unit

Abstract

[Problem] To provide a structure that reflects use of a fibrous body based on the technical concept of using turbulence to perform cooling. [Solution] A unit according to the present invention includes a cooling liquid, an electrical circuit, and a fibrous body. The electrical circuit is arranged inside a liquid flow passage for the cooling liquid, and a flow of liquid that has passed through the fibrous body is supplied to the electrical circuit.

Description

[Technical Field]

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

[0002] Patent Document 1 discloses a cooling element in which a metal fiber sheet is housed in a housing that contacts a heat generating element, and heat conducted from the heat generating element to the metal fiber sheet is removed by a refrigerant introduced into the housing. The metal fiber sheet is made of copper or aluminum fibers with high thermal conductivity, and is therefore efficiently cooled by the refrigerant. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2019-9433 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As a result of extensive research, the inventors have found that when a coolant passes through a fiber, turbulence occurs, and the turbulence effect promotes cooling. Furthermore, they have found that when a coolant passes over the surface of a fiber, turbulence occurs due to disturbances on the fiber surface, and the turbulence effect also promotes cooling.

[0005] This means that in some cases it is possible to improve cooling performance regardless of the material of the fiber body, and that the fiber body can be used for cooling with a technical idea that is completely different from the technical idea described in Patent Document 1, that is, cooling that utilizes the thermal conductivity of a metal fiber sheet. For this reason, it is desirable to provide a unit with a new structure that reflects the use of a fiber body based on the technical idea of cooling that utilizes the turbulent effect.

[0006] The present invention has been made in consideration of these problems, and aims to provide a structure that reflects the utilization of a fibrous body based on the technical idea of utilizing the turbulent effect for cooling. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] The unit according to one aspect of the present invention includes a cooling liquid, an electric circuit, and a fibrous body. The electric circuit is disposed within the liquid flow path of the cooling liquid, and the liquid flow that has passed through the fibrous body is supplied to the electric circuit. [Effects of the Invention]

[0008] According to this aspect, the cooling efficiency of the electric circuit can be improved by the turbulent flow effect of the liquid flow passing through the fibrous body. Furthermore, by adopting a method of passing the fibrous body as a turbulent flow generation method, the fibrous body can also be given the function of capturing contamination. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the unit according to this embodiment. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the inverter. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a diagram showing an inverter according to a first modified example. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a diagram of the fibrous body when viewed from above in a state where it is placed in an inverter. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a diagram showing an inverter according to a second modification. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a diagram showing the fibrous body arranged in the inverter as viewed from above. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0011] Fig. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram of a unit 100 according to this embodiment. Fig. 2 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of the inverter 10. In Fig. 1, the rotor and stator of the rotating electric machine 20 and the reduction gear mechanism of the reduction gear 30 are not shown, and an oil reservoir 21b of the rotating electric machine 20 and an oil reservoir 31b of the reduction gear 30 are shown in cross section.

[0012] The unit 100 is mounted on, for example, an electric vehicle using a rotating electric machine 20 as a drive source. The unit 100 has an inverter 10, a rotating electric machine 20, a reducer 30, and a cooling device 50. The inverter 10 has a case 11, an electric circuit 12, and a fibrous body 13. The case 11 is an inverter case and houses the electric circuit 12. The interior of the case 11 is an inverter case interior S, which is a space in which the electric circuit 12 is housed. The case 11 is made of, for example, an aluminum alloy. The case 11 may have a portion made of, for example, resin. The case 11 has a box-shaped portion 111 and a plate-shaped portion 112. The box-shaped portion 111 has a box-like shape with one side open, and the plate-shaped portion 112 closes the opening of the box-shaped portion 111. The case 11 is arranged so that the plate-shaped portion 112 forms the lower surface in the direction of gravity.

