Device for centripetal guidance of a fluid and drive system for a vehicle

Abstract

A device for centripetal guidance of a fluid is provided, comprising a main body (11) having a circular ring shape and formed with inlet holes (11h), and a plurality of guides (12), wherein the guides (12) are fixed to an outer peripheral surface of the main body (11) and protrude radially outward from the outer peripheral surface. The guide (12) is formed with an opening (12p) and a passage (12h), wherein the opening (12p) is open towards one peripheral side and the passage (12h) extends from the opening (12p) into the inlet hole (11h). A radially outer wall surface of the passage (12h) extends curvedly from the opening (12p) to the inlet hole (11h) in order to guide a fluid flowing in from the opening (12p) to the inlet hole (11h) during the rotation of the device (1) for centripetal guidance of a fluid.The centripetal fluid guiding device of the present application can perform a centripetal fluid guiding function (e.g., oil) with a relatively simple structure. A vehicle drive system including the above-described centripetal fluid guiding device is also provided.

Description

The present application relates to a field of fluid guidance, in particular to a guidance device for centripetal guidance of a fluid and a drive system for a vehicle comprising this guidance device.In the related art, in alternative drive vehicles such as electric vehicles, a drive motor, a planetary reduction gear, and a brake system, etc. are integrated in the wheel space into a hub motor drive system as a drive system for a vehicle for driving the wheels to rotate. In such a hub engine drive system, it is necessary to arrange a cooling mechanism and a lubricating mechanism for cooling and lubricating individual components, and therefore it is necessary to arrange a guide device for guiding a cooling and lubricating fluid so that the fluid can be smoothly guided to an object component.The present application has been developed based on the above-described needs of the prior art. An object of the present application is to provide a fluid centripetal guiding device that can enable centripetal guiding of a fluid (e.g. oil) with a relatively simple structure. It is another object of the present application to provide a drive system for a vehicle including the above-described device for centripetally guiding a fluid.In order to achieve the above objects of the invention, the present application provides the following technical solutions.The present application provides a device for centripetal guidance of a fluid, comprising:a main body having a circular ring shape and formed with inlet holes continuous in a radial direction; anda plurality of guides, the plurality of guides being spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction of the main body, the guides being fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the main body and protruding radially outward from the outer circumferential surface, the guide being formed with an opening and a passage, the opening being open to a circumferential side, and the passage extending from the opening into the inlet hole, a radially outer side wall surface of the passage extending curvedly from the opening toward the inlet hole to guide a fluid flowing in from the opening toward the inlet hole during rotation of the centripetal guide device of a fluid.In an alternative solution, the radially outer wall surface extends from the opening to another circumferential side and at the same time radially inward.In another alternative solution, the passage narrows in width from the opening toward the inlet hole, and a part of the outer circumferential surface inside the passage is formed with a guide surface inclined toward the inlet hole.In another alternative solution, the centripetal fluid guiding device further comprises a mounting portion, wherein the mounting portion is fixed to an inner circumferential surface of the main body and protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface, and the mounting portion is offset from the inlet hole.In another alternative solution, the mounting portion is formed in the shape of a protruding strip extending linearly in an axial direction of the main body.The present application further provides a following propulsion system for a vehicle, the propulsion system comprising a device for centripetal guidance of a fluid according to any of the preceding technical solutions.In an alternative solution, the drive system further comprises a motor shaft, the motor shaft is formed with a hollow structure, and the motor shaft is further formed with a guide hole through its wall, and the fluid centripetal guide means is fixed to the motor shaft, wherein the inlet hole of the fluid centripetal guide means communicates with the guide hole.In a further alternative solution, the motor shaft is formed with a collar section, wherein the collar section protrudes radially outwards with respect to the other part of the motor shaft, wherein the main body of the device for centripetal guidance of a fluid is fixed in a sleeve-like manner on the radial outer side of the collar section.In a further alternative solution, a mounting groove is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the collar portion, the mounting groove being open to one axial side or another axial side, the mounting portion of the device for centripetally guiding a fluid in the form of a protruding strip being mounted in the mounting groove.In