Vehicle Drive Unit Layout With Radial Capacitor Overlap
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Solution Overview
Problem
The axial size of vehicle drive devices cannot be efficiently reduced due to the overlapping arrangement of power switching elements and smoothing capacitors in the axial direction.
Innovation Solution
The power switching element and smoothing capacitor are fixed to the cover member and disposed between the cover member and the rotary electric machine in the axial direction, with the smoothing capacitor overlapping the power switching element in the radial direction.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the power switching element and smoothing capacitor are disposed to overlap each other in the axial direction, then the assembly is compact, but the axial size cannot be reduced efficiently
Solution Approach 1:
The patent transitions from axial overlapping to radial overlapping arrangement. The power switching element and smoothing capacitor are positioned to overlap when viewed in the radial direction rather than the axial direction, allowing both components to be disposed between the cover member and rotary electric machine in the axial direction while achieving compactness without increasing axial size.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where the power switching element and smoothing capacitor are positioned in overlapping radial positions, effectively nesting their spatial occupation. This allows both components to coexist in the limited space between the cover member and rotary electric machine without requiring additional axial length.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the power switching element and smoothing capacitor are disposed between the cover member and rotary electric machine, then integration is improved, but space arrangement becomes constrained
Solution Approach 1:
The patent utilizes radial dimension for component arrangement instead of solely relying on axial dimension. By positioning the power switching element and smoothing capacitor to overlap in the radial direction, the design integrates both components within the limited axial space between the cover member and rotary electric machine, effectively using the radial dimension to resolve space constraints.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent applies different spatial arrangements to different components based on their specific requirements. The power switching element and smoothing capacitor are positioned with radial overlapping, while maintaining their functional relationships with other components, optimizing the local space utilization in different regions of the assembly.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle drive device includes: a rotary electric machine including a rotor and a stator; a housing member forming a housing chamber that houses the rotary electric machine; a cover member connected to one end side of the housing member in an axial direction, facing the rotary electric machine in the axial direction, and including a support portion that rotatably supports the rotor; a power switching element electrically connected to a coil of the stator; and a smoothing capacitor electrically connected to the power switching element. The power switching element and the smoothing capacitor are fixed to the cover member and disposed between the cover member and the rotary electric machine in the axial direction. The smoothing capacitor overlaps the power switching element when viewed in a radial direction.