Cooler

Abstract

To provide a compact cooler.SOLUTION: A cooler includes: a control device for controlling power supplied to a motor; a heat exchanger for exchanging heat between a heat medium for cooling the control device and oil for cooling the motor; and a holding portion for holding the heat exchanger and the control device, wherein a flow path of the heat medium is formed between the control device and the holding portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a cooler. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art In automobiles and the like, a cooling system is sometimes adopted in which heat-generating parts such as motors are cooled with oil, and the oil is then cooled with cooling water (Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 7140727 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] Conventionally, when cooling a motor control device with cooling water, it was necessary to connect the control device and a heat exchanger with piping to form a flow path for the cooling water. However, providing piping increases manufacturing costs and also increases the volume and weight of the equipment around the motor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0005] In view of the above problems, one aspect of the present invention provides a cooler comprising a control device that controls the power supplied to a motor, a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between a heat medium that cools the control device and oil that cools the motor, and a holding part that holds the heat exchanger and the control device, wherein a flow path for the heat medium is formed between the control device and the holding part. Effect of the Invention

[0006] With the above configuration, a compact cooler can be provided. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0007] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a heat exchange system. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a diagram illustrating the arrangement of a motor, a housing, a reducer, a shaft, and a cooler. [Diagram 3] FIG. [Figure 4] FIG. [Diagram 5] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of a first plate and a second plate, with the flows of cooling water and oil indicated by dotted arrows. [Figure 6] Fig. 4 is a cross-sectional view of the heat exchanger taken along line VI-VI in Fig. 3, illustrating the flows of oil and cooling water, in which the flow of oil is indicated by dotted arrows and the flow of cooling water is indicated by dashed arrows. [Figure 7] 1A and 1B are cross-sectional views of the cooler showing a state in which the control device is removed, and a state in which the control device is attached to a flange. [Figure 8] FIG. 2 is a top view of the flange of the cooler, with the dotted arrows indicating the flow of cooling water. [Figure 9] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cooler, in which the flow of cooling water in the housing and the cooler is indicated by dotted arrows. [Figure 10] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the cooler, with the flow of oil in the housing and the cooler indicated by dotted arrows. [Figure 11] 11 is a cross-sectional view of a cooler according to a modified example, in which the flow of cooling water in the housing and the cooler is indicated by dotted arrows. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0008] <Summary>

[0009] A heat exchange system 1 as one embodiment will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figures 1 and 2, the heat exchange system 1 includes a cooler 2, a motor 3, an oil pump 4, a radiator 5, a water pump 6, an oil passage 7, a cooling water passage 8, a reducer 9, a housing 10, and a shaft 11. The heat exchange system 1 employs a liquid cooling method in which the motor 3 is cooled by oil.

[0010] The motor 3 functions as a power source for an automobile, etc. The reducer 9 includes multiple gears, receives rotational driving force from the motor 3, adjusts the number of rotations, and transmits the force to a shaft 11. The motor 3 and the reducer 9 are housed and held in a housing 10 having a substantially cylindrical shape.

[0011] The inside of the housing 10 is filled with oil for the purpose of cooling the motor 3 and lubricating the reducer 9. The housing 10 is formed with hollow flow paths 10A, 10B and a recess 10C (FIGS. 9 and 10). These flow paths 10A, 10B are isolated from the inside of the housing 10 filled with oil and are not connected to the inside of the housing 10. The flow paths 10A, 10B are formed in a tubular shape and have the function of flowing cooling water therein. The recess 10C is a portion formed by recessing the outer surface of the housing 10, and receives and holds a part of the cooler 2.

[0012] The oil flow path 7 is a path through which oil flows. The oil flow path 7 connects between the motor 3 and the cooler 2, between the cooler 2 and the oil pump 4, and between the oil pump 4 and the motor 3, and circulates the oil in the direction of the arrows in FIG. 1.

