JP2005083491A - Catch tank - Google Patents

Abstract

<P>PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To avoid the insulating quality loss of a motor when using lubricating liquid for cooling the motor. <P>SOLUTION: In this catch tank 44, magnets M1, M2 are arranged for attracting iron powder particles contained in lubricating oil A1. The magnet M1 is arranged on the side wall of the catch tank 44 near a coil end cooling hole, while the magnet M2 is arranged on the bottom of the catch tank 44. <P>COPYRIGHT: (C)2005,JPO&NCIPI

Description

  The present invention relates to a catch tank that stores a lubricating oil because a driving force source and wheels are connected by a power transmission device, includes at least an electric motor as the driving power source, and uses the lubricating oil used in the power transmission device as a cooling medium for the electric motor. Related to the structure.

  A hybrid vehicle having a plurality of driving force sources, for example, an engine that outputs power by burning fuel and an electric motor that outputs power by supplying electric power has been proposed. An example of a hybrid vehicle equipped with a plurality of driving force sources is described in Patent Document 1 below. In the hybrid vehicle described in Patent Document 1, an engine and first and second motor / generators are provided as driving force sources.

  In recent years, the capacity of the first and second motor / generators has been increased from the viewpoint of increasing the output of the electric motor of the driving force source. In this case, the first and second motor / generators generate heat. It becomes a problem. In order to cool the first and second motor / generators, it has been proposed to use the lubricating oil used in the power transmission device stored in the catch tank as a cooling medium for the electric motor.

  However, since the lubricating oil circulates inside the power transmission device, it contains a lot of fine iron powder particles. Therefore, for example, if iron powder particles enter the coil end of the motor, the insulation quality of the motor may be impaired.

In order to remove iron powder particles from the lubricating oil circulating inside the power transmission device, a method of filtering the iron powder particles using a filter in the oil reservoir inside the power transmission device, iron powder using a magnet Methods for adsorbing particles are described in Patent Documents 2 to 5 below. However, since the supply of lubricating oil to the motor is already in a state of containing many iron powder particles, even when the techniques disclosed in these patent documents are adopted, The risk of impairing the insulation quality is fully considered.
JP 2003-130189 A JP 2000-108699 A JP-A-11-206063 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 5-86060 Japanese Utility Model Publication No. 62-45465

  The problem to be solved by the present invention lies in the loss of the insulation quality of the motor when lubricating oil is used for cooling the motor.

  An object of the present invention is to solve the above-described problems, and the present invention has the following features.

  First, in the catch tank of the present invention, a driving force source and wheels are connected by a power transmission device, the driving force source includes at least an electric motor, and lubricating oil used in the power transmission device is used as a cooling medium for the electric motor. Therefore, a catch tank for storing the lubricating oil, a storage region for storing the lubricating oil, and a lubricating oil guide for guiding and deriving the lubricating oil stored in the storing region to the electric motor A region and a foreign matter removing means for removing the foreign matter contained in the lubricating oil are provided.

  Further, as a preferable feature of the catch tank, the foreign matter removing means is provided in the liquid storage region or in the lubricating oil guide region.

  Further, as a further preferable feature of the catch tank, the foreign matter removing means is a magnet for adsorbing iron powder particles as foreign matter contained in the lubricating oil, or iron powder as foreign matter contained in the lubricating oil. It is a filter for filtering particles.

  According to the catch tank having the above characteristics, when the lubricating oil stored in the catch tank is used as a cooling medium for the electric motor, the foreign matter contained in the lubricating oil in the catch tank is removed by the foreign matter removing means. Foreign matter is not included in the lubricating oil immediately before being supplied to. As a result, the iron powder particles are prevented from entering the electric motor, particularly the coil end, and the insulation quality of the electric motor is not impaired.

  Hereinafter, the features of the catch tank according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. First, referring to FIG. 1 and FIG. 2, a power train of an FF hybrid vehicle will be described as an example in which a catch tank is used. 1 is a skeleton diagram showing a power train of an FF type hybrid vehicle, and FIG. 2 is a sectional view of a casing including a catch tank.

  With reference to FIG. 1, an engine 1 is provided as a driving force source, and a transaxle 2 is connected to an output side of the engine 1. The crankshaft 3 of the engine 1 is disposed in the vehicle width direction (left-right direction). The transaxle 2 has a casing 4, and a first motor / generator (MG) 5, a second motor / generator (MG) 6, a differential 7, and a power split mechanism 8 are provided inside the casing 4. Yes.

  The first motor / generator 5 includes a stator 9 fixed to the casing 4 and a rotor 10 provided to face the stator 9. Further, the rotor 10 is connected to the hollow shaft 11, and the rotor 10 and the hollow shaft 11 rotate integrally.

  The power split mechanism 8 is provided between the first motor / generator 5 and the second motor / generator 6, and the power split mechanism 8 is constituted by a so-called single pinion type planetary gear mechanism. That is, the power split mechanism 8 includes a sun gear 12, a ring gear 13 disposed concentrically with the sun gear 12, and a carrier 15 that holds the sun gear 12 and the pinion gear 14 that meshes with the ring gear 13. The sun gear 12 is formed on the outer periphery of the hollow shaft 11.

