JP2020054066A - vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a vehicle which is driven by using rotating force outputted by a motor as driving force and capable of suppressing overheating of the motor and effectively utilizing thermal energy collected while cooling the motor.SOLUTION: A driving device 20 includes a motor 30 and a speed reduction mechanism part 40 having a speed reduction mechanism 44 in a speed reduction mechanism housing 42. The speed reduction mechanism housing 42 has oil in it. A heat medium flow channel 80 capable of circulating a heat medium is provided around the motor 30 and around the speed reduction mechanism part 40. The heat medium flow channel 80 can circulate the heat medium in such a manner that a flow of the heat medium from a motor 30 side to a speed reduction mechanism part 40 side and a flow of the heat medium from a speed reduction mechanism part 40 side to the motor 30 side are alternately formed. An internal wall 64 is provided inside the speed reduction mechanism housing 42 so as to separate a speed reduction mechanism arranging area 66 in which the speed reduction mechanism 44 is provided and a passage 68 which is located more toward the outer periphery side than that.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle that is driven by using rotational force output from a motor as power.

  2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, there has been provided a vehicle such as an electric vehicle disclosed in Patent Literature 1 that is driven by a rotational force output from a motor as power. In the electric vehicle disclosed in Patent Literature 1 below, a motor jacket is provided in a motor housing to cool the motor and maintain the performance of the motor.

JP 2018-114786 A

  If the motor is cooled by providing a water jacket or the like as in the electric vehicle disclosed in Patent Document 1 described above, overheating of the motor can be suppressed. However, in the case of a configuration like the electric vehicle disclosed in Patent Literature 1, simply circulating the cooling water as it is increases the temperature of the cooling water and eventually stops using the cooling water. Therefore, in the case of a configuration like the electric vehicle of Patent Literature 1, a radiator, a cooler, and the like for dissipating heat from the cooling water whose temperature is increased with cooling of the motor are required. In addition, in the case of such a configuration, almost all of the heat energy absorbed by the heat medium due to the cooling of the motor is released from the radiator or the cooler without being utilized at all. Heat energy loss occurs. As a result, there is a problem that the energy efficiency of the entire vehicle is reduced.

  Also, in a vehicle having a speed reduction mechanism, such as the vehicle of Patent Document 1, oil is stored for lubrication and the like in a housing containing the speed reduction mechanism. If the temperature of the oil in the housing is low, the friction torque associated with the operation of the speed reduction mechanism increases, which may lead to a reduction in the operation efficiency of the speed reduction mechanism. For this reason, in a vehicle equipped with a speed reduction mechanism, there is a demand for warming oil contained in a housing to keep it at an appropriate temperature. However, when the speed reduction mechanism operates, the oil is subjected to a shearing force in the housing and forms a complicated flow. Therefore, in the related art, there is a problem that it is difficult to efficiently warm oil in the housing that houses the speed reduction mechanism.

  Therefore, the present invention provides a vehicle that is driven by the rotational force output from a motor as a power, while suppressing overheating of the motor, effectively utilizing the heat energy that has been repaired with the cooling of the motor, and using a speed reduction mechanism. It is an object of the present invention to provide a vehicle capable of efficiently warming oil in a housed housing.

  A vehicle according to the present invention provided to solve the above-described problem includes a motor that outputs a rotational force serving as a power source of a drive wheel, and a speed reduction mechanism that operates by receiving the torque output from the motor. A speed reduction mechanism provided in the housing, oil is housed in the speed reduction mechanism housing, around the motor, and around the speed reduction mechanism, a heat medium can be circulated, A heat medium passage having a portion through which the heat medium can flow from the motor side toward the speed reduction mechanism portion side is provided, and a part or all of the speed reduction mechanism is provided inside the speed reduction mechanism housing. An inner wall that separates the reduced speed mechanism disposition region from the region on the outer peripheral side of the deceleration mechanism disposed region, and a portion where the heat medium flow path is provided in the deceleration mechanism portion, and the inner wall is provided. Part Between, it is characterized in that the passage in which the oil can pass is formed.