[0013] The case 11 has an inlet 11a and an outlet 11b. The inlet 11a penetrates the side wall of the case 11 (the side wall of the box-shaped portion 111). The outlet 11b penetrates the bottom wall (the plate-shaped portion 112) of the case 11. Oil OL is introduced into the case 11 through the inlet 11a, and the oil OL inside the case 11 is discharged from the outlet 11b. The outlet 11b is provided at a position where the electric circuit 12 is disposed in the flow (liquid flow) of the oil OL supplied from the inlet 11a into the case 11. Multiple outlets 11b may be provided. The oil OL corresponds to the coolant.

[0014] The electric circuit 12 is provided inside the case 11, and therefore inside the inverter case S. The electric circuit 12 has a board 121 and a circuit section 122. In FIG. 2, the circuit section 122 is shown surrounded by a two-dot dashed line. The board 121 is a printed circuit board, and is arranged on the bottom wall of the case 11. The circuit section 122 is mounted on the board 121. The circuit section 122 is electrically connected to the board 121 by connecting to the circuit pattern of the board 121. The circuit section 122 is provided on the surface direction side of the board 121. The surface direction corresponds to the direction of gravity, and the circuit section 122 is provided on the upper side of the board 121 in the direction of gravity, and is therefore provided on the surface direction side of the board 121. When the surface direction corresponds to the direction of gravity, the surface direction side may be the lower side in the direction of gravity.

[0015] The circuit section 122 has a semiconductor element 122a, wires 122b, a lead frame 122c, and molded resin 122d. The semiconductor element 122a is, for example, a power element, such as an IGBT or a power MOSFET, or other switching element. A plurality of semiconductor elements 122a can be provided, and they can be arranged, for example, in the depth-to-front direction of FIG. 2 (a direction perpendicular to the paper surface of FIG. 2). The semiconductor element 122a is electrically connected to the lead frame 122c via the wires 122b. The semiconductor element 122a is provided in and sealed with the molded resin 122d.

[0016] Heat dissipation from the semiconductor element 122a is performed, for example, via the mold resin 122d. Meanwhile, the lead frame 122c protrudes from the mold resin 122d. Therefore, heat dissipation from the semiconductor element 122a can also be promoted via the lead frame 122c. The lead frame 122c constitutes a heat dissipation promoting portion that promotes heat dissipation from the semiconductor element 122a to the outside of the mold resin 122d. In addition to the lead frame 122c, the circuit portion 122 may further include a heat dissipation member that promotes heat dissipation from the semiconductor element 122a to the outside of the mold resin 122d as a heat dissipation promoting portion.

[0017] The electric circuit 12 including the circuit portion 122 is cooled by the oil OL supplied into the case 11. Since the oil OL has insulating properties, the oil OL itself does not particularly deteriorate the insulation state of the electric circuit 12.

[0018] The fibrous body 13 is provided in the case 11 and is housed in the inverter case S together with the electric circuit 12. The fibrous body 13 can be made of, for example, metal including alloy or carbon. Other materials may also be used for the fibrous body 13. The fibrous body 13 has a plate-like shape. The fibrous body 13 is disposed between the inlet 11a and the electric circuit 12 in the flow direction of the oil OL from the inlet 11a toward the outlet 11b.

[0019] The fibrous body 13 divides the interior of the case 11 into a space with which the inlet 11a communicates and a space with which the electric circuit 12 is provided and the outlet 11b communicates. The fibrous body 13 is arranged so that these spaces are aligned in the horizontal direction (left and right direction in FIG. 2). The horizontal direction corresponds to the horizontal direction, which is perpendicular to the direction of gravity. The vertical direction corresponds to the direction of gravity.

[0020] The inlet 11a overlaps with the fibrous body 13 when viewed from the surface direction of the fibrous body 13. When viewed from the surface direction, the fibrous body 13 overlaps with the electric circuit 12 and the space above the electric circuit 12 in the case 11 (the excess space in the vertical direction in the case 11 when viewed from the electric circuit 12). The outlet 11b is offset from the electric circuit 12 when viewed from the surface direction of the substrate 121.

