JP2020174480A - Driving device and pipeline connection structure - Google Patents

Abstract

To provide a driving device having a connection structure which enables a pipeline to be fixed to a housing stably.SOLUTION: A driving device rotates an axle of a vehicle and has: a motor; a housing 6 which has a passage 38, in which a fluid flows, and houses the motor therein; a pipeline 98 connected to the passage; and a connection part 35 which connects the pipeline with the passage. The connection part includes: a cylindrical connector 36 with which the pipeline is connected; and a cylindrical connection member 37 which extends in a predetermined direction and connects a connection port 38h of the passage with the connector. One end part as seen in a predetermined direction of the connection member is disposed within the connection port, and the other end part as seen in the predetermined direction of the connection member is disposed within the connector.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

The present invention relates to a connection structure of a drive device and a pipe.

A drive device including a mechanism for cooling the inside of a predetermined housing using a coolant is known. For example, Patent Document 1 discloses a motor generator for a hybrid vehicle provided with a cooling circuit having a water-cooled oil cooler, an electric oil pump, and an ATF flow path connecting the water-cooled oil cooler and the electric oil pump. ..

JP-A-2018-118683

The above-mentioned drive device includes a connection portion for connecting the housing and the coolant pipe. In the conventional connection portion, a mounting bracket is provided at the tip of the coolant pipe, and the mounting bracket is connected to the connection port of the housing. However, in the conventional connection portion, various mounting brackets may be used, and depending on the mounting brackets, there is a possibility that the coolant piping cannot be stably fixed to the housing. As a result, the sealing property of the coolant at the connection portion may be deteriorated.

In view of the above circumstances, one aspect of the present invention is to provide a drive device having a connection structure capable of stably fixing a pipe to a housing. Another aspect of the present invention is to provide a pipe connection structure that allows the pipe to be stably and easily fixed to the housing.

One aspect of the drive device of the present invention is a drive device that rotates an axle of a vehicle, has a motor, a flow path through which a fluid flows, and is connected to a housing that houses the motor inside and the flow path. The pipe is provided with a connecting portion for connecting the pipe and the flow path. The connecting portion includes a tubular connector to which the pipe is connected, and a tubular connecting member that extends in a predetermined direction and connects the connection port of the flow path and the connector. One end of the connecting member in a predetermined direction is arranged inside the connection port, and the other end of the connecting member in the predetermined direction is arranged inside the connector.

One aspect of the pipe connection structure of the present invention includes a pipe for circulating a fluid to be introduced into the housing, and a connection portion for connecting the pipe and the housing. The connection portion includes a tubular connector to which the pipe is connected, and a tubular connecting member that connects the connection port of the housing and the connector. One axial end of the connecting member is located inside the connector and the other axial end of the connecting member is located inside the connector.

According to one aspect of the present invention, the piping can be stably and easily fixed to the housing.

FIG. 1 is a schematic configuration diagram schematically showing a driving device of the present embodiment. FIG. 2 is a perspective view of a connector constituting the connection portion. FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG.

In the following description, the vertical direction will be defined and described based on the positional relationship when the drive device of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle located on a horizontal road surface. In the drawings, the XYZ coordinate system is shown as a three-dimensional Cartesian coordinate system as appropriate. In the XYZ coordinate system, the Z-axis direction is the vertical direction. The + Z side is the upper side in the vertical direction, and the −Z side is the lower side in the vertical direction. In the following description, the upper side in the vertical direction is simply referred to as "upper side", and the lower side in the vertical direction is simply referred to as "lower side". The X-axis direction is a direction orthogonal to the Z-axis direction and is a front-rear direction of the vehicle on which the drive device is mounted. In the present embodiment, the + X side is the front side of the vehicle, and the −X side is the rear side of the vehicle. The Y-axis direction is a direction orthogonal to both the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction, and is the left-right direction of the vehicle, that is, the vehicle width direction. In the present embodiment, the + Y side is the left side of the vehicle, and the −Y side is the right side of the vehicle. The front-back direction and the left-right direction are horizontal directions orthogonal to the vertical direction.

