Fan device

Abstract

Fan device (1), in particular for a drive device, comprising a fan blade (2) coupled to an output shaft (6) of an actuator (5) of the fan device (1), in particular comprising at least one fan blade (3), which is rotatable by a rotary movement of the output shaft (6) to generate a gas flow, wherein a gear device (7) is arranged between the at least one fan blade (2) and the output shaft (6) of the actuator (5).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a fan device, in particular for a drive device, comprising a fan blade coupled to an output shaft of an actuator of the fan device, in particular comprising at least one fan blade, which is rotatable by a rotational movement of the output shaft to generate a gas flow.

[0002] Fan devices that have a fan blade, which for example comprises a plurality of fan blades, and are rotatably mounted to generate a gas flow, are generally known from the prior art. For example, they are used in motor vehicles to generate an air flow, for example for cooling a drive device. In motor vehicles that have an internal combustion engine, the fan device is usually driven by a tap on the crankshaft. In electrically powered motor vehicles, such a drive is not available due to the lack of an internal combustion engine and thus the lack of possibility of connecting the fan device to the crankshaft. In particular, with a decentralized arrangement of different drive devices, for example electric machines designed as axle drives, a central drive of the different fan devices is not possible.

[0003] In such a case, each of the fan devices is typically driven by its own actuator, in particular an electric motor. Since such drives typically have comparatively high temperature control requirements, particularly cooling, since the electrical energy storage device, the electrical drive device, the control device or power electronics, and the like must be cooled – or generally temperature-controlled – the actuator must be sufficiently dimensioned accordingly. This places corresponding performance requirements on the actuator, according to which it must provide a certain torque in order to generate the required gas flow or gas pressure, in particular air flow / air pressure. Providing such actuators is notoriously complex.

[0004] The invention is based on the object of providing an improved fan device in which, in particular, the power requirements for the actuator are reduced.

[0005] The object is achieved by a fan device having the features of claim 1. Advantageous embodiments are the subject of the subclaims.

[0006] As described, the invention relates to a fan device, in particular for a drive device. The drive device is designed in particular as an electric machine, for example as a traction drive in a motor vehicle, specifically as an electric axle drive. The fan device has an actuator, which is designed, for example, as an electric motor. An output shaft of the actuator is coupled to a fan blade of the fan device. The fan blade can, for example, have a plurality of fan blades distributed in the circumferential direction. Rotation of the fan blade generates a gas flow. In other words, the actuator can generate a rotary movement that is output at the output shaft. This sets the fan blade in rotation and generates a gas flow. The gas flow can, for example, be directed onto the component to be tempered or cooled, in particular the drive device.

[0007] The invention is based on the finding that a gear device is arranged between the at least one fan blade and the output shaft of the actuator. In contrast to conventional fan devices which use electric motors for drive, the present invention therefore proposes not to arrange the fan blade directly on the output shaft of the actuator in a rotationally fixed manner, but to provide a gear device between the fan blade and the output shaft which translates or converts the rotational movement of the output shaft of the actuator into the rotational movement of the fan blade. The gear device brings about, in particular, a change in speed or torque between the output shaft and the fan blade, so that the output shaft and fan blade do not rotate at the same speed. Advantageously, this also makes it possible to select a less complex actuator for operating the fan device; in particular, the power requirement orThe actuator's torque requirement can be reduced due to the use of the gearing device. Thus, a less complex, for example, cheaper and / or more compact actuator can be used to generate the same gas flow.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the fan device, the transmission device can be designed to transmit a rotary movement of the output shaft to the at least one fan blade in a slow-down manner. In other words, the transmission device according to the described embodiment effects a "reduction" of the rotary movement generated by the actuator. The transmission ratio, i.e., the quotient of the speed of the output shaft and the speed of the fan blade, can be i>1, so that the speed is reduced but the transmitted torque is increased.Advantageously, a comparatively simpler actuator can thus be used which is designed to provide a comparatively higher speed at a lower torque, wherein the higher speed is translated into a slow speed via the described gear device and thereby an increase in the torque is achieved, so that the required gas flow, in particular with a required gas pressure, can be generated with the fan blade.

[0009] The fan device can be further developed such that the gear mechanism is designed as a planetary gear or comprises a planetary gear. The planetary gear can have the basically known components, namely a sun gear, a ring gear, a planet carrier and at least one planet gear. In principle, the individual components of the planetary gear can be coupled as desired to the components of the fan device, in particular the output shaft and the fan blade. By using the planetary gear, a particularly compact design of the fan device can advantageously be realized. For example, the planetary gear can be arranged coaxially to the output shaft and thus radially within the fan blade, which is also arranged coaxially on the output shaft.In other words, the planetary gear is arranged as an interface between the output shaft and the fan blade, encompassing the output shaft in the radial direction, with the planetary gear in turn being encompassed by the fan blade.