  In the vehicle of the present invention, the heat medium flow path through which the heat medium can flow is provided around the motor and around the deceleration mechanism. The heat medium passage has a portion through which the heat medium can flow from the motor side to the speed reduction mechanism side. Therefore, in the vehicle of the present invention, the motor is cooled by the heat medium flowing through the heat medium flow path, and the heat medium having absorbed the heat energy on the motor side is supplied to the speed reduction mechanism side, and is provided in the speed reduction mechanism housing. The oil can be warmed to promote viscosity reduction. Therefore, according to the present invention, it is possible to improve energy efficiency in both the motor and the speed reduction mechanism.

  Further, in the vehicle according to the present invention, the inside of the speed reducer housing is separated by the inner wall into the speed reduction mechanism arrangement area and the passage on the outer peripheral side. Thus, the flow of oil that has been subjected to the shearing force due to the operation of the speed reduction mechanism inside the reduction gear mechanism arrangement area is separated from the flow of oil in the passage formed on the outer circumference of the inner wall, and the flow of oil on the outer circumference is reduced. It can be smooth. In the vehicle according to the present invention, the heat medium passage is provided around the speed reduction mechanism. Therefore, in the vehicle of the present invention, of the oil in the reduction gear housing, heat exchange between the oil flowing in the passage on the outer peripheral side of the inner wall where the flow is smooth and the heat medium flowing in the heat medium passage is prioritized. It will be performed in a typical manner. Therefore, according to the above-described configuration, even when the flow of the oil subjected to the shearing force is formed in the reduction gear housing by the operation of the speed reduction mechanism, the heat medium flowing through the heat medium flow path and the oil flowing through the above-described path are formed. And the heat exchange efficiency between them can be further improved. This makes it possible to provide a vehicle having a high operation efficiency of the speed reduction mechanism.

  In the above-described vehicle of the present invention, it is preferable that the speed reduction mechanism includes a rotation member that rotates about a predetermined axis, and the rotation member is arranged in the speed reduction mechanism arrangement area.

  According to this configuration, even if a shearing force acts on the oil with the rotation of the rotating member, the adverse effect on the heat exchange efficiency between the heat medium flowing through the heat medium flow path and the oil is minimized. it can.

  In the vehicle of the present invention described above, the heat medium flow path is such that the flow of the heat medium flowing from the motor side to the speed reduction mechanism side and the flow of the heat medium flowing from the speed reduction mechanism side to the motor side are different. It is preferable that the heat medium can be circulated so as to be formed alternately.

  According to this configuration, the heat medium supplied from the motor to the speed reduction mechanism can be cooled to a low temperature by heat exchange with oil and then returned to the motor. Therefore, according to the above-described configuration, it is possible to provide a vehicle capable of suppressing performance degradation due to overheating of the motor. Further, according to the above-described configuration, it is possible to supply the oil whose temperature has increased with cooling of the motor to the motor side from the speed reduction mechanism side to warm the oil and reduce the viscosity of the oil. As described above, according to the above-described configuration, it is possible to effectively use the heat energy recovered by cooling the motor to reduce the viscosity of oil while suppressing overheating of the motor.

  In the above-described vehicle according to the present invention, it is preferable that the heat medium flow path is provided over the entire circumference of the motor.

  According to this configuration, the cooling efficiency of the motor can be further improved. Further, according to the above-described configuration, since the recovery efficiency of the heat energy generated in the motor is increased, the amount of heat energy that can be supplied to the oil in the speed reduction mechanism is increased accordingly. Therefore, according to the present invention, the viscosity of the oil in the speed reduction mechanism can be more reliably reduced, and the energy loss in the speed reduction mechanism can be further improved.

  In the above-described vehicle according to the present invention, the heat medium flow path may be provided over the entire circumference of the speed reduction mechanism.

  According to this configuration, the heat energy of the heat medium supplied from the motor side to the speed reduction mechanism side can be more efficiently released at the speed reduction mechanism side. This makes it possible to more reliably supply the low-temperature heat medium from the speed reduction mechanism toward the motor, and to more reliably warm the oil in the speed reduction mechanism to reduce the viscosity. Can be.

  In the vehicle of the present invention described above, the heat medium flow path circulates the heat medium from the input side to the output side and from the output side to the input side of the rotational force with respect to the speed reduction mechanism on the outer circumference of the speed reduction mechanism. It is good to be provided as possible.

  According to this configuration, it is possible to minimize the occurrence of temperature and viscosity variations between the oil on the input side and the oil on the output side in the speed reduction mechanism. This makes it possible to further improve the heat exchange efficiency between the heat medium supplied from the motor side and the oil and the energy loss in the speed reduction mechanism.

