DRIVE DEVICE FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

A drive device for a vehicle is disclosed, comprising a rotating electric machine around which a coil wire is wound, a transmission mechanism that transmits motive power from the rotating electric machine to a wheel, and an oil supply device that supplies oil to the rotating electric machine and the transmission mechanism, wherein the oil supply device comprises a hydraulic pressure generating device having an electric oil pump and an oil passage structure through which oil supplied by the hydraulic pressure generating device flows, and the oil passage structure having a first oil passage that supplies the oil to a coil end formed by the coil wire, a second oil passage that supplies the oil to the transmission mechanism, and a switching mechanism that selectively activates a first state in which the oil is circulated through the first oil passage.while the first oil passage and the second oil passage are fluidically separated from each other, and can form a second state in which the oil circulates through the first oil passage and the second oil passage, while the first oil passage and the second oil passage are fluidically connected.

Description

TECHNICAL AREA

[0001] The present disclosure relates to a drive device for a vehicle. STATE OF THE ART

[0002] An oil supply device is known that supplies oil to a component requiring lubrication and cooling, such as a rotating electric machine, via two paths: one from an electric oil pump and the other from a mechanical oil pump. In this oil supply device, when the oil temperature is low, the electric oil pump is not operated, and the oil temperature is raised by stirring the oil in a tank using a differential device. CITATION LIST PATENT LITERATURE

[0003] Patent Literature 1: JP 2017-58016 A SUMMARY OF INVENTIONAL PROBLEMS

[0004] However, with the conventional technique described above, the oil temperature increase is only expected to result from stirring the oil, and it is difficult to efficiently increase the oil temperature in a low-temperature environment.

[0005] Therefore, in one aspect, the present disclosure makes it possible to efficiently increase oil temperature in a low-temperature environment. SOLUTIONS FOR PROBLEMS

[0006] In one aspect, a drive device for a vehicle is provided, comprising: a rotating electrical machine around which a coil of wire is wound, a gear mechanism that transmits driving force from the rotating electric machine to a wheel, and an oil supply device that supplies oil to the rotating electric machine and the transmission mechanism, wherein The oil supply device comprises a hydraulic pressure generating device which includes an electric oil pump and an oil passage structure through which oil delivered by the hydraulic pressure generating device flows, and the oil passage structure a first oil pass, which supplies the oil to a coil end formed by the coil wire, a second oil passage that supplies the oil to the transmission mechanism, and a switching mechanism that can selectively form a first state in which the oil is circulated through the first oil passage while the first oil passage and the second oil passage are fluidically separated from each other, and a second state in which the oil is circulated through the first oil passage and the second oil passage while the first oil passage and the second oil passage are fluidically connected to each other. ADVANTAGEOUS EFFECTS OF THE INVENTION

[0007] In one aspect, according to the present disclosure, it is possible to efficiently increase the oil temperature in the low-temperature environment. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Fig. Figure 1 is a diagram that schematically represents a drive device for a vehicle according to the present embodiment. Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view that shows an example of a cover element. Fig. Figure 3 is a diagram that schematically represents an oil flow in a first state. Fig. Figure 4 is a diagram that schematically represents an oil flow in a second state. Fig. Figure 5 is a diagram that schematically illustrates an example of a heating system using cooling water in the first state. Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram that illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of a control device. Fig. Figure 7 is a schematic flowchart that illustrates an example of control performed by the control device of the present embodiment. DESCRIPTION OF THE EXECUTION FORMS

[0008] Each embodiment is described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensions shown in the drawings are merely examples and are not limited to them, and that shapes and the like may be exaggerated in the drawings to simplify the description. Additionally, for clarity, only some of a number of sections sharing the same attribute may be marked with reference symbols in the drawings.

