Drive device

Abstract

Provided is a drive device (1) which has an improved degree of freedom of placement when mounted on a vehicle. The drive device (1) comprises: a motor (3) which has a rotary shaft which extends in a first direction D1 and a second direction D2; an inverter (4) which is disposed on the first direction D1-side of the motor (3) and which supplies a drive current to the motor (3); a motor case (5); an inverter case (4); and a power supply terminal (8) to which power supply wiring (7) from a battery is connected. The inverter case (4) has a protrusion (13) which protrudes further to the radially outward side of the motor (3) than the motor case (5). The power supply terminal (8) protrudes in the second direction D2 from an outer wall of the protrusion (13) on the second direction D2-side.

Description

Drive device

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive device for an electric vehicle.

[0002] Conventionally, as a drive device for an electric vehicle, one including an electric motor and an inverter for controlling the electric motor is known (see, for example, Patent Document 1).

[0003] In the drive device described in Patent Document 1, an inverter (controller) is disposed above the electric motor. Power terminals for connecting a power source to the inverter are disposed so as to protrude outward from the side wall of the inverter case. The protruding direction is in a torsional positional relationship with the axis of the electric motor.

[0004] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2024-102571

[0005] However, according to the drive device of Patent Document 1, since the power terminals protrude outward from the inverter case, when mounting the drive device on a vehicle, it is necessary to consider the arrangement of the drive device so that interference between the power terminals and other vehicle-mounted components does not occur. That is, when mounting the drive device on a vehicle, there is a certain limitation in the degree of freedom of arrangement of the drive device in relation to other vehicle-mounted components.

[0006] An object of the present invention is, in view of such problems of the prior art, to improve the degree of freedom of arrangement when mounting on a vehicle in a drive device as much as possible.

[0007] The drive device of the present invention includes a motor having a rotating shaft extending in a first direction and a second direction opposite thereto, an inverter disposed on the first direction side of the motor for supplying drive power to the motor, a motor case for housing the motor, an inverter case for housing the inverter, and a power terminal to which a power wiring through which a current supplied from a battery to the inverter flows is connected.

[0008] The inverter case has a protruding portion protruding radially outward of the motor from the motor case. The power terminal protrudes in the second direction from an outer wall on the second direction side of the protruding portion.

[0009] According to the present invention, the power terminals are arranged in the space inside the L-shaped portion formed by the motor case and the inverter case, and the power terminals do not protrude from this space. Therefore, when mounting the drive unit on a vehicle, interference between the power terminals and other on-board components is suppressed compared to conventional drive units, and the degree of freedom in placement is improved.

[0010] This is a plan view of a drive device according to one embodiment of the present invention, viewed from above. This is a side view of the drive device in Figure 1, viewed from direction A. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line III-III in Figure 2. This is a perspective view showing the connection portion of the power terminal and power wiring terminal in the drive device in Figure 1 with the insulation removed. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line V-V in Figure 1. This is a cross-sectional view taken along line VI-VI in Figure 2. This is a perspective view showing the drive device in Figure 1 with the inverter case cover removed. This is a perspective view showing the drive device in Figure 1 with the inverter case, inverter, and wiring to the inverter removed. This is an exploded perspective view of the wiring portion between the inverter, motor, and battery in the drive device in Figure 1. This is a perspective view showing the relay terminal base member in Figure 9 and the drive current relay terminal at the coil end attached thereto. This is a perspective view showing the state in which the drive current relay terminal at the coil end is attached to the relay terminal base member in Figure 10.

[0011] Embodiments of the present invention will be described below with reference to the drawings. As shown in Figures 1 to 3, a drive device 1 according to one embodiment of the present invention comprises a motor 3 having a rotating shaft 2 extending in a first direction D1 and a second direction D2 opposite thereto, an inverter 4 arranged on the first direction D1 side of the motor 3 and supplying drive current to the motor 3, a motor case 5 housing the motor 3, and an inverter case 6 housing the inverter 4.

[0012] As shown in Figure 4, the end of the inverter case 6 on the second direction D2 side is provided with two power terminals 8, to which the positive and negative power wirings 7, through which the current supplied from the battery to the inverter 4 flows, are connected, respectively. At the end of the power wiring 7, a power wiring terminal 9 is provided, which is fixed to the power terminal 8 and connects the power wiring 7 to the power terminal 8. The portions of the power wiring terminal 9 and power terminal 8 are covered with a covering 10, as shown in Figure 1. Figure 4 shows the state with the covering 10 removed.