  In the above-described vehicle of the present invention, it is preferable that the heat medium flow path is provided on an outer periphery of the motor so that the heat medium can flow in a direction along a rotation axis of the motor.

  According to such a configuration, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of temperature variation between a portion on the one end side of the rotating shaft and a portion on the other end side of the motor. As a result, substantially the entire motor can be cooled substantially uniformly, and performance degradation due to overheating of the motor can be suppressed more reliably.

  Here, there are motors in which a heat medium such as oil is accommodated in a motor housing for cooling or the like, such as a so-called oil-cooled motor, in addition to a motor in which a motor housing has a dry environment. A motor such as an oil-cooled motor has an advantage of being able to suppress overheating, but has various disadvantages such as a large friction torque and a corresponding decrease in energy efficiency and a complicated configuration.

  In the above-described vehicle of the present invention, the inside of the motor may be a dry environment.

  In the vehicle of the present invention, since the heat medium flow path as described above is provided, even if a motor having a dry environment is used, overheating and an increase in friction torque in the motor can be suppressed. Therefore, according to the above-described configuration, the advantage that overheating can be suppressed as in the case of using a motor such as an oil-cooled motor is enjoyed, and the demerits expected when a motor such as an oil-cooled motor is used. Can be suppressed.

  In the above-described vehicle of the present invention, it is preferable that the motor housing forming the motor is connected to or integrated with the speed reduction mechanism housing.

  According to this configuration, the heat medium flow path extending to the motor and the speed reduction mechanism can be simply and easily installed.

  ADVANTAGE OF THE INVENTION According to this invention, in the vehicle driven by the rotational force output from the motor as power, the vehicle which can use the thermal energy improved by cooling the motor effectively while suppressing overheating of the motor can be provided.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS FIG. 1 is an explanatory diagram illustrating a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, focusing on a driving device. FIG. 2 is an enlarged sectional view of a main part of the drive device shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 3 is a perspective view illustrating a schematic configuration of a heat medium flow path.

  Hereinafter, a vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following description, first, the schematic configuration of the vehicle 10 will be described, and then the characteristic portions will be described in detail.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle 10 includes a driving device 20. The drive device 20 includes a motor 30 and a speed reduction mechanism 40. The drive device 20 includes a first axis X that is a rotation axis of the motor 30, a second axis Y that is a rotation axis of an output shaft 52 provided in the reduction mechanism 40, and a rotation axis of the drive wheel 24. And a third axis Z (drive axle 62). The drive device 20 can drive the vehicle 10 by transmitting the output of the motor 30 to the drive wheels 24 via the speed reduction mechanism 40.

  The motor 30 can output rotational power with the first axis X as a rotation axis. The motor 30 is a so-called motor generator having a power generation function in addition to a motor function of outputting power for driving the vehicle to the drive wheels 24. Specifically, as shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the motor 30 may be a three-phase synchronous motor generator or the like. The motor 30 includes a stator 34, an output rotating member 36 (rotating shaft), and a rotor 38 inside a motor housing 32.

  The motor housing 32 is a hollow member that forms a case of the motor 30. The stator 34 is a member having a coil fixed inside the motor housing 32. The output rotating member 36 is a shaft-shaped member provided on the inner peripheral side of the stator 34 and constituting an output shaft of the motor 30. The output rotation member 36 is rotatable around the first axis X with respect to the stator 34. The rotor 38 includes a permanent magnet, is provided on the inner peripheral side of the stator 34, and is a member fixed to the outer peripheral of the output rotating member 36. The motor 30 is configured such that the output rotation member 36 projects outside the motor housing 32 along the first axis X.

  Motor 30 is electrically connected to power storage device 14 via inverter 12. The motor 30 can exchange power with the power storage device 14. The power storage device 14 includes, for example, a secondary battery such as a lead storage battery, a lithium ion secondary battery, or a nickel hydride secondary battery, or a capacitor. The motor 30 rotates the rotor 38 with respect to the stator 34 in the motor housing 32 by supplying electric power, and in conjunction with this, the output rotating member 36 rotates about the first axis X. I have. The motor 30 does not include cooling oil or the like in the motor housing 32, and operates in a dry environment in the motor housing 32.