[0009] Fig. Figure 1 is a diagram that schematically represents a drive device for a vehicle 7 according to the present embodiment. Fig. Figure 1 schematically represents a coil-end oil passage 61 and a gear / rotor oil passage 62, which will be described later, partly by means of arrows. The arrows also show the flow directions of oil along with the presence of the corresponding oil passages. Fig. Figure 2 is a perspective view showing an example of a cover element 612. Furthermore, a cooling water passage 70 is shown in Fig. 1. Schematically represented by an arrow. The arrow also indicates the direction of flow of cooling water along with the presence of the corresponding cooling water passage.

[0010] The drive device for a vehicle 7 comprises a rotating electric machine 1, a gear mechanism 3 and an oil supply device 5.

[0011] The rotating electric machine 1 is used as a concept that includes a motor (an electric motor), a generator (a generator) and a motor-generator which performs the function of both the motor and the generator as required.

[0012] In the present embodiment, the rotating electric machine 1 comprises a rotor 10 and a stator 11. The stator 11 is attached to a housing 2, and the rotor 10 is mounted by the housing 2 so that it is rotatable relative to the stator 11. The rotating electric machine 1 can be an internal rotor type, in which case the rotor 10 can be arranged on the radially inner side of the stator 11, so that it overlaps the stator 11 along the radial direction. The radial direction here refers to the radial direction with respect to the axis of rotation of the rotating electric machine 1. The same applies to the axial direction.

[0013] The rotor 10, for example, has a hollow rotor shaft 10A and a rotor core 10B. A magnet (not shown) can be inserted into or embedded in the rotor core 10B.

[0014] The stator 11 has a stator core 12 and a coil end 13 that projects axially from the stator core 12. A coil wire 13A is wound around the stator core 12, and a section of the coil wire 13A that projects axially from the stator core 12 forms the coil end 13. The coil end 13 extends axially from both sides of the stator core 12.

[0015] The transmission mechanism 3 transmits the driving force from the rotating electric machine 1 to wheels. Any transmission mechanism is possible, but the transmission mechanism 3 can, for example, include a reduction mechanism and a differential gear mechanism.

[0016] The rotating electric machine 1 and the gear mechanism 3 can be housed in the casing 2. Note that the casing 2 can form a further receiving chamber that accommodates another component (for example, a control device 100, described later, which controls the rotating electric machine 1, or the like).

[0017] The housing 2 can, for example, be made of aluminum. The housing 2 can be formed by a combination of several elements, such as a housing element and a cover element. The housing 2 forms a receiving chamber S1 that accommodates the rotating electric machine 1 and the gear mechanism 3. Note that Fig. 1 is a simple diagram and a representation has been omitted, but the housing 2 may have a partition separating a receiving chamber that accommodates the rotating electric machine 1 and a receiving chamber that accommodates the gear mechanism 3.

[0018] Furthermore, the housing 2 stores oil. Oil is used to cool and / or lubricate the rotating electric machine 1 and the gear mechanism 3. Additionally, oil can be used to lubricate bearings that form part of the rotating electric machine 1 and the gear mechanism 3.

[0019] The housing 2 has an oil pan 2A in a lower section thereof. The oil pan 2A forms an oil reservoir 90 (see a hatched area in Fig. 1), in which oil accumulates in the housing 2. Note that the oil pan 2A is a separate element from the housing 2, but in a modification, the function of the oil pan 2A can be performed by the lower section of the housing 2.

[0020] The oil supply device 5 has a hydraulic pressure generating device 50 and an oil passage structure 60.

[0021] The hydraulic pressure generating device 50 has two electric oil pumps 51 and 52. For the sake of clarity, the two electric oil pumps will be referred to below as a first electric oil pump 51 and a second electric oil pump 52, respectively.

[0022] The first electric oil pump 51 and the second electric oil pump 52 have essentially the same configuration, but may have different volumes or the like. For example, the first electric oil pump 51 may be smaller than the second electric oil pump 52.

[0023] As described later, the first electric oil pump 51 is provided in conjunction with the coil end oil passage 61 and generates a hydraulic pressure that creates an oil flow that flows through the coil end oil passage 61.

