Power supply device

Abstract

To provide a power supply device which can cool a portion where heat is generated by magnetic field coupling during electric power supply to inhibit deterioration of components caused by heat.SOLUTION: A power supply device 100 includes: an axle shaft 11; a suspension arm 13 coupled to the axle shaft 11; a power transmission coil 31 provided in the middle of the axle shaft 11; and a power reception coil 33 provided at an end of the suspension arm 13. Electric power from a battery 23 at the axle shaft 11 is supplied to an in-wheel motor 21 at the suspension arm 13 side in a non-contact manner through magnetic field coupling by the power transmission coil 31 and the power reception coil 33. The power supply device 100 includes a cooling part 35 which cools the axle shaft 11 between the power transmission coil 31 and the power reception coil 33.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a power supply device. [Background technology]

[0002] For example, one drive system for an electric vehicle that runs on electric power from a battery is an in-wheel drive system in which the wheels are rotated by a motor provided on a hub to which the wheels are attached.

[0003] A known power supply structure for an electric vehicle equipped with an in-wheel drive system includes a non-contact electromagnetic power supply unit that electromagnetically supplies power from a vehicle body battery to a wheel side motor by electromagnetic coupling between a first coil on the vehicle body side and a second coil on the wheel side (see, for example, Patent Documents 1 and 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] JP 2006-160033 A [Patent Document 2] JP 2012-157082 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] In a non-contact type electromagnetic power supply unit using electromagnetic power supply, the metal surface of the electromagnetic power supply unit heats up due to induction heating caused by magnetic field coupling between the first coil and the second coil. In particular, when a large high-frequency current flows, the metal surface of the electromagnetic power supply unit becomes hot, which may cause deterioration of the components.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned circumstances, and its object is to provide a power supply device that can cool heat-generating areas due to magnetic field coupling during power supply and suppress deterioration of components due to heat. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] In order to achieve the above object, the power supply device according to the present invention has the following features (1) to (4). (1) a first axle; a second axle coupled to the first axle; a power transmission coil provided midway along the first axle; a receiving coil provided at an end of the second axle; Equipped with A power supply device in which power from a power source on the first axle side is supplied to a load on the second axle side in a non-contact manner by magnetic field coupling between the power transmission coil and the power receiving coil, a cooling unit that cools the first axle between the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil; Power supply device.

[0008] According to the power supply device having the above configuration (1), since a cooling unit is provided between the power transmission coil and the power receiving coil, which perform contactless power supply by magnetic field coupling, the first axle that generates heat due to induction heating between the power transmission coil and the power receiving coil can be cooled by the cooling unit. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration of the first axle due to heat generation when power is supplied from the power source on the first axle side to the load on the second axle side.

[0009] (2) The cooling unit includes a cooling pipe through which a refrigerant flows, The cooling pipe is disposed along an outer periphery of the first axle between the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil. The power supply device according to (1) above.

[0010] According to the power supply device having the configuration of (2) above, even if heat is generated concentratedly on the surface side of the first axle due to the so-called skin effect that occurs when induction heating is caused by magnetic field coupling at high frequency between the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil, the first axle can be efficiently cooled by the cooling pipe arranged along the outer periphery of the first axle. In addition, by connecting the cooling pipes to the battery (power source) or the vehicle heater, the heat extracted from the first axle can be effectively used to keep the battery warm or to heat the interior of the vehicle.

[0011] (3) The cooling pipe is wound in a spiral shape around an outer periphery of the first axle between the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil. The power supply device according to (2) above.

[0012] According to the power supply device having the configuration of (3) above, by winding the cooling pipe in a spiral shape around the outer periphery of the first axle between the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil, the contact area between the outer surface of the first axle and the cooling pipe is increased, and the first axle can be efficiently cooled.

[0013] (4) A cover for covering the power transmitting coil, the power receiving coil, and the cooling unit is provided. The power supply device according to any one of (1) to (3) above.