another alternative solution, the drive system further comprises an output shaft, a bearing and a seal assembly, wherein the bearing is located in a mounting space between the motor shaft and the output shaft, wherein the seal assembly is used to close an end of the mounting space, wherein the fluid can be guided to the mounting space through the guide hole.By using the above technical solutions, the present application provides a following device for centripetally guiding a fluid, the device comprising an annular main body and a plurality of guides protruding from an outer circumferential surface of the main body, wherein a passage communicating with an inlet hole of the main body is formed inside the individual guides, respectively, wherein a radially outer side wall surface of the passage is used to guide the fluid entering from an opening of the passage to the inlet hole during operation of the device for centripetally guiding a fluid.As a result, the fluid centripetal guiding device of the present application can perform a function of centripetally guiding a fluid (e.g., oil) with a relatively simple structure. The fluid centripetal guide device according to the present application is simple to manufacture and inexpensive, which promotes industrial mass production, and the fluid centripetal guide device has a relatively small volume and occupies a relatively small mounting space and can be adapted for use in a drive system for a vehicle. The present application further provides a drive system for a vehicle including the above-described fluid centripetal guidance device, which drive system can enable, using the fluid centripetal guidance device, the guidance of a fluid to an object component for cooling and lubricating the same. FIG. 1A is a perspective schematic diagram illustrating a device for centripetally guiding a fluid according to an embodiment of the present application. FIG. 1B is a main schematic view illustrating the fluid centripetal guiding device of FIG. 1A. FIG. 1C is a perspective schematic diagram illustrating the fluid centripetal guiding device of FIG. 1A in a sectional view, omitting the cutting lines. FIG. 1D is a schematic side view illustrating the fluid centripetal guiding device of FIG. 1A. FIG. 2A is a schematic sectional view illustrating a local structure of a drive system for a vehicle (an example of a hub engine drive system) according to an embodiment of the present application, wherein the drive system for a vehicle includes the fluid centripetal guidance device illustrated in FIG. 1A, and the cutting lines are omitted. FIG. 2B is a perspective schematic diagram illustrating an assembly of the two components, namely, the fluid centripetal guiding device and the motor shaft of the drive system for a vehicle, of FIG. 2A. FIG. 2C is a perspective schematic diagram illustrating a motor shaft of the drive system for a vehicle of FIG. 2A.List of reference characters1 Fluid centripetal guide device 11 Main body 11h Inlet hole 11s Guide surface 12 Guide 12p Opening 12h Passage 13 Mounting portion 2 Motor shaft 2h Guide hole 2c Mounting groove 21 Collar portion 22 First gear portion 23 Second gear portion 24 Carrier mounting portion 3 Output shaft 4 Bearing 5 Seal assembly S Mounting space A Axial direction R Radial direction C Circumferential directionSpecific embodiments of the present application will be further illustrated below with reference to the accompanying drawings for description. It should be understood that these specific descriptions are used only to teach those skilled in the art how to implement the present application and are not used to exploit all possible forms of the present application or to limit the scope of the present application.In the present application, unless otherwise stated, "axial direction", "radial direction", and "circumferential direction" refer to the axial direction, the radial direction, and the circumferential direction (of the main body), respectively, of the centripetal fluid guide device of the present application. The term "one axial side" refers to the left side in FIGS. 1D and 2A, and the term "another axial side" refers to the right side in FIGS. 1D and 2A.In the present application, "drivingly coupled" refers to two components being torque-conductively connected together, including both a direct connection and an indirect connection between the two components.Hereinafter, in conjunction with the figures, the structure of the centripetal fluid guide device according to an embodiment of the present application will be first described for description.(Apparatus for centripetally guiding a fluid according to an embodiment of the present application)As illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1D, the centripetal fluid guide device 1 according to an embodiment of the present application includes a main body 11, guides 12, and mounting portions 13 integrally formed, the guides 12 being fixedly disposed on an outer circumferential surface of the main body 11, and the mounting portions 13 being fixedly disposed on an inner circumferential surface of the main body 11.In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1D, the main body 11 is formed in the shape of a circular ring continuously extending in a circumferential direction C over the entire circumference. The main body 11 is formed with three inlet holes 11 htransmitating in a radial direction R, each inlet hole 11 hbeing fitted to a guide 12 and communicating with a passage 12 hformed through this