[0024] As described later, the second electric oil pump 52 is connected to the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 and a portion of the coil-end oil passage 61 (a supply-side oil passage section 615 described later) and generates a hydraulic pressure that produces an oil flow through the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 and a portion of the coil-end oil passage 61. In the present embodiment, the second electric oil pump 52 draws in oil accumulated in the oil pan 2A. Note that the second electric oil pump 52 can draw in the oil from the oil pan 2A through a filter or the like.

[0025] The oil passage structure 60 includes the coil-end oil passage 61, the gear / rotor oil passage 62, and a shifting mechanism 66. In the following description, “upstream side” refers to a side near the outlet side of the first electric oil pump 51 or the second electric oil pump 52, and “downstream side” refers to a side near the intake side of the first electric oil pump 51 or the second electric oil pump 52.

[0026] The coil end oil passage 61 supplies oil delivered by the first electric oil pump 51 to the coil end 13. The coil end oil passage 61 can supply oil to a heat-generating element other than the coil end 13, but preferably supplies oil only to the coil end 13 that has a relatively high heat generation among the objects to be cooled by oil in the drive device for a vehicle 7.

[0027] The coil-end oil passage 61 is preferably a closed oil passage that is not open to the receiving chamber S1 in the housing 2. In this case, the coil-end oil passage 61 is essentially free of air. The coil-end oil passage 61 forms a closed flow passage that allows oil delivered by the first electric oil pump 51 to circulate. The coil-end oil passage 61 can be formed in the housing 2, can be formed by a pipe element, or can be formed by a combination thereof.

[0028] Additionally, the coil end oil passage 61 can be opened through the cover element 612 (see Fig. 2) be designed to cover the coil end 13 in a liquid-tight manner in the section of the coil end 13. Hereinafter, the oil passage section of the coil end oil passage 61 formed by the cover element 612 is also referred to as a cover element oil passage 619.

[0029] The coil-end oil passage 61 has two three-way valves 661 and 662 (to be described later) for branching off from the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62. For the sake of simplicity, the oil passage section between the three-way valve 661 and the three-way valve 662 in the coil-end oil passage 61 will henceforth also be referred to as the "supply-side oil passage section 615", and the other oil passage section will also be referred to as the "outlet-side oil passage section 616". Note that the supply-side oil passage section 615 has the cover element oil passage 619 described above.

[0030] The gear / rotor oil passage 62 supplies oil to the rotor shaft 10A of the rotating electric machine 1 and to the gear mechanism 3. For example, the gear / rotor oil passage 62 supplies oil to the hollow interior (a shaft center oil passage) of the rotor shaft 10A of the rotating electric machine 1, a gear (not shown) of the gear mechanism 3, and various bearings (not shown) of the gear mechanism 3. In a variation, the gear / rotor oil passage 62 can supply oil only to the gear mechanism 3, or it can supply oil only to a part of the rotating electric machine 1 (a section other than the coil end 13).In the present embodiment, the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 has a shaft-center oil passage 621 of the rotor shaft 10A of the rotating electric machine 1 and cools a permanent magnet or the like of the rotor core 10B via the rotor shaft 10A by the oil flowing through the shaft-center oil passage 621. In the [reference to be added] Fig. In the example shown, the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 supplies oil to the gearbox mechanism 3 via the shaft center oil passage 621. In the modified version, the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 can supply oil to the shaft center oil passage 621 via the gearbox mechanism 3. Note that the oil supplied to the gearbox mechanism 3 can sink due to gravity and collect in the oil pan 2A (see arrow R80).

[0031] The gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 opens to the receiving chamber S1 in the housing 2. That is, the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 communicates with the receiving chamber S1 in the housing 2. Therefore, the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 has the oil pan 2A in the lower section of the housing 2.