[0010] According to a special embodiment of the fan device, it can be provided that a ring gear of the planetary gear is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the at least one fan blade or that a planet carrier of the planetary gear is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the at least one fan blade. In principle, in this embodiment, either the ring gear can be connected to the fan blade or the planet carrier can be connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the fan blade. The variant in which the ring gear is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the fan blade may be preferred, since in this case no further hub needs to be provided in the axial direction for connecting the planet carrier to the fan blade. Instead, the planet carrier can be fixedly connected to a housing of the fan device, for example a housing of the actuator. By using the ring gear with the fan blade, an additional hub between the fan blade and the planetary gear is no longer necessary.In both variants, the sun gear can be located on the output shaft or formed integrally with it. The number of planetary gears can be chosen arbitrarily, for example, three or four planetary gears.

[0011] Furthermore, the fan device can be provided with the gear mechanism being accommodated in a receiving area radially within the at least one fan blade. As described, the gear mechanism, particularly in the form of a planetary gear, can partially encompass the output shaft of the actuator and, in turn, be encompassed by the fan blade. The fan blade thus defines a radially inner installation space, for example, a cylindrical space, through which the rotational axis of the output shaft runs.

[0012] Viewed from the axis of rotation, the output shaft, which defines an inner first radial region, is adjoined by the gear device in a second radial region, with the fan blade extending from the second radial region in a third radial region. The receiving region, which is delimited by the fan blade, thus extends over the first and second radial regions. By arranging the gear device in the receiving region, no additional installation space is required for the gear device, but rather installation space is utilized radially and / or axially within the fan blade. In other words, an installation space available in the interior of the fan blade can be occupied or filled by the gear device. In particular, the axial extent of the fan blade can be utilized and the gear device can be arranged there, thus achieving a particularly compact design.

[0013] According to a further embodiment of the fan device, the at least one fan blade can be connected to the transmission device by a connecting element, in particular a sheet metal insert, in particular by being molded onto the connecting element or overmolded around it. The connecting element can be designed, for example, as a sheet metal insert or a bent part that is overmolded at least in sections to form the fan blade. The connecting element represents, in particular, a fastening point or a fastening flange for the ring gear. The connecting element can support the fan blade on the output shaft. The connecting element can additionally seal the transmission device.Together with the fan blade, the connecting element in conjunction with the transmission device can represent an independent assembly which can then be coupled to the actuator, for example by inserting the output shaft in the axial direction into the transmission device and / or fastening a flange of the planet carrier to the housing of the actuator.

[0014] In particular, it can be exploited that the rotating ring gear, which has the largest diameter in the planetary gear, can be directly connected to the connecting element, such as the sheet metal insert, for example, by screwing or welding. This offers the particular advantage that the direct connection between the connecting element and the ring gear eliminates the need for an additional hub, which is typically required to connect the fan blade to the output shaft. This allows the design of the fan device to be made more compact, and the number of required parts and assembly effort can be reduced accordingly.

[0015] In the fan device described, it can further be provided that the connecting element and / or a second connecting element is designed to support the at least one fan blade and / or the ring gear, in particular on the planet carrier, and to seal the transmission device, in particular by forming a labyrinth seal. As already described, the connecting element can in principle be shaped as desired, for example as a sheet metal insert or as a bent part. By means of corresponding subsections of the connecting element, a support function and a sealing function can be achieved. At least one section of the connecting element can form a labyrinth seal, so that a sealing effect for sealing the transmission device can be achieved. In this case, at least one additional sealing element, for example an O-ring or the like, can be used to achieve an additional sealing effect.

[0016] As described, the transmission device produces a specific transmission ratio, in particular a reduction gear, i.e., a reduction gear. This allows the actuator to be dimensioned smaller with respect to the torque to be provided. According to a special embodiment, the transmission device can have a transmission ratio of 2-5. Accordingly, compared to a fan device without a transmission device, a lower torque from the actuator corresponding to the transmission ratio is sufficient to generate the same required gas flow, in particular volume flow and gas pressure.

[0017] In addition to the fan device, the invention relates to an axle drive comprising an electric motor and a previously described fan device designed to control the temperature of the electric motor. Furthermore, the invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising such an axle drive and / or a previously described fan device.

[0018] All advantages, details and features described with regard to the fan device are fully transferable to the axle drive and the motor vehicle.