[0013] The heat of the motor 3 is cooled by the oil. The high-temperature oil discharged from the motor 3 is supplied to the cooler 2 by the oil pump 4. The oil is cooled in the cooler 2 and supplied to the motor 3 and the reducer 9.

[0014] The coolant flow path 8 is a path through which the coolant flows. The coolant flow path 8 connects the radiator 5 and the water pump 6, the water pump 6 and the cooler 2, and the cooler 2 and the radiator 5 with piping, respectively, and circulates the coolant in the direction of the arrow in FIG. 1.

[0015] The cooling water discharged from the radiator 5 is supplied to the cooler 2 by the water pump 6. The cooling water cools the oil in the cooler 2 and becomes hot. The hot cooling water is supplied from the cooler 2 to the radiator 5. The cooling water is cooled by the radiator 5.

[0016] The cooler 2 is a device that integrates a heat exchanger 21 that exchanges heat between the oil and the cooling water, a control device 22 that controls the power supplied to the motor 3, a flange 23, and a base plate 24. The cooler 2 is attached to the outer surface of the housing 10.

[0017] In addition, the directions of the cooler 2 are defined as shown in Fig. 3, and will be used in explaining the configuration, parts, etc. of the cooler 2. Specifically, the direction in which the base plate 24 is located relative to the heat exchanger 21 and the control device 22 is defined as down, and the opposite direction is defined as up. Also, the direction perpendicular to the up-down direction is defined as the lateral direction. Note that these directions are defined merely for the convenience of explanation, and do not indicate the directions in a state in which the cooler 2 is held in the housing 10. Therefore, when the cooler 2 is attached to the housing 10, the cooler 2 can take any posture and direction.

[0018] The heat exchanger 21 exchanges heat between high-temperature oil discharged from the motor 3 and low-temperature cooling water cooled by the radiator 5. The heat exchanger 21 is formed by alternately stacking first plates 211 and second plates 212 extending in the horizontal direction. As shown in Figs. 3 to 5, the first plate 211 and the second plate 212 are both substantially rectangular plate-like members extending substantially parallel to the flange 23 and the base plate 24, and are bonded to each other by a method such as brazing.

[0019] 5 and 6, the first plate 211 is formed with two openings 211A and 211B through which oil passes, and two openings 211C and 211D through which cooling water passes. The second plate 212 is formed with two openings 212A and 212B through which oil passes, and two openings 212C and 212D through which cooling water passes.

[0020] 6, by stacking the first plate 211 and the second plate 212, the opening 211A and the opening 212A are connected and the opening 211B and the opening 212B are connected to form a flow path for passing oil. On the other hand, the opening 211C and the opening 212C are connected and the opening 211D and the opening 212D are connected to form a flow path for the cooling water.

[0021] Inside the heat exchanger 21, the flow path of the cooling water and the flow path of the oil are independent. As shown in Fig. 6, the oil flows between the upper surface of the first plate 211 and the lower surface of the second plate 212, and the cooling water flows between the lower surface of the first plate 211 and the upper surface of the second plate 212. As a result, heat exchange occurs between the oil and the cooling water via the first plate 211 and the second plate 212. In other words, the first plate 211 and the second plate 212 exchange heat between the oil and the cooling water via the upper and lower surfaces located on the opposite sides to each other (hereinafter also referred to as "back to back").

[0022] 7 to 10, the control device 22 includes modules 221, 222, and 223, and a heat sink 224. The modules 221, 222, and 223 and the heat sink 224 are all plate-like, approximately rectangular members extending approximately parallel to the flange 23 or the base plate 24.

[0023] The modules 221, 222, and 223 are devices equipped with power semiconductors and control the power supplied to the motor 3. In this embodiment, the modules 221, 222, and 223 convert DC current into three-phase AC current. The module 221 supplies U-phase current, the module 222 supplies V-phase current, and the module 223 supplies W-phase current to the motor 3.