[0032] The gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 can be in a state where it is fluidically separated from the coil-end oil passage 61, or in a state where it is fluidically connected (fluidically communicating) with the supply-side oil passage section 615 of the coil-end oil passage 61 via the switching mechanism 66 described later. Hereinafter, the state in which the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 and the coil-end oil passage 61 are fluidically separated is also referred to as the "first state," and the state in which the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 and the supply-side oil passage section 615 of the coil-end oil passage 61 are fluidically connected is also referred to as the "second state."

[0033] Specifically, the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 has an upstream branch section 620 and a downstream branch section 622 from the coil end oil passage 61, and the section between the branch section 620 and the branch section 622 is the supply-side oil passage section 615 of the coil end oil passage 61.

[0034] The branch section 620 is provided on the upstream side of the shaft center oil passage 621, and the branch section 622 is provided on the downstream side of each coil end 13 (of the cover element oil passage 619) in the coil end oil passage 61. The downstream side of the branch section 622 in the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 is essentially the receiving chamber S1 and is an oil passage that drips by gravity into the oil reservoir 90 of the oil pan 2A. The oil passage section from the branch section 620 to the shaft center oil passage 621 in the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62 can be formed in the housing 2, can be formed by a tubular element, or can be formed by a combination of both.

[0035] The switching mechanism 66 can selectively switch to the first state described above (see Fig. 3) and the second state (see Fig. 4) form. In the first state, when the first electric oil pump 51 is driven, the oil delivered by the first electric oil pump 51 can circulate through the coil-end oil passage 61 without flowing through the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62. In the second state, when the second electric oil pump 52 is driven, the oil delivered by the second electric oil pump 52 can circulate through the supply-side oil passage section 615 of the coil-end oil passage 61 and the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62.

[0036] Here, the configuration and function of the switching mechanism 66 are described with reference to Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 further described. Fig. 3 is a diagram that schematically represents an oil flow in the first state, and Fig. Figure 4 is a diagram that schematically represents oil flow in the second state. Fig. 3 and Fig. 4 are sections of the coil end oil passage 61 and the gear / rotor oil passage 62 that are not in use (i.e., sections in which no oil circulates), indicated by dotted lines.

[0037] The switching mechanism 66 has two three-way valves 661 and 662 and a shut-off valve 663.

[0038] The three-way valve 661 has two inlet ports 6611 and 6612 and one outlet port 6613. The three-way valve 661 can be switched such that when one of the two inlet ports 6611 and 6612 is in an open state, the other is in a closed state. This switching can be achieved electromagnetically under the control of the control device 100 described later.

[0039] In the three-way valve 661, the inlet port 6611 is connected to the outlet side of the first electric oil pump 51, and the inlet port 6612 is connected to the outlet side of the second electric oil pump 52. The outlet port 6613 of the three-way valve 661 is connected to the upstream side of the upstream branch section 620 and the upstream side of the supply-side oil passage section 615.

[0040] In the three-way valve 661, when the inlet port 6611 is open and the inlet port 6612 is closed, the inlet port 6611 and the outlet port 6613 of the three-way valve 661 communicate with each other. In this case, as indicated by the solid arrows in Fig. As indicated in Figure 3, the oil delivered by the first electric oil pump 51 flows through the outlet port 6613. Conversely, in the three-way valve 661, when the inlet port 6611 is closed and the inlet port 6612 is open, the inlet port 6612 and the outlet port 6613 of the three-way valve 661 communicate with each other. In this case, as indicated by the solid arrows in Figure 3, the oil delivered by the first electric oil pump 51 flows through the outlet port 6613. Fig. As indicated in Figure 4, the oil delivered by the second electric oil pump 52 flows through the outlet port 6613.

[0041] The three-way valve 662 has two outlet ports 6621 and 6622 and one inlet port 6623. The three-way valve 662 can be switched such that when one of the two outlet ports 6621 and 6622 is in the open position, the other is in the closed position. This switching can be achieved electromagnetically under the control of the control device 100 described later.

