Support structure for drive unit

Abstract

To provide a drive unit support structure that can protect the wire harness from impact during a rear-end collision. [Solution] In the support structure of the drive unit 5, there is a wire harness 31 connected to the connector 30 of the drive unit 5. The wire harness 31 has a front harness portion 31A that extends from in front of the drive unit 5 toward the drive unit 5, and a curved portion 31B that curves toward the drive unit 5 toward the drive unit 5 toward the drive unit 5 toward the rear end portion 31a of the front harness portion 31A and extends in the vehicle width direction, with a connector 32 provided at the rear end connected to the connector 30. The curved portion 31B is positioned behind the connector 30. The mount bracket 17 is positioned such that its rear end portion 17a is located behind the connector 30, and the curved portion 31B is positioned above the mount bracket 17 and in front of the rear end portion 17a of the mount bracket 17.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a support structure for a drive device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a vehicle body structure in which a drive device that transmits the rotational power output from a motor to the rear wheels is arranged at the rear of the vehicle is known (see Patent Document 1).

[0003] In this vehicle body structure, a battery is arranged in front of the drive device, and the battery and the drive device are connected by a high-voltage cable.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the conventional vehicle body structure, when an impact is applied to the drive device from the rear during a rear-end collision of the vehicle, there is no structure for protecting the high-voltage cable from the impact load, so there is a risk that the high-voltage cable cannot be protected from the impact.

[0006] The present invention has been made paying attention to the above circumstances, and an object thereof is to provide a support structure for a drive device that can protect a wire harness from an impact during a rear-end collision of a vehicle.

Means for Solving the Problems

[0007] The present invention relates to a drive unit support structure for a drive unit comprising a rotating electric machine and a power control device for controlling the power supplied to the rotating electric machine, the drive unit being located below the floor panel of a vehicle, a wire harness connected to a connection portion of the drive unit, a side member extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a mount bracket extending in the vehicle width direction and connecting the side member and the drive unit, wherein the wire harness has a front harness portion extending from in front of the drive unit toward the drive unit, and a curved portion extending in the vehicle width direction from the rear end of the front harness portion toward the drive unit, with the rear end being connected to the connection portion, the curved portion being located behind the connection portion, and the mount bracket being located such that the rear end of the mount bracket is located behind the connection portion, and the curved portion being located above the mount bracket and in front of the rear end of the mount bracket. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] As described above, the present invention makes it possible to protect the wire harness from impact during a rear-end collision. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0009] [Figure 1] Figure 1 is a diagram showing the support structure of a drive device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a bottom view of the rear of a vehicle. [Figure 2] Figure 2 is a diagram showing the support structure of a drive device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a left side view of the drive device. [Figure 3] Figure 3 is a diagram showing the support structure of a drive device according to one embodiment of the present invention, and is a top view of the drive device and the mounting bracket. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0010] A drive unit support structure according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a drive unit located below the floor panel of a vehicle, a rotating electric machine, a power control device for controlling the power supplied to the rotating electric machine, a wire harness connected to a connection part of the drive unit, a side member extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle, and a mount bracket extending in the vehicle width direction and connecting the side member and the drive unit. The wire harness has a front harness portion extending from in front of the drive unit toward the drive unit, and a curved portion extending from the rear end of the front harness portion toward the drive unit toward the vehicle width direction, with the rear end being connected to the connection part. The drive unit support structure is such that the curved portion is located behind the connection part. The mount bracket is positioned such that the rear end of the mount bracket is located behind the connection part, and the curved portion is located above the mount bracket and in front of the rear end of the mount bracket.

[0011] As a result, the drive unit support structure according to one embodiment of the present invention can protect the wire harness from impact during a rear-end collision of a vehicle. [Examples]

[0012] The following describes a support structure for a drive device according to one embodiment of the present invention, with reference to the drawings. Figures 1 to 3 show the support structure of a drive device according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0013] First, let me explain the structure. In Figures 1 to 3, the vertical, horizontal, and vertical directions are based on the drive unit as it is positioned on the vehicle. The horizontal direction of the vehicle is defined as the horizontal direction, the horizontal direction (vehicle width direction) as the horizontal direction, and the vertical direction (height direction) as the vertical direction.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the vehicle 1 comprises a left side member 2L, a right side member 2R, a cross member 3, and a sub-side member 4. In this embodiment, the left side member 2L constitutes a side member.

[0015] The left side member 2L and the right side member 2R are arranged at a distance in the vehicle width direction and extend in the front-rear direction. The vehicle width direction is the left-right direction.