[0024] As shown in Fig. 7, the heat sink 224 includes a plate portion 224B and a plurality of pins 224A. The plate portion 224B is a substantially rectangular plate-like member extending in the horizontal direction. The upper surface of the plate portion 224B supports the modules 221, 222, and 223. The lower surface of the plate portion 224B faces the upper surface of the base plate 24, and a plurality of pins 224A (Figs. 7(b), 9, and 10) are fixed so as to protrude downward. The pins 224A increase the area of ​​contact between the heat sink 224 and the cooling water, thereby contributing to improving the heat dissipation performance of the heat sink 224.

[0025] The flange 23 is a plate-like member extending in the horizontal direction and holding the heat exchanger 21 and the control device 22. The heat exchanger 21 is fixed to the flange 23 by brazing, and the control device 22 is fixed to the flange 23 by screws.

[0026] As shown in Fig. 4, the flange 23 has openings 23A and 23B that penetrate vertically. Both openings 23A and 23B are formed in a substantially rectangular shape. The lower surface of the heat exchanger 21 faces the upper surface of the base plate 24 via the opening 23A. The lower surface of the control device 22 faces the upper surface of the base plate 24 via the opening 23B.

[0027] The base plate 24 is a substantially rectangular plate-like member that is disposed below the flange 23, extends laterally, and is connected to the flange 23 by brazing or by a plurality of screws. In other words, the base plate 24 holds the heat exchanger 21 and the control device 22 via the flange 23.

[0028] 3 and 8, openings 24A, 24B, 24C, 24D and a recess 24E are formed in the base plate 24. A flow path 20A for the cooling water is formed between the upper surface of the base plate 24 and the heat sink 224 (FIGS. 9 and 10).

[0029] The openings 24A, 24B, 24C, and 24D are all formed to vertically penetrate the base plate 24. The openings 24A and 24B form flow paths for the cooling water, and the openings 24C and 24D form flow paths for the oil.

[0030] The recess 24E is a depression formed by pressing the base plate 24 downward, and has a substantially triangular shape in a top view. The recess 24E forms a flow path 20B for the cooling water between the control device 22, the lower surface of the flange 23, and the heat exchanger 21 (FIG. 9). The recess 24E is supported by the recess 10C.

[0031] [Flow of cooling water and oil] 9, the cooling water supplied from the radiator 5 flows through the flow path 10A, the opening 24A, the flow paths 20A and 20B, the heat exchanger 21, the opening 24B, and the flow path 10B in this order, thereby cooling the control device 22 and the oil. The cooling water flowing out from the flow path 20B is supplied to the radiator 5 through the cooling water flow path 8.

[0032] 10, oil is supplied from inside the housing 10 to the heat exchanger 21 through the opening 24C. When passing through the inside of the heat exchanger 21, the oil exchanges heat with the cooling water through the first plate 211 and the second plate 212, and is cooled. The oil flowing out of the heat exchanger 21 is supplied into the inside of the housing 10 through the opening 24D.

[0033] <Effects> (Aspect 1) In the above embodiment, the cooler 2 includes a control device 22 that controls the power supplied to the motor 3, a heat exchanger 21 that exchanges heat between cooling water (corresponding to a heat medium) that cools the control device 22 and oil that is a liquid that cools the motor 3, and a flange 23 and a base plate 24 (corresponding to a holding part) that hold the heat exchanger 21 and the control device 22. A flow path for the cooling water is formed between the control device 22 and the holding part.

[0034] In the above configuration, since the cooling water flow path is formed between the control device 22 and the holding part, there is no need to install a separate pipe for guiding the cooling water to the control device 22. Also, the cooling water flow path, the control device, and the heat exchanger can be integrally supported by the holding part. It is possible to make the cooler 2 compact with reduced dimensions, thereby reducing the weight and manufacturing costs of the cooler 2.