[0042] The three-way valve 662 branches the supply-side oil passage section 615 of the coil end oil passage 61, which is connected to the input port 6623, into the outlet-side oil passage section 616 of the coil end oil passage 61 and the branch section 622 via two output ports 6621 and 6622, respectively.

[0043] In the three-way valve 662, communication occurs when the output port 6621 is in the open state and the output port 6622 is in the closed state, as indicated by the solid arrows in Fig. As indicated in Figure 3, the inlet port 6623 and the outlet port 6621 of the three-way valve 662 communicate with each other. In this case, the oil delivered by the first electric oil pump 51 can flow through the outlet port 6621. Conversely, when the outlet port 6621 is closed and the outlet port 6622 is open, the inlet port 6623 and the outlet port 6622 of the three-way valve 662 communicate with each other. In this case, as indicated by the solid arrows in Figure 3, the oil delivered by the first electric oil pump 51 can flow through the outlet port 6621. Fig. As indicated in Figure 4, the oil delivered by the second electric oil pump 52 flows through the outlet port 6622.

[0044] The shut-off valve 663 is provided on the downstream side of the upstream branch section 620 in the gear / rotor oil passage 62. In the present embodiment, the shut-off valve 663 is located between the branch section 622 and the shaft center oil passage 621. When the shut-off valve 663 is closed, the gear / rotor oil passage 62 is fluidically isolated from the coil end oil passage 61. That is, no oil can be supplied to the shaft center oil passage 621 via the branch section 620. When the shut-off valve 663 is open, the gear / rotor oil passage 62 is fluidically connected to the coil end oil passage 61. That is, oil can be supplied to the shaft center oil passage 621 via the branch section 620.

[0045] In the present embodiment, with the configuration described above, in the first state, as indicated by the solid arrows in Fig. Figure 3 schematically indicates the oil delivered by the first electric oil pump 51 through the entire coil end oil passage 61. Note that in the first state, the oil is shown by the dotted arrows in Fig. 3. The indicated oil flow is essentially not generated. That is, in the first state, no oil circulates through the gearbox / rotor oil passage 62. Therefore, in the first state, the second electric oil pump 52 can be stopped. On the other hand, in the second state, as indicated by the solid arrows in Fig. Figure 4 schematically indicates the oil supplied by the second electric oil pump 52 through the supply-side oil passage section 615 of the coil-end oil passage 61 and the gear / rotor oil passage 62. Note that in the second state, the oil is indicated by the dotted arrows in Fig. 4. The indicated oil flow is essentially not generated. Therefore, in the second state, the first electric oil pump 51 can be stopped.

[0046] In the present embodiment, an oil cooler 69 is arranged between the three-way valve 661 and the branch section 620. In this case, the circulating oil can be cooled by the oil cooler 69 in both the first and second states. Cooling water is supplied to the oil cooler 69 by a water pump 71 via a cooling water passage 70, and the oil is cooled by heat exchange between the cooling water and the oil (the cooling water is heated).

[0047] In contrast, for a vehicle not equipped with an internal combustion engine, there is a high probability that rapid warm-up, for example in a low-temperature environment, cannot be achieved, since a system that utilizes the waste heat of the internal combustion engine cannot be implemented. In particular, since the vehicle is stationary at the time of starting in a low-temperature environment, the rotating electric machine 1, unlike in a moving state, does not generate any motive power, and it is difficult to extract sufficient heat from the rotating electric machine 1.

[0048] Therefore, in the present embodiment, at the time of vehicle start-up in a low-temperature environment or similar conditions, heat is efficiently extracted from the coil end 13 by establishing the first state, during which a current is forced to flow through the coil wire 13A of the rotating electric machine 1 to generate heat from the coil end 13. In the second state, compared to the first state, the amount of circulating oil increases, and the rate of increase in oil temperature decreases accordingly (thermal energy is distributed and applied to a relatively large quantity of oil). As a result, the thermal energy that can be exchanged via the oil cooler 69 also decreases. That is, the thermal energy that can be supplied to the cooling water in the cooling water passage 70 via the oil cooler 69 also decreases.Therefore, according to the present embodiment, by enabling the formation of the first state in which a relatively small amount of oil circulates while the coil end 13 is cooled, it is possible to efficiently increase the thermal energy that can be supplied to the cooling water in the cooling water passage 70 via the oil cooler 69.

