Motor arrangement for an electrically powered vehicle

Abstract

A motor arrangement (1) for an electrically powered vehicle, comprising the following: - an electric motor (2), - an inverter (3), which is designed to provide a controllable alternating current for the electric motor (2), and - a cooling system, which is designed to dissipate heat from the electric motor (2) and from the inverter (3), wherein the cooling system comprises a cooling system of the inverter (3), a cooling system of the electric motor (2) and a double-walled hose (4), which extends between an outlet of the cooling system of the inverter (3) and an inlet of the cooling system of the electric motor (2), wherein the double-walled hose (4) has an inner region (9) and an outer region (10), wherein the outer region (10) is arranged coaxially around the inner region (9) and wherein the inner region (9) is fluidically connected to the cooling system of the inverter (3) and to the cooling system of the electric motor (2) and the outer region (10) is fluidically connected to a coolant supply.

Description

2024P01316 Motor arrangement for an electrically powered vehicle Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor arrangement for an electrically powered vehicle, comprising an electric motor and an inverter configured to provide a controllable alternating current for the electric motor.

[0002] Such a motor arrangement incorporates a cooling system designed to dissipate heat from the electric motor and the inverter. According to a current design, the coolant first circulates through the inverter unit, thereby removing heat, and then circulates through the motor unit, again removing heat.

[0003] According to this design, the coolant is already warm when it enters the electric motor. Therefore, the cooling capacity is already reduced, and the electric motor cannot be cooled optimally.

[0004] One object of the present invention is to improve the cooling of a motor arrangement for an electrically powered vehicle, comprising an electric motor and an inverter.

[0005] The problem is solved by the independent claim. Advantageous embodiments and further developments are the subject of the dependent claims.

[0006] According to one aspect of the invention, a motor arrangement for an electrically powered vehicle is provided, comprising an electric motor and an inverter configured to provide a controllable alternating current for the electric motor. The motor arrangement further comprises a cooling system configured to dissipate heat from the electric motor and the inverter. 2024P01316

[0007] The cooling system comprises an inverter cooling system, an electric motor cooling system, and a double-walled hose extending between the inverter cooling system outlet and the electric motor cooling system inlet. The double-walled hose has an inner and an outer section. The outer section is arranged coaxially around the inner section. The inner section is in fluid flow communication with both the inverter and electric motor cooling systems, while the outer section is in fluid flow communication with a coolant supply.

[0008] This motor arrangement has the advantage that the coolant, which enters the electric motor's cooling system after flowing through the inverter's cooling system, can be cooled again in the double-walled hose by a low-temperature coolant from the coolant supply. Therefore, the coolant temperature in the electric motor's cooling system is lower compared to conventional designs, resulting in improved cooling performance.

[0009] This has the further advantage of improving the performance of the electric motor, as measures to enhance the motor's ability to withstand high temperatures, which typically increase the motor's size and weight, are no longer necessary. Consequently, the motor assembly can be manufactured more cost-effectively while simultaneously exhibiting lower weight and greater durability.

[0010] According to one embodiment, the double-walled hose has a coolant inlet and a coolant outlet that are in flow communication with the outer region and are located at opposite ends of the hose. This inlet and outlet are also referred to as a secondary inlet and a secondary outlet, while the inlet and outlet of the inner region can be referred to as a primary inlet and a primary outlet.

[0011] According to this embodiment, the cooling effect of the coolant in the double-walled hose can act along the entire length of the hose. 2024P01316

[0012] According to one embodiment, an inner wall separating the inner and outer regions is made of copper or a copper alloy. This has the advantage of providing particularly good heat transfer between the two regions of the double-walled hose due to copper's high thermal conductivity.

[0013] The double-walled hose can be made entirely of metal, allowing it to withstand high temperatures and have high thermal conductivity.

[0014] According to one embodiment, an outer wall enclosing the outer area of ​​the hose has insulation to prevent heat exchange with the environment. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the environment around the hose is relatively hot, i.e., has a higher temperature than the coolant.

[0015] According to another embodiment, an outer wall enclosing the outer region of the hose has ribs on its outer surface. In this embodiment, the heat exchange between the outer region of the hose and the environment is improved by the ribs or similar structures. This embodiment is particularly advantageous when the environment surrounding the hose is relatively cool, i.e., has a lower temperature than the coolant.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, the motor arrangement further comprises at least one coolant reservoir for supplying coolant to the cooling system of the inverter, to the cooling system of the electric motor and to the outer area of ​​the double-walled hose.

[0017] According to one embodiment, the coolant for the outer section of the double-walled hose is drawn from the same reservoir as the coolant for the inverter cooling system and the electric motor cooling system. However, according to another embodiment, the coolant for the outer section of the double-walled hose can be drawn from a separate reservoir. Other coolants can be used if advantageous. Suitable coolants include water or a 50 / 50 mixture of glycol and water. 2024P01316

[0018] According to one aspect of the invention, an electrically powered vehicle is provided which has the described motor arrangement.