[0014] According to the power supply device having the configuration of (4) above, the non-contact power supply unit consisting of the power transmission coil and the power receiving coil and the cooling unit that cools the first axle are covered and protected by the cover, so that damage due to flying stones and gravel and deterioration due to splashing water can be suppressed. Effect of the Invention

[0015] According to the present invention, it is possible to provide a power supply device capable of cooling a portion where heat is generated due to magnetic field coupling during power supply and suppressing deterioration of components due to heat.

[0016] The present invention has been briefly described above. Furthermore, the details of the present invention will be further clarified by reading the following description of the embodiment of the present invention (hereinafter, referred to as "embodiment") with reference to the accompanying drawings. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0017] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a suspension portion of a vehicle equipped with a power supply device according to this embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic side view of a suspension portion of a vehicle equipped with a power supply device according to this embodiment. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the power supply device. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a side view of the non-contact power supply unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a suspension portion of a vehicle, illustrating a modified example. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a schematic side view of a suspension portion of a vehicle, illustrating a modified example. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0018] Specific embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0019] Fig. 1 is a schematic perspective view of a suspension portion of a vehicle equipped with a power supply device according to the present embodiment. Fig. 2 is a schematic side view of the suspension portion of a vehicle equipped with a power supply device according to the present embodiment. Fig. 3 is an exploded perspective view of the power supply device.

[0020] 1 to 3, a power supply device 100 according to this embodiment is provided in a suspension device 10 that suspends a wheel W. The suspension device 10 includes an axle shaft 11 and a suspension arm 13.

[0021] The axle shaft 11 is provided along the width direction of the vehicle body, and an end of the axle shaft 11 is inserted into an insertion hole 16 formed in a base end 15 of the suspension arm 13. In this way, the suspension arm 13 is connected to the end of the axle shaft 11 and supported so as to be swingable about the axis of the axle shaft 11.

[0022] A support shaft (not shown) is provided at a free end 17 of the suspension arm 13, and a wheel W is attached to a hub (not shown) provided on the support shaft. The suspension device 10 is configured so that a buffer device (not shown) consisting of a shock absorber and a coil spring is attached between the vehicle body and the suspension arm 13. As a result, in the suspension device 10, shocks and vibrations from the wheel W are absorbed and damped by the buffer device.

[0023] An in-wheel motor 21 is provided at the free end 17 of the suspension arm 13. The in-wheel motor 21 is provided at the hub of the support shaft. The in-wheel motor 21 is a three-phase motor, and is driven by alternating current to rotate the wheel W. The in-wheel motor 21 is supplied with power from a battery 23 mounted on the vehicle by a power supply device 100.

[0024] The power supply device 100 includes a power transmitting coil 31, a power receiving coil 33, and a cooling unit 35. The power transmitting coil 31 and the power receiving coil 33 are formed in a disk shape and are disposed opposite to each other.

[0025] The power transmission coil 31 is provided midway along the axle shaft 11. One end of a power transmission cable 41 is connected to the power transmission coil 31, and the other end of the power transmission cable 41 is connected to the battery 23.

[0026] The power receiving coil 33 is provided at an end of the base end 15 of the suspension arm 13 on the power transmitting coil 31 side. One end of a power receiving cable 43 is connected to the power receiving coil 33. The power receiving cable 43 is routed along the surface of the suspension arm 13 and has the other end connected to the in-wheel motor 21.

[0027] The power transmission cable 41 and the power receiving cable 43 are cables for a three-phase motor that supply AC current to the in-wheel motor 21, which is an AC motor, and are made by twisting three electric wires together and covering them with an outer sheath to form a single cable.

[0028] The cooling unit 35 includes a cooling pipe 51, which is connected to a refrigerant circulation device (not shown) provided on the battery 23 side. The cooling pipe 51 is made of a metal having excellent thermal conductivity, such as copper, and a refrigerant such as cooling water is circulated by a pump (not shown) of the refrigerant circulation device provided on the battery 23 side.

