Housings for rotating electric machines, rotating electric machines, and drive systems

Abstract

To provide a rotary electric machine housing, a rotary electric machine, and a driving device that can suppress or prevent the reduction of a sound vibration suppression effect.SOLUTION: A rotary electric machine housing has a double cylindrical shape. The rotary electric machine housing comprises: a cylindrical outer member; a cylindrical inner member; an annular sealing member at one end side for sealing between the outer member and the inner member at the one end side of the housing in the axial direction; another annular sealing member at the other end side for sealing at the other end side; and a flow path for a rotary electric machine coolant, which is formed surrounded by these members. The inner member includes a convex press-fit part which is arranged along in the circumferential direction of the inner member at the one end side in the axial direction and on the outer peripheral side of the inner member, and which comes into pressure contact with the inner peripheral surface of the outer member. The press-fit part is arranged in more central side than the sealing member at the one end side in the axial direction.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a housing for a rotating electric machine, a rotating electric machine, and a drive device, and more particularly, to a housing for a rotating electric machine having a double cylindrical shape, a rotating electric machine provided with the same, and a drive device.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, a rotating electric machine having a structure capable of forming a coolant flow path inside a housing has been proposed (see Patent Document 1). In the housing 1 of the rotating electric machine disclosed in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1, an inner housing 1i is fixed to an outer housing 1o by press-fitting or the like at one end in the axial direction, and is fastened to the outer housing 1o by bolts 5 at the other end in the axial direction. Further, an O-ring 6a, which is a seal member provided on one end side in the axial direction, is provided on the center side in the axial direction with respect to a fixed range X fixed by press-fitting or the like.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0003]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0004] In a rotating electric machine as disclosed in FIG. 1 of Patent Document 1, due to the assembly structure, components having a temperature distribution such as a gearbox may be provided adjacent to the side of the fixed range X of the housing 1 (the right side in FIG. 1). In such a rotating electric machine, since the fixed range fixed by press-fitting or the like is closer to the components such as the gearbox than the seal member provided on one end side in the axial direction, the fixed range may be affected by the temperature distribution of the components such as the gearbox. As a result, a portion where the press-fitting force is small may occur in the fixed range fixed by press-fitting, and the sound and vibration suppression effect may be reduced.

[0005] The present invention has been made in view of the problems of the prior art, and aims to provide a housing for a rotating electric machine, a rotating electric machine, and a drive device that can suppress or prevent the reduction of the sound and vibration suppression effect. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The inventors of the present invention conducted extensive research to achieve the above objective and found that the objective can be achieved by providing a predetermined press-fit portion of the inner member on one axial end of the housing, on a central side relative to the one-end sealing member, thereby completing the present invention.

[0007] In other words, the rotating electric machine housing of the present invention is a rotating electric machine housing having a double cylindrical shape. This rotating electric machine housing comprises a cylindrical outer member, a cylindrical inner member, an annular one-end sealing member that seals the space between the outer member and the inner member at one end in the axial direction of the housing, and an annular other-end sealing member that seals at the other end, and has a flow path for the refrigerant of the rotating electric machine formed by being surrounded by these members. The inner member has a convex press-fit portion that is located at one end in the axial direction and on the outer circumference of the inner member, and presses against the inner circumferential surface of the outer member. The press-fit portion is located in the axial direction, closer to the center than the one-end sealing member. It consists of multiple press-fit pieces, In the circumferential direction, gaps are formed between the press-fit pieces, and the width of these gaps increases as the flow direction of the refrigerant for the rotating electric machine progresses from the upstream side to the downstream side. .

[0008] Furthermore, the rotating electric machine of the present invention is equipped with the above-described housing for the rotating electric machine.