[0019] Embodiments of the invention are described with reference to schematic drawings.

[0020] Figure 1 shows a motor arrangement according to an embodiment of the invention,

[0021] Figure 2 shows a perspective view of a double-walled hose for the motor arrangement according to Figure 1 and

[0022] Figure 3 shows a partial sectional view of the double-walled hose according to Figure 2.

[0023] Figure 1 shows a motor arrangement 1 according to an embodiment of the invention. The motor arrangement 1 comprises an electric motor 2 for a vehicle and an inverter 3. The electric motor 2 and the inverter 3 each have a cooling system, which is not shown in the figures. A liquid coolant circulates through the cooling system of the inverter 3 and then flows through a double-walled hose 4 into the cooling system of the electric motor 2.

[0024] The double-walled hose 4 is shown schematically in Figure 1. In the embodiment shown in the figures, the double-walled hose 4 is a flexible metal hose. It has four connections, which are explained in more detail below.

[0025] The double-walled hose 4 is shown in more detail in Figures 2 and 3. Figure 2 shows a perspective view of the double-walled hose 4, and Figure 3 shows a partial sectional view of the double-walled hose 4. The hose 4 has four connections: a primary inlet 5 for coolant coming from the cooling system of the inverter 3 and a primary outlet 6 for coolant flowing into the cooling system of the electric motor 2. It also has a secondary inlet 7 and a secondary outlet 8.

[0026] The double-walled hose 4 has an inner wall 11 that encloses an inner area 9 and separates the inner area 9 from an outer area 10, and an outer wall 12 that encloses the outer area 10.

[0027] The primary inlet 5 and the primary outlet 6 are flow-connected through the inner section 9 of the double-walled hose 4. The primary inlet 5 is connected to the cooling system of the inverter 3. The primary outlet 6 is connected to the cooling system of the motor 2.

[0028] The secondary inlet 7 and the secondary outlet 8 are flow-connected via the outer section 10 of the double-walled hose 4. The outer section 10 of the double-walled hose 4 surrounds the inner section 9, from which it is separated by an inner wall 11 of the double-walled hose 4. The secondary inlet 7 and the secondary outlet 8 are connected to a coolant reservoir.

[0029] Both inlets 5, 7 and both outlets 6, 8 are positioned near the two ends of the double-walled hose 4.

[0030] Coolant coming from the cooling system of inverter 3 and flowing into the cooling system of electric motor 2 passes through the inner section 9 of the double-walled hose 4. Additional coolant, originating from a cooler reservoir than the coolant leaving the cooling system of inverter 3, flows through the outer section 10 of the double-walled hose 4 and cools the coolant flowing through the inner section 9. To achieve this, the inner wall 11 is made of a material with high thermal conductivity, such as copper.

[0031] The coolant reservoir supplying the outer area 10 can be the same general coolant reservoir that supplies the cooling systems of the inverter 3 and the electric motor 2 and the inner area 9. Alternatively, it can be a separate reservoir. 2024P01316 Reference numeral list 1 Engine arrangement 2 electric motors 3 inverters 4 double-walled hose 5 primary inlet 6 primary outlet 7 secondary entrance 8 secondary outlet 9 inner area 10 outer area 11 Wall

Claims

2024P01316 Claims 1. Motor arrangement (1) for an electrically powered vehicle, comprising the following: - an electric motor (2), - an inverter (3) designed to provide a controllable alternating current for the electric motor (2), - a cooling system designed to dissipate heat from the electric motor (2) and the inverter (3), wherein the cooling system comprises a cooling system of the inverter (3), a cooling system of the electric motor (2) and a double-walled hose (4) extending between an outlet of the cooling system of the inverter (3) and an inlet of the cooling system of the electric motor (2), wherein the double-walled hose (4) has an inner region (9) and an outer region (10), wherein the outer region (10) is arranged coaxially around the inner region (9), wherein the inner area (9) is in flow communication with the cooling system of the inverter (3) and with the cooling system of the electric motor (2) and the outer area (10) is in flow communication with a coolant supply.

2. Motor arrangement (1) according to claim 1, wherein the double-walled hose (4) has a secondary inlet (7) and a secondary outlet (8) which are in flow communication with the outer region (10) and are arranged at opposite ends of the hose (4).

3. Motor arrangement (1) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein an inner wall (11) separating the inner area (9) from the outer area (10) comprises copper or a copper alloy.

4. Motor arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein an outer wall (12) enclosing the outer area (10) of the hose (4) has insulation.

5. Motor arrangement (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, 2024P01316 wherein an outer wall (12) enclosing the outer area (10) of the hose (4) has ribs on its outer side.

6. Motor arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 5, which furthermore has at least one coolant reservoir for supplying coolant to the cooling system of the inverter (3), to the cooling system of the electric motor (2) and to the outer area (10) of the double-walled hose (4).

7. Electrically powered vehicle comprising a motor arrangement (1) according to any one of claims 1 to 6.

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