Drive unit with improved locking of a rotary motion

Abstract

A drive unit (1, 1a, 1b) is described, comprising a geared motor (2), an electric motor (3), and a gearbox (4). The geared motor (2) further comprises a geared motor housing (7a, 7b) in which the electric motor (3) and the gearbox (4) coupled to the electric motor (3) are arranged to transmit a rotary motion. The geared motor (2) also includes a motor control unit (18) electrically connected to the electric motor (3), with a control housing (19a, 19b) that is mechanically directly connected to the geared motor housing (7a, 7b), and a locking device (20a, 20b) with an actuator (21a, 21b) and a locking element (22a, 22b). The locking element (22a, 22b) can be moved by the actuator (21a, 21b) into a locking position and a release position, wherein the locking element (22a, 22b) mechanically blocks the rotational movement in the locking position and allows it in the release position.The actuator (21a, 21b) is arranged in the control housing (19a, 19b). Furthermore, a vehicle (32) with such a drive unit (1, 1a, 1b) is specified.

Description

TECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The invention relates to a drive unit comprising a geared motor with a geared motor housing in which an electric motor and a gearbox of the drive unit coupled to the electric motor are arranged for transmitting a rotary motion (at an output shaft of the gearbox). The drive unit further comprises a motor control unit electrically connected to the electric motor, with a control housing that is mechanically directly connected to the geared motor housing, and a locking device with an actuator and a locking element that can be moved by the actuator into a locking position and a release position, wherein the locking element mechanically blocks the rotary motion in the locking position and allows it in the release position. The invention further relates to a vehicle with such a drive unit, which is intended for propelling the vehicle. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] A drive unit and a vehicle of the aforementioned type are known in principle from the prior art. The problem with the known solutions is that they offer little protection against environmental influences and, above all, little protection against unauthorized manipulation of the locking device. For car thieves, a mechanical locking of a drive unit is inherently a problem; however, known solutions are easily vulnerable, allowing the locking mechanism to be removed without authorization. DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION

[0003] One object of the invention is therefore to provide an improved drive unit and an improved vehicle. In particular, the locking device should be better protected against environmental influences and, above all, better protected against unwanted manipulation.

[0004] The object of the invention is solved with a drive unit of the type mentioned above, in which the actuator is arranged in the control housing (in particular, is arranged completely in the control housing).

[0005] The object of the invention is also achieved by a vehicle with such a drive unit, which is provided for propelling the vehicle. In particular, the locking device is part of a parking lock for the vehicle.

[0006] The proposed measures provide better protection for the locking device against environmental influences and, above all, against unauthorized tampering, as the locking device is located inside the control housing. For example, the control housing can be made of metal, which makes this protection particularly effective, since such a housing is both difficult to open mechanically and makes tampering by electromagnetic waves impossible or at least significantly more difficult.

[0007] In principle, the direct mechanical connection of the control housing to the geared motor housing or the gearbox housing can include the case where both housings are separated from each other only by a seal.

[0008] Further advantageous embodiments and developments of the invention will become apparent from the dependent claims and from the description in conjunction with the figures.

[0009] It is advantageous if the geared motor housing is of a multi-part construction, comprising a motor housing and a gearbox housing, with the control housing being mechanically connected directly to the gearbox housing. Since the gearbox housing is generally relatively robust, tampering with the locking mechanism is particularly well prevented. In particular, with such a design, the gearbox itself can be mechanically blocked by the locking element.

[0010] Optionally, the gearbox housing and the control housing can be formed as a single unit. In this case, the interior of the control housing can be accessed through an opening in the control housing that can be closed with a cover.

[0011] It is also advantageous if the control housing is bowl-shaped or pot-shaped and if the interior of the control housing (besides the control housing itself) is bounded by the geared motor housing. This makes the control housing easy to manufacture (e.g., by deep drawing) while still offering good protection.

[0012] In one version, the actuator can be electrically controlled by a control circuit located on a circuit board inside the control housing. This allows for very flexible control of the actuator. The actuator can generally be, for example, an electric, pneumatic, or hydraulic actuator.

[0013] In another embodiment, the actuator can be electrically connected to the circuit board via an actuator cable and / or a connector. It is also conceivable that the actuator itself is mounted directly on the circuit board. The actuator cable, or rather the electrical connection to the actuator, can, for example, include control lines and / or measuring lines for the actuator. If the actuator is designed as an electrical actuator, the actuator cable can also serve to supply power to the actuator.