guide 12. A part of the outer peripheral surface of the main body 11 located in the region of the passage 12 his further formed with a guide surface 11 s, wherein the guide surface 11 smay be formed by cutting the main body 11 such that the guide surface 11 sis inclined toward the inlet hole 11 hto assist in guiding the fluid entering from the inlet toward the inlet holes 11 h.In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C, three guides 12 are spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction C and arranged uniformly. Each guide 12 is fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the main body 11 and protrudes radially outward from the outer circumferential surface. Each guide 12 is formed with an opening 12 popening toward a circumferential side (e.g., a downstream side in a counterclockwise direction shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C ). The guide 12 is further formed with a passage 12h extending from the opening 12p into the inlet hole 11h, the passage 12h being actually defined by a radially outer side wall, an axial side wall, another axial side wall of the guide 12 and the main body 11. Inside the passage 12 h, on the one hand, as illustrated in FIG. 1C, the height of the passage 12 hgradually decreases from the opening 12 ptoward the inlet hole 11 h, due to a radially outer side wall surface extending curvedly from the opening 12 ptoward the inlet hole 11 h, specifically, the radially outer side wall surface extending from the opening 12 ptoward another circumferential side (e.g., an upstream side in the counterclockwise direction illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C ) and also extending radially inward, whereby the radially outer side wall surface serves to allow the passage to flow, During the rotation (e.g., the rotation in the counterclockwise direction shown in FIGS. 1A to 1C ) of the centripetal fluid guide device 1, a fluid flowing in from the opening 12 ptoward the inlet hole 11 h. On the other hand, as illustrated in FIG. 1D, the (axial) width of the passage 12 hmay gradually decrease (taper) from the opening 12 ptoward the inlet hole 11 h, promoting the flow of the fluid from the opening 12 ptoward the inlet hole 11 h.In this embodiment, as illustrated in FIGS. 1A to 1C, the mounting portion 13 is fixed to an inner circumferential surface of the main body 11 and protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface. The mounting portion 13 is disposed offset from the inlet hole 11 h, and the mounting portion 13 is disposed at a position corresponding to a position where the guide surface 11 sis formed in the radial direction R, thereby improving the structural strength of a location of the main body 11 where the guide surface 11 sis formed by cutting. Further, the mounting portion 13 is formed in the shape of a protruding strip (flat key) extending in an axial direction A of the main body 11 to be fitted to a mounting groove 2 c(key groove) of a motor shaft 2 of a drive system for a vehicle (hub motor drive system) described below.In the following, in conjunction with the figures, the structure of the propulsion system for a vehicle comprising the device 1 for centripetal guidance of a fluid is given for the description.(Drive System for Vehicle according to Embodiment of Present Application)As illustrated in FIG. 2A, the drive system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present application is a hub motor drive system, the hub motor drive system including the above-described fluid centripetal guide device 1, the motor shaft 2, an output shaft 3, a bearing 4, and a seal assembly 5, which are assembled. In particular, the motor shaft 2 and the rotor of the drive motor can be drive-coupled via a rotor carrier, wherein the motor shaft 2 is formed on the inside with a hollow structure. The output shaft 3 may be connected to a wheel hub of a wheel via a plurality of joints, and the output shaft 3 may be further drivingly coupled to the motor shaft 2 via a planetary reduction gear with a part of the output shaft 3 inserted into the motor shaft 2. Further, the bearing 4 may be a needle bearing, an inner ring of the bearing 4 is fixed to the output shaft 3, and the motor shaft 2 further functions as an outer ring of the bearing 4, whereby the bearing 4 radially acts as a support. The bearing 4 is located in a mounting space S between the motor shaft 2 and the output shaft 3, and the seal assembly 5 is located at an end on the other axial side of the mounting space S to seal the end on the other axial side of the mounting space S.In this embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2A to 2C, the motor shaft 2 includes a collar portion 21, a first gear portion 22, a second gear portion 23, and a carrier mounting portion 24.The collar portion 21 protrudes radially outwards with respect to the other part of the motor shaft 2, and the main body 11 of the device 1 for centripetal guidance of a fluid is fixed in a sleeve-like manner to the radial outer side of the collar portion 21. As the collar portion 21 further protrudes radially outward, the guide 12 of the centripetal fluid guide device 1 is rotated during the operation of the hub engine driving system to repeatedly perform the action of dipping in a fluid stored in the housing of the hub engine driving system and scooping the fluid, and further, by the rotation of the centripetal fluid guide device 1, guide the cooling fluid to centripetal flow along the passage 12h. As illustrated