), a System on Chip (SOC), an Application Specific Integrated Circuit (ASIC), or a combination thereof.

[0087] The memory 652 can be implemented by any type of volatile or non-volatile storage device or a combination thereof, such as static random access memory (SRAM), electrically erasable programmable read-only memory (EEPROM), erasable programmable read-only memory (EPROM), programmable read-only memory (PROM), read-only memory (ROM), magnetic storage, flash memory, magnetic disk or optical disk.

[0088] In addition to instruction 653, memory 652 can also store data, such as road maps, route information, vehicle position, direction, speed, and other data. The data stored in memory 652 can be used by computing platform 650.

[0089] It should be noted that the vehicles shown in the accompanying drawings and described in this specification are merely a few examples among many vehicles capable of employing the principles of this disclosure. It should be clearly understood that the principles of this disclosure are by no means limited to any detail or component of the vehicles shown in the accompanying drawings or described in this specification.

[0090] In summary, the drive assembly proposed in this disclosure includes an oil pan, a drive unit, a lubrication system, and a control unit. The lubrication system is used to transport the lubricating oil stored in the oil pan to the drive unit. An oil temperature detection element is installed in the oil pan to detect the temperature of the lubricating oil stored in the oil pan. The oil temperature detection element is connected to the control unit. The control unit is used to control the lubrication system or issue an alarm based on the oil temperature information collected by the oil temperature detection element. Through the above structural design, this disclosure places the oil temperature detection element on the oil pan, keeping it away from electromagnetic interference sources of the drive assembly, avoiding signal distortion, improving signal accuracy and reliability, and mitigating electromagnetic compatibility issues of the drive assembly. Furthermore, this disclosure avoids the problem of varnish dripping from the stator windings, ensuring the uniformity and integrity of the insulating varnish of the stator windings, and improving the manufacturing quality of the motor. Moreover, this disclosure allows for the removal and installation of the oil temperature detection element without disassembling the motor or oil pump, improving the convenience of removal and installation, significantly reducing maintenance difficulty, time, and cost, and facilitating the maintenance of the drive assembly.

[0091] Specifically, the advantages and benefits of this disclosure include:

[0092] 1. Significantly improves system reliability:

[0093] Effectively avoiding electromagnetic compatibility (EMC) issues: Placing the oil temperature sensing element on the oil pan, which is less susceptible to electromagnetic interference, greatly reduces the impact of electromagnetic interference on the sensor signal. This ensures the accuracy and stability of oil temperature monitoring data, thereby improving the reliability of thermal management system decisions and avoiding system misjudgments or potential damage caused by erroneous temperature signals.

[0094] Eliminating the potential for poor varnish application on motor windings caused by oil temperature sensing element leakage: By eliminating the internal temperature sensor and its leads, the negative impact of wiring harness routing on the varnish application process of the motor stator windings (such as uneven varnish film and bubbles) is fundamentally avoided. This directly improves the insulation performance and heat dissipation consistency of the motor windings, extends the service life of the motor, and enhances the overall reliability of the dual-motor assembly.

[0095] Improving the accuracy and continuity of oil temperature measurement under extreme conditions: By optimizing the internal structure of the oil pan and rationally selecting the sensor's mounting position on the oil pan, it is ensured that even under extreme conditions such as steep inclines, steep drops, or violent shaking, the sensor's temperature-sensing component can still effectively and continuously contact the oil. This guarantees the representativeness and accuracy of the measured oil temperature, providing more reliable data input for the thermal management system, thereby improving the operational stability of the entire electric drive system under various complex conditions.

[0096] 2. Significantly reduce total system cost:

[0097] Material cost savings: The most direct cost savings come from eliminating the need for the dedicated low-voltage connector required for the original internal temperature sensor of the motor. This also saves on the cost of the internal temperature sensor itself and the associated high-temperature, oil-resistant special wiring harness.

