Rotary electric machine drive device

Abstract

To provide a rotary electric machine drive device capable of suppressing enlargement of the device while suppressing enlargement of a tubular elastic member caused by securing a creepage distance.SOLUTION: A rotary electric machine drive device 100 comprises a rotary electric machine 1, an inverter 2, a housing 3 in which a through hole 34 is formed, and a conductor member 7. The rotary electric machine drive device 100 comprises an elastically deformable tubular elastic member 9 including a conductor insertion hole 92, into which the conductor member 7 is inserted, and mounted to the through hole 34 so as to seal a gap between the conductor insertion hole 92 and the conductor member 7. The tubular elastic member 9 includes creepage distance extension parts (96a and 96b) provided in a route Rce1 in contact with the conductor member 7, which is inserted into the conductor insertion hole 92, and along a surface of the tubular elastic member 9 from an exposure position Pe1 exposed from the conductor member 7 to a contact position Pc1 with the housing 3 on a cross section in a direction in which the conductor member 7 extends, and provided by recessed spaces (96c and 2731a) for extending a creepage distance.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotating electrical machine drive device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a rotating electrical machine drive device has been known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] Patent Document 1 discloses a vehicle power supply structure for supplying power to drive a load (rotating electrical machine) of a vehicle. This vehicle power supply structure includes a power distribution circuit, a box body that houses the power distribution circuit, a connection bus bar, and a grommet. The power distribution circuit is a circuit for distributing the power supplied to the load of the vehicle. The connection bus bar is a conductor member for connecting the load of the vehicle and the power distribution circuit.

[0004] The grommet of Patent Document 1 is attached to the mounting hole of the box body with the connection bus bar inserted therein. The grommet includes a pair of clamping portions. The pair of clamping portions are members for attaching the grommet to the mounting hole by clamping the vicinity of the edge of the mounting hole of the box body. Each of the pair of clamping portions is an enlarged portion larger than other portions. The clamping portions are provided at each of both ends of the grommet.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0005]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0006] However, in the vehicle power supply structure of Patent Document 1, the creepage distance for insulating the connection bus bar inserted inside the grommet and the box body is ensured by forming the clamping portion of the grommet larger than other portions. The creepage distance indicates the shortest distance along the surface of an insulator such as a grommet disposed between conductors among the distances between conductors such as the connection bus bar and the box body. Here, when the grommet is enlarged to ensure the creepage distance, a larger layout space for arranging the grommet and other components is required to avoid interference between the grommet and other components, resulting in an increase in the size of the device. Thus, in the vehicle power supply structure of Patent Document 1, there is a problem that the device becomes larger due to the enlargement of the grommet (cylindrical elastic member) to ensure the creepage distance.

[0007] The present invention has been made to solve the above problems, and one object of the present invention is to provide a rotary electric machine drive device capable of suppressing an increase in the size of the device while suppressing an increase in the size of the cylindrical elastic member caused by ensuring the creepage distance.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0008] To achieve the above object, a rotary electric machine drive device according to an aspect of the present invention includes a rotary electric machine that generates a driving force, an inverter that supplies power to the rotary electric machine, a housing that houses the rotary electric machine therein and has a through hole formed to penetrate from the rotary electric machine side toward the inverter side, a conductor member for connecting the rotary electric machine and the inverter, and an elastically deformable cylindrical elastic member having a conductor insertion hole into which the conductor member is inserted and attached to the through hole so as to seal between the conductor insertion hole and the conductor member. The cylindrical elastic member is provided along a path on the surface of the cylindrical elastic member from an exposed position where the cylindrical elastic member contacts the conductor member inserted into the conductor insertion hole and is exposed from the conductor member to a contact position with the housing in a cross section in the extending direction of the conductor member, and includes a creepage distance extension portion provided by a concave space for extending the creepage distance.

[0009] In the rotating electrical machine drive device according to one aspect of the present invention, as described above, on the cylindrical elastic member, in the cross-section in the extending direction of the conductor member, it contacts the conductor member inserted into the conductor insertion hole and is provided on the surface of the cylindrical elastic member along the path from the exposed position exposed from the conductor member to the contact position with the housing, and is provided with a creeping distance extension portion provided by a concave space for extending the creeping distance. Thereby, the creeping distance extension portion can extend the creeping distance and secure the creeping distance without greatly forming the portion from the exposed position to the contact position of the cylindrical elastic member. As a result, it is possible to suppress the increase in size of the device while suppressing the increase in size of the cylindrical elastic member due to securing the creeping distance.

[0010] In the rotating electrical machine drive device according to the above aspect, preferably, the creeping distance extension portion of the cylindrical elastic member reduces the end portion of the portion of the conductor member facing the inner peripheral surface of the conductor insertion hole of the cylindrical elastic member in the extending direction of the conductor member more than other portions, or is provided by a concave space provided by a groove at the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member.