  A main shaft 16 is provided in the internal space of the hollow shaft 11. The main shaft 16 is disposed concentrically and substantially horizontally with the crankshaft 3, and is provided with a clutch 17 that controls a power transmission state between the crankshaft 3 and the main shaft 16. The carrier 15 is connected to the main shaft 16. A drive sprocket 19 is connected to the ring gear 13. The drive sprocket 19 is disposed between the first motor / generator 5 and the power split mechanism 8. The main shaft 16 is provided with a parking gear 50 (described later).

  The second motor / generator 6 includes a stator 20 fixed to the casing 4 and a rotor 21 provided facing the stator 20. A hollow shaft 22 is connected to the rotor 21. The hollow shaft 22 is disposed on the outer peripheral side of the main shaft 16, and the hollow shaft 22 and the main shaft 16 are configured to be relatively rotatable. The hollow shaft 22 and the ring gear 13 are connected.

  A counter drive shaft 23 and a counter driven shaft 24 are provided in parallel with the main shaft 16. A driven sprocket 25 and a counter drive gear 26 are formed on the counter drive shaft 23. A chain 27 is wound around the drive sprocket 19 and the driven sprocket 25. A counter driven gear 28 and a final drive pinion gear 29 are formed on the counter driven shaft 24, and the counter driven gear 28 and the counter drive gear 26 are meshed with each other.

  The differential 7 has an internal hollow differential case 30. The differential case 30 is configured to be rotatable. A differential diff ring gear 31 is provided on the outer periphery of the differential case 30, and the final drive pinion gear 29 and the diff ring gear 31 are engaged with each other. A pinion shaft 32 is attached to the inside of the differential case 30, and two pinion gears 33 are attached to the pinion shaft 32. Two side gears 34 are engaged with the pinion gear 33. Front drive shafts 35 are separately connected to the two side gears 34, and left and right wheels (front wheels) 36 are connected to each front drive shaft 35.

  Next, a lubricating device that forcibly lubricates and cools the power split mechanism 8 and the like will be described. First, an oil pump 37 is provided at a position corresponding to the end of the main shaft 16 opposite to the engine 1. A suction port 38 of the oil pump 37 communicates with an oil pan 39 through an oil passage 40. Lubricating oil A1 is stored in the oil pan 39, and a part of the diff ring gear 31 in the radial direction is immersed in the lubricating oil A1.

  A catch tank 44 as a liquid storage region is provided in the casing 4 and at a position corresponding to the upper side of the diff ring gear 31. With reference to FIG. 2, the catch tank 44 is a recess formed in the casing 4, and an opening 45 of the catch tank 44 is opened in the internal space of the casing 4.

  The catch tank 44 has an opening 45 formed by scooping up the lubricating oil A1 by the rotation of the parking gear 50 (arrow B1 in the figure) and scooping up the lubricating oil A1 by the rotation of the diffring gear 31 (arrow B2 in the figure). The lubricating oil A1 is supplied into the catch tank 44.

  In addition, in the catch tank 44, the oil passage 46 connecting the catch tank 44 and the oil passage provided in the main shaft 16 and the coil end of the first motor / generator 5 are guided to guide the lubricating oil A1 as a cooling medium. A first guide oil passage 48 serving as a lubricant guide region and a second guide oil passage 49 serving as a lubricant guide region are provided to guide and lead the lubricant A1 as a cooling medium to the coil ends of the second motor / generator 6. Is provided. The first guide oil passage 48 and the second guide oil passage 49 are provided at two locations, respectively, and coil end cooling holes H1 and H2 through which the first guide oil passage 48 communicates with the selected position of the catch tank 44, the second Coil end cooling holes H3 and H4 through which the guide oil passage 49 communicates are provided. In addition, the installation quantity of the 1st guide oil path 48 and the 2nd guide oil path 49 is suitably selected in consideration of cooling efficiency etc., and is not limited to two places, respectively.

  Next, the configuration of Example 1 of the foreign matter removing means for removing iron powder particles as foreign matter provided in the catch tank 44 will be described with reference to FIG. In the first embodiment, magnets M1 and M2 for adsorbing iron powder particles contained in the lubricating oil A1 are disposed inside the catch tank 44 as foreign matter removing means. The magnet M1 is disposed on the side wall of the catch tank 44 near the coil end cooling hole, and the magnet M2 is disposed on the bottom of the catch tank 44. The magnet M1 effectively adsorbs iron powder particles contained in the lubricating oil A1 immediately before being led out from the coil end cooling hole, and the magnet M2 effectively adsorbs iron powder particles precipitated on the bottom of the catch tank 44. To do. The position where the magnet is disposed is not limited to the case of the present embodiment, and is appropriately selected according to the capacity of the catch tank 44 and the position where the coil end cooling hole is provided.