[0013] As shown in Figure 1, the inverter case 6 consists of an inverter case body 11 and an inverter case cover 12 that covers the inverter case body 11. The inverter case 6 has a protruding portion 13 that protrudes radially outward from the motor 3 compared to the motor case 5. The power terminals 8 inside the cover 10 are arranged to protrude in the second direction D2 from the end (outer wall) of the protruding portion 13 of the inverter case 6 on the second direction D2 side.

[0014] At least a portion of the power wiring terminal 9 of the power wiring 7 connected to the power terminal 8 is located on the first direction D1 side of the motor case 5 than on the second direction D2 side. In this embodiment, the end of the power wiring terminal 9 on the second direction D2 side is located on the first direction D1 side of the motor case 5 than on the second direction D2 side. The power terminal 8 is located on the first direction D1 side of the motor case 5 than on the second direction D2 side.

[0015] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the drive unit 1 further includes a supply current wiring member 14, the first end of which is connected to a power terminal 8 inside the covering 10 and the second end of which is connected to the inverter 4, through which the current supplied from the battery to the inverter 4 flows, and a drive current wiring member 16, the third end of which is connected to the inverter 4 and the fourth end of which is connected to the coil terminal 15 of the motor 3, through which the drive current of the motor 3 flows.

[0016] The supply current wiring member 14 and the drive current wiring member 16 are arranged parallel to each other within the end of the protrusion 13 of the inverter case 6 on the second direction D2 side. The supply current wiring member 14 and the drive current wiring member 16 extend along the rotation axis 2 of the motor 3 (see Figure 3).

[0017] A current supply relay terminal 17 is interposed between the power supply terminal 8 inside the covering 10 and the current supply wiring member 14, connecting them as an intermediary. Also, as shown in the cross-section of Figure 6, a drive current relay terminal 19 is interposed between the coil 18 of the motor 3 and the drive current wiring member 16, connecting them as an intermediary.

[0018] The supply current relay terminal 17 and the drive current relay terminal 19 are installed on a relay terminal base member 20 fixed to the inverter case body 11. The power terminal 8 is provided so as to protrude in the second direction D2 from the end of the relay terminal base member 20 on the second direction D2 side.

[0019] As shown in Figures 6 and 8, the coil ends 15 of the coil 18 are directly connected to the drive current relay terminal 19 without any other components in between. As shown in Figures 8 and 9, the relay terminal base member 20 has guides 21 that guide the coil ends 15 to the drive current relay terminal 19.

[0020] As shown in Figure 10, a drive current relay terminal 19 is inserted into the relay terminal base member 20, and a relay terminal insertion hole 22 is drilled in the relay terminal base member 20 for positioning and arranging the drive current relay terminal 19.

[0021] Furthermore, as shown in Figures 9 and 10, the relay terminal base member 20 has a female threaded member 25 into which a connecting bolt 24 connecting the drive current wiring terminal 23 and the drive current relay terminal 19 provided on the drive current wiring member 16 is screwed, and a supply current relay terminal 17 having a female threaded portion into which a connecting bolt 24 connecting the supply current wiring terminal 26 provided on the supply current wiring member 14 to the supply current relay terminal 17 is screwed.

[0022] As shown in Figure 7, the inverter case body 11 is provided with bolt holes 27 into which connecting bolts 24 connecting the drive current wiring terminal 23 and the drive current relay terminal 19 in Figure 9, and connecting bolts 24 connecting the supply current wiring terminal 26 to the supply current relay terminal 17 are inserted, as well as plugs 28 that close the bolt holes 27 into which the connecting bolts 24 are inserted.

[0023] As shown in Figure 3, a reduction mechanism 30 that reduces and transmits the rotation of the motor shaft 2 of the motor 3 to the output shaft 29, and a gear case 31 that covers the reduction mechanism 30 are arranged between the motor 3 and the inverter 4. A portion of the coil end 15 connected to the drive current wiring member 16 is arranged inside the gear case 31.

[0024] In this configuration, when establishing a wiring path to supply current from the battery to the inverter 4, the power wiring terminal 9 of the power wiring 7 is fastened to the power terminal 8 with a connecting bolt 24 (see Figure 9). This fastened portion is covered with a covering 10.