[0011] With such a configuration, by reducing the end portion of the portion of the conductor member facing the inner peripheral surface of the conductor insertion hole of the cylindrical elastic member more than other portions, the exposed position of the cylindrical elastic member can be arranged at a deep position of the conductor insertion hole of the cylindrical elastic member. For this reason, on the inner peripheral surface of the conductor insertion hole of the cylindrical elastic member, the creeping distance can be extended by the length from the edge of the conductor insertion hole of the cylindrical elastic member to the exposed position. Also, by providing a groove at the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member, the creeping distance can be extended by the groove depth of the groove. Thus, without greatly forming the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member, the end portion of the conductor member can be reduced more than other portions, or the creeping distance can be extended by the groove at the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member, so that it is possible to suppress the increase in size of the device while suppressing the increase in size of the cylindrical elastic member due to securing the creeping distance.

[0012] In this case, preferably, the cylindrical elastic member further includes an outer protruding portion that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical elastic member toward the inner peripheral surface of the through hole of the housing, and the groove at the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member is formed to be recessed from the surface of the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member toward the outer protruding portion at a position that does not overlap with the outer protruding portion in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the conductor member.

[0013] With such a configuration, a groove having a groove depth up to the position of the outer protruding portion can be formed, so that a groove with a relatively large groove depth can be formed. As a result, by setting the groove depth according to a product that requires a large creepage distance, the same cylindrical elastic member can be applied to other products such as products that require a small creepage distance, so that the cylindrical elastic member can be applied generally. Here, when a groove having a groove depth up to a position where the outer protruding portion overlaps in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the conductor member is formed, the thickness of the cylindrical elastic member at the portion where the outer protruding portion is provided is reduced by the amount of the groove, so that the elastic force of the outer protruding portion is reduced by the amount of the reduction in the thickness of the cylindrical elastic member. However, by not overlapping the groove at the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member with the outer protruding portion in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the conductor member, the elastic force of the outer protruding portion can be prevented from decreasing, so that a decrease in sealing performance due to bringing the outer protruding portion into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole of the housing can be suppressed.

[0014] In a rotating electrical machine drive device in which the creepage distance extension portion of the cylindrical elastic member includes a groove provided at an end portion of the cylindrical elastic member in the extending direction of the conductor member, preferably, the conductor member includes a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape, and the groove at the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member is formed in an annular shape along the circumferential direction around the central axis of the cylindrical portion on at least one of the outer peripheral surface or the end surface of the surface of the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member.

[0015] With such a configuration, by forming a groove in an annular shape in accordance with the cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape, the creepage distance from the exposed position to the contact position from the cylindrical portion in the cylindrical elastic member becomes equal. Therefore, a structure with an equal creepage distance can be easily realized. Further, with the cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape and the cylindrical elastic member having an annular groove, there is no need to perform relative circumferential alignment of the cylindrical elastic member with respect to the cylindrical portion. Thus, the conductor member can be easily assembled to the cylindrical elastic member.

[0016] In addition, in the rotating electrical machine drive device in the above-described one aspect, the following configuration is also conceivable.

[0017] (Additional clause 1) In the rotating electrical machine drive device having the groove formed in an annular shape, the cylindrical elastic member is a rubber member provided with a groove on the end face of the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member.

[0018] Here, the cylindrical elastic member is formed by pouring a liquid rubber obtained by applying pressure to and melting the rubber as a material into a mold. Therefore, by applying a pressure greater than the above pressure to the mold having a convex portion corresponding to the groove and pouring a more fluid liquid rubber, the portion corresponding to the groove can be integrally formed by the mold without performing processing such as cutting. As a result, a cylindrical elastic member having a groove can be easily formed. Further, by providing a groove on the end face of the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member, it is possible to suppress complication in setting a split surface for splitting the mold when removing the cylindrical elastic member from the mold.

[0019] (Additional clause 2) In the rotating electrical machine drive device according to the above-described one aspect, the rotating electrical machine is a three-phase AC motor used in a vehicle, three conductor members are arranged to supply three-phase AC power to the three-phase AC motor, and the cylindrical elastic members are provided for each of the three conductor members.

[0020] With such a configuration, in each of the three conductor members, a cylindrical elastic member with its size increase suppressed is attached, so that the size increase of the device can be further suppressed.

[0021] (Appended Claim 3) In a rotating electrical machine drive device in which the creepage distance extension portion of the cylindrical elastic member includes a groove provided at an end portion of the cylindrical elastic member in the direction in which the conductor member extends, preferably, the cylindrical elastic member is provided at one end portion of the cylindrical elastic member in the direction in which the conductor member extends, and further includes a retaining portion that engages with the edge of the through hole, and the groove is provided at the other end portion of the cylindrical elastic member.

[0022] With such a configuration, the creepage distance at one end portion of the cylindrical elastic member can be ensured by a retaining portion larger than the through hole, so that an increase in the modified portion of the structure of the cylindrical elastic member can be suppressed as compared with the case where grooves are provided at each of the one side and the other side end portions of the cylindrical elastic member. As a result, when the cylindrical elastic member is molded by a molding die, an increase in the modified portion of the molding die can be suppressed, so that a cylindrical elastic member having a groove formed therein to ensure the creepage distance can be relatively easily realized.

Advantages of the Invention

[0023] According to the present invention, as described above, while suppressing an increase in the size of the cylindrical elastic member caused by ensuring the creepage distance, an increase in the size of the device can be suppressed.