[0021] "Overlapping when viewed in a predetermined direction" means that the elements overlap in a predetermined direction, meaning that multiple elements (components, parts, etc.) are lined up in the predetermined direction. Therefore, if a drawing shows multiple elements lined up in a predetermined direction, the specification may be deemed to contain a sentence explaining that the elements overlap when viewed in the predetermined direction. Furthermore, "offset when viewed in a predetermined direction" means that the elements are not lined up in the predetermined direction. Therefore, if a drawing shows multiple elements not lined up in the predetermined direction, the specification may be deemed to contain a sentence explaining that the elements are offset when viewed in the predetermined direction.

[0022] The rotating electric machine 20 is controlled by the inverter 10 and generates power. The power generated by the rotating electric machine 20 is transmitted to the drive wheels of the vehicle via the reducer 30. The rotating electric machine 20 has a case 21. The case 21 has an inlet 21a and an oil reservoir 21b, and houses the rotor and stator of the rotating electric machine 20. The inverter 10 is mounted on the case 21 from the outside. The inverter 10 is mounted on the case 21 from the side.

[0023] Inlet port 21a penetrates the top wall of case 21, connecting the inside and outside of case 21. Oil OL is introduced into case 21 through inlet port 21a. The introduced oil OL falls due to gravity, lubricates the rotor, cools the stator, and then accumulates in oil reservoir 21b. A portion of the stator can be placed in oil reservoir 21b, which allows the oil OL accumulated in oil reservoir 21b to be used to cool the stator.

[0024] The reducer 30 reduces the input rotation from the rotating electric machine 20 and outputs the reduced rotation. The reducer 30 has a case 31. The case 31 has an outlet 31a and an oil reservoir 31b, and houses a reduction gear mechanism. The case 31 is integrated with the case 21 by, for example, bolting, and together with the case 21, constitutes a housing 40 for the rotating electric machine 20 and the reducer 30.

[0025] The housing 40 has a communication port 41, which communicates between the oil reservoir 21b in the case 21 and the oil reservoir 31b in the case 31. Therefore, the oil OL can be introduced from the oil reservoir 21b to the oil reservoir 31b through the communication port 41. The wall in which the communication port 41 is provided is formed of, for example, a part of the case 21.

[0026] The oil reservoir 31b stores the oil OL introduced from the oil reservoir 21b. The oil OL stored in the oil reservoir 31b is scooped up by rotating members such as gears and used to lubricate the reduction gear mechanism. The oil OL is discharged from the oil reservoir 31b through the discharge port 31a from the inside of the case 31. The reducer 30 corresponds to a power transmission mechanism.

[0027] The cooling device 50 has an oil pump 51, an oil cooler 52, and a connecting passage 53. The oil pump 51 has an intake port 51a and a discharge port 51b, and pumps out oil OL. The discharge port 51b is connected to the oil cooler 52, which cools the oil OL pumped out by the oil pump 51. The oil pump 51 corresponds to a pump.

[0028] The connecting passage 53 branches from the discharge port 51b of the oil pump 51 via the oil cooler 52 to connect to the inverter 10 and the rotating electrical machine 20. The discharge port 51b is branched and connected to the inlet port 11a and the inlet port 21a by the connecting passage 53. The connecting passage 53 further merges the outlet port 11b of the inverter 10 and the outlet port 31a of the reducer 30, and then connects to the inlet port 51a of the oil pump 51.

[0029] As a result, a first circulation path C1 and a second circulation path C2 are formed in the unit 100. The first circulation path C1 is a circulation path through which the oil OL passes from the oil pump 51 through the oil cooler 52 and the inverter 10 in this order, and returns to the oil pump 51. The second circulation path C2 is a circulation path through which the oil OL passes from the oil pump 51 through the oil cooler 52, the rotating electrical machine 20, and the reducer 30 in this order, and returns to the oil pump 51. The first circulation path C1 corresponds to a liquid flow path.