  The speed reduction mechanism section 40 is configured by a so-called transaxle. As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the speed reduction mechanism section 40 includes a speed reduction mechanism housing 42 and a speed reduction mechanism 44 and a differential gear mechanism 46 (omitted in FIG. 2). The reduction mechanism 44 includes an input shaft 50, an output shaft 52, an input gear 54, an output gear 56, and an intermediate gear 58. Oil is stored in the speed reduction mechanism housing 42.

  The input shaft 50 is disposed on the first axis X. The input shaft 50 is connected to the output rotation member 36 of the motor 30 so as to be integrally rotatable. The output shaft 52 is a shaft disposed on a second axis Y substantially parallel to the first axis X. The output shaft 52 is arranged to extend from the motor 30 toward the differential gear mechanism 46.

  The input side gear 54 is provided at an axially intermediate portion of the input shaft 50. The input side gear 54 is rotatable integrally with the input shaft 50. The output side gear 56 and the intermediate gear 58 are provided on one end side (motor 30 side) and the other end side (differential gear mechanism 46 side) of the output shaft 52, respectively.

  The output side gear 56 is disposed at a position offset toward the second axis Y with respect to the input side gear 54, and is provided so as to be able to rotate integrally with the output shaft 52. The output gear 56 meshes with the input gear 54. Therefore, the reduction mechanism 44 can transmit the rotational power via the input gear 54 and the output gear 56 while reducing the speed at a predetermined reduction ratio.

  The intermediate gear 58 is provided so as to be able to rotate integrally with the output shaft 52. The intermediate gear 58 meshes with the differential ring gear 60 of the differential gear mechanism 46. Therefore, the reduction mechanism 40 can reduce the output of the motor 30 and transmit the output to the differential gear mechanism 46. Therefore, the reduction mechanism 44 can output the power input from the motor 30 to the drive wheels 24 via the intermediate gear 58 provided on the output shaft 52.

  The differential gear mechanism 46 is connected to a pair of drive wheels 24 via a pair of drive axles 62. The differential gear mechanism 46 distributes and transmits the power of the motor 30 input to the differential ring gear 60 to each of the pair of drive wheels 24. When a rotational difference occurs between the pair of drive wheels 24, the differential gear mechanism 46 transmits power while allowing the rotational difference.

  As shown in FIGS. 1 and 2, the speed reduction mechanism section 40 includes an inner wall 64 inside the speed reduction mechanism housing 42. The inner wall 64 includes an input shaft 50 and an output shaft 52 that are a part of the speed reduction mechanism 44, and a region where the input gear 54 and the output gear 56 attached to these shafts are arranged (a reduction gear arrangement region 66). , A wall surface separating the region on the outer peripheral side from this. The inner wall 64 may be any member as long as it can partition the speed reduction mechanism arrangement region 66, and may be formed of, for example, a cylindrical member. As shown in FIG. 2, the speed reducing mechanism 40 is provided between a portion of the speed reducing mechanism housing 42 where a heat medium flow path 80 described later in detail and a portion where the inner wall 64 is provided are provided with a differential gear mechanism. There is a passage 68 through which oil can pass so as to move back and forth between 46 and a portion on the upstream side.

  The drive device 20 has the motor 30 and the speed reduction mechanism unit 40 integrated by connecting the motor housing 32 and the speed reduction mechanism housing 42 described above. As described above, the motor 30 has a motor housing 32 in a dry environment, whereas the speed reduction mechanism 40 has oil stored in a speed reduction mechanism housing 42. Therefore, when connecting the motor housing 32 and the speed reduction mechanism housing 42, for example, as shown in FIG. 2, an oil seal 70 is provided at a connection portion between the output rotation member 36 and the input shaft 50, and the like. The oil on the 40 side is prevented from leaking to the motor 30 side.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, a heat medium flow path 80 is provided for the motor 30 and the speed reduction mechanism 40 described above. The heat medium flow path 80 is a flow path for flowing a heat medium such as water or radiator water which is pressure-fed by a separately provided pump (not shown). The heat medium passage 80 is provided around the motor 30 and around the speed reduction mechanism 40.