The positional relationship in the front-rear direction is not limited to the positional relationship of the following embodiments, and the + X side may be the rear side of the vehicle and the −X side may be the front side of the vehicle. In this case, the + Y side is the right side of the vehicle and the −Y side is the left side of the vehicle. Since FIG. 1 is a schematic view of the drive device, the positional relationship of each component may differ from the actual positional relationship.

The motor shaft J1 shown in FIG. 1 extends in the Y-axis direction, that is, in the left-right direction of the vehicle. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the direction parallel to the motor shaft J1 is simply referred to as the "axial direction", the radial direction centered on the motor shaft J1 is simply referred to as the "radial direction", and the motor shaft J1 is referred to as the motor shaft J1. The circumferential direction around the center, that is, the circumference of the motor shaft J1 is simply called the "circumferential direction". In the present specification, the "parallel direction" includes a substantially parallel direction, and the "orthogonal direction" also includes a substantially orthogonal direction. In the present embodiment, the axial direction corresponds to a predetermined direction, one of the predetermined directions corresponds to the left side, and the other of the predetermined directions corresponds to the right side.

The drive device 1 of the present embodiment shown in FIG. 1 is mounted on a vehicle powered by a motor, such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHV), and an electric vehicle (EV), and is used as the power source thereof. Will be done.

As shown in FIG. 1, the drive device 1 includes a motor 2, a speed reducer 4, a differential device 5, an inverter unit 8, and a housing 6. The housing 6 includes a motor housing 81 that houses the motor 2 inside, a gear housing 82 that houses the speed reducer 4 and the differential device 5 inside, and an inverter housing 83 that houses the inverter 8a inside. The gear housing 82 is located on the left side of the motor housing 81.

In the present embodiment, the motor 2 is an inner rotor type motor. The motor 2 includes a rotor 20, a stator 30, and bearings 26 and 27. The rotor 20 rotates about a motor shaft J1 extending in the horizontal direction. The rotor 20 includes a shaft 21 and a rotor body 24. Although not shown, the rotor body 24 has a rotor core and a rotor magnet fixed to the rotor core. The torque of the rotor 20 is transmitted to the speed reducer 4.

The shaft 21 extends along the axial direction about the motor shaft J1. The shaft 21 rotates about the motor shaft J1. The shaft 21 is a hollow shaft provided with a hollow portion 22 inside. The shaft 21 is provided with a communication hole 23. The communication hole 23 extends in the radial direction and connects the hollow portion 22 and the outside of the shaft 21.

The shaft 21 extends across the motor housing 81 and the gear housing 82 of the housing 6. The left end of the shaft 21 projects into the gear housing 82. A first gear 41, which will be described later, of the speed reducer 4 is fixed to the left end of the shaft 21. The shaft 21 is rotatably supported by bearings 26 and 27.

The stator 30 faces the rotor 20 in the radial direction with a gap. More specifically, the stator 30 is located radially outward of the rotor 20. The stator 30 has a stator core 32 and a coil assembly 33. The stator core 32 is fixed to the inner peripheral surface of the motor housing 81. Although not shown, the stator core 32 has a cylindrical core back extending in the axial direction and a plurality of teeth extending radially inward from the core back.

The coil assembly 33 is mounted on the stator core 32. The coil assembly 33 has a plurality of coils 31. The plurality of coils 31 are respectively mounted on each tooth of the stator core 32 via an insulator (not shown). The plurality of coils 31 are arranged along the circumferential direction. More specifically, the plurality of coils 31 are arranged at equal intervals along the circumferential direction. Although not shown, the coil assembly 33 may have a binding member or the like that binds each coil 31, or may have a crossover connecting the coils 31 to each other.

The coil assembly 33 has coil ends 33a and 33b that project axially from the stator core 32. The coil end 33a is a portion protruding to the right from the stator core 32. The coil end 33b is a portion protruding to the left from the stator core 32. The coil end 33a includes a portion of each coil 31 included in the coil assembly 33 that protrudes to the right side of the stator core 32. The coil end 33b includes a portion of each coil 31 included in the coil assembly 33 that protrudes to the left side of the stator core 32. In the present embodiment, the coil ends 33a and 33b are annular around the motor shaft J1. Although not shown, the coil ends 33a and 33b may include a binding member or the like that binds the coils 31, or may include a crossover connecting the coils 31 to each other.