[0016] The cross member 3 extends in the vehicle width direction, and its left and right ends are connected to the left side member 2L and the right side member 2R. The sub side member 4 has its front end connected to the cross member 3 and its rear end connected to a rear cross member not shown in the figure.

[0017] A drive device 5 is arranged in the space surrounded by the left side member 2L, the sub side member 4, and the cross member 3.

[0018] Specifically, the drive device 5 is arranged between the left side member 2L and the sub side member 4 in the vehicle width direction and behind the cross member 3 in the front-rear direction. That is, the cross member 3 is arranged in front of the drive device 5.

[0019] The drive device 5 includes a motor generator (not shown) as a rotary electric machine, an inverter 6 (see FIG. 2) as a power control device provided above the motor generator for controlling the power supplied to the motor generator, a speed reducer (not shown) for reducing the driving force (rotational speed) of the motor generator, and a differential device (not shown) for transmitting the power of the speed reducer to left and right rear wheels (not shown) via a left drive shaft 7L and a right drive shaft 7R.

[0020] The motor generator, the inverter 6, the speed reducer, and the differential device are housed in a drive case 8. The drive case 8 of this embodiment constitutes the case. [[ID=2I]]

[0021] The motor generator has a function as an electric motor driven by the power supplied from a high voltage battery (not shown) via the inverter 6, and a function as a generator that generates electricity by the reverse driving force input from the differential device.

[0022] The inverter 6 converts DC power supplied from the high-voltage battery into three-phase AC power and supplies it to the motor generator, and converts the three-phase AC power generated by the motor generator into DC power to charge the high-voltage battery. The high-voltage battery is composed of a secondary battery such as a lithium-ion battery.

[0023] As shown in Figure 2, the inverter 6 is positioned at the top of the drive case 8 so as to be above the motor generator, reduction gear, and differential, and extends from the upper front end 8a to the upper rear end 8b in the upper space of the drive case 8.

[0024] As shown in Figure 2, the drive unit 5 is located below the floor panel 9 and at the rear of the vehicle 1. At the front of the vehicle 1 are a drive source (not shown), the left and right drive shafts to which the power from the drive source is transmitted, and the left and right front wheels.

[0025] In this embodiment, vehicle 1 can be driven in two-wheel drive mode when only the front drive source is driven, and in four-wheel drive mode when both the drive source and the drive unit 5 are driven. The front drive source is not particularly limited.

[0026] The drive unit 5 is elastically supported on the cross member 3 by a front mounting device 10. The front mounting device 10 has a mount bracket 11. The mount bracket 11 has a member mounting portion 11A that extends in the vehicle width direction and is fastened (connected) to the lower surface 3a of the cross member 3 by bolts 13A, an annular portion 11B that houses a cylindrical mount bush (not shown) connected to the front wall 8A of the drive case 8, and a connecting portion 11C that connects the annular portion 11B and the member mounting portion 11A.

[0027] As shown in Figure 1, the drive unit 5 is fitted with a left mount device 14 and a right mount device 15, and the drive unit 5 is elastically supported by the left side member 2L and the sub-side member 4 by the left mount device 14 and the right mount device 15.

[0028] As shown in Figure 2, the left mounting device 14 has a cylindrical mounting bush 16 and a mounting bracket 17. In this embodiment, the mounting bracket 17 constitutes the left mounting bracket.

[0029] The mount bush 16 comprises an inner cylinder 16A whose central axis extends in the vehicle width direction, an outer cylinder 16B provided radially outward from the inner cylinder 16A and whose central axis also extends in the vehicle width direction, and a mount rubber 16C provided radially between the inner cylinder 16A and the outer cylinder 16B and connecting the inner cylinder 16A and the outer cylinder 16B, and is formed in a cylindrical shape overall.

[0030] The inner cylinder 16A is fastened (connected) to the left side wall 8B of the drive case 8 by bolts 13B, and the mount bush 16 is positioned so that its central axis extends in the vehicle width direction.

[0031] As shown in Figure 1, the mount bracket 17 has a member mounting portion 17A which is fastened (connected) to the lower surface of the left side member 2L by a bolt 13C (see Figure 1), an annular portion 17B which houses the mount bush 16, and a connecting portion 17C which connects the annular portion 17B and the member mounting portion 17A.

[0032] As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the right mounting device 15 has a mounting bracket 18. The mounting bracket 18 has a member mounting portion 18A that is fastened to the lower surface of the sub-side member 4 by bolts 13E (see Figure 1), and an annular portion 18B that houses a cylindrical mounting bush (not shown) equipped with mounting rubber, with the member mounting portion 18A located above the annular portion 18B.