[0030] In the first circulation path C1, the oil OL introduced into the case 11 through the inlet 11a passes through the fibrous body 13 and is supplied to the electric circuit 12. Therefore, the unit 100 has the inlet 11a for the oil OL upstream of the fibrous body 13. Moreover, the oil OL supplied to the electric circuit 12 through the fibrous body 13 is then discharged from the outlet 11b. Therefore, the unit 100 has the outlet 11b for the oil OL downstream of the fibrous body 13.

[0031] When the oil OL passes through the fibrous body 13, a turbulent flow TF is generated, causing disturbances in the flow of the oil OL around the electric circuit 12, including the space above the electric circuit 12. This makes it easier for the oil OL to remove more heat from the electric circuit 12 than when the turbulent flow TF is not generated, thereby promoting heat dissipation from the electric circuit 12 to the oil OL. In other words, the turbulent effect of the oil OL passing through the fibrous body 13 promotes cooling of the electric circuit 12. Furthermore, the electric circuit 12 including the circuit portion 122 is placed in the first circulation path C1, i.e., in the flow (liquid flow) of the oil OL in the first circulation path C1, and is thereby directly cooled by the oil OL. As a result, a higher cooling effect can be obtained compared to, for example, cooling the circuit portion 122 via the substrate 121.

[0032] In the second circulation path C2, the oil OL is introduced into the housing 40 through the inlet 21a and discharged to the outside of the housing 40 through the outlet 31a. The discharged oil OL merges with the oil OL discharged from the outlet 11b at the confluence P1 of the first circulation path C1 and the second circulation path C2, and is then sucked into the oil pump 51.

[0033] That is, in the unit 100, the downstream points of the rotary electric machine 20 and the reducer 30 and the downstream point of the electric circuit 12 join at a joining point P1 and are drawn into the suction port 51a of the oil pump 51. The joining point P1 corresponds to these downstream points.

[0034] The oil OL sucked into the oil pump 51 is pumped again and distributed to the inverter 10 and the rotating electrical machine 20 at the branch point P2 of the first circulation path C1 and the second circulation path C2. Therefore, the oil OL supplied to the inverter 10 includes the oil OL that has circulated inside the housing 40, i.e., inside the rotating electrical machine 20 and the reducer 30.

[0035] On the other hand, metallic contaminants 60 such as metal chips and powder are generated from the bearings and gears in the rotating electrical machine 20 and the reducer 30, and the metallic contaminants 60 are a factor in degrading the insulation of the oil OL. For this reason, although a strainer (filter) is present upstream of the oil pump 51 and oil OL that has passed through the strainer can be introduced into the oil pump 51, if oil OL mixed with metallic contaminants 60 is supplied to the electric circuit 12 in the inverter 10, the insulation state of the electric circuit 12 may deteriorate.

[0036] In this embodiment, the oil OL that has passed through the fibrous body 13 is supplied to the electric circuit 12, and the contaminants 60 mixed in the oil OL are captured by the fibrous body 13. Therefore, even if the oil OL is shared by the inverter 10, the rotating electric machine 20, and the reducer 30, the electric circuit 12 is prevented from being affected, such as by the metallic contaminants 60 mixed in the oil OL deteriorating the insulation state of the electric circuit 12.

[0037] In the first circulation path C1, the oil OL flows from the oil pump 51 toward the fibrous body 13, and the oil OL flows from the electric circuit 12 toward the oil pump 51. In this case, the suction force of the oil pump 51 acts upstream of the oil pump 51, i.e., on the side of the suction port 51a.

[0038] For this reason, in the unit 100, the oil OL is prevented from flowing back from the side opposite to the side where the fibrous body 13 is provided toward the electric circuit 12. As a result, the oil OL mixed with the contaminants 60 is prevented from flowing back through the first circulation path C1 and being supplied to the electric circuit 12. In this case, it is also possible to choose not to provide an additional fibrous body (a fibrous body similar to the fibrous body 13) that serves as a filter downstream of the electric circuit 12 out of concern for backflow. As a result, there is also the option of reducing the number of parts.