Brief Description of the Drawings

[0024]

Figure 1

Figure 2

Figure 3

Figure 4

Figure 5

Figure 6

Figure 7

Figure 8

Embodiments for Carrying Out the Invention

[0025] Hereinafter, embodiments embodying the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0026] With reference to FIGS. 1 to 6, the configuration of the motor drive device 100 according to the embodiment will be described. Note that the motor drive device 100 is an example of the "rotating electrical machine drive device" in the claims.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 1, the motor drive device 100 is assumed to be used as a drive motor unit mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle. The motor drive device 100 includes a motor 1, an inverter 2, a housing 3, motor wiring 4, an inverter conductor member 5, a fastening member 6, a columnar conductor member 7, a covering member 8, and a cylindrical elastic member 9. Note that the motor 1 is an example of the "rotating electrical machine" in the claims. Also, the columnar conductor member 7 is an example of the "conductor member" in the claims.

[0028] The motor 1 is a three-phase alternating current motor used in a vehicle. The motor 1 is configured to generate a driving force for moving the drive wheels. The inverter 2 is configured to supply electric power to the motor 1. That is, the inverter 2 is configured to convert the direct current power supplied from a lithium-ion battery (not shown) into alternating current power. As a result, alternating current power of the U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase is supplied to the motor 1.

[0029] The housing 3 is a metal housing that houses the motor 1, the inverter 2, and the like. The housing 3 includes a motor chamber 31, an inverter chamber 32, a partition wall 33, and a through hole 34.

[0030] Here, the direction in which the motor chamber 31 and the inverter chamber 32 are arranged side by side is defined as the Z direction, the side of the inverter chamber 32 in the Z direction is defined as the Z1 direction, and the side of the motor chamber 31 in the Z direction is defined as the Z2 direction. As an example, the Z direction is the vertical direction, the Z1 direction is the upward direction, and the Z2 direction is the downward direction. Further, the Z direction is an example of the "direction in which the conductor member extends" in the claims.

[0031] The motor chamber 31 is a space provided inside the housing 3. The motor 1 is housed inside the motor chamber 31. Inside the motor chamber 31, oil Fr for cooling the heat generating part of the housed motor 1 is stored. The oil Fr is a low-viscosity oil such as automatic fluid.

[0032] The inverter chamber 32 is a space provided inside the housing 3. The inverter chamber 32 is adjacent to the motor chamber 31 in the Z direction. The inverter 2 is housed inside the inverter chamber 32. Oil Fr is not stored inside the inverter chamber 32. The partition wall 33 is a wall that separates the motor chamber 31 and the inverter chamber 32. The partition wall 33 extends along a direction orthogonal to the Z direction.

[0033] The through hole 34 penetrates from the motor 1 side toward the inverter 2 side outside the motor chamber 31. That is, the through hole 34 is formed by penetrating the partition wall 33 along the Z direction. A cylindrical elastic member 9 that tightly holds the columnar conductor member 7 inside is attached to the through hole 34. A plurality (three) of the through holes 34 are formed in the partition wall 33 (housing 3) corresponding to each of the plurality of cylindrical elastic members 9.

[0034] The motor wiring 4 is an insulated electric wire in which a large number of metal wires (such as copper wires) are coated with an insulator for connecting the motor 1 and the inverter 2. The motor wiring 4 connects the motor 1 and the columnar conductor member 7 inside the motor chamber 31. Since the motor wiring 4 supplies three-phase alternating current power of U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase to the motor 1, a plurality (three) of the motor wirings 4 are provided according to the three-phase alternating current power of U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase.

[0035] (Conductor member for inverter) As shown in FIG. 1, the conductor member 5 for the inverter connects the columnar conductor member 7 and the conductor member 5 for the inverter inside the inverter chamber 32. Since the conductor member 5 for the inverter supplies three-phase alternating current power of U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase to the motor 1, a plurality (three) of the conductor members 5 for the inverter are provided according to the three-phase alternating current power of U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase. Since each of the plurality of conductor members 5 for the inverter has a similar shape, one of the plurality of conductor members 5 for the inverter will be described.

[0036] Specifically, as shown in FIG. 2, the conductor member 5 for the inverter includes a conductor main body portion 51 and a ring-shaped member 52. The conductor main body portion 51 is a bus bar extending from the inverter 2 toward the columnar conductor member 7. The ring-shaped member 52 is attached to the surface on the Z2 direction side (motor chamber 31 side) at the end portion of the conductor main body portion 51 on the columnar conductor member 7 side. The ring-shaped member 52 is formed of a metal such as copper. A tip portion insertion hole 52a into which the tip portion 72a of the columnar conductor member 7 on the inverter 2 side (the tip side portion of the inverter connection portion 72 described later) is inserted is formed on the center side in the direction orthogonal to the Z direction of the ring-shaped member 52.

[0037] [Fastening member] The fastening member 6 is a member for connecting the columnar conductor member 7 and the inverter 2 (see FIG. 1). The fastening member 6 is a bolt or the like that screws into the female screw portion 74 formed in the columnar conductor member 7. Thereby, since the conductor main body portion 51 is sandwiched between the head portion of the fastening member 6 and the tip portion 72a of the columnar conductor member 7, the conductor member 5 for the inverter and the columnar conductor member 7 are electrically connected to each other.

