Vehicle Drive Layout With Nested Oil Cooler Between Outer Gears
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Solution Overview
Problem
The integration of an oil pump and oil cooler in a vehicle drive device increases its size, making it difficult to mount on a vehicle without enlarging the overall dimensions.
Innovation Solution
The oil cooler is positioned between gears on different axes, utilizing the space between outer gears to avoid increasing the device's size, and the inverter unit is placed in dead spaces created by the axial arrangement of the rotating electric machines.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If an oil pump and oil cooler are added to supply and cool oil to the driving force sources, then the lubrication and cooling functions are improved, but the device size increases making mounting difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The oil cooler is nested within the axial space between the first outer gear and second outer gear, utilizing the dead space that exists between these gears in the axial direction. This allows the oil cooler to be accommodated without increasing the overall radial or axial dimensions of the device, effectively nesting one component (oil cooler) within the spatial envelope of another (gear arrangement).
Solution Approach 2:
The invention utilizes the axial dimension between the first and second outer gears to position the oil cooler, transforming the problem from a two-dimensional plane arrangement to a three-dimensional spatial utilization. By positioning the oil cooler in the axial direction between gears that are spaced apart, the design exploits the Z-axis dimension to accommodate additional components without increasing the device footprint in the X-Y plane.
2Device complexity
If the first outer gear and second outer gear are spaced apart in the axial direction to accommodate the oil cooler, then the oil cooler can be integrated, but the axial length of the transmission system increases
Solution Approach 1:
The transmission system is segmented into two independent transmission paths (first transmission system and second transmission system) that operate on parallel axes. This segmentation allows the gears to be spaced apart axially to accommodate the oil cooler, as each transmission system can function independently without requiring the gears to be in direct contact or overlapping positions.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows the oil cooler and inverter unit to be integrated without enlarging the vehicle drive device, facilitating easier mounting and reducing overall dimensions.
Implementation Method 1
an oil cooler configured to cool the oil
Implementation Method 2
an oil pump configured to supply oil to the first driving force source and the second driving force source
Data Source
AI summary
A first transmission system includes at least one gear disposed on a second axis, the at least one gear including a first outer gear disposed on an outermost side in a radial direction, and a second transmission system includes at least one gear disposed on the second axis, the at least one gear including a second outer gear disposed on an outermost side in the radial direction. The first outer gear and the second outer gear are spaced apart from each other in an axial direction. An oil cooler is disposed between the first outer gear and the second outer gear in the axial direction in such a manner as to overlap at least either the first outer gear or the second outer gear as viewed in the axial direction.