[0039] Next, the main effects of this embodiment will be described.

[0040] (1) The unit 100 has oil OL, an electric circuit 12, and a fibrous body 13. The electric circuit 12 is arranged in a first circulation path C1 of the oil OL. The oil OL that has passed through the fibrous body 13 is supplied to the electric circuit 12. With this configuration, the cooling efficiency of the electric circuit 12 can be improved by the turbulent flow effect of the oil OL that has passed through the fibrous body 13. Furthermore, by employing a method of passing the oil through the fibrous body 13 as a method of generating turbulent flow, the fibrous body 13 can also be given the function of capturing contaminants 60.

[0041] (2) In the first circulation path C1, the oil OL flows from the oil pump 51 toward the fibrous body 13, and the oil OL flows from the electric circuit 12 toward the oil pump 51. This configuration can prevent the oil OL from flowing back toward the electric circuit 12 from the side opposite to the side where the fibrous body 13 is provided. Therefore, even if the oil OL contains contaminants 60, the oil OL containing the contaminants 60 can be prevented from flowing back through the first circulation path C1 and being supplied to the electric circuit 12. In this case, it is also possible to choose not to provide an additional fibrous body acting as a filter downstream of the electric circuit 12 due to concerns about backflow. As a result, the number of parts can be reduced.

[0042] (5) The unit 100 has a rotating electric machine 20 and a reducer 30. The oil OL is used to lubricate the rotating electric machine 20 and the reducer 30. With this configuration, by sharing the oil OL, the inverter 10, the rotating electric machine 20, and the reducer 30 can share the oil pump 51, thereby simplifying the cooling circuit structure including the cooling device 50. Furthermore, in this case, the fibrous body 13 can suppress metallic contamination 60 generated in the rotating electric machine 20 or the reducer 30 from affecting the electric circuit 12, which is of great technical significance.

[0043] (6) The unit 100 has a rotating electric machine 20 and a reducer 30. The oil OL is used to lubricate the rotating electric machine 20 and the reducer 30. In the unit 100, the oil OL is drawn into the intake port 51a of the oil pump 51 at a downstream point of the rotating electric machine 20 and the reducer 30 and at a downstream point of the electric circuit 12. With this configuration, the suction force of the oil pump 51 can prevent the oil OL containing the contamination 60 from flowing directly from the rotating electric machine 20 and the reducer 30 to the electric circuit 12.

[0044] (First Modification) Fig. 3 is a diagram showing an inverter 10 according to a first modified example. Fig. 4 is a diagram showing the fibrous body 13 arranged in the inverter 10 as viewed from above. In Fig. 4, the arrangement of the inlet 11a as viewed from the surface direction of the substrate 121 is also shown by a two-dot dashed line. In this example, the inlet 11a penetrates the top wall of the case 11, and therefore the bottom wall of the box-shaped portion 111 arranged on the upper side in the direction of gravity.

[0045] In this example, a plurality of outlets 11b (three in this example) are provided. The plurality of outlets 11b are provided dispersedly around the periphery of the electric circuit 12 when viewed from the surface direction of the substrate 121. Each of the plurality of outlets 11b is offset from the circuit portion 122 when viewed from the surface direction of the substrate 121.

[0046] In this example, the first circulation path C1 is a path having a plurality of partial branch paths branched by a plurality of discharge ports 11b. Each of the plurality of partial branch paths merges with the second circulation path C2 upstream of the intake port 51a of the oil pump 51. For example, the plurality of partial branch paths can be merged with each other and then merged with the second circulation path C2.

[0047] In this example, the inverter 10 is further provided with a holding plate 14 for holding the fibrous body 13. The holding plate 14 is a plate-like member that does not constitute the fibrous body but includes the fibrous body 13, and is made of, for example, metal or resin. The holding plate 14 has a holding hole 14a in its center, and the fibrous body 13 is placed in the holding hole 14a. Therefore, the fibrous body 13 is located at the center of the electric circuit 12 when viewed from the surface direction of the substrate 121. When viewed from the surface direction of the substrate 121, the installation area of the fibrous body 13 is narrower than the installation area of the circuit section 122.

