Housing for mechanical or electrical components and oil pump

Abstract

Housing for a mechanical or electrical component, comprising a receiving housing (10) for an oil pump (11) and a cooling circuit for the mechanical or electrical component (2), the receiving housing (10) being formed in a lower portion (1b) of the housing (1) opposite an upper portion (1a) of the housing (1). Figure for the abbreviation: Figure 1

Description

Title of the invention: Housing for mechanical or electrical component and oil pump

[0001] The present invention relates, in general, to a cooling circuit for a mechanical or electrical component and, more specifically, to the protection of an oil pump of a cooling circuit for a mechanical or electrical component.

[0002] More particularly, the invention relates to a casing for a mechanical or electrical component such as a casing for an electrical machine of a motor vehicle.

[0003] Generally, an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprises an electric motor and an engine cooling circuit in which a cooling fluid circulates.

[0004] The cooling fluid of the cooling circuit is, for example, oil set in motion by an oil pump.

[0005] Conventionally, the oil pump is located on the sides of the electric motor.

[0006] It is also possible to install the oil pump under the electric motor.

[0007] However, a location under the electric motor is unfavorable and protection of the oil pump is necessary.

[0008] In fact, the oil pump is then subjected to attacks from external elements, gravel, impacts from foreign bodies, pavements, etc., which can lead to damage and risks of leakage.

[0009] It is therefore proposed to overcome all or part of the aforementioned drawbacks.

[0010] In view of the above, the subject of the invention is a casing for a mechanical or electrical component, comprising a housing for receiving an oil pump of a cooling circuit of the mechanical or electrical component, the receiving housing being formed in a lower portion of the casing opposite an upper portion of the casing.

[0011] Preferably, the receiving housing comprises an opening forming access to the oil pump.

[0012] Advantageously, the opening can be arranged opposite the bottom of the casing of the mechanical or electrical member.

[0013] Advantageously, the receiving housing may be formed by a set of primary ribs extending from the bottom of the casing.

[0014] Advantageously, the casing may comprise secondary ribs extending from one or more of the primary ribs.

[0015] Advantageously, at least one of the primary ribs may include a notch for the passage of an electrical harness of the oil pump.

[0016] In one embodiment, the receiving housing may be designed to also receive an oil exchanger from the cooling circuit.

[0017] Advantageously, the receiving housing and the bottom of the casing can be in one piece.

[0018] The invention also relates to a propulsion unit comprising a mechanical or electrical member arranged in a casing as described above, and a cooling circuit for the mechanical or electrical member, the cooling circuit comprising an oil pump positioned in the receiving housing of the casing.

[0019] The invention also relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one propulsion unit as described above.

[0020] Preferably, the motor vehicle comprises a pair of front wheels and a pair of rear wheels, the housing receiving the casing being arranged in front of an axle on which the front wheels are positioned.

[0021] Other aims, advantages and characteristics will emerge from the description which follows, given purely for illustrative purposes and with reference to the appended drawings in which:

[0022] [Fig. 1] illustrates a propulsion assembly comprising a casing for an electric motor of a motor vehicle according to the invention.

[0023] [Fig.2] is a sectional view of the propulsion assembly illustrated in [Fig.l].

[0024] [Fig.3] is a schematic view from below of a motor vehicle comprising a propulsion unit according to the invention.

[0025] In the remainder of the description, the terms “front” and “rear”, “lower”, “upper” are understood in relation to the usual orthogonal reference frame for motor vehicles, shown in Figures 1 to 3, and comprising:

[0026] - a longitudinal axis X, horizontal and directed from the front to the rear of the vehicle;

[0027] - a transverse axis Y, horizontal, perpendicular to the X axis and directed from left to the right of the vehicle moving forward;

[0028] - a Z axis, orthogonal to the X and Y axes and vertically directed from bottom to top.

[0029] [Fig.l] illustrates a propulsion unit for an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a casing 1 within which an electric motor 2 is positioned.

[0030] Advantageously, the illustrated casing 1 comprises a first part 3 and a second independent part 4 forming, in an upper portion 1a of the casing 1, a space for receiving the electric motor.

[0031] According to another embodiment, it may be provided that the casing 1 is a casing containing a mechanical member, such as a heat engine or a reducer, or an electrical machine other than an electric motor.

[0032] According to the example illustrated, the space for receiving the electric motor 2 is delimited, on the one hand by two side walls 5 and 6, a rear wall (not visible), an upper wall 7 and a bottom 8 formed by the first part 3 of the casing 1, and on the other hand by a cover 9 opposite the rear wall and formed by the second part 4 of the casing 1.

[0033] The first and second parts 3, 4 of the casing 1 are connected to each other by removable fixing means, for example bolts, so as to allow the integration, removal or even maintenance of the electric motor 2.

[0034] In a lower portion 1b of the casing 1, opposite the upper portion 1a, the casing 1 comprises a housing 10 for receiving an oil pump 11 of a cooling circuit intended for cooling the electric motor 2.

[0035] As illustrated in Figures 1 and 2, the receiving housing 10 is formed by a set of primary ribs extending from the bottom 8 of the casing 1 in a direction opposite to the receiving space in which, in this example, the electric motor 2 is housed.

[0036] The casing 1 as illustrated advantageously comprises first, second, third and fourth primary ribs 12, 13, 14 and 15 vertical delimiting, with the bottom 8 of the casing 1, the receiving housing 10 of the oil pump IL.