  As described above, by arranging the magnets M1 and M2 for adsorbing the iron powder particles contained in the lubricating oil A1 inside the catch tank 44, the iron powder particles contained in the lubricating oil A1 in the catch tank 44 are disposed. Since it is removed by the magnets M1, M2, the lubricating oil A1 immediately before being supplied to the coil ends of the first and second motor generators 5, 6 does not contain iron powder particles. As a result, the iron powder particles are prevented from entering the coil ends of the first and second motor generators 5 and 6, and the insulation quality of the first and second motor generators 5 and 6 is not impaired.

  Next, the configuration of Example 2 of the foreign matter removing means for removing iron powder particles as foreign matter provided in the catch tank 44 will be described with reference to FIG. FIG. 3 schematically shows the configuration of the catch tank 44 in the second embodiment. In the second embodiment, as foreign matter removing means, filters 147, 148 for filtering iron powder particles contained in the lubricating oil A1 in the middle of the first and second guiding oil passages 48, 49 as the lubricating oil guide region. Is arranged.

  As described above, the filters 147 and 148 for filtering the iron powder particles contained in the lubricant oil A1 are arranged in the middle of the first and second guide oil passages 48 and 49, so that the lubricant oil in the catch tank 44 is provided. Since the iron powder particles contained in A1 are removed by the filters 147 and 148, the lubricating oil A1 immediately before being supplied to the coil ends of the first and second motor generators 5 and 6 contains iron powder particles. It will never be. As a result, the iron powder particles are prevented from entering the coil ends of the first and second motor generators 5 and 6, and the insulation quality of the first and second motor generators 5 and 6 is not impaired. It is also possible to dispose a filter 146 for filtering iron powder particles contained in the lubricating oil A1 in the oil passage 46.

  In addition, the structure which arrange | positions the filter for filtering the iron powder particle | grains contained in lubricating oil A1 inside the catch tank 44, and is contained in lubricating oil A1 in the middle of the 1st and 2nd guide oil paths 48 and 49. It is also possible to employ a configuration in which a magnet for adsorbing iron powder particles is disposed, and a configuration in which these configurations are combined as appropriate.

  Further, the hybrid vehicle having the engine and the electric motor has been described as an example. However, since the essence of the present invention is the cooling of the electric motor, the electric motor (single or plural) having no engine as a driving force source when there is one electric motor. The present invention can also be applied to a vehicle consisting only of the above.

  Therefore, the said form disclosed this time is an illustration in all the points, Comprising: It does not become a basis of limited interpretation. Therefore, the technical scope of the present invention is not interpreted only by the above-described embodiments, but is defined based on the description of the claims. Further, all modifications within the meaning and scope equivalent to the scope of the claims are included.

  The present invention can be widely applied not only to hybrid vehicles but also to vehicles including an electric motor as a driving force source.

It is a skeleton figure which shows the power train of the hybrid vehicle of FF format. It is sectional drawing of the casing containing a catch tank (Example 1). 6 is a schematic diagram illustrating a configuration of a catch tank 44 in Embodiment 2. FIG.

Explanation of symbols

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 Engine, 2 Transaxle, 3 Crankshaft, 4 Casing, 5 1st motor generator, 6 2nd motor generator, 7 Differential, 8 Power split mechanism, 9 Stator, 10 Rotor, 11 Hollow shaft, 12 Sun gear, 13 Ring gear, 14 pinion gear, 15 carrier, 16 main shaft, 17 clutch, 19 drive sprocket, 20 stator, 21 rotor, 22 hollow shaft, 23 counter drive shaft, 24 counter driven shaft, 25 driven sprocket, 26 counter drive gear, 27 chain, 28 counter driven gear, 29 final drive pinion gear, 30 differential case, 31 differential diff ring gear, 32 pinion shaft, 33 pinion gear, 34 Side gear, 35 Front drive shaft, 36 Wheel (front wheel), 37 Oil pump, 38 Suction port, 39 Oil pan, 40 Oil passage, 44 Catch tank, 45 Opening, 48 First guide oil passage, 49 Second guide oil Road, 50 parking gear, 147,148 filter, A1 lubricating oil, H1, H2, H3, H4 coil end cooling hole, M1, M2 magnet.

Claims (5)

A driving force source and wheels are connected by a power transmission device, and at least an electric motor is included as the driving force source, and the lubricating oil used in the power transmission device is used as a cooling medium for the electric motor. A catch tank,
A liquid storage region for storing the lubricating oil;
A lubricating oil guide area for guiding and deriving the lubricating oil stored in the liquid storage area to the electric motor;
Foreign matter removing means for removing foreign matter contained in the lubricating oil;
Catch tank equipped with.   The catch tank according to claim 1, wherein the foreign matter removing means is provided in the liquid storage region.   The catch tank according to claim 1, wherein the foreign matter removing means is provided in the lubricating oil guide region.   The catch tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the foreign matter removing means is a magnet for adsorbing iron powder particles as foreign matters contained in the lubricating oil.   The catch tank according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the foreign matter removing means is a filter for filtering iron powder particles as foreign matters contained in the lubricating oil.

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