Vehicle Drive Device Axial Radial Dimension Reduction
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle drive devices with large axial dimensions pose challenges for mounting on vehicles of the transverse mount type, as they increase the radial dimension and axial length, limiting installation space, especially near the internal combustion engine.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle drive device is configured with the input member, wheel drive rotary electric machine, and speed change mechanism disposed coaxially and side by side in the axial direction, while the inverter device overlaps the speed change mechanism radially without overlapping the rotary electric machine, optimizing the axial and radial dimensions to reduce overall size and improve mountability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Area of stationary object
If the inverter device is disposed between the wheel drive rotary electric machine and the speed change mechanism in the axial direction, then the radial dimension of the entire device is suppressed, but the axial dimension of the entire device increases
Solution Approach 1:
The inverter device is repositioned from an axial arrangement to a radial overlap arrangement with the speed change mechanism. This dimensional change allows the inverter device to utilize the radial space above the speed change mechanism rather than extending the axial length, thereby reducing the axial dimension while maintaining compact radial dimensions.
2Adaptability or versatility
If the axial dimension of the device is large, then the inverter device can be disposed between the rotary electric machine and speed change mechanism, but it becomes difficult to mount on transverse mount type vehicles
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the arrangement dimension from axial to radial overlap, the device's axial dimension is reduced to a level suitable for transverse mount type vehicles, thereby improving vehicle mountability while maintaining all necessary functional components.
3Area of stationary object
If the inverter device overlaps the rotary electric machine radially, then the radial dimension is minimized, but the installation space near the internal combustion engine is limited
Solution Approach 1:
The inverter device is positioned to overlap specifically the speed change mechanism radially, rather than the rotary electric machine. This localized positioning utilizes the available radial space above the speed change mechanism while preserving the installation space near the internal combustion engine, providing flexibility for mounting auxiliaries.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle drive device including: an input member drivably coupled to an internal combustion engine; an output member drivably coupled to wheels; a single wheel drive rotary electric machine that transfers a drive force to the output member; a speed change mechanism provided in a power transfer path that connects between the wheel drive rotary electric machine and the output member; and an inverter device that controls the wheel drive rotary electric machine.