in FIGS. 2B and 2C, three mounting grooves 2 care formed on the outer circumferential surface of the collar portion 21, the three mounting grooves 2 care spaced apart from each other in the circumferential direction C and evenly distributed, and the shape and size of each mounting groove 2 ccorrespond to the shape and size of the mounting portion 13 of the fluid centripetal guide device 1. The mounting groove 2 ccomprises an opening open to the axial side, and the mounting portion 13 of the fluid centripetal guiding device 1 can be inserted and mounted into the mounting groove 2 cfrom the axial side through the opening of the mounting groove 2 c.Moreover, as shown in Figs. 2A to 2C, the motor shaft 2 is further formed with a guide hole 2h continuous through its wall. The radially outward opening of the guide hole 2 his located on the outer circumferential surface of the collar portion 21 to communicate with the inlet hole 11 hof the main body 11 of the fluid centripetal guide device 1. The radially inwardly open opening of the guide hole 2h communicates with the mounting space S between the motor shaft 2 and the input shaft to guide the fluid toward the mounting space S. In particular, in this embodiment, the guide hole 2 hextends from radially inward to radially outward and at the same time inclined from the axial side toward the other axial side.Further, the first gear portion 22 is located at a position on the axial side of the collar portion 21, and the first gear portion 22 may be drivingly coupled to a sun gear of the planetary reduction gear. The second gear portion 23 is located at a position on the other axial side of the collar portion 21, and the second gear portion 23 may be drivingly coupled to a brake disc of a brake assembly. The carrier mounting portion 24 is located between the collar portion 21 and the second gear portion 23, and the carrier mounting portion 24 and the rotor carrier can be secured to each other.By using the above solutions, in the above-described hub engine drive system, in an operating state of the hub engine drive system, the centripetal guidance device 1 rotates together with the motor shaft 2, and the guidance 12 can continuously scoop the fluid (e.g., oil) from the housing of the hub engine drive system and further feed the fluid centripetally into the mounting space S. In the above operation, the flow path of the fluid proceeds as follows: opening 12 pof guide 12→passage 12 hof guide 12→introduct hole 11 hof main body 11→guide hole 2 hof motor shaft 2→mount space S→mount 4 and seal assembly 5.Specific embodiments according to the present application have been described above in detail, and supplementary descriptions will be given below.In the above specific embodiments, a detailed description has been given mainly with respect to structures closely related to the fluid centripetal guidance device 1 of the present application, and specific descriptions of other structures of the drive system for a vehicle according to the present application have been omitted. It should be understood that the hub motor drive system as a drive system for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present application may further include a housing, a drive motor, a rotor carrier, a planetary reduction gear, a brake assembly, and other bearings and seal assemblies.In the technical solutions of the present application, the fluid may typically be oil stored in an oil tank at the bottom of the housing of the drive system for a vehicle, and the oil introduced into the mounting space S may be used for cooling the bearing 4 and the seal assembly 5 as well as lubricating the bearing 4 and the seal assembly 5.Moreover, in the above specific embodiments, the motor shaft 2 serves as an outer ring of the bearing 4.The bearing 4 itself can also have no outer ring or neither outer ring nor inner ring. The bearing 4 may be, for example, a bearing including a plurality of rolling elements and a cage.It should be understood that the number and arrangement of the guides 12 of the centripetal fluid guide device 1 of the present application are not limited to the indication described in the above specific embodiments, but may vary as needed. In assembling the centripetal fluid guide device 1 according to the above embodiments, it is possible that the opening 12 pof the guide 12 faces in the same direction as the rotational direction of the motor shaft 2 when the vehicle is driven forward, that is, that the opening 12 pfaces a downstream side in the rotational direction of the motor shaft 2 when the vehicle is driven forward.In some cases, the centripetal fluid guiding device 1 may comprise a plurality of guides 12 whose openings 12p face in opposite directions, whereby it is possible to guide the fluid centripetally, irrespective of the direction of rotation of the centripetal fluid guiding device 1.In the technical solutions of the present application, it is not necessary to pump the fluid in a closed space by constructing a seal and a directional pressure as in the related art, whereby it is not necessary to separately arrange a pump, and thus the cost for separately arranging a pump and the corresponding piping and piping can be saved.It is to be understood that the centripetal fluid guiding device 1 of the present application is not limited to the above uses. The fluid centripetal guiding device may also be applied to a drive system for a vehicle such as an electric final drive system, a hybrid drive system and the like, for example.