[0098] Reduce manufacturing costs: Simplify motor assembly process, eliminating the need for dedicated temperature sensor installation stations on motor production lines, reducing assembly steps and manpower input; shorten motor electrical testing time, eliminating the need for functional testing of internal temperature sensors during post-production electrical performance testing, saving approximately 1 / 3 of the electrical testing time, significantly improving the overall efficiency of the production line, and reducing the testing cost per unit product.

[0099] This greatly improves the convenience of after-sales maintenance and reduces maintenance costs.

[0100] The oil temperature detection element is easy to replace: Traditionally, replacing a damaged internal temperature sensor in a motor is extremely cumbersome, often requiring disassembly of the motor assembly or even the reducer, taking hours or even days and incurring high labor costs. This disclosure places the oil temperature detection element on the oil pan outside the electric drive assembly. When the sensor fails, maintenance personnel can easily access and replace it from the bottom or side of the vehicle. The entire process may only take tens of minutes, without disassembling the motor or reducer. This significantly reduces vehicle downtime and lowers maintenance and time costs for users.

[0101] Reduced skill requirements for repair personnel: As the replacement process is simplified, the professional skills required for repair personnel are also reduced accordingly, which is conducive to providing rapid repair services at a wider range of repair outlets.

[0102] This disclosed technical solution involves a completely new design for the placement and arrangement of the oil temperature detection element, supplemented by corresponding structural optimizations. It systematically solves the pain points of existing technologies in multiple dimensions such as reliability, cost, manufacturability, and maintainability, providing a superior oil temperature monitoring solution for dual-motor assemblies in new energy vehicles. This solution has significant economic benefits and technological advancements, and aligns with the trend of electric drive technology towards higher reliability, lower cost, and easier maintenance.

[0103] This disclosure places the oil temperature detection element in a centralized location (oil pan) within a shared cooling / lubrication fluid circuit, offering a degree of scalability. It can be applied to other electric drive systems requiring centralized cooling and temperature monitoring of multiple integrated heat sources. It is not only suitable for dual-motor or multi-motor assemblies in new energy vehicles, but can also be extended to other integrated, compact powertrain systems or industrial equipment requiring precise monitoring and management of oil temperature. For example, transmissions in hybrid power systems, hydraulic systems in construction machinery, gearboxes in wind turbine generators, and precision reducers in various industrial robots—as long as they contain temperature-controlled lubricating or hydraulic oil and have high requirements for system reliability, cost, and maintainability—can all benefit from the design concept of this disclosure.

[0104] In recent years, with increasing global emphasis on environmental protection and energy efficiency, the new energy vehicle industry has experienced rapid development. As a core component of new energy vehicles, the electric drive system's integration, efficiency, lightweight design, and high reliability have become major trends in industry technological development. Dual-motor or multi-motor assemblies, due to their superior power performance, driving efficiency, and more flexible torque distribution (such as electric four-wheel drive and torque vectoring control), are increasingly widely used in mid-to-high-end new energy vehicle models.

[0105] In these highly integrated electric drive assemblies, the operating temperature of key components such as the motor and reducer has a crucial impact on their performance, lifespan, and safety. Lubricating oil not only lubricates the reducer gears but also participates in motor cooling (e.g., oil-cooled motors) in many cases. Therefore, accurate and reliable real-time monitoring of the oil temperature inside the electric drive assembly is fundamental to achieving intelligent thermal management, fault warning, and ensuring long-term stable system operation. Currently, the industry is continuously exploring and optimizing aspects such as the placement of oil temperature sensors, the anti-interference capability of signal acquisition, the long-term reliability of sensors, and ease of maintenance, aiming to improve performance while further reducing manufacturing costs and total life-cycle costs.

[0106] Based on existing publicly available technical research and analysis of the technological trends of major players in the industry, current technical solutions generally place temperature sensors inside the motor, reducer housing, or integrated oil circuit module. However, these similar or comparable technical solutions generally have some drawbacks or shortcomings, which this technical solution aims to address. These drawbacks or shortcomings are mainly reflected in electromagnetic compatibility, manufacturing process complexity, manufacturing cost, ease of maintenance, and temperature measurement accuracy under specific operating conditions.