[0014] The actuator cable can only run inside the control housing. This makes it particularly difficult to tamper with the actuator's power supply and / or control. With known solutions, it is often sufficient to supply the actuator with electrical voltage via an easily accessible cable to unblock it. This is not possible with the solutions proposed above.

[0015] Routing the actuator cable entirely inside the control housing also has the advantage that the cable is in a protected environment and can therefore be designed with a comparatively simpler design, especially regarding its insulation. This allows for cost reductions compared to a conventional actuator cable running outside the control housing.

[0016] In another version, the motor control unit includes an inverter electrically connected to the electric motor, which is mounted on the circuit board. This combines the electronic components for driving the electric motor and locking the drive unit on a single circuit board, making both the control and power supply of the electric motor, as well as the control and, if applicable, the power supply of the actuator, particularly simple. At the same time, these components are well protected against external influences and tampering within the control housing.

[0017] It is advantageous if the interior of the control housing is sealed off from the interior of the geared motor housing. This is particularly beneficial if the locking element protrudes from the interior of the control housing into the interior of the geared motor housing.

[0018] This prevents lubricants and / or coolant from entering the control housing and causing damage.

[0019] It is also advantageous if the control housing has an inward curve and the locking element protrudes from the geared motor housing or an interior area of ​​the geared motor housing into this curve. This allows the locking element to be driven by the actuator without contact (e.g., inductively). A seal between the control housing and the geared motor housing can then be omitted. SHORT DESCRIPTION OF THE CHARACTERS

[0020] Exemplary embodiments of the invention are shown in the accompanying schematic figures. These show: Fig. 1 A first schematically depicted example of a drive unit in half-section; Fig. 2 a second example of a drive unit shown schematically in half-section and Fig. 3 an exemplary vehicle with an electric machine of the proposed type. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0021] It is stated in the introduction that identical parts in the different embodiments are provided with the same reference numerals or component designations, possibly with different indices. The disclosure of a component contained in the description can be applied analogously to another component with the same reference numeral or component designation. Furthermore, the positional indications chosen in the description, such as "top," "bottom," "back," "front," "side," and so on, refer to the figure directly described and illustrated and must be applied analogously to the new position if the position changes.

[0022] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a schematically represented drive unit 1a in half-section. The drive unit 1a comprises a geared motor 2 with an electric motor 3 and a gearbox 4 coupled to it. The electric motor 3 comprises a motor housing 5a, and the gearbox 4 comprises a gearbox housing 6a, wherein the motor housing 5a and the gearbox housing 6a together form, or are at least enclosed by, the multi-part geared motor housing 7a. The electric motor 3 further comprises a rotor 8, which is mounted on a rotor shaft 9. In addition, the electric motor 3 comprises a stator 10 inserted in the motor housing 5a. The rotor shaft 9 is rotatably mounted in the geared motor housing 7a by several bearings 11.

[0023] The gearbox 4 comprises a pinion 12, which in this example is mounted on the rotor shaft 9. However, it could also be mounted on a separate shaft. The pinion 12 meshes with a gear 13 mounted on an intermediate shaft 14. Another pinion 15 is mounted on the intermediate shaft 14, which meshes with a gear 16 mounted on an output shaft 17 of the drive unit 1a. A rotary motion of the rotor 8 is thus transmitted to the output shaft 17, albeit at a different speed. The configuration of the gearbox 4 is purely exemplary, and the gearbox could also be designed differently.

[0024] Furthermore, the drive unit 1a comprises a motor controller 18 electrically connected to the electric motor 3, which is arranged in a control housing 19a that is mechanically connected directly to the geared motor housing 7a. The drive unit 1a also includes a locking device 20a with an actuator 21a and a locking element 22a, which can be moved by the actuator 21a into a locking position and a release position. The locking element 22a, 22b mechanically blocks the rotational movement in the locking position and allows it in the release position. In this example, the locking element 22a engages in a recess 23 of the gear 13 in the locking position. However, this embodiment serves only to illustrate the processes involved in locking and is not to be understood as limiting.The blocking element 22a can, for example, also block one of the pinions 12 or 15, as well as the gear 16, or directly the rotor shaft 9, the intermediate shaft 14, or the output shaft 17. As shown in the... Fig. As can be seen from Figure 1, the actuator 21a is (in particular completely) arranged in the control housing 19a. The actuator 21a can, for example, be designed as an electric, pneumatic or hydraulic actuator.