[0029] FIG. 4 is a side view of the non-contact power supply unit. 4, cooling pipe 51 has a wound section 53 and a straight pipe section 55. Winding section 53 is wound in a spiral shape around the outer periphery of axle shaft 11 from the power transmitting coil 31 side toward the power receiving coil 33. Straight pipe section 55 is arranged linearly from the end of winding section 53 on the power receiving coil 33 side along the axial direction of axle shaft 11 toward the power transmitting coil 31 side.

[0030] A pump sends refrigerant from the battery 23 side to the winding section 53 in the cooling pipe 51. The refrigerant flows through the winding section 53, which is provided in a spiral shape around the outer periphery of the axle shaft 11, from the power transmission coil 31 side to the power receiving coil 33 side (see arrow A in FIG. 4). As a result, the axle shaft 11 is cooled by the winding section 53 of the cooling pipe 51 through which the refrigerant flows. The refrigerant that has flowed through the winding section 53 then flows inside the straight pipe section 55 from the end of the winding section 53 on the power receiving coil 33 side toward the power transmission coil 31 side (see arrow B in FIG. 4) and is returned to the battery 23 side.

[0031] In the power supply device 100 configured as described above, power is sent from the battery 23 to the power transmission coil 31 through the power transmission cable 41. The power supplied to the power transmission coil 31 flows to the power receiving cable 43 connected to the power receiving coil 33 by magnetic field coupling between the power transmission coil 31 and the power receiving coil 33, and is supplied to the in-wheel motor 21 through the power receiving cable 43.

[0032] When a cable is routed through a movable portion, the cable may be subjected to repeated bending and pulling forces at the movable portion, which may cause deterioration. In particular, in cold regions, repeated bending and pulling forces at low temperatures may cause deterioration of the cable.

[0033] In contrast, the power supply device 100 can supply power in a non-contact manner to the movable parts between the axle shaft 11 and the suspension arm 13, which are moved relative to each other. This can suppress deterioration of the cable caused by repeated application of bending and pulling forces.

[0034] When contactless power supply is performed between the power transmitting coil 31 and the power receiving coil 33, the axle shaft 11, which is a metal member between the power transmitting coil 31 and the power receiving coil 33, generates heat due to induction heating caused by magnetic field coupling. In particular, when the current supplied from the battery 23 is a high-frequency current, the heat generated is concentrated on the outside of the axle shaft 11 due to the skin effect.

[0035] At this time, in the power supply device 100, the coolant flows through the winding portion 53 of the cooling portion 35, so that the portion of the axle shaft 11 that generates heat due to induction heating is cooled by the winding portion 53 of the cooling pipe 51 through which the coolant flows.

[0036] As described above, according to the power supply device 100 of this embodiment, the cooling unit 35 is provided between the power transmitting coil 31 and the power receiving coil 33, where non-contact power supply by magnetic field coupling is performed, so that the axle shaft 11, which generates heat due to induction heating, between the power transmitting coil 31 and the power receiving coil 33 can be cooled by the cooling unit 35. This makes it possible to suppress deterioration of the axle shaft 11 due to heat generation when power is supplied from the battery 23 on the axle shaft 11 side to the in-wheel motor 21 on the suspension arm 13 side.

[0037] Cooling section 35 also includes cooling pipes 51 through which a refrigerant flows, and cooling pipes 51 are arranged along the outer periphery of axle shaft 11 between power transmission coil 31 and power receiving coil 33. Therefore, even if heat is generated concentratedly on the surface side of axle shaft 11 due to the so-called skin effect when magnetic field coupling is performed at high frequency between power transmission coil 31 and power receiving coil 33 and induction heating is performed, axle shaft 11 can be efficiently cooled by cooling pipes 51 arranged along the outer periphery of axle shaft 11.

[0038] In addition, the cooling pipe 51 can be connected to the battery 23, which is a power source, or to a vehicle heater, so that the heat extracted from the axle shaft 11 can be effectively used to keep the battery 23 warm or to heat the interior of the vehicle.

[0039] Furthermore, since the cooling pipe 51 is wound spirally around the outer periphery of the axle shaft 11 between the power transmission coil 31 and the power receiving coil 33, the contact area between the outer surface of the axle shaft 11 and the cooling pipe 51 is increased, and the axle shaft 11 can be cooled efficiently.