[0049] Fig. Figure 5 is a diagram that schematically illustrates an example of a heating system 8 using cooling water in the first state.

[0050] As described above, the heating system 8 efficiently transfers the heat extracted from the coil end 13 in the first state to a system 77 to be heated via the cooling water in the cooling water passage 70. Note that in the modification, the heating system 8 can transfer the heat efficiently extracted from the coil end 13 in the first state, as described above, to the system 77 to be heated via the oil in the coil end oil passage 61 (it can transfer the heat without doing so via the cooling water).

[0051] The system 77 to be warmed up is any in-vehicle system that requires warm-up or for which warm-up is beneficial, and includes, for example, an air conditioning system or a battery system. The battery system may include a high-voltage battery that serves as a power supply for the rotating electric machine 1.

[0052] According to the present embodiment, since the heat efficiently extracted from the coil end 13 in the first state as described above can be supplied to the system 77 to be heated via the cooling water in the cooling water passage 70, the time required to heat up the system 77 to be heated can be reduced.

[0053] Next, a control system for the drive device described above for a vehicle 7 will be described with reference to Fig. 6 and Fig. 7 described.

[0054] The drive device for a vehicle 7 has the control device 100, which performs the drive control of the rotating electric machine 1 and performs the switching control of the switching mechanism 66 and the like.

[0055] The control device 100 controls the switching mechanism 66 and the like based on the state of the system 77, which is heated using heat from the coil end 13. The control method of the control device 100 will be described in detail later with reference to Fig. 7 described.

[0056] Fig. Figure 6 is a schematic diagram that illustrates an example of a hardware configuration of the control device 100. Fig. Figure 6 schematically represents other vehicle-internal electronic devices 130 in conjunction with the hardware configuration of the control device 100.

[0057] The other vehicle-internal electronic devices 130 include the rotating electric machine 1, a host electronic control unit (ECU) 74, the first electric oil pump 51, the second electric oil pump 52, the water pump 71, the three-way valves 661 and 662, the shut-off valve 663 and the like.

[0058] The control device 100 comprises a central processing unit (CPU) 111, a random access memory (RAM) 112, a read-only memory (ROM) 113, an auxiliary storage device 114, a drive device 115 and a communication interface 117 connected by a bus 119, as well as a wired transmit and receive unit 125 and a wireless transmit and receive unit 126 connected to the communication interface 117.

[0059] Auxiliary storage device 114 is, for example, a hard disk drive (HDD), a solid-state drive (SSD), or the like, and is a storage device that stores data related to application software or the like.

[0060] The wired transceiver unit 125 has a transceiver capable of communicating using a wired network 128 based on a protocol such as a Controller Area Network (CAN) or a Local Interconnect Network (LIN). The other in-vehicle electronic devices 130 are connected to the wired transceiver unit 125. Some or all of the other in-vehicle electronic devices 130 may be connected to the bus 119 or to the wireless transceiver unit 126.

[0061] The Wireless Transceiver Unit 126 is a transceiver capable of communicating using a wireless network. This wireless network can be a mobile phone's wireless communication network, the internet, a virtual private network (VPN), a wide area network (WAN), and similar networks. Additionally, the Wireless Transceiver Unit 126 can incorporate a Near Field Communication (NFC) unit, a Bluetooth (Bluetooth, registered trademark) unit, a Wireless Fidelity (Wi-Fi) transceiver, an infrared transceiver, and similar technologies.