[0107] Built-in NTC sensor solution: This is a common solution widely used in electric drive assemblies. This solution directly mounts the NTC temperature sensor at the end of the motor stator winding, directly reflecting the motor's operating temperature. Furthermore, by observing the circulation of oil, changes in oil temperature can also be inferred or used to assist in determining the motor's operating temperature.

[0108] A solution that integrates a temperature sensor into the reducer: For example, Chinese invention patent application CN105179654A describes a pile driver reducer in which a temperature sensor is installed inside the housing to monitor the gearbox oil temperature. This type of solution directly measures the temperature in the reducer's oil sump or oil circuit.

[0109] Temperature sensor solutions integrated into specific components (such as oil pumps and cooling modules): For example, in PCT international patent application publication number WO2023232013A1, the temperature sensor is located inside the oil supply pump. Another example is PCT international patent application publication number WO2024187988A1, where the temperature sensor is used to obtain the cooling oil temperature and is part of the control system for the oil-cooled motor. These solutions integrate the sensor into a key component along the oil circulation path.

[0110] Furthermore, the term “exemplary” is used herein to mean serving as an example, instance, or illustration. Any aspect or design described herein as “exemplary” is not necessarily to be construed as advantageous compared to other aspects or designs. Rather, the use of the term “exemplary” is intended to present the concept in a concrete manner. As used herein, the term “or” is intended to mean an inclusive “or” rather than an exclusive “or.” That is, unless otherwise specified or clear from the context, “X applies A or B” is intended to mean any of the natural inclusive arrangements. That is, “X applies A or B” satisfies any of the foregoing instances if X applies A; X applies B; or both X applies A and B. Additionally, unless otherwise specified or clear from the context to refer to the singular form, the articles “a” and “an” as used in this application and the appended claims are generally understood to mean “one or more.”

[0111] Similarly, although this disclosure has been shown and described with respect to one or more implementations, equivalent variations and modifications will occur to those skilled in the art upon reading and understanding the specification and drawings. This disclosure includes all such modifications and variations and is limited only by the scope of the claims. In particular, with respect to the various functions performed by the components described above (e.g., elements, resources, etc.), unless otherwise indicated, the terminology used to describe such components is intended to correspond to any component (functionally equivalent) that performs the specific function of the described component, even if structurally not equivalent to the disclosed structure. Furthermore, although specific features of this disclosure may have been disclosed with respect to only one of several implementations, such features may be combined with one or more other features of other implementations, as may be desired and advantageous to any given or particular application. Moreover, with regard to the terms “comprising,” “owning,” “having,” “having,” or variations thereof as used in the detailed description or claims, such terms are intended to be inclusive in a manner similar to the term “including.”

[0112] Other embodiments of this disclosure will readily occur to those skilled in the art upon consideration of the specification and practice of the invention disclosed herein. This application is intended to cover any variations, uses, or adaptations of this disclosure that follow the general principles of this disclosure and include common knowledge or customary techniques in the art not disclosed herein. The specification and examples are to be considered exemplary only, and the true scope and spirit of this disclosure are indicated by the following claims.

[0113] It should be understood that, unless otherwise expressly specified and limited, the terms "installation," "connection," "linking," "fixing," etc., used in the embodiments of this disclosure should be interpreted broadly. For example, they can refer to a fixed connection, a detachable connection, or an integral part; they can refer to a mechanical connection, an electrical connection, or a connection that allows communication between them; they can refer to a direct connection or an indirect connection through an intermediate medium; they can refer to the internal communication of two components or the interaction between two components, unless otherwise expressly limited. Those skilled in the art can understand the specific meaning of the above terms herein according to the specific circumstances.