[0040] Next, a modified example will be described. In addition, the same components as those in the above embodiment are given the same reference numerals and the description thereof will be omitted. Fig. 5 is a schematic perspective view of a suspension portion of a vehicle for explaining a modified example, and Fig. 6 is a schematic side view of the suspension portion of a vehicle for explaining a modified example.

[0041] 5 and 6, the modified example includes a cover 60. The cover 60 is formed in a cylindrical shape with both ends closed, and is attached so as to cover the power transmitting coil 31, the power receiving coil 33, and the cooling unit 35.

[0042] According to this modified example, the non-contact power supply unit consisting of the power transmitting coil 31 and the power receiving coil 33 and the cooling unit 35 that cools the axle shaft 11 are covered and protected by the cover 60, thereby suppressing damage caused by flying stones and gravel, and deterioration due to splashing water.

[0043] The cover 60 is not limited to a cylindrical shape as long as it has a shape that covers the power transmitting coil 31, the power receiving coil 33, and the cooling unit 35.

[0044] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately modified, improved, etc. In addition, the material, shape, size, number, arrangement location, etc. of each component in the above-described embodiment are arbitrary as long as the present invention can be achieved, and are not limited.

[0045] Here, the features of the power supply device according to the embodiment of the present invention described above will be briefly summarized and listed in the following [1] to [4]. [1] A first axle (axle shaft 11); a second axle (suspension arm 13) connected to the first axle (axle shaft 11); a power transmission coil (31) provided midway along the first axle (axle shaft 11); a receiving coil (33) provided at an end of the second axle (suspension arm 13); Equipped with a power supply device (100) in which electric power from a power source (battery 23) on the first axle (axle shaft 11) side is supplied contactlessly to a load on the second axle (suspension arm 13) side by magnetic field coupling between the power transmission coil (31) and the power receiving coil (33), a cooling unit (35) that cools the first axle (axle shaft 11) between the power transmitting coil (31) and the power receiving coil (33); Power supply device.

[0046] [2] The cooling section (35) includes a cooling pipe (51) through which a refrigerant flows, the cooling pipe (51) is disposed along an outer periphery of the first axle (axle shaft 11) between the power transmitting coil (31) and the power receiving coil (33); The power supply device described in [1] above.

[0047] [3] The cooling pipe (51) is wound in a spiral shape around an outer periphery of the first axle (axle shaft 11) between the power transmitting coil (31) and the power receiving coil (33). The power supply device described in [2] above.

[0048] [4] A cover (60) is provided to cover the power transmitting coil (31), the power receiving coil (33), and the cooling unit (35). The power supply device according to any one of the above [1] to [3]. [Explanation of symbols]

[0049] 10 Suspension device 11 Axle shaft (first axle) 13 Suspension arm (second axle) 15 Proximal end 16 Insertion hole 17 Free end 21 In-wheel motor 23 Battery 31 Transmission coil 33 Receiving coil 35 Cooling section 41 Power Cables 43 Power receiving cable 51 Cooling Pipe 53 Winding section 55 Straight pipe section 60 Cover 100 Power supply device

Claims

1. A first axle; a second axle coupled to the first axle; a power transmission coil provided midway along the first axle; a receiving coil provided at an end of the second axle; Equipped with A power supply device in which power from a power source on the first axle side is supplied to a load on the second axle side in a non-contact manner by magnetic field coupling between the power transmission coil and the power receiving coil, a cooling unit configured to cool the first axle between the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil; Power supply device.

2. The cooling unit includes a cooling pipe through which a refrigerant flows, the cooling pipe is disposed along an outer periphery of the first axle between the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil; The power supply device according to claim 1 .

3. The cooling pipe is wound in a spiral shape around an outer periphery of the first axle between the power transmitting coil and the power receiving coil. The power supply device according to claim 2 .

4. a cover for covering the power transmitting coil, the power receiving coil, and the cooling unit; The power supply device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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