Claims

A fluid centripetal guide device, characterized in that the fluid centripetal guide device comprises: a main body (11) having a circular ring shape and formed with inlet holes (11h) through in a radial direction (R); and a plurality of guides (12), the plurality of guides (12) being spaced apart from each other in a circumferential direction (C) of the main body (11), the guides (12) being fixed to an outer circumferential surface of the main body (11) and protruding radially outward from the outer circumferential surface, the guide (12) being formed with an opening (12p) and a passage (12h), the opening (12p) being open to a circumferential side, and the passage (12h) extending from the opening (12p) into the inlet hole (11h), wherein a radially outer side wall surface of the passage (12h) extends curvedly from the opening (12p) toward the inlet hole (11h) to guide a fluid flowing in from the opening (12p) toward the inlet hole (11h) during the rotation of the centripetal guiding device (1).Device for centripetal guidance of a fluid according to claim 1, characterised in that the radially outer wall surface extends from the opening (12p) towards another circumferential side and at the same time radially inwards.The centripetal fluid guide device according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the passage (12h) is tapered in width from the opening (12p) toward the inlet hole (11h), and a part of the outer peripheral surface inside the passage (12h) is formed with a guide surface (11s) inclined toward the inlet hole (11h).The fluid centripetal guide device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the fluid centripetal guide device (1) further comprises a mounting portion (13), wherein the mounting portion (13) is fixed to an inner circumferential surface of the main body (11) and protrudes radially inward from the inner circumferential surface, and the mounting portion (13) is disposed offset to the inlet hole (11h).The fluid centripetal guiding device according to claim 4, characterized in that said mounting portion (13) is formed in the shape of a protruding strip extending linearly in an axial direction (A) of said main body (11).Drive system for a vehicle, characterized in that the drive system comprises a device (1) for centripetal guidance of a fluid according to one of Claims 1 to 5.The drive system for a vehicle according to claim 6, characterized in that the drive system further comprises a motor shaft (2), the motor shaft (2) being formed with a hollow structure, and the motor shaft (2) being further formed with a guide hole (2h) continuous through its wall, and the fluid centripetal guide means (1) is fixed to the motor shaft (2), the inlet hole (11h) of the fluid centripetal guide means (1) communicating with the guide hole (2h).Drive system for a vehicle according to claim 6 or 7, characterised in that the motor shaft (2) is formed with a collar portion (21), the collar portion (21) protruding radially outwards with respect to the other part of the motor shaft (2), the main body (11) of the device (1) for centripetal guidance of a fluid being fixed in a sleeve-like manner on the radial outer side of the collar portion (21).A drive system for a vehicle according to claim 8, characterized in that a mounting groove (2c) is formed on the outer circumferential surface of the collar portion (21), the mounting groove (2c) being open to one axial side or another axial side, the mounting portion (13) of the centripetally guiding fluid means (1) being mounted in the mounting groove (2c) in the form of a protruding strip.The drive system for a vehicle according to any one of claims 7 to 9, characterized in that the drive system further comprises an output shaft (3), a bearing (4) and a seal assembly (5), the bearing (4) being located in a mounting space (S) between the motor shaft (2) and the output shaft (3), the seal assembly (5) being used to close an end of the mounting space (S), the fluid being guidable through the guide hole (2h) toward the mounting space (S).

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