[0048] The fibrous body 13, together with the holding plate 14, divides the inside of the case 11 into a space with which the inlet 11a communicates and a space with which the electric circuit 12 is provided and with which the outlet 11b communicates. The fibrous body 13, together with the holding plate 14, is arranged so that these spaces are aligned in the vertical direction (the up-and-down direction in FIG. 3).

[0049] The fibrous body 13 thus provided is provided above the electric circuit 12, and is therefore disposed between the inlet 11a and the electric circuit 12 in the flow direction of the oil OL from the inlet 11a toward the outlet 11b. Therefore, the oil OL introduced into the case 11 from the inlet 11a passes through the fibrous body 13, is supplied to the electric circuit 12, and is then discharged from the multiple outlets 11b.

[0050] That is, in this example as well, the electric circuit 12 is disposed within the first circulation path C1. Also in this example as well, in the first circulation path C1, the oil OL flows from the oil pump 51 toward the fibrous body 13, and the oil OL flows from the electric circuit 12 toward the oil pump 51. The fibrous body 13 is disposed above the substrate 121 in the direction of gravity, and is thereby disposed on the surface side of the substrate 121.

[0051] In this example as well, the oil OL that has passed through the fibrous body 13 forms a turbulent flow TF and is supplied to the electric circuit 12. Therefore, in this example as well, the turbulent effect promotes cooling of the electric circuit 12. In this example, the inlet 11a, the fibrous body 13, and the circuit portion 122 overlap one another when viewed from the surface direction of the substrate 121. Therefore, by directing a portion of the oil OL that has passed through the fibrous body 13 onto the circuit portion 122, the cooling efficiency of the electric circuit 12 can also be improved. In this example, the following additional effects can be obtained.

[0052] (3) The electric circuit 12 has a substrate 121 and a circuit portion 122 provided on the surface side of the substrate 121. The fibrous body 13 is provided on the surface side of the substrate 121 with respect to the circuit portion 122. With this configuration, the positional relationship between the fibrous body 13 and the circuit portion 122 is such that the area of the turbulent flow generation region can be increased when viewed from the surface side of the substrate 121. Therefore, cooling by the turbulent flow effect can be achieved over a wider area of the circuit portion 122, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the electric circuit 12.

[0053] (4) The unit 100 has an inlet 11a for oil OL upstream of the fibrous body 13 and an outlet 11b for oil OL downstream of the fibrous body 13. When viewed from the surface direction of the substrate 121, the inlet 11a overlaps with the circuit portion 122. When viewed from the surface direction of the substrate 121, the outlet 11b is offset from the circuit portion 122. This configuration allows the oil OL to flow laterally (i.e., along the surface of the fibrous body 13) from the portion overlapping with the circuit portion 122 toward the offset portion, i.e., toward the outer region of the circuit portion 122. As a result, the oil OL that has absorbed heat from the circuit portion 122 is efficiently discharged from within the case 11, thereby improving the cooling efficiency of the electric circuit 12.

[0054] (Second Modification) Fig. 5 is a diagram showing an inverter 10 according to a second modified example. Fig. 6 is a diagram showing the fibrous body 13 arranged in the inverter 10 as viewed from above. Fig. 6 also shows the arrangement of the inlet 11a, as in Fig. 5. The second modified example differs from the first modified example in that the holding plate 14 is not provided, and the fibrous body 13 is directly installed in the case 11. Therefore, in this example, the fibrous body 13 divides the inside of the case 11 into a space communicated with the inlet 11a and a space where the electric circuit 12 is provided and communicated with the outlet 11b.

