Drive unit, and hybrid vehicle

Abstract

To provide a drive unit which allows an electric motor to be easily retrofitted.SOLUTION: The drive unit includes an internal combustion engine, a transmission, a first propeller shaft, and an electric motor. The transmission is configured to change a speed of power that is output from the internal combustion engine. The first propeller shaft is configured to transmit power from the transmission to rear wheels. The electric motor is configured to transmit power in a manner of branching the power off from the first propeller shaft.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive unit and a hybrid vehicle.

Background Art

[0002] In recent years, vehicles having an electric motor as a drive source, such as hybrid vehicles and electric vehicles, have become widely popular. A hybrid vehicle has, as a drive unit, an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, a transmission, and the like (see, for example, Patent Document 1). The drive unit of this hybrid vehicle is disposed in the engine room.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] There is a desire to retroactively install an electric motor in a vehicle that does not have an electric motor and has only an internal combustion engine as a drive source. Therefore, an object of the present invention is to provide a drive unit capable of easily retroactively installing an electric motor.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0005] The drive unit according to the first aspect includes an internal combustion engine, a transmission, a first propeller shaft, and an electric motor. The transmission is configured to shift the power output from the internal combustion engine. The first propeller shaft is configured to transmit the power from the transmission to the rear wheels. The electric motor is branched and connected from the first propeller shaft.

[0006] According to this configuration, since the electric motor is attached so as to be connected to the first propeller shaft, the degree of freedom in arranging the electric motor is high. Therefore, it is possible to easily retrofit the electric motor to a drive unit having only an internal combustion engine as a drive source.

[0007] The drive unit according to the second aspect is configured as follows in the drive unit according to the first aspect. The electric motor is attached to the lower surface of the floor panel of the vehicle body. Since the lower surface of the floor panel is easily accessible, the electric motor can be more easily retrofitted.

[0008] The drive unit according to the third aspect further includes a transfer in the drive unit according to the first or second aspect. The transfer is disposed between the transmission and the first propeller shaft. The electric motor is connected to the first propeller shaft via the transfer.

[0009] The drive unit according to the fourth aspect further includes a second propeller shaft in the drive unit according to the third aspect. The second propeller shaft is configured to transmit the power from the transfer to the front wheels. The electric motor has an output shaft. The output shaft is disposed coaxially with the second propeller shaft. The output shaft extends rearward from the transfer.

[0010] The drive unit according to the fifth aspect is configured as follows in the drive unit according to the third or fourth aspect. The electric motor has an output shaft. The output shaft extends forward from the transfer.

[0011] The drive unit according to the sixth aspect further includes a gear train in the drive unit according to any one of the first to fifth aspects. The gear train is disposed between the first propeller shaft and the electric motor. The electric motor is connected to the first propeller shaft via the gear train.

[0012] The hybrid vehicle according to the seventh aspect includes a vehicle body, drive wheels, and a drive unit according to any one of the first to sixth aspects. The drive unit is supported by the vehicle body and is configured to drive the drive wheels.

Advantages of the Invention

[0013] According to the present invention, an electric motor can be easily retrofitted.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0014]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0015] Hereinafter, the drive unit 100 according to the present embodiment will be described with reference to the drawings. FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a hybrid vehicle 101 equipped with the drive unit 100, and FIG. 2 is a schematic diagram of the drive unit 100. In FIG. 1, the left side is the front, and the right side is the rear.

[0016] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the hybrid vehicle 101 has a vehicle body 102, front wheels 103, rear wheels 104, and a drive unit 100. The drive unit 100 is mounted on the hybrid vehicle 101. The drive unit 100 is supported by the vehicle body 102. The drive unit 100 is configured to drive the drive wheels. In the present embodiment, both the front wheels 103 and the rear wheels 104 are drive wheels.

[0017] The drive unit 100 includes an internal combustion engine 2, a torque converter 3, a transmission 4, a transfer 5, a first propeller shaft 6a, a second propeller shaft 6b, a first differential gear 7a, a second differential gear 7b, and an electric motor 8.

[0018] The internal combustion engine 2 is arranged within the engine room of the vehicle. The torque converter 3 is disposed between the internal combustion engine 2 and the transmission 4. The torque converter 3 is configured to amplify the torque output by the internal combustion engine 2 and transmit it to the transmission 4.

[0019] The transmission 4 is configured to shift the power output from the internal combustion engine 2. The transmission 4 receives the power from the internal combustion engine 2 via the torque converter 3. The transmission 4 has a first gear train 41, a second gear train 42, a first clutch 43, a second clutch 44, a continuously variable transmission 45, and a third gear train 46.