[0033] In this embodiment, the mounting bracket 18 constitutes the right mounting bracket. The mounting bush of the right mounting device 15 is connected to the right side wall 8C of the drive case 8 by bolts 13D.

[0034] The front mounting device 10, the left mounting device 14, and the right mounting device 15 have their annular sections 11B, 17B, and 18B positioned at the lowest level.

[0035] In other words, the drive unit 5 is elastically supported by the left side member 2L, the sub-side member 4, and the cross member 3, by being suspended from the left side member 2L, the sub-side member 4, and the cross member 3 by the front mounting device 10, the left mounting device 14, and the right mounting device 15.

[0036] As shown in Figure 2, the drive unit 5 is positioned in a forward-tilting position such that the upper front end 8a of the drive case 8 is located below the lower surface 3a of the cross member 3, and the upper rear end 8b is located above the lower surface 3a of the cross member 3.

[0037] In other words, the drive unit 5 is positioned in a forward-tilted state such that the upper front end 8a of the drive case 8 is located lower than the upper rear end 8b.

[0038] A bulge 9A is formed in the floor panel 9, and the bulge 9A bulges upward from the horizontal portion 9a of the floor panel 9.

[0039] The bulging portion 9A has an inclined portion 9b and a rear wall portion 9c. The inclined portion 9b faces the upper surface 8c of the drive case 8 in the vertical direction and is inclined upward from the front end to the rear end. In other words, a gap is formed between the inclined portion 9b and the upper surface 8c of the drive case 8.

[0040] Since the drive unit 5 is positioned in a forward-tilting position, it extends into the passenger compartment from the horizontal portion 9a of the floor panel 9. This prevents the vertical dimensions of the vehicle 1 from increasing, thereby enabling a more compact vehicle 1.

[0041] As shown in Figure 3, the length L1 of the mount bracket 17 in the vehicle width direction is longer than the length L2 of the mount bracket 18 in the vehicle width direction. In other words, the length L1 of the mount bracket 17, including the member mounting portion 17A, the connecting portion 17C, and the annular portion 17B, in the vehicle width direction is longer than the length L2 of the mount bracket 18, including the member mounting portion 18A and the annular portion 18B.

[0042] The upper part of the left rear wall 8D of the drive unit 5 is positioned further forward than the upper part of the right rear wall 8E, and the wire harness 31 is connected to the left rear wall 8D.

[0043] The wire harness 31 has a front harness section 31A and a curved section 31B. The front harness section 31A extends from in front of the drive unit 5 toward the drive unit 5, and its front end is connected to the high-voltage battery.

[0044] The curved portion 31B extends in the vehicle width direction, curving from the rear end 31a of the front harness portion 31A toward the drive unit 5, and the connector 32 provided at the rear end is connected to the connector 30 provided on the left rear wall 8D.

[0045] The curved portion 31B is positioned behind the connector 30. The curved portion 31B curves from the rear end 31a of the front harness portion 31A, extends in the vehicle width direction, and then curves forward toward the connector 30.

[0046] The connector 30 is electrically connected to the inverter 6, and the inverter 6 is electrically connected to the high-voltage battery via the wire harness 31. In this embodiment, the connector 30 constitutes the connection part.

[0047] The mounting bracket 17 is positioned such that its rear end 17a is located behind the connector 30.

[0048] As shown in Figure 3, the curved portion 31B is positioned above the mount bracket 17 and in front of the rear end portion 17a of the mount bracket 17, and is located between the front end portion 17b and the rear end portion 17a of the mount bracket 17 in the front-rear direction.

[0049] The mounting bracket 17 extends in the vehicle width direction along the curved portion 31B, and the curved portion 31B extends in the vehicle width direction above the connecting portion 17C, curving from the rear end portion 31a of the front harness portion 31A toward the drive unit 5.

[0050] Next, the effects of the support structure of the drive unit 5 in this embodiment will be explained. The support structure of the drive unit 5 in this embodiment includes a motor generator and an inverter 6 that controls the power supplied to the motor generator, and is located below the floor panel 9 of the vehicle 1; a wire harness 31 connected to a connector 30 of the drive unit 5; a left side member 2L extending in the front-rear direction; and a mount bracket 17 extending in the vehicle width direction and connecting the left side member 2L and the drive unit 5.