[0062] Note that the control device 100 can be connected to a recording medium 116. The recording medium 116 stores a predefined program. The program stored on the recording medium 116 is installed in the auxiliary storage device 114 or the like of the control device 100 via the drive device 115. The installed predefined program can be executed by the CPU 111 of the control device 100. For example, the recording medium 116 can be a recording medium that records information optically, electrically, or magnetically, such as a compact disc (CD)-ROM, a flexible disk, or a magneto-optical disk; a semiconductor memory that records information electrically, such as a ROM or flash memory; or the like.

[0063] Fig. Figure 7 is a schematic flowchart that represents an example of a control operation performed by the control device 100 of the present embodiment.

[0064] In step S700, the control device 100 determines whether a vehicle is stationary or not, based on vehicle speed information from the host ECU 74. Note that the host ECU 74 can be, for example, an ECU that integrally controls the vehicle's driving function (e.g., a brake or the like). The host ECU 74 can be a set of multiple ECUs. The host ECU 74 can generate the vehicle speed information based on a wheel speed sensor or the like. If the determination result is "YES," the process proceeds to step S702; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S708.

[0065] In step S702, the control device acquires 100 values ​​of various temperature parameters. These parameters can include ambient air temperature, indoor air temperature, oil temperature, water temperature (the water temperature in cooling water passage 70), and the like. Some or all of the values ​​of these temperature parameters can be acquired via the host ECU 74.

[0066] In step S704, the control device 100 determines, based on the values ​​of the various temperature parameters obtained in step S702, whether the system 77 to be heated is in a low-temperature state that requires or would benefit from heating. That is, the control device 100 determines whether the values ​​of the various temperature parameters obtained in step S702 indicate a low-temperature state for the system 77 to be heated. For example, if some or all of the values ​​of the various temperature parameters are below the corresponding thresholds, the control device 100 may determine that the values ​​of the various temperature parameters indicate a low-temperature state for the system 77 to be heated. If the determination result is "YES", the process proceeds to step S706; otherwise, the process proceeds to step S708.

[0067] In step S706, the control device 100 performs a warm-up control. Specifically, the control device 100 applies a heating current to the coil wire 13A of the rotating electric machine 1. At this point, the control device 100 applies a heating current (for example, a direct current) that does not cause the rotor 10 of the rotating electric machine 1 to rotate (which does not generate any driving force). Additionally, the control device 100 establishes the first state using the switching mechanism 66 while driving the water pump 71 and the first electric oil pump 51. The first state can be established by controlling the three-way valves 661 and 662 and the shut-off valve 663 of the switching mechanism 66 as described above.

[0068] In step S708, the control device 100 performs normal control. Specifically, the control device 100 applies a three-phase current to the coil wire 13A of the rotating electric machine 1 to drive the vehicle. At this point, the control device 100 controls the rotating electric machine 1 in such a way that the target values ​​(for example, target acceleration, target torque, and the like) from the host ECU 74 are achieved. Additionally, the control device 100 establishes the second state using the switching mechanism 66 while driving the water pump 71 and the second electric oil pump 52. The second state can be established by controlling the three-way valves 661 and 662 and the shut-off valve 663 of the switching mechanism 66 as described above.

[0069] According to the in Fig. In the processing shown in Figure 7, in a case where warming the system 77 to be warmed is necessary or useful in a low-temperature environment, the warming control of the present embodiment is carried out so that the warming of the system 77 can be achieved efficiently.

[0070] Additionally, according to the in Fig. In the processing described in Figure 7, when the vehicle is in a moving state, the determination result in step S700 is “NO”, and step S708 is executed. As a result, when the vehicle is in a moving state, it is possible to cool a section other than the coil end 13 (for example, a permanent magnet) and to lubricate the transmission mechanism 3 together with the coil end 13 of the rotating electric machine 1.