[0025] Then, the supply current relay terminal 17 of the supply current wiring member 14 connected to the inverter 4 is fastened to the supply current relay terminal 17 on the relay terminal base member 20 with a connecting bolt 24 (see Figure 9). This establishes a wiring path from the battery to the inverter 4.

[0026] On the other hand, when establishing a wiring path to supply drive current from the inverter 4 to the coil 18 of the motor 3, this is done by fastening the drive current wiring terminal 23 of the drive current wiring member 16 connected to the inverter 4 to the drive current relay terminal 19 of the coil end 15 with a connecting bolt 24.

[0027] During this fastening process, the coil end 15 is guided by the guide 21 of the relay terminal base member 20, and the drive current relay terminal 19 is inserted into the relay terminal insertion hole 22 of the relay terminal base member 20 and positioned (see Figures 10 and 11). Then, the drive current wiring terminal 23 is placed on top of the positioned drive current relay terminal 19.

[0028] Furthermore, the connecting bolt 24 is screwed into the female threaded member 25 of the relay terminal base member 20 through the terminal holes of the drive current wiring terminal 23 and the drive current relay terminal 19 (see Figure 9). This establishes a wiring path from the inverter 4 to the coil 18 of the motor 3.

[0029] When establishing such wiring routes, since the power terminal 8 and the inverter 4, and the inverter 4 and the motor 3 are separated in a direction along the rotation axis 2 of the motor 3, the direction in which each wiring member (supply current wiring member 14, drive current wiring member 16) for establishing the wiring route extends is along the rotation axis 2 of the motor 3. Therefore, the connection work of the wiring members can be performed with good workability and while the wiring members are compactly housed inside the inverter case 6.

[0030] Furthermore, when positioning and arranging the drive current relay terminal 19 of the coil end 15 on the relay terminal base member 20, the coil end 15 is guided by the guide 21 of the relay terminal base member 20, and the drive current relay terminal 19 is inserted into the relay terminal insertion hole 22 of the relay terminal base member 20. Thus, the positioning and arranging of the relay terminal base member 20 can be performed with good workability.

[0031] Furthermore, the connection between the drive current wiring member 16 and the drive current relay terminal 19, and the connection between the supply current wiring member 14 and the supply current relay terminal 17 are performed with high work efficiency by fastening the connecting bolts 24 to the female threads. At that time, the connecting bolts 24 are inserted through the bolt holes 27 of the inverter case body 11 and fastened to the female threads easily.

[0032] In the drive unit 1, where the wiring path is established in this manner, the power supplied from the battery is supplied to the inverter 4 via the positive and negative power wiring 7, power wiring terminal 9, power terminal 8, supply current relay terminal 17, and supply current wiring member 14, where it is converted to three-phase AC and output.

[0033] The three-phase alternating current output from the inverter 4 is supplied to the coil 18 of the motor 3 via the drive current wiring member 16, drive current wiring terminal 23, drive current relay terminal 19, and coil terminal 15, respectively, to drive the motor 3. The driving force of the motor 3 is transmitted from the output shaft 29 to the drive wheels of the vehicle via sprockets and the like.

[0034] When this drive unit 1 is mounted on a motorcycle or the like and used as a power source, the protruding portion 13 of the inverter case 6 is positioned on the front F side of the vehicle, and the output shaft 29 side of the motor 3 is positioned on the rear R side of the vehicle (see Figure 1). In this case, the power terminal 8 is located in the space 32 inside the L-shaped portion formed by the motor case 5 and the inverter case 6 (see Figure 1), so that the drive unit 1 can be mounted on a motorcycle or the like with a high degree of freedom in placement while avoiding interference between the power terminal 8 and other on-board components.

[0035] Furthermore, at least a portion of the power wiring terminals 9 connected to the power terminal 8 is located on the first direction D1 side of the motor case 5 than the second direction D2 side end, and moreover, all of the second direction D2 side ends of the power terminal 8 or power wiring terminals 9 are located on the first direction D1 side of the motor case 5 than the second direction end. For this reason, the drive unit 1 can be mounted on motorcycles and the like with a higher degree of freedom in placement.