[0038] [Columnar conductor member] As shown in FIG. 2, the columnar conductor member 7 is a solid columnar conductor that connects the motor 1 and the inverter 2. The columnar conductor member 7 is formed of a metal such as copper as a conductor. Since the columnar conductor member 7 supplies three-phase AC power of U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase to the motor 1, a plurality (three) of columnar conductor members 7 are provided in accordance with the three-phase AC power of U-phase, V-phase, and W-phase. Since each of the plurality of columnar conductor members 7 has the same shape, one of the plurality of columnar conductor members 7 will be described.

[0039] Specifically, the columnar conductor member 7 includes a cylindrical shape portion 71, an inverter connection portion 72, a wiring connection portion 73, and a female screw portion 74. The columnar conductor member 7 is a member that integrally constitutes the cylindrical shape portion 71, the inverter connection portion 72, and the wiring connection portion 73.

[0040] The cylindrical shape portion 71 is a portion that is in close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the conductor insertion hole 92 of the cylindrical elastic member 9 in a state where the columnar conductor member 7 is disposed in the cylindrical elastic member 9. The cylindrical shape portion 71 is formed in a cylindrical shape so as to match the shape of the conductor insertion hole 92 when viewed from the Z1 direction side.

[0041] The inverter connection portion 72 is a portion that is electrically connected to the inverter conductor member 5 with the columnar conductor member 7 disposed within the cylindrical elastic member 9. The inverter connection portion 72 is the portion on the Z1-direction side of the cylindrical shape portion 71. The tip portion 72a is the tip portion on the Z1-direction side of the inverter connection portion 72. The tip portion 72a is in contact with the ring-shaped member 52 from the Z2-direction side with the columnar conductor member 7 disposed within the cylindrical elastic member 9. Thereby, the inverter connection portion 72 and the inverter conductor member 5 are electrically connected.

[0042] The wiring connection portion 73 connects the other end portion on the columnar conductor member 7 side of the motor wiring 4. The wiring connection portion 73 has a thin flat plate shape. The wiring connection portion 73 has a fusion solidification portion 73a that is joined by being fusion solidified with the other end portion on the columnar conductor member 7 side of the motor wiring 4. Thereby, since the wiring connection portion 73 and the motor wiring 4 are joined, the wiring connection portion 73 and the motor wiring 4 are electrically connected.

[0043] The male screw portion 74 is a portion where the male screw portion of the fastening member 6 inserted from the male screw insertion hole 51a of the conductor main body portion 51 is fastened.

[0044] (Coating member) The coating member 8 is constituted by a resin-made heat-shrinkable tube that coats the fusion solidification portion 73a. Specifically, the coating member 8 covers the wiring connection portion 73 and the other end portion on the columnar conductor member 7 side of the motor wiring 4 from the outside in a direction orthogonal to the Z direction.

[0045] (Cylindrical elastic member) As shown in FIG. 2, the cylindrical elastic member 9 is provided so as to ensure oil tightness and insulation between the columnar conductor member 7 and the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 34. The cylindrical elastic member 9 is provided for each of the plurality (three) of columnar conductor members 7. Since each of the plurality of cylindrical elastic members 9 has the same shape, one of the plurality of cylindrical elastic members 9 will be described.

[0046] That is, the cylindrical elastic member 9 is an elastically deformable member attached to the through hole 34 so as to seal between the through hole 34 and the columnar conductor member 7 and between the conductor insertion hole 92 (to be described later) and the columnar conductor member 7. The cylindrical elastic member 9 is a grommet. Since the cylindrical elastic member 9 is used in a location where it becomes relatively hot, it has heat resistance. The cylindrical elastic member 9 has oil resistance in order to ensure oil tightness with respect to the oil Fr in the motor chamber 31. The cylindrical elastic member 9 is formed of a rubber material such as acrylic rubber, fluororubber, nitrile rubber, or silicone rubber.

[0047] The cylindrical elastic member 9 includes a main body portion 91, a conductor insertion hole 92, an inner protruding portion 93, an outer protruding portion 94, a retaining portion 95, and a groove 96.

[0048] The main body portion 91 is a cylindrical portion extending along the Z direction. The main body portion 91 has a protruding portion 91a that protrudes toward the columnar conductor member 7 in a direction orthogonal to the Z direction. The protruding portion 91a is a portion for positioning the columnar conductor member 7 in the Z direction. The conductor insertion hole 92 is a hole into which the columnar conductor member 7 is inserted. The conductor insertion hole 92 penetrates the main body portion 91 in the Z direction. The conductor insertion hole 92 has a diameter slightly smaller than the diameter of the columnar conductor member 7 in a direction orthogonal to the Z direction. The conductor insertion hole 92 has a circular shape conforming to a columnar shape portion 71 (to be described later) when viewed from the Z1 direction side (see FIG. 3). The conductor insertion hole 92 is disposed at the central portion of the main body portion 91 when viewed from the Z2 direction side.

[0049] The inner protruding portion 93 and the outer protruding portion 94 are configured to be in close contact with the columnar conductor member 7 and the inner peripheral surface of the conductor insertion hole 92, respectively, by using the elastic force generated by being sandwiched and compressed between the columnar conductor member 7 and the partition wall 33 of the housing 3.