[0019] The invention is described below using exemplary embodiments with reference to the figures. The figures are schematic representations and show: Fig. 1 a schematic diagram of a section of a fan device in a perspective sectional view; Fig. 2 a schematic diagram of a section of a fan device in a longitudinal section; Fig. 3 a schematic diagram of a section of a fan device in a cross section through a transmission device; Fig. 4 a schematic diagram of a section of a fan device in perspective view; Fig. 5 a schematic representation of a section of a fan device in a longitudinal section according to a further embodiment.

[0020] Fig. Figure 1 shows a section of a fan device 1, which can be configured, for example, as a component of a drive train of a motor vehicle (not shown in detail). The fan device 1 is intended to generate a gas flow or air flow to cool a component of the motor vehicle, in particular a drive device, specifically an electrical machine, for example, an electric axle drive.

[0021] The fan device 1 has a fan blade 2 having a plurality of fan blades 3 arranged circumferentially relative to a rotation axis 4. In other words, the fan blade 2 is rotated about the rotation axis 4, so that the gas flow is generated due to the inclination of the fan blades 3. The fan device 1 further has an actuator 5, whose output shaft 6 is coupled to the fan blade 2. The actuator 5 can be designed, for example, as an electric motor, wherein the actuator 5 can generate a rotary movement and output it to the output shaft 6, which is transmitted to the fan blade 2 in order to set the fan blade 2 in rotation. In other words, the actuator 5 sets the fan blade 2 in a rotary movement in order to generate the gas flow.

[0022] In Fig. 1, Fig. 2 further shows that a gear device 7 is arranged between the output shaft 6 and the fan blade 2, which in the embodiment shown is designed as a planetary gear. Fig. Figure 2 shows a longitudinal section of the fan device 1. In the exemplary embodiment shown, a ring gear 8 of the transmission device 7 is coupled to the fan blade 2, in particular to a connecting element 9, for example a sheet metal insert or bent part. A planet carrier 10 of the transmission device 7 is firmly connected to a housing 11 of the fan device 1 or the actuator 5 and is thus fixed. Furthermore, Fig. 1, Fig. 2 that a sun gear 12 of the transmission device 7 is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the output shaft 6 or is designed integrally therewith.

[0023] The rotary motion generated by the actuator 5 is thus transmitted from the sun gear 12 arranged on the output shaft 6 via planetary gears 13 to the ring gear 8, so that the rotary motion of the ring gear 8 is generated around the rotational axis 4. As described, the fan blade 2 rotates around the rotational axis 4 with the ring gear 8, thereby generating the required gas flow.

[0024] Instead of the fixed planet carrier 10, the ring gear 8 can alternatively be fixed, for example, connected to the housing 11. According to such an embodiment, the planet carrier 10 is movable and coupled to the connecting element 9 and thus to the fan blade 2. In the embodiment shown, however, an additional hub coupling the planet carrier 10 to the fan blade 2 can be omitted and, instead, the ring gear 8 can be directly connected to the fan blade 2 or the connecting element 9, thus eliminating the need for an additional hub.

[0025] Advantageously, thanks to the gearing device 7, the movement of the output shaft 6 can be transmitted to the fan blade 2 in a geared manner. The gearing device 7 enables a defined gear ratio i>1, for example, in a range of 2-5. In other words, the rotational movement of the output shaft 6 is translated or "reduced" to a lower speed. Consequently, the speed of the output shaft 6 is transmitted to the fan blade 2 at a reduced speed, but the torque of the fan blade 2 is increased, so that a comparatively simpler actuator 5, in particular with a reduced torque requirement, can be used to generate the required gas pressure or air pressure through the fan blade 2.

[0026] In Fig. Figure 3 illustrates, by way of example, how a rotational movement of the sun gear 12 is transmitted to a rotational movement of the ring gear 8 via the planetary gears 13, which are held by the stationary planetary carrier 10. As described, the ring gear 8 is coupled to the fan blade 2 via the connecting element 9, so that a corresponding rotational movement of the fan blade 2 is generated.

[0027] Fig. 4 shows a perspective view of the fan device 1 with the actuator 5 hidden. Fig. 4 shows a flange 14 with which the planet carrier 10 can be connected to the housing 11 of the actuator 5, so that the planet carrier 10 is fixed relative to the rotation axis 4. The Fig. 4 can therefore have the fan blade 2 and the gear unit 7 integrated. As is also shown, for example, in Fig. 1, Fig. 2, the gear device 7 is integrated into or arranged in a receiving space 15 which is delimited by the fan blade 2 in the axial and radial directions. In other words, no additional installation space is required for the integration of the gear device 7 into the fan device 1; rather, the gear device 7 is arranged coaxially around the axis of rotation 4, in particular between the output shaft 6 and the fan blade 2. This results in a particularly compact design of the fan device 1 which does not result in any increase in the required installation space in the axial and radial directions compared to a fan device 1 without a gear device 7.