[0020] The first gear train 41 and the second gear train 42 are arranged in parallel with each other. That is, the power from the internal combustion engine 2 is transmitted via the first gear train 41 or the second gear train 42. The first gear train 41 is a forward gear train. The second gear train 42 is a reverse gear train.

[0021] The first clutch 43 is disposed between the first gear train 41 and the continuously variable transmission 45. The second clutch 44 is disposed between the second gear train 42 and the continuously variable transmission 45.

[0022] By setting the first clutch 43 in the clutch-on state and the second clutch 44 in the clutch-off state, the power is transmitted via the first gear train 41. Thereby, the vehicle moves forward. On the other hand, by setting the first clutch 43 in the clutch-off state and the second clutch 44 in the clutch-on state, the power is transmitted via the second gear train 42. Thereby, the vehicle moves backward.

[0023] The continuously variable transmission 45 transmits the power from the first gear train 41 after speed change. The third gear train 46 transmits the power from the continuously variable transmission 45 or the power from the second gear train 42 to the transfer 5. Note that the transmission 4 may not have the third gear train 46.

[0024] The transfer 5 is disposed between the transmission 4 and the first propeller shaft 6a. The transfer 5 is configured to distribute and transmit the power output from the transmission 4 to the first propeller shaft 6a and the second propeller shaft 6b.

[0025] The transfer 5 has a base portion 51, a third clutch 52, a first gear 53, a second gear 54, and a power transmission member 55. The base portion 51 rotates integrally with the first propeller shaft 6a. The first gear 53 is supported so as to be relatively rotatable with respect to the first propeller shaft 6a. The second gear 54 is attached so as to rotate integrally with the second propeller shaft 6b.

[0026] The third clutch 52 is disposed between the base portion 51 and the first gear 53. By setting the third clutch 52 in the clutch-on state, power is transmitted from the base portion 51 to the first gear 53. As a result, the front wheels and the rear wheels become drive wheels. That is, the hybrid vehicle 101 is in four-wheel drive. On the other hand, by setting the third clutch 52 in the clutch-off state, power is not transmitted from the base portion 51 to the first gear 53. As a result, only the rear wheels become drive wheels. That is, the hybrid vehicle 101 is in two-wheel drive.

[0027] Power is transmitted between the first gear 53 and the second gear 54 by the power transmission member 55. The power transmission member 55 is, for example, a chain, a belt, or a gear. Note that the transfer 5 may not have the power transmission member 55. In this case, the first gear 53 and the second gear 54 are directly meshed with each other.

[0028] The first propeller shaft 6a is configured to transmit the power from the transmission 4 to the rear wheels. The first propeller shaft 6a extends rearward from the transfer 5. The first propeller shaft 6a extends between the transfer 5 and the first differential gear 7a. The first propeller shaft 6a extends in the longitudinal direction below the vehicle body. The first propeller shaft 6a is exposed below the vehicle body. That is, it is possible to access the first propeller shaft 6a from below the vehicle body.

[0029] The second propeller shaft 6b is configured to transmit the torque from the transfer 5 to the front wheels. The second propeller shaft 6b extends forward from the transfer 5. The second propeller shaft 6b extends between the transfer 5 and the second differential gear 7b. The second propeller shaft 6b extends in the longitudinal direction below the vehicle body. The second propeller shaft 6b is exposed below the vehicle body. That is, it is possible to access the second propeller shaft 6b from below the vehicle body.

[0030] The first differential gear 7a is disposed between the first propeller shaft 6a and the pair of rear wheels. The first differential gear 7a transmits the power from the first propeller shaft 6a to the pair of rear wheels via a drive shaft (not shown).

[0031] The second differential gear 7b is disposed between the second propeller shaft 6b and the pair of front wheels. The second differential gear 7b transmits the power from the second propeller shaft 6b to the pair of front wheels via a drive shaft (not shown).

[0032] The electric motor 8 is attached to the lower surface of the floor panel 105 of the vehicle body. That is, the electric motor 8 is not disposed in the engine room. The electric motor 8 is exposed below the vehicle body. That is, it is possible to access the electric motor 8 from below the vehicle body.

[0033] The electric motor 8 is branched and connected from the first propeller shaft 6a. That is, the electric motor 8 is connected to the first propeller shaft 6a so as to transmit power between the first propeller shaft 6a and the electric motor 8 by branching from the power transmission path from the internal combustion engine 2 to the rear wheels.

[0034] Specifically, the electric motor 8 is connected to the first propeller shaft 6a via the transfer 5. That is, the electric motor 8 transmits power to and from the first propeller shaft 6a via the transfer 5. The electric motor 8 is disposed rearward with respect to the transfer 5.