[0050] The inner protruding portion 93 is integrally provided on the inner peripheral surface of the conductor insertion hole 92. The inner protruding portion 93 is a circumferential portion that protrudes inward from the inner peripheral surface of the conductor insertion hole 92 toward the columnar conductor member 7 in a direction orthogonal to the Z direction. A plurality (three) of the inner protruding portions 93 are arranged side by side in the Z direction. Note that one, two, or four or more of the inner protruding portions 93 may be arranged.

[0051] The outer protruding portion 94 is provided at a portion of the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 91 that faces the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 34. The outer protruding portion 94 is a circumferential portion that protrudes outward from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 91 toward the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 34 in a direction orthogonal to the Z direction (see FIG. 3). A plurality (three) of the outer protruding portions 94 are arranged side by side in the Z direction. Note that one, two, or four or more of the outer protruding portions 94 may be arranged.

[0052] The retaining portion 95 is provided at a portion on the inverter chamber 32 side in the Z direction to prevent the cylindrical elastic member 9 from coming out of the through hole 34. The retaining portion 95 is engaged with the edge of the through hole 34 on the inverter chamber 32 side. The retaining portion 95 is integrally provided with the main body portion 91. The retaining portion 95 is an enlarged portion that is larger than the main body portion 91 in a direction orthogonal to the Z direction. The retaining portion 95 is a circumferential portion that protrudes from the outer peripheral surface of the main body portion 91 in a direction orthogonal to the Z direction (see FIG. 3).

[0053] (Groove) As shown in FIG. 4, the groove 96 is provided at the end portion 91b on the Z2-direction side of the cylindrical elastic member 9. The end portion 91b includes the end of the cylindrical elastic member 9 and the portion near the end of the cylindrical elastic member 9. The groove 96 in the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 is formed in an annular shape on the end face 911b of the surface of the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 along the R direction (circumferential direction) around the central axis C of the cylindrical portion 71 (see FIG. 5). The groove 96 in the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 is provided so as to surround the cylindrical portion 71 in the Do direction (the outer direction among the radial directions) orthogonal to the central axis C (see FIG. 5). In FIG. 5, for the sake of convenience of explanation, the cylindrical portion 71 is shown by a two-dot chain line slightly smaller than the conductor insertion hole 92.

[0054] As shown in FIG. 4, the groove 96 in the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 is recessed from the end face 911b of the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 in the Z1 direction (toward the outer protruding portion 94) at a position that does not overlap with the outer protruding portion 94 in the Do direction. Specifically, the groove 96 is recessed in the Z1 direction to a position between the surface 33a on the Z2-direction side of the partition wall 33 and the end face 911b, which is on the Z2-direction side of the outer protruding portion 94. The groove 96 in the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 is also provided at a position that does not overlap with the partition wall 33 in the Do direction.

[0055] As described above, the cylindrical elastic member 9 is a rubber member having a groove 96 provided on the end face 911b of the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9.

[0056] 〈First creepage distance〉 As shown in FIG. 4, the cylindrical elastic member 9 is provided so as to ensure a first creepage distance between the columnar conductor member 7 and the housing 3. That is, in the cylindrical elastic member 9 of the present embodiment, in a cross section along the Z direction, the groove 96 provided on the path Rce1 along the surface of the cylindrical elastic member 9 from the exposure position Pe1 to the contact position Pc1 ensures the first creepage distance. In FIG. 4, for the sake of convenience of explanation, each of the exposure position Pe1 and the contact position Pc1 is shown at a position separated from the surface of the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9.

[0057] The first creepage distance is the distance for insulating the columnar conductor member 7 and the housing 3. That is, the first creepage distance indicates the shortest distance along the surface of the insulator, which is the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 disposed between the conductors, among the distances between the conductors of the columnar conductor member 7 and the housing 3. Here, the first creepage distance is the length of the path Rce1. The exposed position Pe1 is the position of the cylindrical elastic member 9 that contacts the columnar conductor member 7 inserted into the conductor insertion hole 92 and is exposed from the columnar conductor member 7. The contact position Pc1 is the position where the cylindrical elastic member 9 contacts the housing 3 (the surface 33a on the Z2-direction side of the partition wall 33).

[0058] In the path Rce1, a top portion 96a and a bottom portion 96b are provided at the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 by the groove 96. Thereby, the first creepage distance of the cylindrical elastic member 9 is larger than the distance of the path Rc1, which is the creepage distance of the cylindrical elastic member in the case where no groove is provided, by the groove depth De from the top portion 96a to the bottom portion 96b. Thus, since the path Rce1 is extended with respect to the path Rc1 by the top portion 96a and the bottom portion 96b, the creepage distance is extended. Due to the top portion 96a and the bottom portion 96b, in the cylindrical elastic member 9, the creepage distance is extended without providing an enlarged portion formed larger than other portions. Note that the top portion 96a and the bottom portion 96b are an example of the "creepage distance extension portion" in the claims.

[0059] Such a top portion 96a and a bottom portion 96b are provided in the path Rce1 along the surface of the cylindrical elastic member 9 from the exposed position Pe1 to the contact position Pc1. The top portion 96a and the bottom portion 96b are provided by providing the groove 96 in the end portion 91b on the Z2-direction side of the cylindrical elastic member 9. The top portion 96a and the bottom portion 96b are provided by the concave space 96c inside the groove 96. The concave space 96c is provided to extend the creepage distance.