[0009] Furthermore, the drive device of the present invention comprises the above-mentioned rotating electric machine and a gearbox provided adjacent to one end of the housing in the axial direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0010] According to the present invention, a predetermined press-fit portion of the inner member is provided on one axial end of the housing, closer to the center than the seal member on the one end, thereby providing a housing for a rotating electric machine, a rotating electric machine, and a drive device that can suppress or prevent a reduction in the sound and vibration suppression effect. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0011] [Figure 1] This is a schematic partial cross-sectional view showing one embodiment of a drive device to which the first embodiment of the rotating electric machine housing of the present invention is applied. [Figure 2] This is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the inner member of the rotating electric machine housing of the second embodiment. [Figure 3] This is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the inner member of the rotating electric machine housing of the third embodiment. [Figure 4] This is a schematic explanatory diagram showing the inner member of the rotating electric machine housing of the fourth embodiment. [Modes for carrying out the invention]

[0012] The rotating electric machine housing, rotating electric machine, and drive unit of the present invention will be described in detail below with reference to the drawings. Note that the dimensional ratios in the drawings cited below are exaggerated for illustrative purposes and may differ from the actual ratios.

[0013] (First Embodiment) Figure 1 is a partial cross-sectional view of the rotating electric machine 10 in the drive unit 1 of this embodiment, cut vertically through the rotation axis O. As shown in Figure 1, the drive unit 1 of this embodiment comprises a rotating electric machine 10 and a gearbox 20 provided adjacent to one end of the rotating electric machine 10 (right side in Figure 1), with the axial direction of the rotating electric machine 10 aligned horizontally. The rotating electric machine 10 and the gearbox 20 are fastened together by a plurality of bolts 15 at flanges provided on them. Only one bolt 15 is shown in Figure 1.

[0014] As shown in Figure 1, the rotating electric machine 10 of this embodiment comprises a rotor shaft 11, a rotor 12, a stator 13, a housing 14, and ball bearings 16. The stator 13 has a stator core 131 and coils 132 and is fixed to the inside of the housing 14 by shrink fitting or the like. The rotor 12 has a rotor shaft 11 and is rotatably supported in the housing 14 via ball bearings 16. The housing 14 further has a cover 146, and the cover 146 is also provided with similar ball bearings 16. The housing 14 and the cover 146 are fastened together by a plurality of bolts 147 at flanges provided on them. Only one bolt 147 is shown in Figure 1.

[0015] As shown in Figure 1, the housing 14 of this embodiment has a double cylindrical shape and comprises a cylindrical outer member 141, a cylindrical inner member 142, an annular one-end sealing member 143 that seals the space between the outer member 141 and the inner member 142 at one end of the housing 14 in the axial direction (right side in Figure 1), and an annular other-end sealing member (144) that seals at the other end. The housing 14 has a flow path 14a for a refrigerant (not shown) for a rotating electric machine, which is formed by being surrounded by the outer member 141, the inner member 142, the one-end sealing member 143, and the other-end sealing member 144. Here, the outer member 141 and the inner member 142 can be made of, for example, an aluminum alloy. Also, elastic O-rings can be used as the one-end sealing member 143 and the other-end sealing member.

[0016] Furthermore, the inner member 142 has a convex press-fit portion 142 located on one axial end (right side in Figure 1) and on the outer circumference of the inner member 142, which is provided along the circumferential direction of the inner member 142 and presses against the inner circumferential surface 141a of the outer member 141. This press-fit portion 142 fixes one end of the inner member 142. The outer member 141 and the inner member 142 are fastened together by multiple bolts 145 at a flange provided on the other end. Only one bolt 145 is shown in Figure 1.

[0017] Furthermore, the press-fitting portion 142A is provided on the central side of the housing 14 in the axial direction, closer to the center than the one-end side seal member 143. When assembling the inner member 142 to the outer member 141, the other-end side seal member 144, the one-end side seal member 143, and the press-fitting portion 142A contact the outer member 141 in this order.