Bearings 26 and 27 rotatably support the rotor 20. The bearings 26 and 27 are, for example, ball bearings. The bearing 26 is a bearing that rotatably supports a portion of the rotor 20 located on the right side of the stator core 32. In the present embodiment, the bearing 26 supports a portion of the shaft 21 located on the right side of the portion to which the rotor body 24 is fixed. The bearing 26 is held by a wall portion of the motor housing 81 that covers the right side of the rotor 20 and the stator 30.

The bearing 27 is a bearing that rotatably supports a portion of the rotor 20 located on the left side of the stator core 32. In the present embodiment, the bearing 27 supports a portion of the shaft 21 located on the left side of the portion to which the rotor body 24 is fixed. The bearing 27 is held by the partition wall 61c described later.

The speed reducer 4 is connected to the motor 2. More specifically, the speed reducer 4 is connected to the left end of the shaft 21. The speed reduction device 4 reduces the rotation speed of the motor 2 and increases the torque output from the motor 2 according to the reduction ratio. The speed reducing device 4 transmits the torque output from the motor 2 to the differential device 5. The reduction gear 4 has a first gear 41, a second gear 42, a third gear 43, and an intermediate shaft 45.

The first gear 41 is fixed to the outer peripheral surface at the left end of the shaft 21. The first gear 41 rotates about the motor shaft J1 together with the shaft 21. The intermediate shaft 45 extends along the intermediate shaft J2. In this embodiment, the intermediate shaft J2 is parallel to the motor shaft J1. The intermediate shaft 45 rotates about the intermediate shaft J2.

The second gear 42 and the third gear 43 are fixed to the outer peripheral surface of the intermediate shaft 45. The second gear 42 and the third gear 43 are connected via an intermediate shaft 45. The second gear 42 and the third gear 43 rotate about the intermediate shaft J2. The second gear 42 meshes with the first gear 41. The third gear 43 meshes with the ring gear 51 described later of the differential device 5. The outer diameter of the second gear 42 is larger than the outer diameter of the third gear 43.

The torque output from the motor 2 is transmitted to the differential device 5 via the speed reducer 4. More specifically, the torque output from the motor 2 passes through the shaft 21, the first gear 41, the second gear 42, the intermediate shaft 45, and the third gear 43 in this order, and the ring gear 51 of the differential device 5 is used. Is transmitted to. The gear ratio of each gear, the number of gears, and the like can be variously changed according to the required reduction ratio. In the present embodiment, the speed reducer 4 is a parallel shaft gear type speed reducer in which the shaft cores of the gears are arranged in parallel.

The differential device 5 is connected to the speed reducer 4. As a result, the differential device 5 is connected to the motor 2 via the speed reducer 4. The differential device 5 transmits the torque output from the motor 2 to the wheels of the vehicle. The differential device 5 transmits the same torque to the axles 55 of the left and right wheels while absorbing the speed difference between the left and right wheels when the vehicle turns. The differential device 5 rotates the axle 55 around the differential shaft J3. As a result, the drive device 1 rotates the axle 55 of the vehicle.

The differential shaft J3 is parallel to the motor shaft J1. That is, the axial direction of the differential shaft J3 is the same as the axial direction of the motor shaft J1.

The differential device 5 includes a ring gear 51, a gear housing (not shown), a pair of pinion gears (not shown), a pinion shaft (not shown), and a pair of side gears (not shown). The ring gear 51 rotates around the differential shaft J3. The ring gear 51 meshes with the third gear 43. As a result, the torque output from the motor 2 is transmitted to the ring gear 51 via the speed reducer 4.

The housing 6 includes a motor housing 81, a gear housing 82, and an inverter housing 83. The housing 6 has a partition wall 61c that axially partitions the inside of the motor housing 81 and the inside of the gear housing 82. The partition wall 61c is provided with a partition wall opening 68. The inside of the motor housing 81 and the inside of the gear housing 82 are connected to each other through the partition wall opening 68.