[0060] Such a path Rce1 has a path extending along the Do direction from the exposure position Pe1. The path Rce1 has an extension path Re1 extending from the top 96a inside the groove 96 to the bottom 96b of the valley. The path Rce1 has an extension path Re2 extending from the inner end of the bottom 96b of the valley to the outer end of the bottom 96b of the valley. The path Rce1 has an extension path Re3 extending from the outer end of the bottom 96b of the valley to the outer top 96a of the groove 96. The path Rce1 has a path extending from the outer top 96a of the groove 96 to the contact position Pc1. The distance of the path Rce1 is greater than the distance of the path Rc1 by the distance of the extension path Re1 (groove depth De) and the distance of the extension path Re3 (groove depth De).

[0061] 〈Second creepage distance〉 As shown in FIG. 6, the cylindrical elastic member 9 is provided to secure a second creepage distance between the columnar conductor member 7 and the housing 3. That is, in the cylindrical elastic member 9, in a cross section along the Z direction, the second creepage distance is secured by a path Rce2 along the surface of the retaining portion 95 of the cylindrical elastic member 9 from the exposure position Pe2 to the contact position Pc2. In FIG. 6, for convenience of explanation, each of the exposure position Pe2 and the contact position Pc2 is described at a position away from the surface of the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9.

[0062] The second creepage distance is a distance for insulating the columnar conductor member 7 and the housing 3. That is, the second creepage distance indicates the shortest distance along the surface of the insulator, which is the retaining portion 95 of the cylindrical elastic member 9 disposed between the conductors, among the distances between the conductors of the columnar conductor member 7 and the housing 3. Here, the second creepage distance is the length of the path Rce2. The exposure position Pe2 is the position of the cylindrical elastic member 9 that contacts the columnar conductor member 7 inserted into the conductor insertion hole 92 and is exposed from the columnar conductor member 7. The contact position Pc2 is the position where the cylindrical elastic member 9 contacts the housing 3 (the surface 33b on the Z2 direction side of the partition wall 33).

[0063] The second creepage distance of the cylindrical elastic member 9 is the distance obtained by combining the height H of the retaining portion 95 and the thickness Th of the retaining portion 95. The path Rce2 with such a second creepage distance has a path extending along the Do direction from the exposed position Pe1. The path Rce2 has a path extending from the outer edge on the Do direction side of the retaining portion 95 to the contact position Pc2.

[0064] (Effects of this Embodiment) In this embodiment, the following effects can be obtained.

[0065] In this embodiment, as described above, in the cross-section in the Z direction, the cylindrical elastic member 9 contacts the columnar conductor member 7 inserted into the conductor insertion hole 92 and is provided on the path Rce1 along the surface of the cylindrical elastic member 9 from the exposed position Pe1 exposed from the columnar conductor member 7 to the contact position Pc1 with the housing 3. The concave space 96c for extending the creepage distance is provided with a top portion 96a and a bottom portion 96b (creepage distance extension portion). Thereby, the creepage distance can be extended and the creepage distance can be ensured without significantly forming the portion from the exposed position Pe1 to the contact position Pc1 of the cylindrical elastic member 9 by the top portion 96a and the bottom portion 96b (creepage distance extension portion). As a result, while suppressing the increase in size of the cylindrical elastic member 9 due to ensuring the creepage distance, the increase in size of the device can be suppressed.

[0066] Also, in this embodiment, as described above, the top portion 96a and the bottom portion 96b (creepage distance extension portion) of the cylindrical elastic member 9 are provided by the concave space 96c provided by the groove 96 in the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 in the Z direction. Thereby, by providing the groove 96 in the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9, the creepage distance can be extended by the groove depth De of the groove 96. As a result, without significantly forming the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9, the creepage distance can be extended by the groove 96 in the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9. Therefore, while suppressing the increase in size of the cylindrical elastic member 9 due to ensuring the creepage distance, the increase in size of the device can be suppressed.

[0067] Also, in the present embodiment, as described above, the cylindrical elastic member 9 includes an outer protruding portion 94 that protrudes toward the Do direction side (radially outward) from the outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical elastic member 9 toward the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 34 of the housing 3. The groove 96 in the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 is formed to be recessed from the surface of the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 toward the outer protruding portion 94 at a position that does not overlap with the outer protruding portion 94 in a direction orthogonal to the Z direction. Thereby, since the groove 96 having the groove depth De up to the position of the outer protruding portion 94 can be formed, the groove 96 having a relatively large groove depth De can be formed. As a result, by setting the groove depth De according to a product that requires a large creepage distance, the same cylindrical elastic member 9 can be applied to other products such as products that require a small creepage distance, so that the cylindrical elastic member 9 can be applied generally. Here, when a groove having a groove depth up to a position where the outer protruding portion overlaps in a direction orthogonal to the Z direction is formed, the thickness of the cylindrical elastic member in the portion where the outer protruding portion is provided is reduced by the amount of the groove, so that the elastic force of the outer protruding portion is reduced by the amount of the reduction in the thickness of the cylindrical elastic member. However, by not overlapping the groove 96 in the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 and the outer protruding portion 94 in a direction orthogonal to the Z direction, the elastic force of the outer protruding portion 94 can be prevented from decreasing, so that a decrease in sealing performance due to bringing the outer protruding portion 94 into close contact with the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 34 of the housing 3 can be suppressed.