[0036] As described above, according to this embodiment, the power terminal 8 protrudes in the second direction D2 from the outer wall on the second direction D2 side of the protruding portion 13 of the inverter case 6, thereby improving the degree of freedom in placement on vehicles such as motorcycles. Furthermore, when the drive unit 1 is mounted on a motorcycle or the like, the power terminal 8 is positioned closer to the center of the vehicle, making it less likely for foreign objects to come into contact with the high-voltage power terminal 8, thus suppressing the occurrence of malfunctions in the vehicle's electrical system.

[0037] Furthermore, since at least a portion of the power wiring terminals 9 connected to the power terminal 8 are located on the first direction D1 side rather than the end of the motor case 5 on the second direction D2 side, interference with other on-board components due to the protrusion of the power terminal 8 is suppressed compared to conventional drive units, and the degree of freedom in placement on the vehicle is improved.

[0038] Furthermore, since the end of the power terminal 8 or power wiring terminal 9 on the second direction D2 side is located on the first direction D1 side of the motor case 5 on the second direction D2 side, the entire power terminal 8 or power wiring terminal 9 is arranged in the space inside the L-shaped portion formed by the motor case 5 and the inverter case 6. For this reason, compared to conventional drive units, interference with other on-board components due to the protrusion of the power terminal 8 can be suppressed, and the degree of freedom in placement on the vehicle can be further improved.

[0039] Furthermore, the supply current wiring member 14 and the drive current wiring member 16 are arranged parallel to each other within the end of the protruding portion 13 of the inverter case 6 on the second direction D2 side, and are wired together between the power terminal 8 and the inverter 4, and between the inverter 4 and the motor 3. This improves the workability of the wiring.

[0040] Further, since the supply current wiring member 14 and the drive current wiring member 16 are arranged in the inverter case 6, a seal between the wiring members and the inverter case 6 becomes unnecessary as compared with the case where these wiring members pass outside the inverter case 6. Therefore, the drive device 1 that is inexpensive and reduced in size can be provided.

[0041] Further, since the supply current wiring member 14 and the drive current wiring member 16 extend along the rotation shaft 2 of the motor 3, the power supply terminal 8, the inverter 4, and the inverter 4 and the motor 3 are separated in the direction of the rotation shaft 2 of the motor 3.

[0042] Therefore, the extending directions of the wiring members connecting the power supply terminal 8 and the inverter 4 and the inverter 4 and the motor 3, respectively, are along the rotation shaft 2 of the motor 3. Therefore, the wiring members can be connected with good workability, and the wiring members can be compactly accommodated in the inverter case 6.

[0043] Further, a supply current relay terminal 17 that connects between the power supply terminal 8 and the supply current wiring member 14 and a drive current relay terminal 19 that connects between the coil 18 of the motor 3 and the drive current wiring member 16 are installed on a single relay terminal base member 20. Thereby, since the supply current relay terminal 17 and the drive current relay terminal 19 are aggregated on the single relay terminal base member 20, the drive device 1 can be reduced in size.

[0044] Further, since the coil end 15 is directly connected to the drive current relay terminal 19 without passing through other members such as a bus bar, the drive device 1 can be made more inexpensive and smaller.

[0045] Further, since the coil end 15 is guided by a guide 21 formed on the relay terminal base member 20, the drive current relay terminal 19 at the end of the coil end 15 can be guided to the arrangement position on the relay terminal base member 20 with good workability.

[0046] In addition, since the drive current relay terminal 19 is inserted and the relay terminal insertion hole 22 for positioning and arranging the drive current relay terminal 19 on the relay terminal base member 20 is formed in the relay terminal base member 20, the drive current relay terminal 19 guided to the arrangement position can be positioned and arranged at the arrangement position on the relay terminal base member 20 with good workability.

[0047] In addition, in the relay terminal base member 20, a female screw member 25 into which a connection bolt 24 for connecting the drive current wiring terminal 23 and the drive current relay terminal 19 is screwed, and a supply current relay terminal 17 having a female screw portion into which a connection bolt 24 for connecting the supply current wiring terminal 26 to the supply current relay terminal 17 is screwed are embedded. Therefore, the connection between the drive current wiring member 16 and the drive current relay terminal 19, and the connection between the supply current wiring member 14 and the supply current relay terminal 17 can be easily performed with high workability by tightening the connection bolt 24 to the female screw.