[0025] The drive unit 1a further comprises a control circuit 24, which in this example is arranged on a printed circuit board 25 in the control housing 19a and serves to electrically control the actuator 21a. For this purpose, the control circuit 24 and the actuator 21a are electrically connected via an actuator cable 26. Alternatively, it would also be conceivable that the actuator 21a is electrically connected directly to the printed circuit board 25 or to the control circuit 24 arranged on it via a connector. It is also conceivable that the actuator 21a is arranged directly on the printed circuit board 25.

[0026] The actuator cable 26, or rather the electrical connection to the actuator 21a, can, for example, include control lines and / or measuring lines for the actuator 21a. If the actuator 21a is designed as an electrical actuator, the actuator cable 26 can also serve, in particular, to supply power to the actuator 21a. The actuator cable 21a can, in particular, run exclusively within the control housing 19a, as shown in the Fig. 1 is the case.

[0027] Furthermore, the drive unit 1a, or rather its motor control 18, comprises an inverter 27, which in this example is also arranged on the circuit board 25 and which is electrically connected to the electric motor 3 via a motor cable 28. Finally, the drive unit 1a includes a connecting cable 29, which is electrically connected to the motor control 18 and serves to electrically connect it to a voltage source and / or to a higher-level control system.

[0028] The control housing 19a can be made of metal, which provides excellent protection for the components inside against environmental influences and tampering. In particular, the connecting cable 29 can be the only cable leading out of the control housing 19a.

[0029] Fig. Figure 2 now shows a drive unit 1b, which is the one in Fig. The drive unit 1a shown in 1 is very similar, but also has some differences. In the Fig. In the example shown, the control housing 19a is designed in a shell shape, wherein an interior space A of the control housing 19a is bounded by the control housing 19a itself and by the geared motor housing 7a, whereas the interior space A of the control housing 19b of the drive unit 1b is completely enclosed by the control housing 19a.

[0030] Another difference lies with regard to the locking element 22b. In drive unit 1a, the locking element 22a protrudes from interior space A of the control housing 19a into interior space B of the geared motor housing 7a. In contrast, in drive unit 1b, the locking element 22b is located in interior space B of the geared motor housing 7b without protruding into interior space A of the control housing 19b. Instead, interior space A of the control housing 19b has an inward bulge into which the locking element 22b protrudes. The actuator 21, on the other hand, is located in the control housing 19b and drives the locking element 22b without contact (for example, inductively). Therefore, no opening is required connecting the two interior spaces A and B through which the locking element 22b would pass.This eliminates the need for a separate seal between the interior A of the control housing 19a and the interior B of the geared motor housing 7a, as may be provided for the drive unit 1a, in the case of the drive unit 1b.

[0031] Finally, another difference is that the motor housing 5b in the drive unit 1b is made up of two parts and comprises the stator housing 30 and the bearing shield 31.

[0032] In the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the embodiments shown in Figure 2, the locking element 22a, 22b blocks the gearbox 4 in the locking position. However, it is also conceivable that the control housing 19a, 19b is not mechanically connected to the gearbox housing 6a, 6b, but to the motor housing 5a, 5b, and that the locking element 22a, 22b mechanically blocks the electric motor 3 in the locking position, for example, its rotor shaft 9. Lower torques act on the electric motor 3, which also means that the locking element 22a, 22b needs to be less robust.

[0033] The Fig.Figure 3 shows the electric drive unit 1 installed in a vehicle 32. The vehicle 32 has two axles, one of which is driven. Specifically, the drive unit 1 is connected to the wheels 34 via the half-axles 33 of the rear or front axle. The vehicle 32 is driven at least partially or temporarily by the electric machine 3. That is, the electric machine 3 can serve as the sole drive for the vehicle 32 or, for example, be used in conjunction with an internal combustion engine (hybrid drive).