[0068] Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the columnar conductor member 7 includes a columnar portion 71 formed in a cylindrical shape. The groove 96 in the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 is formed in an annular shape on the end face 911b of the surface of the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 along the R direction (circumferential direction) around the central axis C of the columnar portion 71. Thus, by forming the groove 96 in an annular shape in accordance with the columnar portion 71 formed in a cylindrical shape, the creepage distance from the exposed position Pe1 to the contact position Pc1 from the columnar portion 71 in the cylindrical elastic member 9 becomes equal, so that a structure with an equal creepage distance can be easily realized. Further, with the columnar portion 71 formed in a cylindrical shape and the cylindrical elastic member 9 having the annular groove 96, there is no need to perform relative alignment in the R direction (circumferential direction) of the cylindrical elastic member 9 with respect to the columnar portion 71, so that the columnar conductor member 7 can be easily assembled to the cylindrical elastic member 9.

[0069] Further, in the present embodiment, as described above, the cylindrical elastic member 9 is a rubber member having a groove 96 provided in the end face 911b of the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9. Here, the cylindrical elastic member 9 is formed by pouring liquid rubber obtained by applying pressure to and melting the rubber as a material into a mold. Therefore, by applying a pressure greater than the above pressure to the mold having a convex portion corresponding to the groove 96 and pouring the liquid rubber having higher fluidity, the portion corresponding to the groove 96 can be formed by the mold without performing processing such as cutting. As a result, the cylindrical elastic member 9 having the groove 96 can be easily molded. Further, by providing the groove 96 in the end face 911b of the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9, it is possible to suppress the complication of setting the split surface for splitting the mold when removing the cylindrical elastic member 9 from the mold, so that the cylindrical elastic member 9 can be easily removed from the mold.

[0070] [Modification Example] The above-described embodiments disclosed this time should be considered as illustrative in all respects and not restrictive. The scope of the present invention is shown not by the description of the above embodiments but by the claims, and further includes all changes (modification examples) within the meaning and scope equivalent to the claims.

[0071] For example, in the above embodiment, the motor drive device 100 (rotating electric machine drive device) is shown as an example of a drive motor unit mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle, but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, the rotating electric machine drive device may be a transfer motor unit mounted on a vehicle such as an electric vehicle. Further, the rotating electric machine drive device may be used for a generator or the like.

[0072] Also, in the above embodiment, an example is shown in which the path Rce1 is extended with respect to the path Rc1 by the top portion 96a and the bottom portion 96b (creepage distance extension portion), but the present invention is not limited thereto. In the present invention, as in the first modification shown in FIG. 7, the path Rce201 may be extended with respect to the path Rc201 by the top portion 2911b and the bottom portion 2912b (creepage distance extension portion) at the end portion 291b of the cylindrical elastic member 9. The creepage distance of the cylindrical elastic member 9 is larger than the distance of the path Rc201, which is the creepage distance of the cylindrical elastic member when no groove is provided, by the groove depth from the top portion 2911b to the bottom portion 2912b. That is, the path Rce201 has an extension path Re201 extending from the exposed position Pe1, which is the depth position of the bottom portion 2912b of the end portion 291b of the cylindrical elastic member 9, to the top portion 2911b. The distance of the path Rce201 is larger than the distance of the path Rc201 by the amount of the extension path Re201. In FIG. 7, for convenience of explanation, each of the exposed position Pe1 and the contact position Pc1 is shown at a position separated from the surface of the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9.

[0073] Such a top portion 2911b and a bottom valley portion 2912b are provided by a concave space 2731a formed by reducing an end portion 291b of a portion of the columnar conductor member 207 that faces the inner peripheral surface of the conductor insertion hole 92 of the cylindrical elastic member 9, compared to other portions. Specifically, a reduced portion 273a that is reduced compared to other portions is provided at an end portion of the columnar conductor member 207 on the Z2 direction side. That is, in the above-described embodiment, the end surface of the cylindrical portion 71 on the Z2 direction side and the end surface of the cylindrical elastic member 9 on the Z2 direction side are arranged on the same plane, but in the first modification example shown in FIG. 7, the end surface of the cylindrical portion 71 on the Z2 direction side is arranged on the Z1 direction side rather than the end surface of the cylindrical elastic member 9 on the Z2 direction side. As a result, a wiring connection portion 73 as the reduced portion 273a is formed on the columnar conductor member 207. Due to this top portion 2911b and bottom valley portion 2912b, in the cylindrical elastic member 9, the creepage distance is extended without providing an enlarged portion formed larger than other portions. The top portion 2911b and the bottom valley portion 2912b are provided by a concave space 2731a between the reduced portion 273a and the end portion 291b of the cylindrical elastic member 9. The concave space 2731a is formed by the end surface of the cylindrical portion 71 on the Z2 direction side, the side surface of the reduced portion 273a, and the inner peripheral surface of the conductor insertion hole 92 of the cylindrical elastic member 9. The concave space 2731a is provided to extend the creepage distance.