[0048] In addition, since the inverter case 6 is provided with a bolt hole 27 into which the connection bolt 24 is inserted and a plug 28 for closing the bolt hole 27, the connection between the terminals by the connection bolt 24 can be easily performed.

[0049] In addition, since the coil end 15 is connected to the drive current wiring member 16 through the inside of the gear case 31 of the speed reduction mechanism 30 located between the motor 3 and the inverter 4, even in the drive device 1 having the speed reduction mechanism 30 between the motor 3 and the inverter 4, it can be configured to be small and inexpensive.

[0050] As described above, the embodiments of the present invention have been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the drive device of the present invention can exhibit the effects of the present invention not only in motorcycles but also when mounted on other vehicles.

[0051] 1...Drive unit, 2...Rotating shaft, 3...Motor, 4...Inverter, 5...Motor case, 6...Inverter case, 7...Power wiring, 8...Power terminal, 9...Power wiring terminal, 10...Sheathing, 11...Inverter case body, 12...Inverter case cover, 13...Protrusion, 14...Supply current wiring member, 15...Coil end, 16...Drive current wiring member, 17...Supply current relay terminal, 18...Coil, 19...Drive current relay terminal, 20...Relay terminal base member, 21...Guide, 22...Relay terminal insertion hole, 23...Drive current wiring terminal, 24...Connecting bolt, 25...Female thread member, 26...Supply current wiring terminal, 27...Bolt hole, 28...Plug, 29...Output shaft, 30...Reduction mechanism, 31...Gear case, 32...Space.

Claims

1. A drive device for an electric vehicle comprising: a motor having a rotating shaft extending in a first direction and a second direction opposite thereto; an inverter disposed on the first direction side of the motor and supplying drive current to the motor; a motor case housing the motor; an inverter case housing the inverter; and power terminals to which power wiring through which current supplied from a battery to the inverter is connected, wherein the inverter case has a protruding portion that protrudes radially outward from the motor than the motor case, and the power terminals protrude in the second direction from the outer wall on the second direction side of the protruding portion.

2. The drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that at least a portion of the terminals of the power wiring connected to the power terminal are located on the first direction side of the motor case, rather than on the second direction side end.

3. The drive device according to claim 1, characterized in that the end of the power terminal or the terminal of the power wiring on the second direction side is located on the first direction side than the end of the motor case on the second direction side.

4. The drive device according to claims 1 to 3, comprising: a supply current wiring member whose first end is connected to the power terminal and whose second end is connected to the inverter, through which current supplied from the battery to the inverter flows; and a drive current wiring member whose third end is connected to the inverter and whose fourth end is connected to the coil end of the motor, through which drive current for the motor flows, wherein the supply current wiring member and the drive current wiring member are arranged in parallel within the end of the protruding portion of the inverter case on the second direction side.

5. The drive device according to claim 4, characterized in that the supply current wiring member and the drive current wiring member extend along the rotation axis of the motor.

6. The drive device according to claim 4, further comprising a supply current relay terminal connecting the power terminal and the supply current wiring member, a drive current relay terminal connecting the motor coil and the drive current wiring member, and a relay terminal base member on which the supply current relay terminal and the drive current relay terminal are installed.

7. The drive device according to claim 6, characterized in that the coil terminal is directly connected to the drive current relay terminal without the use of other components.

8. The drive device according to claim 7, characterized in that the coil end is guided by a guide formed on the relay terminal base member.

9. The drive device according to claim 7, characterized in that the drive current relay terminal is inserted into the relay terminal base member and a relay terminal insertion hole is drilled in the relay terminal base member for positioning and arranging the drive current relay terminal.

10. The drive device according to claim 9, characterized in that the relay terminal base member has a female threaded member into which a connecting bolt for connecting a terminal provided on the drive current wiring member and the drive current relay terminal is screwed, and a supply current relay terminal having a female threaded portion into which a connecting bolt for connecting a terminal provided on the supply current wiring member to the supply current relay terminal is screwed.

11. The drive device according to claim 10, characterized in that the inverter case is provided with bolt holes into which each connecting bolt is inserted, and plugs for closing the bolt holes.

12. The drive device according to claim 4, further comprising a reduction mechanism disposed between the motor and the inverter for reducing and transmitting the rotation of the motor's rotating shaft to the output shaft, and a gear case covering the reduction mechanism, wherein the coil ends are connected to the drive current wiring member through the gear case.

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