Vehicle Drive Terminal Block Oil Cooling Layout
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Solution Overview
Problem
The existing technology for cooling a terminal block in a vehicle drive device is inefficient due to the confined oil passage, leading to insufficient heat release and increased temperature of the terminal block.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle drive device that includes a case housing a rotary electric machine, a bus bar connected to the power line, a hydraulic pump, and an oil passage with an ejection hole to facilitate the supply of cooling oil to the power line and bus bar.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the terminal block is confined in the oil passage, then the structure is compact, but the heat release efficiency deteriorates and the temperature of the terminal block increases
Solution Approach 1:
The oil passage is divided into a first oil passage and a second oil passage that are spatially separated. The first oil passage supplies cooling oil to the power line, while the second oil passage supplies cooling oil to the bus bar. This segmentation allows each passage to be optimized for its specific cooling target, improving overall heat release efficiency while maintaining a compact structure.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces a vertical dimension to the oil passage configuration by having the first and second oil passages extend in the vertical direction at different positions. This dimensional arrangement allows sufficient oil flow paths for both power line and bus bar cooling without increasing the horizontal footprint, thus maintaining compactness while improving heat release.
2Quantity of substance
If a sufficient amount of oil is supplied to the terminal block, then the cooling efficiency improves, but the device complexity increases due to difficulty in forming the passage
Solution Approach 1:
The cooling system is segmented into two independent oil passages instead of one complex confined passage. Each passage can be independently designed and formed to provide sufficient oil flow to its respective target (power line or bus bar), simplifying the overall passage design while ensuring adequate cooling oil supply.
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of confining the terminal block within a single oil passage, the patent inverts the approach by having oil passages extend to and around the terminal block components. The first and second oil passages are positioned to cool the power line and bus bar respectively, providing sufficient oil flow without confinement-related flow restrictions.
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
The solution effectively supplies a sufficient amount of oil to the power line and bus bar, enhancing cooling efficiency and preventing excessive temperature increases in the terminal block.
Implementation Method 1
an oil passage including an ejection hole through which oil discharged from the hydraulic pump is ejected toward at least one of the power line or the bus bar
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle drive device including a case, a rotary electric machine provided in the case and including power lines 1U, 1V, and 1W electrically connected to a power supply via a power converter (inverter IV), bus bars 7U, 7V, and 7W extending inside the case and joined to the power lines, a hydraulic pump (electric hydraulic pump 72), and an oil passage including ejection holes through which oil discharged from the hydraulic pump is ejected toward at least one of the power lines and the bus bars.