[0028] In Fig. 2 further shows that the connecting element 9, for example a bent part or a sheet metal insert, can be overmolded by the fan blade 2. The coupling element 9 can have a shape that allows the mounting of the fan blade 2 or the ring gear 8. As shown in Fig. 1, Fig. As shown in Figure 2, the connecting element 9 and thus the connected ring gear 8 and fan blade 2 are mounted on the output shaft 6 via a bearing device 16, wherein a second connecting element 17 is shown, through which the ring gear 8 is mounted on the planet carrier 10 by means of a second bearing device 16'. The second connecting element 17 further forms a labyrinth seal 18, through which the interior of the transmission device 7 is sealed from the environment. An additional sealing element 19 can optionally be arranged in this area to further improve the sealing effect.

[0029] Fig. 5 shows a further embodiment of the fan device 1, which, for example, has already been used in Fig. 1-4. In addition, the structure of the fan device 1 follows from Fig. 5 to the structure described above, so that basically the same reference numerals are used for the same components and the preceding description basically refers to the embodiment in Fig. 5. In particular, the transmission device 7 is designed to transmit the rotary motion of the output shaft 6 of the actuator 5 to the fan blade 2 to the same extent, so that the function described above is fully transferable. As previously described, rotary motion is introduced into the connecting element 9, which is connected to the fan blade 2.

[0030] Deviating from the previously described embodiment, the transmission device 7 is located on the side facing away from the actuator 5 with respect to the connecting element 9, which can be designed as a sheet metal insert. In other words, it was previously described that the transmission device 7 is arranged between the actuator 5 and the connecting element 9 in the axial direction. Fig.Conversely, in FIG. 5, the connecting element 9 is arranged between the transmission device 7 and the actuator 5 in the axial direction relative to the rotational axis 4. Advantageously, the ring gear 8 can thus be integrated into a transmission cover that covers the transmission device 7 in the axial direction. For example, the ring gear 8 and the transmission cover can be manufactured together, for example, as a single piece, specifically by an injection molding process. This further increases functional integration, since the fixed bearing seat and the radial shaft seal can be integrated into the connecting element 9.

[0031] Furthermore, the embodiment shown is advantageous because, for example by providing recesses, in particular elongated holes, in the connecting element 9, the flange 14 can be easily fastened, for example screwed, to the housing 11 of the actuator 5 from the side of the gear cover.

[0032] The advantages, details and features shown in the individual embodiments can be combined with one another as desired, are interchangeable and transferable to one another. Reference symbol 1 fan device 2 fan blades 3 fan blades 4 axis of rotation 5 Actuator 6 Output shaft 7 Gearbox 8 ring gear 9 Connecting element 10 planet carriers 11 housings 12 Sun gear 13 Planetary gear 14 Flange 15 Recording room 16, 16' storage facility 17 Connecting element 18 Labyrinth seal 19 Sealing element

Claims

[1] Fan device (1), in particular for a drive device, comprising a fan blade (2) coupled to an output shaft (6) of an actuator (5) of the fan device (1), in particular comprising at least one fan blade (3), which is rotatable by a rotational movement of the output shaft (6) to generate a gas flow, characterized by that a transmission device (7) is arranged between the at least one fan blade (2) and the output shaft (6) of the actuator (5). [2] Fan device (1) according to claim 1, characterized by that the transmission device (7) is designed to transmit a rotary movement of the output shaft (6) in a slow-down manner to the at least one fan blade (2). [3] Fan device (1) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized by that the transmission device (7) is designed as a planetary gear or comprises a planetary gear. [4] Fan device (1) according to claim 3, characterized bythat a ring gear (8) of the planetary gear is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the at least one fan blade (2) or that a planet carrier (10) of the planetary gear is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the at least one fan blade (2). [5] Fan device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the gear device (7) is accommodated in a receiving area (15) radially inside the at least one fan blade (2). [6] Fan device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the at least one fan blade (2) is connected to the gear device (7) by a connecting element (9, 17), in particular a sheet metal insert, and in particular is injection-molded onto the connecting element (9). [7] Fan device (1) according to claim 6, characterized bythat the connecting element (9) and / or a second connecting element (17) is designed to support the at least one fan blade (2) and / or the ring gear (8), in particular on the planet carrier (10), and to seal the transmission device (7), in particular by forming a labyrinth seal (18). [8] Fan device (1) according to one of the preceding claims, characterized by that the transmission device (7) has a transmission ratio of 2-5. [9] Axle drive, comprising an electric machine and a fan device (1) designed for tempering the electric machine according to one of the preceding claims. [10] Motor vehicle, comprising an axle drive according to claim 9 and / or a fan device (1) according to one of claims 1 to 8.

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