[0018] Here, in the present embodiment, the rotating electric machine 10 includes a refrigerant mechanism (not shown) for a rotating electric machine that uses water as a refrigerant for the rotating electric machine. Further, the gearbox 20 includes a gearbox cooling mechanism 21 that uses water as a refrigerant for the lower surface of the gearbox to cool the lower surface side of the gearbox 20, and another gearbox cooling mechanism (not shown) that uses oil as a refrigerant for the interior of the gearbox to cool the interior of the gearbox. The dotted line OL in the figure indicates the oil level inside the gearbox 20. Also, since most of the gearbox 20 is lubricated and cooled by scooping up oil by a gear (not shown), the upper side is difficult to cool and tends to become relatively hot. Furthermore, since the rotating electric machine 10 and the gearbox 20 are connected and abutted against each other by their respective housings, the rotating electric machine 10 is likely to receive heat from the gearbox 20, which is at a higher temperature than the rotating electric machine 10 itself, particularly from the upper side of the gearbox 20. In the drive device 1 including such a rotating electric machine 10 and a gearbox 20, for example, in the vicinity of the gearbox 20, the temperature of the upper side of the inner member 142 of the housing 14 is about 115°C, and the temperature of the lower side is about 95°C. In FIG. 1, the case where oil is used as a refrigerant for the interior of the gearbox to cool the interior of the gearbox 20 is illustrated, but water may be used as a refrigerant for the interior of the gearbox.

[0019] Also, in the present embodiment, the rotating electric machine 10 may be an electric motor (motor) mounted on a vehicle, a generator, or a motor generator that can function as both an electric motor and a generator. Further, the gearbox 20 can function as a speed reducer or a speed increaser according to the type of the rotating electric machine 10.

[0020] Next, the advantages of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, since the press-fitting portion 142A is provided closer to the center of the housing 14 than the one-end-side seal member 143 in the direction, the press-fitting portion 142A is arranged in a region where the temperature change is small due to the refrigerant for the rotating electric machine, and it becomes difficult to be affected by the temperature distribution of the gear box 20. Thereby, the change in the press-fitting cost can be suppressed. As a result, in the rotating electric machine and the drive device provided with this housing, the reduction of the sound and vibration suppression effect is suppressed or prevented.

[0021] Also, FIGS. 2 to 4 are diagrams for explaining embodiments of the housing for a rotating electric machine, the rotating electric machine, and the drive device of the present invention. In the following embodiments, the same reference numerals are given to the same constituent parts as those in the above-described first embodiment, and detailed descriptions of the invention are omitted.

[0022] (Second Embodiment) The upper view of FIG. 2 is a perspective view schematically showing the inner member 142' in the housing for a rotating electric machine of this embodiment, the central view of FIG. 2 is a side view of the inner member in the upper view seen from the back side, and the lower view of FIG. 2 is a side view of the inner member in the upper view seen from the front side. In FIG. 2, the one-end-side seal member 143 and the other-end-side seal member 144 attached to the inner member 142' are shown. Also, in the central view of FIG. 2, in order to clearly show the flow direction indicated by the arrow of the refrigerant for the rotating electric machine flowing from the inlet to the outlet, the lower side and the upper side are shown in reverse.

[0023] As shown in FIG. 2, in the housing for a rotating electric machine of this embodiment, it has the same structure as the housing for a rotating electric machine of the first embodiment, except that the flow path (groove) 14a in the inner member 142' is formed in a spiral shape that reaches from the inlet to the outlet in about two turns.

[0024] Next, the advantages of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, since the flow path (groove) 14a is formed in the above-described spiral shape, there is an advantage that it becomes more difficult to be affected by the temperature distribution of the gear box.

[0025] (Third Embodiment) The upper view of Figure 3 is a side view of the inner member 142'' in the rotating electric machine housing of this embodiment, viewed from the rear, similar to Figure 2, while the lower view of Figure 3 is a side view of the inner member 142'' viewed from the front. In the upper view of Figure 3, the downward and upward directions are reversed to make the flow direction of the refrigerant for the rotating electric machine, indicated by the arrows, easier to understand.

[0026] As shown in Figure 3, the housing for the rotating electric machine of this embodiment has the same structure as the second housing for the rotating electric machine, except that the press-fit portion consists of a plurality of press-fit pieces 142A to 142K, and a gap 142a is formed between the press-fit pieces (for example, press-fit pieces 142D, 142E or press-fit pieces 142I, 142J) in the circumferential direction.

[0027] Next, the advantages of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, since a gap is formed as described above, in addition to the advantages of the above-described embodiment, there is the advantage that one end of the housing (right side in Figure 3) can be effectively cooled while suppressing changes in the press-fit depth.