[0051] The wire harness 31 has a front harness portion 31A that extends from in front of the drive unit 5 toward the drive unit 5, and a curved portion 31B that curves toward the drive unit 5 toward the drive unit 5 toward the drive unit 5 toward the rear end portion 31a of the front harness portion 31A and extends in the vehicle width direction, with a connector 32 provided at the rear end being connected to the connector 30, and the curved portion 31B is positioned behind the connector 30.

[0052] The mounting bracket 17 is positioned such that its rear end 17a is located behind the connector 30, and the curved portion 31B is positioned above the mounting bracket 17 and in front of the rear end 17a of the mounting bracket 17.

[0053] As a result, when the vehicle 1 is rear-ended and the body member located behind the drive unit 5 moves forward, the body member can collide with the mount bracket 17 before colliding with the curved portion 31B. Therefore, the curved portion 31B can be protected from impact, and the wire harness 31 can also be protected from impact.

[0054] Furthermore, since the rear end 17a of the mounting bracket 17 is positioned behind the connector 30, the connector 30 can be protected from impact.

[0055] Furthermore, since the drive unit 5 and wire harness 31 are located below the floor panel 9, foreign objects such as flying stones can collide with the mount bracket 17 while the vehicle 1 is in motion, preventing them from colliding with the curved section 31B. As a result, the curved section 31B can be protected from foreign objects.

[0056] Furthermore, according to the support structure of the drive unit 5 of this embodiment, the curved portion 31B is positioned between the front end 17b and the rear end 17a of the mount bracket 17 in the front-rear direction.

[0057] This allows the mounting bracket 17 to cover a wide area below the curved portion 31B, more effectively preventing foreign objects such as flying stones from hitting the curved portion 31B while the vehicle 1 is in motion. As a result, the curved portion 31B can be protected more effectively from foreign objects.

[0058] Furthermore, according to the support structure of the drive unit 5 of this embodiment, the mount bracket 17 extends in the vehicle width direction along the curved portion 31B.

[0059] Here, the wire harness 31 connecting the high-voltage battery and the drive unit 5 is preferably routed to the side of the drive unit 5 and close to the drive unit 5 in order to improve routing. However, if the connector 30 is located on the left rear wall 8D of the drive case 8, the wire harness 31 needs to be bent and routed near the connector 30.

[0060] If the gap in the vehicle width direction between the mounting bracket 17 and the drive unit 5 is small, the bending radius of the curved portion 31B of the wire harness 31 must be reduced, which can result in excessive load being placed on the curved portion 31B.

[0061] According to the support structure of the drive unit 5 of this embodiment, since the mount bracket 17 extends in the vehicle width direction along the curved portion 31B, a wide space can be secured in the vehicle width direction above the connecting portion 17C.

[0062] By positioning the curved portion 31B of the wire harness 31 in this space, the bending radius of the curved portion 31B can be increased, preventing excessive load from being placed on the wire harness 31.

[0063] In this embodiment, the left mounting device 14 and the right mounting device 15 may be swapped in the left-right direction, and a mounting device identical in shape to the left mounting device 14 may be used as the right mounting device, with the curved portion 31B positioned above the right mounting device 15.

[0064] While embodiments of the present invention have been disclosed, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0065] 1 vehicle 2L Left Side Member (Side Member) 2R Right side member 6. Inverter (Power Control Device) 17 Mounting Bracket 17a Rear end (rear end of mounting bracket) 17b Front end (front end of the mounting bracket) 30 Connectors (connecting parts) 31 Wire Harness 31A Front harness section 31a Rear end (rear end of the front harness section) 31B Curved section 32 Connector (rear end of curved section)

Claims

1. A drive unit having a rotating electric machine and a power control device that controls the power supplied to the rotating electric machine, and positioned below the floor panel of the vehicle, A wire harness connected to the connection part of the drive device, Side members extending in the front-to-rear direction of the vehicle, It comprises a mounting bracket that extends in the vehicle width direction and connects the side member and the drive unit, The aforementioned wire harness is A support structure for a drive unit having a front harness portion extending from in front of the drive unit toward the drive unit, and a curved portion extending in the vehicle width direction from the rear end of the front harness portion toward the drive unit, with the rear end being connected to the connection portion, wherein the curved portion is positioned behind the connection portion, The mounting bracket is positioned such that its rear end is located behind the connecting portion. The support structure for the drive device is characterized in that the curved portion is positioned above the mount bracket and in front of the rear end of the mount bracket.

2. The support structure for the drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that the curved portion is arranged between the front end and the rear end of the mount bracket in the front-rear direction.

3. The drive support structure according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the mounting bracket extends in the vehicle width direction along the curved portion.

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