[0074] Further, by reducing an end portion 91b of a portion of the columnar conductor member 7 that faces the inner peripheral surface of the conductor insertion hole 92 of the cylindrical elastic member 9, compared to other portions, the exposed position Pe1 of the cylindrical elastic member 9 can be arranged at a deep position of the conductor insertion hole 92 of the cylindrical elastic member 9. For this reason, in the conductor insertion hole 92 of the cylindrical elastic member 9, the creepage distance can be extended by the length from the edge of the conductor insertion hole 92 of the cylindrical elastic member 9 to the exposed position Pe1. As a result, without forming the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 large, by reducing the end portion 91b of the columnar conductor member 7 compared to other portions, the creepage distance can be extended, so that an increase in the size of the cylindrical elastic member 9 due to securing the creepage distance can be suppressed while suppressing an increase in the size of the device.

[0075] In the above embodiment, the groove 96 in the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 is shown as being formed in an annular shape on the end face 911b of the surface of the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 along the R direction (circumferential direction) around the central axis C of the cylindrical portion 71. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, as in the second modification shown in FIG. 8, the groove 396 in the end portion 391b of the cylindrical elastic member 309 may be formed in an annular shape on the outer peripheral surface 391c of the surface of the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 along the R direction (circumferential direction) around the central axis C of the cylindrical portion 71. Also, one or three or more grooves 396 may be formed on the outer peripheral surface 391c. Further, the groove may be formed on both the end face and the side face of the surface of the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member.

[0076] In the above embodiment, the groove 96 in the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9 is shown as being formed singly on the end face 911b of the surface of the end portion 91b of the cylindrical elastic member 9. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, a plurality of grooves may be formed on the end face of the surface of the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member. Also, the groove may be formed singly or plurally not only in the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member but also in the retaining portion.

[0077] In the above embodiment, the columnar conductor member 7 is shown as including a cylindrical portion 71, an inverter connection portion 72, a wiring connection portion 73, and a female screw portion 74. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the columnar conductor member may have a shape including a cylindrical portion, a male screw portion instead of a female screw portion, a rotation prevention portion, and a wiring connection portion.

[0078] In the above embodiment, an example is shown in which oil Fr for cooling the heat generating portion of the housed motor 1 is stored inside the motor chamber 31. However, the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, water may be stored inside the motor chamber.

[0079] In addition, in the above-described embodiment, the columnar conductor member 7 is shown as being made of copper, but the present invention is not limited to this. In the present invention, the columnar conductor member may be a solid columnar member formed of a metal such as iron other than copper, or a conductor of another material.

Explanation of Signs

[0080] 1 Motor (rotating electrical machine), 2 Inverter, 3 Housing, 7, 207 Columnar conductor member (conductor member), 9, 309 Cylindrical elastic member, 34 Through hole, 71 Cylindrical shape portion, 91b, 291b, 391b End portion, 92 Conductor insertion hole, 94 Outer protruding portion, 96, 396 Groove, 96a, 2911b Top portion (creepage extension portion), 96b, 2912b Valley bottom portion (creepage extension portion), 96c Concave space, 100, 200 Motor drive device (rotating electrical machine device), 391c Outer peripheral surface, 911b End face, 2731a Concave space, C Central axis, Pc1 Contact position, Pe1 Exposure position, Rce1, Rce201 Path

Claims

1. A rotating electric machine that generates driving force, an inverter that supplies power to the rotating electric machine, a housing that houses the rotating electric machine therein and has a through-hole formed therethrough from the rotating electric machine side toward the inverter side, a conductor member for connecting the rotating electric machine and the inverter, and an elastically deformable cylindrical elastic member that has a conductor insertion hole into which the conductor member is inserted and is attached to the through-hole so as to seal between the conductor insertion hole and the conductor member. The cylindrical elastic member is provided along a path along the surface of the cylindrical elastic member from an exposed position where the cylindrical elastic member contacts the conductor member inserted into the conductor insertion hole and is exposed from the conductor member to a contact position with the housing in a cross-section in the extending direction of the conductor member, and includes a creepage distance extension portion provided by a concave space for extending the creepage distance, a rotating electric machine drive device.

2. The creepage distance extension portion of the cylindrical elastic member is provided by the concave space provided by reducing an end portion of a portion of the conductor member that faces the inner peripheral surface of the conductor insertion hole of the cylindrical elastic member more than other portions in the extending direction of the conductor member, or by providing a groove in an end portion of the cylindrical elastic member, the rotating electric machine drive device according to claim 1.

3. The cylindrical elastic member further includes an outer protruding portion that protrudes outward from an outer peripheral surface of the cylindrical elastic member toward an inner peripheral surface of the through-hole of the housing, the groove in the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member is formed to be recessed from a surface of the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member toward the outer protruding portion at a position that does not overlap with the outer protruding portion in a direction orthogonal to the extending direction of the conductor member, the rotating electric machine drive device according to claim 2.

4. The conductor member includes a cylindrical portion formed in a cylindrical shape, the groove in the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member is formed in an annular shape along a circumferential direction around a central axis of the cylindrical portion on at least one of an outer peripheral surface or an end surface of the surface of the end portion of the cylindrical elastic member, the rotating electric machine drive device according to claim 2.

Images