Oil O is housed inside the housing 6. More specifically, the oil O is housed inside the motor housing 81 and inside the gear housing 82. An oil reservoir P in which the oil O is accumulated is provided in the lower region inside the gear housing 82. The oil level S of the oil sump P is located above the lower end of the ring gear 51. As a result, the lower end of the ring gear 51 is immersed in the oil O in the gear housing 82. The oil level S of the oil sump P is located below the differential shaft J3 and the axle 55.

The oil O in the oil sump P is sent to the inside of the motor housing 81 by an oil passage 90 described later. The oil O sent to the inside of the motor housing 81 collects in the lower region inside the motor housing 81. At least a part of the oil O accumulated inside the motor housing 81 moves to the gear housing 82 through the partition wall opening 68 and returns to the oil reservoir P.

In the present specification, "oil is stored inside a certain part" means that the oil may be located inside a certain part at least in a part while the motor is being driven. When stopped, the oil does not have to be located inside a part. For example, in the present embodiment, the fact that the oil O is housed inside the motor housing 81 means that the oil O is located inside the motor housing 81 at least in a part while the motor 2 is being driven. When the motor 2 is stopped, all the oil O inside the motor housing 81 may move to the gear housing 82 through the partition wall opening 68. A part of the oil O sent to the inside of the motor housing 81 by the oil passage 90 described later may remain inside the motor housing 81 when the motor 2 is stopped.

In the present specification, "the lower end of the ring gear 51 is immersed in the oil O in the gear housing 82" means that the lower end of the ring gear 51 is immersed in the oil O in the gear housing 82 at least in a part while the motor 2 is being driven. It is sufficient that the end portion of the ring gear 51 is immersed in the oil O in the gear housing 82, and the lower end portion of the ring gear 51 may be present while the motor 2 is being driven or while the motor 2 is stopped. It does not have to be immersed in the oil in the gear housing 82. For example, as a result of the oil O of the oil sump P being sent to the inside of the motor housing 81 by the oil passage 90 described later, the oil level S of the oil sump P is lowered, and the lower end of the ring gear 51 is temporarily oil O. It may be in a state where it is not immersed in.

The oil O circulates in the oil passage 90 described later. The oil O is used for lubricating the speed reducer 4 and the differential device 5. Further, the oil O is used for cooling the motor 2. As the oil O, it is preferable to use an oil equivalent to that of an automatic transmission fluid (ATF) having a relatively low viscosity in order to perform the functions of the lubricating oil and the cooling oil.

The inverter unit 8 includes an inverter 8a and an inverter housing 83. The inverter 8a supplies electric power to the motor 2. The inverter housing 83 has a flow path 38 through which cooling water (fluid) cooled by a radiator (not shown) flows. In the present embodiment, the flow path 38 is provided on the lower wall portion of the inverter housing 83. In the present embodiment, the inverter 8a is cooled by the cooling water flowing through the flow path 38. In the present embodiment, water is used as the fluid flowing through the flow path 38, but a fluid other than water may be used.

The drive device 1 is provided with an oil passage 90 in which the oil O circulates inside the housing 6. The oil passage 90 is a path of the oil O that supplies the oil O from the oil sump P to the motor 2 and leads the oil O to the oil sump P again. The oil passage 90 is provided so as to straddle the inside of the motor housing 81 and the inside of the gear housing 82.

In addition, in this specification, "oil passage" means an oil route. Therefore, the "oil passage" is a concept that includes not only a "flow path" that constantly creates a flow of oil in one direction, but also a path for temporarily retaining oil and a path for oil to drip. The route for temporarily retaining the oil includes, for example, a reservoir for storing the oil.

The oil passage 90 has a first oil passage 91 and a second oil passage 92. The first oil passage 91 and the second oil passage 92 circulate the oil O inside the housing 6, respectively. The first oil passage 91 has a scooping path 91a, a shaft supply path 91b, an in-shaft path 91c, and an in-rotor path 91d. Further, a first reservoir 93 is provided in the path of the first oil passage 91. The first reservoir 93 is provided in the gear housing 82.

The scooping path 91a is a path in which the oil O is scooped up from the oil sump P by the rotation of the ring gear 51 of the differential device 5 and the oil O is received in the first reservoir 93. The first reservoir 93 opens upward. The first reservoir 93 receives the oil O scooped up by the ring gear 51. Further, when the liquid level of the oil sump P is high, such as immediately after the motor 2 is driven, the first reservoir 93 is pumped up by the second gear 42 and the third gear 43 in addition to the ring gear 51. Also receives O.