  In the present embodiment, as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3, the heat medium passage 80 includes a groove 33 formed in a case forming the motor housing 32 and a groove 43 formed in a case forming the speed reduction mechanism housing 42. It is formed by connecting. Specifically, when the motor housing 32 and the speed reduction mechanism housing 42 are connected to form the drive device 20, the grooves 33 and 43 communicate with each other, thereby forming the heat medium passage 80. As shown in FIG. 2, a seal member 72 is provided at or near the joint between the grooves 33 and 43 to prevent the heat medium from leaking.

  The heat medium flow path 80 is configured such that the flow of the heat medium flowing from the motor 30 to the speed reduction mechanism 40 and the flow of the heat medium flowing from the speed reduction mechanism 40 to the motor 30 alternately move between the motor 30 and the speed reduction mechanism. The flow path is such that the flow of the heat medium proceeds in the circumferential direction of the mechanism section 40. Therefore, the heat medium flow path 80 allows the heat medium to flow in the direction along the output rotation member 36 of the motor 30 on the outer periphery of the motor 30, and the rotational force of the rotational force on the speed reduction mechanism 44 on the outer circumference of the speed reduction mechanism 40. The heat medium is provided to be able to flow from the input side to the output side and from the output side to the input side.

  The heat medium channel 80 has the above-described structure. Therefore, when a heat medium is supplied to the heat medium flow path 80 by operating a pump (not shown), the heat medium reciprocates between the motor 30 and the speed reduction mechanism 40 while the motor 30 and the speed reduction mechanism 40 Sequentially advance in the circumferential direction. When the heat medium passes through a portion corresponding to the motor 30 in the heat medium flow path 80, heat exchange is performed between the motor 30 and the heat medium, and heat energy generated by the operation of the motor 30 is generated. Applied to heat medium. Thereby, the motor 30 is cooled and the temperature of the heat medium rises. On the other hand, when the heat medium moves from the motor 30 side to the speed reduction mechanism section 40 side, heat exchange is performed between the heat medium and oil stored in the speed reduction mechanism housing 42. Further, in the present embodiment, the oil that smoothly passes through the passage 68 formed by providing the inner wall 64 inside the speed reduction mechanism housing 42 has a higher priority than the oil inside the inner wall 64. Heat exchange with the heat medium passing through the heat exchanger. Therefore, even if the flow of the oil subjected to the shearing force is formed inside the inner wall 64 by the operation of the speed reduction mechanism 44, the oil flowing through the passage 68 and the heat flowing through the heat medium passage 80 are hardly affected by the flow. Heat exchange takes place with the medium. By performing the heat exchange in this manner, the heat medium is cooled on the side of the speed reduction mechanism section 40, and the temperature of the oil in the speed reduction mechanism housing 42 rises to lower the viscosity. The heat medium whose temperature has decreased due to heat exchange with oil is supplied to the motor 30 again, and cools the motor 30. By causing the heat medium to flow through the heat medium flow path 80, such heat exchange is performed in each of the motor 30 and the speed reduction mechanism unit 40. As a result, the motor 30 is maintained at a low temperature suitable for operation, and the temperature of the oil on the side of the speed reduction mechanism 40 is appropriately increased, so that the viscosity of the oil is optimized.

  As described above, in the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the heat medium that has been heated by receiving the heat generated in the motor 30 has a low temperature due to the heat exchange on the side of the speed reduction mechanism 40, and then, A returning heat medium flow is formed. Therefore, according to the above-described configuration, the motor 30 can be cooled by the low-temperature heat medium, and a decrease in performance due to overheating of the motor 30 can be suppressed.

  As described above, in the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the oil contained in the speed reduction mechanism housing 42 rises in temperature due to heat exchange with the heat medium supplied from the motor 30 side to the speed reduction mechanism section 40 side. , Viscosity decreases. Thereby, the friction torque in the speed reduction mechanism 40 can be suppressed, and the energy loss in the speed reduction mechanism 40 can be suppressed to a minimum.

  Further, as described above, the speed reduction mechanism section 40 has the configuration in which the inner wall 64 is provided inside the speed reduction mechanism housing 42 so as to separate the speed reduction mechanism arrangement region 66 from the region on the outer periphery side thereof. . As a result, the flow of the oil subjected to the shearing force by the operation of the speed reduction mechanism 44 and the flow of the oil in the passage 68 formed on the outer peripheral side of the inner wall 64 are separated inside the reduction gear mechanism arrangement area. The oil flow can be made smooth. The passage 68 is provided at a position adjacent to the heat medium flow passage 80 inside the speed reduction mechanism housing 42. Therefore, in the speed reduction mechanism 40, heat exchange between the oil flowing smoothly in the passage 68 and the heat medium flowing in the heat medium passage 80 is preferentially performed. Therefore, according to the above-described configuration, even if the flow of the oil subjected to the shearing force is formed in the reduction gear housing 42 by the operation of the reduction mechanism 44, the heat medium flowing through the heat medium flow path 80 and the passage 68 are formed. The heat exchange efficiency with the flowing oil can be further improved.