[0028] (Fourth Embodiment) The upper view of Figure 4 is a side view of the inner member 142''' in the rotating electric machine housing of this embodiment, viewed from the rear, similar to Figure 2, while the lower view of Figure 4 is a side view of the inner member 142''' viewed from the front. In the upper view of Figure 4, the downward and upward directions are reversed to make the flow direction of the refrigerant for the rotating electric machine, indicated by the arrows, easier to understand.

[0029] As shown in Figure 4, the rotating electric machine housing of this embodiment has the same structure as the third rotating electric machine housing, except that the width of the gaps 142a to 142j increases as it moves from the upstream side to the downstream side in the flow direction of the refrigerant for the rotating electric machine, as indicated by the arrows in the figure.

[0030] Next, the advantages of this embodiment will be described. According to this embodiment, since the gap width is formed to have the relationship described above, in addition to the advantages of the above-described embodiment, there is the advantage that the downstream side of the flow path, which is more thermally severe, can be effectively cooled.

[0031] Although the present invention has been described above with reference to some embodiments, the present invention is not limited thereto, and various modifications are possible within the scope of the gist of the present invention.

[0032] In this invention, in order to suppress or prevent a reduction in the noise and vibration suppression effect in a rotating electric machine, a predetermined press-fit portion of the inner member is provided on one axial end of the housing, closer to the center than the seal member on the one end.

[0033] Therefore, from the viewpoint of being able to manufacture with simple equipment, the example described was the case in which the other ends of the outer member 141 and the inner member 142 are fastened with bolts 145, but it is not limited to this. For example, the other ends of the outer member 141 and the inner member 142 may be fixed by welding.

[0034] Furthermore, while a gearbox was used as an example of a component adjacent to a rotating electric machine from the perspective of miniaturizing the drive system, the explanation is not limited to this. For example, an internal combustion engine including the exhaust system could also be used as an example of a component adjacent to a rotating electric machine.

[0035] Furthermore, while water-cooled cooling mechanisms were given as examples for rotating electric machines, water-cooled cooling mechanisms for gearboxes, and oil-cooled cooling mechanisms for other gearboxes, conventional known cooling mechanisms can be used as appropriate.

[0036] Furthermore, for example, the components described above are not limited to the configurations shown in each embodiment. It is also possible to change the details of the specifications and materials of components such as the rotor shaft, rotor, stator, cover, and gearbox, or to replace or combine components of one embodiment with components of another embodiment. [Explanation of symbols]

[0037] 1. Drive unit 10 Rotating Electric Machines 11 Rotor shaft 12 rotors 13 status 131 Stator Core 132 coils 14 Housing 14a Channel (groove) 141 Outer component 141a Inner surface 142,142',142'',142''' Inner material 142a~142j Gap 142A~142K Press-fit section (Press-fit section piece) 143 One-end sealing member 144 Other end sealing member 145 volts 146 Cover 147 volts 15 volts 16 ball bearings 20 Gearbox 21 Cooling mechanism for gearbox O Rotation axis OL oil level

Claims

1. A double-tube housing for a rotating electric machine, The housing comprises a cylindrical outer member, a cylindrical inner member, an annular one-end sealing member that seals the space between the outer member and the inner member at one end in the axial direction of the housing, and an annular other-end sealing member that seals at the other end, and has a flow path for a refrigerant for a rotating electric machine formed by being surrounded by these members. The inner member has a convex press-fit portion that is located at one end in the axial direction and on the outer circumference of the inner member, and is provided along the circumferential direction of the inner member, and presses against the inner circumferential surface of the outer member. The press-fit portion is located in the axial direction, closer to the center than the one-end sealing member, and consists of a plurality of press-fit pieces. In the circumferential direction, a gap is formed between the press-fit pieces. A housing for a rotating electric machine, characterized in that the width of the gap increases as it progresses from the upstream side to the downstream side in the flow direction of the refrigerant for the rotating electric machine.

2. A rotating electric machine characterized by comprising the housing for a rotating electric machine described in Claim 1.

3. A drive device comprising the rotating electric machine described in Claim 2 and a gearbox provided adjacent to the one end of the housing in the axial direction.

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