The shaft supply path 91b guides the oil O from the first reservoir 93 to the hollow portion 22 of the shaft 21. The in-shaft path 91c is a path through which the oil O passes through the hollow portion 22 of the shaft 21. The rotor inner path 91d is a path that passes through the inside of the rotor main body 24 from the communication hole 23 of the shaft 21 and scatters to the stator 30.

In the in-shaft path 91c, centrifugal force is applied to the oil O inside the rotor 20 as the rotor 20 rotates. As a result, the oil O continuously scatters radially outward from the rotor 20. Further, as the oil O scatters, the path inside the rotor 20 becomes negative pressure, the oil O accumulated in the first reservoir 93 is sucked into the rotor 20, and the path inside the rotor 20 is filled with the oil O.

The oil O that has reached the stator 30 takes heat from the stator 30. The oil O that has cooled the stator 30 is dropped downward and accumulated in the lower region in the motor housing 81. The oil O accumulated in the lower region in the motor housing 81 moves to the gear housing 82 through the partition wall opening 68 provided in the partition wall 61c. As described above, the first oil passage 91 supplies the oil O to the rotor 20 and the stator 30.

In the second oil passage 92, the oil O is pulled up from the oil sump P to the upper side of the stator 30 and supplied to the stator 30. That is, the second oil passage 92 supplies the oil O to the stator 30 from above the stator 30. The second oil passage 92 is provided with an oil pump 96, a cooler 97, and a second reservoir 10. The second oil passage 92 has a first flow path 92a, a second flow path 92b, and a third flow path 92c.

The first flow path 92a, the second flow path 92b, and the third flow path 92c are provided on the wall portion of the housing 6. The first flow path 92a connects the oil sump P and the oil pump 96. The second flow path 92b connects the oil pump 96 and the cooler 97. The third flow path 92c extends upward from the cooler 97. The third flow path 92c is provided on the wall portion of the motor housing 81. Although not shown, the third flow path 92c has a supply port that opens inside the motor housing 81 on the upper side of the stator 30. The supply port supplies oil O to the inside of the motor housing 81.

The oil pump 96 is an electric pump driven by electricity. The oil pump 96 sucks oil O from the oil sump P through the first flow path 92a, and passes through the second flow path 92b, the cooler 97, the third flow path 92c, and the second reservoir 10. Oil O is supplied to the motor 2.

The cooler 97 cools the oil O passing through the second oil passage 92. A first flow path 92a and a second flow path 92b are connected to the cooler 97. The first flow path 92a and the second flow path 92b are connected via the internal flow path of the cooler 97.

The drive device 1 is provided with a cooling water circulation flow path 94 that is cooled by a radiator (not shown) and circulates cooling water that cools the cooler 97 and the inverter 8a in the inverter unit 8. The cooling water circulation flow path 94 includes a cooling water pipe 98 (first pipe) for connecting a radiator and an inverter housing 83 (not shown), a flow path 38 of the inverter housing 83, an inverter housing 83, and a motor housing 81. It has a cooling water pipe 95 for connecting the above, a flow path 44 for the motor housing 81 and the cooler 97, and a cooling water pipe 99 (second pipe) for connecting the motor housing 81 and a radiator (not shown). The cooling water pipe 98 and the flow path 38 are connected via the first connection portion 35. The flow path 44 and the cooling water pipe 99 are connected via the second connecting portion 34. The oil O passing through the inside of the cooler 97 is cooled by exchanging heat with the cooling water (fluid) passing through the flow path 44.

The second reservoir 10 constitutes a part of the second oil passage 92. The second reservoir 10 is located inside the motor housing 81. The second reservoir 10 is located above the stator 30. The second reservoir 10 is supported from below by the stator 30 and is provided in the motor 2. The second reservoir 10 is made of, for example, a resin material.

In the present embodiment, the second reservoir 10 has a gutter shape that opens upward. The second reservoir 10 stores the oil O. In the present embodiment, the second reservoir 10 stores the oil O supplied into the motor housing 81 via the third flow path 92c. The second reservoir 10 has a supply port 10a for supplying oil O to the coil ends 33a and 33b. As a result, the oil O stored in the second reservoir 10 can be supplied to the stator 30.