[0035] The electric motor 8 is disposed on the rear wheel side of the transmission 4 in the power transmission path. Also, the electric motor 8 is disposed at a position away from the transmission 4.

[0036] The electric motor 8 has an output shaft 81. The output shaft 81 of the electric motor 8 is disposed coaxially with the second propeller shaft 6b. The output shaft 81 extends rearward from the transfer 5. Specifically, the output shaft 81 extends rearward from the second gear 54 of the transfer 5. The output shaft 81 rotates integrally with the second gear 54. That is, the second propeller shaft 6b extends forward from the second gear 54 of the transfer 5, and the output shaft 81 of the electric motor 8 extends rearward from the second gear 54 of the transfer 5.

[0037] [Modification Example] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible without departing from the spirit of the present invention. Note that the following modification examples can basically be applied simultaneously.

[0038] (a) As shown in FIG. 3, the drive unit 100 may have a fourth gear train 11 (an example of a gear train). The fourth gear train 11 is disposed between the first propeller shaft 6a and the electric motor 8. The electric motor 8 is connected to the first propeller shaft 6a via this fourth gear train 11. That is, the electric motor 8 is branched and connected from the first propeller shaft 6a by the fourth gear train 11.

[0039] The fourth gear train 11 has a fifth gear 111 and a sixth gear 112. The fifth gear 111 rotates integrally with the first propeller shaft 6a. The sixth gear 112 meshes with the fifth gear 111.

[0040] The electric motor 8 is configured to rotate the sixth gear 112. Specifically, the output shaft 81 of the electric motor 8 is configured to rotate integrally with the sixth gear 112. The electric motor 8 is disposed rearward with respect to the fourth gear train 11. Note that the electric motor 8 may be disposed forward with respect to the fourth gear train 11.

[0041] Note that in this modification, as shown in FIG. 4, the drive unit 100 may not have the transfer 5, the second propeller shaft 6b, and the second differential gear 7b.

[0042] (b) As shown in FIG. 5, the drive unit 100 may not have the second propeller shaft 6b. In this case, the drive unit 100 drives the rear wheels 104. That is, the rear wheels 104 are drive wheels.

[0043] The electric motor 8 is arranged in front of the transfer 5. Instead of the second propeller shaft 6b, the output shaft 81 of the electric motor 8 is attached to the transfer 5. Specifically, the output shaft 81 is attached to the second gear 54 of the transfer 5. The output shaft 81 rotates integrally with the second gear 54. The output shaft 81 extends forward from the transfer 5. In this case, the transfer 5 distributes and transmits the power from the transmission 4 to the first propeller shaft 6a and the output shaft 81.

[0044] (c) In the above embodiment, the drive unit 100 had the torque converter 3, but the configuration of the drive unit 100 is not limited to this. For example, the drive unit 100 may not have the torque converter 3.

[0045] (d) In the above embodiment, the transmission 4 had the continuously variable transmission 45, but the configuration of the transmission 4 is not limited to this. For example, instead of the continuously variable transmission 45, the transmission 4 may have a planetary gear mechanism or a plurality of gear trains.

Explanation of Reference Numerals

[0046] 2: Internal combustion engine 4: Transmission 5: Transfer 6a: First propeller shaft 6b: Second propeller shaft 8: Electric motor 81: Output shaft 11: Fourth gear train 100: Drive unit 101: Hybrid vehicle

Claims

1. An internal combustion engine; a transmission configured to change the speed of the power output from the internal combustion engine; a first propeller shaft configured to transmit power from the transmission to rear wheels; an electric motor branched off and connected to the first propeller shaft; A drive unit comprising:

2. The electric motor is mounted on the underside of a floor panel of the vehicle body.

2. A drive unit according to claim 1.

3. a transfer disposed between the transmission and the first propeller shaft, The electric motor is connected to the first propeller shaft via the transfer.

2. A drive unit according to claim 1.

4. a second propeller shaft configured to transmit power from the transfer to a front wheel; The electric motor has an output shaft that is disposed coaxially with the second propeller shaft and extends rearward from the transfer. A drive unit according to claim 3.

5. The electric motor has an output shaft extending forward from the transfer. A drive unit according to claim 3.

6. a gear train disposed between the first propeller shaft and the electric motor; the electric motor is connected to the first propeller shaft via the gear train; 2. A drive unit according to claim 1.

7. The car body and Drive wheels and A drive unit according to any one of claims 1 to 6, which is supported on the vehicle body and configured to drive the drive wheels; Equipped with Hybrid car.

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