  Further, among the members constituting the speed reduction mechanism 44, the input shaft 50 and the output shaft 52 that rotate about the first axis X and the second axis Y are provided in a speed reduction mechanism arrangement area 66 formed inside the inner wall 64. , Input-side gear 54, output-side gear 56, and other rotating members are arranged. As described above, by arranging the above-described rotating member in the speed reducing mechanism arrangement area 66 among the members forming the speed reducing mechanism 44, the member is not affected by the shearing force acting on the oil with the rotation of the rotating member. Thus, a smooth oil flow can be formed in the passage 68, and the heat exchange efficiency can be further improved.

  In the present embodiment, the configuration in which a part of the rotating member forming the speed reduction mechanism unit 40 is arranged in the speed reduction mechanism arrangement area 66 is exemplified. However, the present invention is not limited to this. It may be arranged in the mechanism arrangement area 66. Further, in the present embodiment, an example in which a cylindrical member is employed as the inner wall 64 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this, and a wall having another shape or the like may be provided as the inner wall 64. good.

  As described above, in the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the heat medium passage 80 is provided over the entire circumference of the motor 30. Therefore, it is possible to cool the motor 30 with high efficiency and without causing unevenness due to parts. Further, by cooling the motor 30 over substantially the entire circumference of the motor 30, much of the heat energy generated in the motor 30 can be utilized for raising the oil temperature in the speed reduction mechanism 40. Therefore, by providing the heat medium passage 80 substantially all around the motor 30, the viscosity of the oil can be more reliably reduced, and the energy loss in the speed reduction mechanism 40 can be suppressed to a minimum.

  Note that, in the present embodiment, an example in which the heat medium passage 80 is provided over substantially the entire circumference of the motor 30 has been described, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, when the distribution of heat generation differs depending on the portion of the motor 30, the heat medium flow path 80 is provided intensively at a place where the calorific value is supposed to be large, or the heat medium flow path is provided at a place where the calorific value is supposed to be small. The medium channel 80 may not be provided.

  As described above, in the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the heat medium passage 80 is provided over substantially the entire circumference of the speed reduction mechanism 40. Therefore, the heat energy of the heat medium supplied from the motor 30 to the speed reduction mechanism 40 can be more efficiently released at the speed reduction mechanism 40. Accordingly, the temperature of the heat medium flowing from the speed reduction mechanism 40 toward the motor 30 can be more reliably lowered, and the oil in the speed reduction mechanism 40 can be more reliably warmed, and the low viscosity Can be changed.

  In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the heat medium flow path is provided over substantially the entire outer periphery of the speed reduction mechanism section 40, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, a configuration may be adopted in which the heat medium flow path 80 is not provided at a position where it is assumed that there is not much oil in the speed reduction mechanism section 340, or the density of the heat medium flow path 80 may be lower than at other positions. .

  As described above, in the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the heat medium flow path 80 is formed on the outer periphery of the speed reduction mechanism section 40 from the input side to the output side of the rotational force to the speed reduction mechanism 44 and from the output side to the input side. The heat medium can be circulated. With such a configuration, it is possible to minimize the occurrence of temperature and viscosity variations between the oil on the input side and the oil on the output side in the speed reduction mechanism unit 40. As a result, the efficiency of heat exchange between the oil and the medium supplied from the motor 30 side and the energy loss in the reduction mechanism 40 can be further improved.

  In the present embodiment, an example has been described in which the heat medium can flow from the input side to the output side of the rotational force to the reduction mechanism 44 and from the output side to the input side, but the present invention is not limited to this. Instead, the heat medium may be allowed to flow in other directions.