[0071] Note that the in Fig. The control shown in Figure 7 is merely an example, and various modifications can be made. For instance, the determining condition—whether it concerns the time of vehicle start or not—can be further defined, so that the warm-up control in step S706 is executed at the time of vehicle start. Additionally, from the same perspective, the determining condition of step S700 can be configured to be met at the time of vehicle start. In this case, the vehicle start can be detected based on an ON signal from a power supply button that is pressed at the time of vehicle start (or a related increase in the power supply voltage).

[0072] Furthermore, instead of or in addition to the various temperature parameters, values ​​of parameters indicating the presence or absence of a warm-up request from system 77 to be warmed up can be used. In this case, if the values ​​of the parameters indicate that a warm-up request exists from system 77 to be warmed up (that is, if the values ​​of the parameters indicate the low-temperature state of system 77 to be warmed up), the warm-up control can be executed in step S706.

[0073] Additionally, according to the in Fig. In the processing described in Figure 7, if the vehicle is in the driving state, the determination result in step S700 is “NO”, and step S708 is executed, but it is not limited to this. In a case where the warm-up of the system to be warmed up (77) is not completed, step S706 can be executed continuously.

[0074] Although each embodiment has been described in detail above, the present disclosure is not limited to a specific embodiment, and various modifications and changes may be made within the scope of protection described in the claims. In addition, all or a plurality of the components of the embodiments described above may be combined.

[0075] For example, although the second electric oil pump 52 is used in the embodiment described above, a mechanical oil pump can be used instead of or in addition to the second electric oil pump. Additionally, oil transport can be achieved via a gear.

[0076] Furthermore, the oil cooler 69 is arranged in a position where it functions in both the first and second states, but is not limited to either. For example, oil coolers can be arranged separately in the outlet-side oil passage section 616 of the coil-end oil passage 61 and in the rotor oil passage 62. In this case, the cooling water can flow through the cooling water passage that is formed by the Fig. 5 system 77 shown, heat exchanges with the oil cooler which is provided in the outlet-side oil passage section 616 of the coil end oil passage 61. REFERENCE MARK LIST

[0077] 1: Rotating electric machine, 13A: Coil wire, 13: Coil end, 3: Gear mechanism, 50: Hydraulic pressure generating device, 51, 52: Electric oil pump, 60: Oil passage structure, 615: Supply-side oil passage section (first oil passage), 62: Gear / rotor oil passage (second oil passage), 66: Shifting mechanism, 7: Drive device for a vehicle, 77: System, and 100: Control device QUOTES INCLUDED IN THE DESCRIPTION

[0000] This list of documents cited by the applicant was automatically generated and is included solely for the reader's convenience. The list is not part of the German patent or utility model application. The DPMA accepts no liability for any errors or omissions. Cited patent literature

[0000] JP 2017-58016 A

[0003]

Claims

[1] Propulsion device for a vehicle comprising: a rotating electrical machine around which a coil of wire is wound, a gear mechanism that transmits driving force from the rotating electric machine to a wheel, and an oil supply device that supplies oil to the rotating electric machine and the transmission mechanism, wherein The oil supply device comprises a hydraulic pressure generating device which includes an electric oil pump and an oil passage structure through which oil delivered by the hydraulic pressure generating device flows, and exhibits the following oil passage structure: a first oil pass, which supplies the oil to a coil end formed by the coil wire, a second oil passage that supplies the oil to the transmission mechanism, and a switching mechanism that can selectively form a first state in which the oil is circulated through the first oil passage while the first oil passage and the second oil passage are fluidically separated from each other, and a second state in which the oil is circulated through the first oil passage and the second oil passage while the first oil passage and the second oil passage are fluidically connected to each other. [2] Drive device for a vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a control device which controls the switching mechanism based on a state of a system which uses heat from the coil end. [3] Drive device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein in a situation in which a vehicle is in a stopped state, in a case in which a value of a predetermined parameter indicates a low temperature state of the system, the control device forms the first state while applying a current to the coil wire in such a way that the rotating electric machine does not rotate. [4] Drive device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein the control device forms the second state in a case in which a vehicle is in a moving state.

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