[0055] Therefore, in this example, the fibrous body 13 overlaps with the circuit portion 122 when viewed from the surface direction of the substrate 121, and the installation area of the fibrous body 13 is larger than the installation area of the circuit portion 122 when viewed from the surface direction. As a result, in this example, the flow of oil OL along the lateral direction passes through the surface of the fibrous body 13, and turbulent flow TF is also generated in the lateral direction due to disturbances on the fiber surface of the fibrous body 13. The turbulent flow TF along the lateral direction further increases the area of the turbulent flow generation region when viewed from the surface direction of the substrate 121, and increases the amount of oil OL that contributes to the transport of heat removed from the circuit portion 122. Therefore, with this configuration, the cooling efficiency of the electric circuit 12 can be further improved compared to the first modification.

[0056] Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the above embodiments merely illustrate some of the application examples of the present invention, and it is not intended that the technical scope of the present invention be limited to the specific configurations of the above embodiments.

[0057] For example, the coolant does not necessarily have to be oil OL, and an insulating liquid other than oil OL may be used as the coolant. Furthermore, to suitably generate the turbulent flow TF, in addition to accommodating the fibrous body 13 in the inverter case interior S, the fibrous body 13 may be provided, for example, at the inlet 11a. Providing the fibrous body 13 at the inlet 11a includes attaching the fibrous body 13 to the inlet 11a from outside the case 11, attaching the fibrous body 13 to the inlet 11a from inside the case 11 (inverter case interior S), and providing the fibrous body 13 in the middle of the inlet 11a.

[0058] The unit 100 may be configured to include a rotating electric machine 20 and / or a reducer 30, i.e., at least one of the rotating electric machine 20 and the reducer 30. In this case, the unit 100 may also be called, for example, a motor unit (a unit having at least a motor) or a power transmission device (a device having at least a power transmission mechanism). The motor is a rotating electric machine having an electric motor function and / or a generator function (at least one of an electric motor function and a generator function). The power transmission mechanism is, for example, a gear mechanism and / or a differential gear mechanism. A device (unit) having a motor and a power transmission mechanism is included in the concepts of both a motor unit and a power transmission device. [Explanation of symbols]

[0059] 10 Inverter 11 cases 11a Inlet 11b Outlet 12 Electrical Circuits 121 PCB 122 Circuit section 13 Fibrous bodies 20 Rotating Electric Machine 30 Reducer (power transmission mechanism) 50 Cooling device 51 Oil pump (pump) 60 Contamination 100 units C1 First circulation path (liquid flow path) OL oil (coolant) P1 Confluence (downstream point) TF Turbulence

Claims

1. The cooling device includes a coolant, an electric circuit, and a fibrous body. the electrical circuit is disposed within a liquid flow path of the cooling liquid; a flow of the cooling liquid passing through the fibrous body is supplied to the electric circuit disposed downstream of the fibrous body, thereby forming turbulence in the portion of the cooling liquid that directly cools the electric circuit; unit.

2. 2. The unit of claim 1, In the liquid flow path, a liquid flows from the pump toward the fibrous body, and a liquid flows from the electric circuit toward the pump. unit.

3. 2. The unit of claim 1, the electric circuit has a substrate and a circuit portion provided on a surface side of the substrate, the fibrous body is provided on the surface direction side of the circuit portion, unit.

4. 4. The unit of claim 3, a liquid flow inlet located upstream of the fibrous body; A liquid flow outlet is provided downstream of the fibrous body, When viewed from the surface direction, the inlet overlaps with the circuit portion, When viewed from the surface direction, the outlet is offset from the circuit portion. unit.

5. A unit according to any one of claims 1 to 4, The vehicle has a rotating electric machine and / or a power transmission mechanism, the coolant is used to lubricate the rotating electric machine and / or the power transmission mechanism; unit.

6. 2. The unit of claim 1, The vehicle has a rotating electric machine and / or a power transmission mechanism, the coolant is used to lubricate the rotating electric machine and / or the power transmission mechanism, a downstream point of the rotating electric machine and / or the power transmission mechanism and a downstream point of the electric circuit join together and are sucked into a suction port of a pump; unit.

Images