[0034] The locking device 20a, 20b can, in particular, be part of a parking lock for the vehicle 32. For example, a vehicle control unit (not shown) can be connected to the motor control unit 18 via the connecting cable 29 and, in addition to driving commands for the inverter 27, can also send control commands to the control circuit 24 of the actuator 22a, 22b, thus bringing the locking element 22a, 22b into the locking position when the vehicle 32 is parked.

[0035] In conclusion, it is noted that the scope of protection is defined by the patent claims. However, the description and drawings are to be used to interpret the claims. The features shown in the figures can be freely exchanged and combined. In particular, it is also noted that the devices depicted may, in reality, comprise more or fewer components than shown. In some cases, the devices or their components may also be shown not to scale and / or enlarged and / or reduced in size. Reference symbol list 1, 1a, 1b Drive unit 2 geared motor 3 Electric motor 4 gearboxes 5a, 5b Motor housing 6a, 6b Gearbox housing 7a, 7b Gear motor housing 8 Rotor 9 Rotor shaft 10 Stator 11 warehouses 12 sprockets 13 gear 14 Intermediate shaft 15 sprockets 16 gear 17 Output wave 18 Engine control 19a, 19b Control housing 20a, 20b Blocking device 21a, 21b Actuator 22a, 22b Blocking element 23 Exclusion 24 control circuit 25 circuit boards 26 actuator cables 27 inverters 28 motor cables 29 connection cables 30 Stator housings 31 Storage sign 32 vehicles 33 Semi-axis 34 wheel An interior control housing B Interior Gear motor housing

Claims

[1] Drive unit (1, 1a, 1b), comprising - a geared motor (2) with a geared motor housing (7a, 7b) in which an electric motor (3) and a gear (4) coupled to the electric motor (3) are arranged for delivering a rotary movement, - a motor control (18) electrically connected to the electric motor (3) with a control housing (19a, 19b) which is mechanically connected directly to the geared motor housing (7a, 7b), and - a blocking device (20a, 20b) with an actuator (21a, 21b) and a blocking element (22a, 22b) which can be moved by the actuator (21a, 21b) into a blocking position and a release position, wherein the blocking element (22a, 22b) mechanically blocks the rotational movement in the blocking position and permits it in the release position, characterized by , that - the actuator (21a, 21b) is arranged in the control housing (19a, 19b). [2] Drive unit (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 1, characterized bythat the geared motor housing (7a, 7b) is constructed in several parts and comprises a motor housing (5a, 5b) and a gear housing (6a, 6b), wherein the control housing (19a, 19b) is mechanically connected directly to the gear housing (6a, 6b). [3] Drive unit (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the control housing (19a, 19b) is bowl-shaped or pot-shaped and an interior space (A) of the control housing (19a, 19b) is delimited by the gear motor housing (7a, 7b). [4] Drive unit (1, 1a, 1b) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the actuator (21a, 21b) is electrically controllable by a control circuit (24) which is arranged on a printed circuit board (25) in the control housing (19a, 19b). [5] Drive unit (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 4, characterized by that the actuator (21a, 21b) is electrically connected to the circuit board (25) via an actuator cable (26) and / or a connector. [6] Drive unit (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 4, characterized by that the actuator (21a, 21b) is arranged on the circuit board (25). [7] Drive unit (1, 1a, 1b) according to claim 5 or 6, characterized by that the motor control (18) comprises an inverter (27) which is electrically connected to the electric motor (3) and is arranged on the printed circuit board (25). [8] Drive unit (1, 1a, 1b) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that an interior space (A) of the control housing (19a, 19b) is sealed off from an interior space (B) of the gear motor housing (7a, 7b). [9] Drive unit (1, 1a, 1b) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the blocking element (22a, 22b) projects from an interior space (A) of the control housing (19a, 19b) into an interior space (B) of the gear motor housing (7a, 7b). [10] Drive unit (1, 1a, 1b) according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized bythat the control housing (19a, 19b) has an inward curvature and the blocking element (22a, 22b) projects from an interior space (B) of the geared motor housing (7a, 7b) into the curvature. [11] Drive unit (1, 1a, 1b) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the control housing (19a, 19b) is made of metal. [12] Vehicle (32) with a drive unit (1, 1a, 1b) according to one of the preceding claims, which is provided for driving the vehicle (32). [13] Vehicle (32) according to claim 12, wherein the blocking device (20a, 20b) is part of a parking lock.

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