[0114] Although terms such as “first” and “second” may be used herein to describe various components, parts, regions, layers, or sections, these components, parts, regions, layers, or sections are not limited to these terms. Rather, these terms are used only to distinguish one component, part, region, layer, or section from another. Therefore, without departing from the teachings of the examples described herein, the first component, part, region, layer, or section mentioned in the examples may also be referred to as the second component, part, region, layer, or section. Furthermore, the terms “first” and “second” are used for descriptive purposes only and should not be construed as indicating or implying relative importance or implicitly specifying the number of indicated technical features. Thus, a feature defined as “first” or “second” may explicitly or implicitly include at least one of that feature. In the description herein, “a plurality” means at least two, such as two, three, etc., unless otherwise explicitly specified.

[0115] It should be understood that spatial relative terms, such as “above,” “upper,” “below,” and “lower,” are used herein to describe the relationship between one element and another shown in the figures. In addition to the orientation depicted in the figures, these spatial relative terms are also intended to encompass different orientations of the device in use or operation. For example, if the device in the figures is flipped, an element described as “above” or “upper” relative to another element would be “below” or “lower” relative to that other element. Thus, depending on the spatial orientation of the device, the term “above” encompasses both above and below orientations. Devices may have other orientations (e.g., rotated 90 degrees or in other orientations), and the spatial relative terms used herein should be interpreted accordingly.

[0116] It should be understood that this disclosure is not limited to the precise structures described above and shown in the accompanying drawings, and various modifications and changes can be made without departing from its scope. The scope of this disclosure is limited only by the appended claims.

Claims

1. A drive assembly, characterized in that: The drive assembly includes an oil pan (100), a drive unit, a lubrication system, and a control unit; the lubrication system is used to deliver the lubricating oil stored in the oil pan (100) to the drive unit; The oil pan (100) is provided with an oil temperature detection element (400) for detecting the temperature of the lubricating oil stored in the oil pan (100); the oil temperature detection element (400) is connected to the control unit; The control unit is used to control the lubrication system or trigger an alarm based on the oil temperature information collected by the oil temperature detection element (400).

2. The drive assembly of claim 1, wherein, The oil temperature detection element (400) includes a body (410) and a temperature sensing part (420); the body (410) is installed on the oil pan (100) and connected to the control unit; the temperature sensing part (420) is connected to the body (410) and located inside the oil pan (100) for contact with lubricating oil.

3. The drive assembly of claim 2, wherein, The main body (410) is installed on the outer surface of the shell wall of the oil pan (100), and the temperature sensing part (420) extends into the oil pan (100).

4. The drive assembly of claim 3, wherein, The oil pan (100) is provided with a mounting hole (110), which penetrates the wall of the oil pan (100) and has an internal thread on the wall of the mounting hole (110); the outer periphery of the body part (410) is provided with an external thread, and the body part (410) is threadedly connected to the mounting hole (110); the temperature sensing part (420) extends into the oil pan (100) through the mounting hole (110).

5. The drive assembly according to claim 4, characterized in that: A sealing structure is provided between the mounting hole (110) and the body part (410); and / or The outer periphery of the main body (410) is also provided with a nut structure (412).

6. The drive assembly of claim 2, wherein, The inner surface of the oil pan (100) is provided with an oil collecting pit (120) for accumulating lubricating oil; at least a portion of the temperature sensing part (420) is located in the oil collecting pit (120).

7. The drive assembly of claim 2, wherein, The oil pan (100) is provided with an oil supply channel (130) for conveying lubricating oil; the main body (410) is installed on the shell wall of the oil pan (100) at the position corresponding to the oil supply channel (130), and the temperature sensing part (420) extends into the oil supply channel (130).

8. The drive assembly of claim 7, wherein, The oil pan (100) has a channel (131) inside its shell wall, which forms the oil supply channel (130).

9. The drive assembly of claim 1, wherein, The oil temperature detection element (400) is an NTC temperature sensor.

10. A vehicle characterized by comprising: The vehicle includes the drive assembly as described in any one of claims 1 to 9.

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