  Further, as described above, in the vehicle 10, the heat medium passage 80 is formed so that the heat medium can flow in the direction along the output rotation member 36 of the motor 30. Therefore, in the vehicle 10, it is possible to suppress the occurrence of temperature variation between the portion on the one end side and the portion on the other end side of the output rotating member 36 in the motor 30. Thereby, substantially the entirety of the motor 30 can be cooled substantially uniformly, and performance degradation due to overheating of the motor 30 can be suppressed more reliably.

  In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the heat medium passage 80 is provided so that the heat medium can flow in the direction along the output rotation member 36 of the motor 30. However, the present invention is not limited to this. Alternatively, the heat medium may be allowed to flow through another route by taking into consideration the cooling efficiency of the motor 30 or the like.

  Further, as described above, in the present embodiment, the motor 30 having a dry environment inside the motor housing 32 is used. However, the motor 30 can be cooled by the heat medium passage 80, and is configured to be able to suppress an excessive rise in temperature. Therefore, even if the motor 30 has a dry environment inside the motor housing 32, overheating and increase in friction torque in the motor 30 can be suppressed.

  In the present embodiment, an example in which the motor 30 operates in a dry environment is used as the motor 30, but the present invention is not limited to this. Specifically, for example, a motor housing 32 containing a heat medium such as oil for cooling or the like, such as a so-called oil-cooled motor, may be used as the motor 30.

  As described above, in the vehicle 10 of the present embodiment, the motor housing 32 forming the motor 30 is integrated with the speed reduction mechanism housing 42 by connection. Therefore, in the present embodiment, the heat medium flow passage 80 extending between the motor 30 and the speed reduction mechanism 40 can be simply and easily installed.

  In this embodiment, the motor housing 32 and the speed reduction mechanism housing 42 are adjacent to each other, and the two are connected and integrated, but the present invention is not limited to this. For example, the motor housing 32 and the speed reduction mechanism housing 42 may be integrally formed into one housing, or the motor housing 32 and the speed reduction mechanism housing 42 may be separately arranged and provided separately. good.

  In the present embodiment, an example is shown in which the heat medium flow path 80 is provided by forming a groove in the case forming the motor housing 32 or the speed reduction mechanism housing 42, but the present invention is not limited to this. . Specifically, a member having a conduit for forming the heat medium passage 80 may be separately attached to the motor housing 32 or the speed reduction mechanism housing 42.

  Further, in the present embodiment, an example is shown in which a so-called transaxle in which both the speed reduction mechanism 44 and the differential gear mechanism 46 are accommodated inside the speed reduction mechanism housing 42 is employed as the speed reduction mechanism section 40. It is not limited to this. Specifically, the speed reduction mechanism section 40 may be, for example, one in which the differential gear mechanism 46 is provided outside the speed reduction mechanism housing 42.

  It should be noted that the present invention is not limited to those illustrated in the above-described embodiments and modifications, and it is obvious to those skilled in the art that other embodiments can be made from the teachings and spirits without departing from the scope of the claims. Easy to understand.

  INDUSTRIAL APPLICABILITY The present invention can be suitably used in all vehicles, such as electric vehicles and hybrid vehicles, which employ a motor as a power source and are provided with a reduction mechanism.

10: Vehicle 24: Drive wheel 30: Motor 32: Motor housing 36: Output rotary member (rotary shaft)
40: reduction mechanism section 42: reduction mechanism housing 44: reduction mechanism 50: input shaft (rotary member)
52: Output shaft (rotary member)
54: Input side gear (rotary member)
56: Output gear (rotating member)
64: Inner wall 66: Reduction mechanism arrangement area 68: Passage 80: Heat medium flow path X: First axis Y: Second axis

Claims (1)

A motor that outputs a rotational force that is a power source of the driving wheels,
A deceleration mechanism having a deceleration mechanism that operates in response to the rotational force output from the motor in a deceleration mechanism housing,
Oil is contained in the speed reduction mechanism housing,
Around the motor, and around the deceleration mechanism, a heat medium flow path having a portion through which a heat medium can flow, and the heat medium can flow from the motor side toward the speed reduction mechanism side. Provided,
Inside the speed reduction mechanism housing, a speed reduction mechanism arrangement area where a part or the entirety of the speed reduction mechanism is provided, and an inner wall separating an area on the outer peripheral side from the speed reduction mechanism arrangement area is provided.
A vehicle, wherein a passage through which the heat medium can pass is formed between a portion where the heat medium flow path is provided and a portion where the inner wall is provided in the speed reduction mechanism.

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