[0037] Advantageously, the primary ribs 12, 13, 14 and 15 extend from the bottom 8 of the casing 1 so that the primary ribs 12, 13, 14 and 15 and the bottom 8 of the casing 1 are in one piece.

[0038] The extension of the casing 1 in the lower portion 1b thus makes it possible to install the oil pump 11 under the electric motor 2 and to provide it with protection by simple modifications to the casing 1. The installation and protection of the oil pump 11 are ensured without it being necessary to provide an additional part of the casing 1 or an additional protective plate.

[0039] [Fig.2] is a sectional view of the casing 1 in which the second part 4 of the casing forming a cover is not shown for better understanding.

[0040] With reference to [Fig.2], the casing 1 may advantageously comprise secondary ribs 16 extending from one or more of the primary ribs 12, 13, 14, 15. Advantageously, the secondary ribs 16 extend in a plane orthogonal to the plane along which the primary rib on which they are formed extends.

[0041] The presence of secondary ribs 16 makes it possible in particular to reinforce the protective structure of the oil pump formed by the primary ribs 12, 13, 14, 15 and to participate in the redirection of gravel and other foreign bodies likely to strike the oil pump 11 when the motor vehicle is moving.

[0042] Furthermore, the receiving housing 10 may comprise an opening forming access to the oil pump 11. This makes it easier to access the oil pump 11, in particular during its maintenance.

[0043] Preferably, the opening of the receiving housing 10 of the oil pump 11 is arranged opposite the bottom 8 of the casing 1. In other words, in the example illustrated, the receiving housing 10 does not have a bottom.

[0044] Advantageously, at least one of the primary ribs 12, 13, 14, 15 may comprise a notch 17 for the passage of an electrical harness 18 of the oil pump 11, carried in the example illustrated by the fourth primary rib 15.

[0045] The electrical harness 18 of the oil pump 11 is then also protected by the fourth primary rib 15.

[0046] In the illustrated example, the second part 4 of the casing 1 comprises a rib 19 including a notch 20 configured to coincide with the notch 17 of the fourth primary rib 15 of the first part 3 of the casing 1 so that the passage of the electrical harness 18 is maintained when the first and second parts 3 and 4 of the casing 1 are connected.

[0047] [Fig. 3] illustrates an electric or hybrid motor vehicle comprising a pair of rear wheels 21a, 21b and a pair of front wheels 22a, 22b.

[0048] A casing 1 containing an electric motor 2 is positioned so that the receiving housing 10 of the oil pump 11 is arranged in front of the axis X on which the pair of front wheels are positioned. The positioning of the oil pump 11 in front of the axis X of the front wheels 22a, 22b allows protection of the oil pump 11 against impacts by the front wheels and in particular by the rims of the front wheels 22a, 22b.

[0049] In the embodiment illustrated in [Fig. 3], a plate 23, such as a ski, may extend under the motor vehicle, between the front wheels 22a, 22b, in particular for aesthetic purposes and / or for protecting the motor vehicle. Such a plate 23, arranged opposite the opening of the receiving housing 10 of the oil pump 11, forms additional protection for the oil pump 11.

[0050] In the example illustrated, the receiving housing 10 does not have a bottom and the corresponding opening forms easy access to the oil pump 11. The presence of the plate 23 arranged opposite the opening of the receiving housing 10 advantageously makes it possible to protect the oil pump 11, while guaranteeing easy access to the oil pump 11.

[0051] In one embodiment, it may also be provided that the receiving housing 10 is designed to receive, in addition to the oil pump 11, an oil exchanger from the cooling circuit. The oil exchanger received in the receiving housing 10 may also be an oil / water exchanger.

Claims

Claims

1. Casing for a mechanical or electrical component, comprising a receiving housing (10) for an oil pump (11) of a cooling circuit of the mechanical or electrical component (2), the receiving housing (10) being formed in a lower portion (1b) of the casing (1) opposite an upper portion (1a) of the casing (1), the receiving housing (10) being formed by a set of primary ribs (12, 13, 14, 15) extending from the bottom (8) of the casing (1).

2. A housing according to claim 1, wherein the receiving housing (10) comprises an opening forming access to the oil pump (H).

3. Housing according to claim 2, in which the opening is arranged opposite the bottom (8) of the housing (1) of the mechanical or electrical member (2).

4. A housing according to any preceding claim, comprising secondary ribs (16) extending from one or more of the primary ribs (12, 13, 14, 15).

5. A housing according to any one of the preceding claims, wherein at least one of the primary ribs (12, 13, 14, 15) comprises a notch (17) for the passage of an electrical harness (18) of the oil pump (11).

6. A housing according to any preceding claim, wherein the receiving housing (10) is designed to also receive an oil exchanger from the cooling circuit.

7. Propulsion assembly comprising a mechanical or electrical member (2) arranged in a casing (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, and a cooling circuit for the mechanical or electrical member (2), the cooling circuit comprising an oil pump (11) positioned in the receiving housing (10) of the casing (1).

8. Motor vehicle comprising at least one propulsion unit according to claim 7.

9. Motor vehicle according to claim 8, comprising a pair of front wheels (22a, 22b) and a pair of rear wheels (21a, 21b), the receiving housing (10) of the casing (1) being arranged in front of an axis (X) on which the front wheels (22a, 22b) are positioned.

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