[0035] (Embodiment 2) In embodiment 1, a flow path for cooling water is formed between the heat exchanger 21 and the holding portion.

[0036] In the above configuration, since the flow path of the cooling water is formed between the heat exchanger 21 and the holding part, there is no need to install a separate pipe for guiding the cooling water to the heat exchanger 21. It is possible to reduce the size of the cooler 2, and thus the weight and manufacturing costs.

[0037] (Embodiment 3) In embodiment 1 or 2, the heat exchanger 21 and the control device 22 extend in the same direction.

[0038] In the above configuration, the heat exchanger 21 and the control device 22 are arranged in parallel, making it possible to make the cooler 2 compact.

[0039] (Embodiment 4) In any one of embodiments 1 to 3, the holding portion extends in the same direction as the heat exchanger 21 and the control device 22.

[0040] In the above configuration, the heat exchanger 21, the control device 22, and the holding unit are arranged in parallel, making it possible to make the cooler 2 compact.

[0041] (Embodiment 5) In any of embodiments 1 to 4, the heat exchanger 21 has a first plate 211 and a second plate 212 which are stacked plates, and each of the first plate 211 and the second plate 212 has a first surface in contact with oil and a second surface facing away from the first surface and in contact with oil, and extends in the same direction as the control device 22.

[0042] In the above configuration, the members constituting the heat exchanger 21 are arranged in parallel so as to extend in the same direction as the control device 22, so that the cooler 2 can be made compact.

[0043] (Embodiment 6) In any one of embodiments 1 to 5, the control device 22 has a heat sink 224 that contacts the cooling water.

[0044] In the above configuration, the heat sink 224 is used to increase the area of ​​the control device 22 that comes into contact with the cooling water, and the heat generated by the control device 22 can be efficiently released.

[0045] (Embodiment 7) In any of embodiments 1 to 6, the cooler 2 is attached to the housing 10 of the motor, and the housing 10 has flow paths 10A and 10B for cooling water.

[0046] In the above configuration, since a flow path for cooling water is formed in the housing 10, a simple design can be achieved without piping.

[0047] <Modification> The cooler 2 may be configured without the base plate 24. In this case, as shown in Fig. 11 as a cooler 102 according to a modified example, the housing 10 holds the heat exchanger 21 and the control device 22 via a flange 23, and flow paths 20A, 20B are formed between the housing 10 and the control device 22 and heat exchanger 21. In the modified example, the housing 10 holds the control device 22 and the heat exchanger 21, and also forms a flow path for cooling water between the control device 22 and the heat exchanger 21, and also functions as a holding portion in the cooler 102.

[0048] In the embodiment, the control device 22 has a function as an inverter. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the control device 22 may have a function other than an inverter, such as a switching function or a converter function. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] Heat exchange system 1, cooler 2, motor 3, oil pump 4, radiator 5, water pump 6, oil flow path 7, cooling water flow path 8, reducer 9, housing 10, shaft 11

Claims

1. A control device that controls the power supplied to the motor; a heat exchanger that performs heat exchange between a heat medium that cools the control device and oil that cools the motor; and A holding unit that holds the heat exchanger and the control device, A flow path for the heat medium is formed between the control device and the holding unit. cooler.

2. A flow path for the heat medium is formed between the heat exchanger and the holding part. The cooler of claim 1 .

3. The heat exchanger and the control device extend in the same direction. The cooler of claim 1 .

4. The holding portion extends in the same direction as the heat exchanger and the control device. The cooler according to claim 3.

5. The heat exchanger includes a plurality of stacked plates, Each of the plurality of plates has a first surface in contact with the oil and a second surface facing away from the first surface in contact with the heat medium, and extends in the same direction as the control device. The cooler of claim 1 .

6. The control device has a heat sink in contact with the heat medium. The cooler of claim 1 .

7. A motor housing is attached to the motor housing. A flow path for the heat medium is formed in the housing. A cooler according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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