The oil O supplied from the second reservoir 10 to the stator 30 is dropped downward and accumulated in the lower region in the motor housing 81. The oil O accumulated in the lower region in the motor housing 81 moves to the gear housing 82 through the partition wall opening 68 provided in the partition wall 61c. As described above, the second oil passage 92 supplies the oil O to the stator 30.

Hereinafter, the configuration of the first connection unit 35 will be described. Since the second connection portion 34 has the same configuration as the first connection portion 35, the first connection portion 35 will be described as an example.
FIG. 2 is a perspective view of the connector 36 constituting the first connection portion 35.
FIG. 3 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line III-III of FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the first connecting portion 35 includes a cylindrical connector 36 and a cylindrical connecting member 37. A cooling water pipe 98 is connected to the connector 36. The connecting member 37 connects the connection port 38h provided in the flow path 38 and the connector 36.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connection port 38h is provided on the end surface 38d provided at the lower part of one side surface 83c of the inverter housing 83. As shown in FIG. 3, the connection port 38h opens toward the outside of the inverter housing 83 to connect the flow path of the inverter housing 83 and the outside. The connection port 38h has a central axis J5 extending along the normal direction of the side surface 83c of the inverter housing 83 provided with the connection port 38h. The shape of the connection port 38h viewed along the central axis J5 of the connection port 38h is circular.

As shown in FIG. 2, the connector 36 has a tubular connector body 36t having a through hole 36h. A groove portion 36v extending in the circumferential direction is provided along the outer peripheral surface of the connector main body 36t. One groove portion 36v may be provided in the connector main body 36t, or a plurality of groove portions 36v may be provided. A mounting bracket (not shown) connected to the connector 36 is provided at the end of the cooling water pipe 98 shown in FIG. The cooling water pipe 98 is fixed to the connector 36 by fitting a part of the mounting bracket of the cooling water pipe 98 into the groove 36v of the connector 36.

As shown in FIG. 3, the connecting member 37 has a tubular shape extending in the axial direction. The connecting member 37 has a cylindrical tubular portion 47 and a flange portion 48 projecting outward from the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 47. The tubular portion 47 has a cylindrical shape with the central axis J5 as the central axis. One end 47a in the axial direction of the tubular portion 47 is arranged inside the connection port 38h. The other axial end 47b of the tubular portion 47 is arranged inside the connector 36. Hereinafter, one end 47a of the tubular portion 47 is referred to as a first end portion 47a, and the other end portion 47b of the tubular portion 47 is referred to as a second end portion 47b.

The connector 36 has a cylindrical shape with the central axis J5 as the central axis. The connector 36 has one end surface 36a in the axial direction and an inner peripheral surface 36b. The flange portion 48 is located between the end surface 36a of the connector 36 and the end surface 38d provided with the connection port 38h of the inverter housing 83.

An adhesive 49 is provided between the inner peripheral surface 36b of the connector 36 and the outer peripheral surface 37c of the connecting member 37. The outer peripheral surface 37c is the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the tubular portion 47 that is arranged inside the connector 36. A flat chamfering process is performed on the corner portion formed by the end surface 36a and the inner peripheral surface 36b of the connector 36. Hereinafter, a portion obtained by diagonally removing the corner portion where the end surface 36a and the inner peripheral surface 36b intersect is referred to as a chamfered portion 39. Further, the end surface 36a of the connector 36 and the flange portion 48 are in contact with each other. As a result, a space closed by the connector 36, the tubular portion 47, and the flange portion 48 is formed. This closed space is referred to as a first adhesive accommodating portion R1. The first adhesive accommodating portion R1 is a space having a triangular cross-sectional shape continuous in an annular shape along the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 47. The first adhesive accommodating portion R1 is provided between one end of the inner peripheral surface 36b of the connector 36 in the axial direction and the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 47. One end in the axial direction of the first adhesive accommodating portion R1 is closed by the flange portion 48.

The adhesive 49 provided between the inner peripheral surface 36b of the connector 36 and the outer peripheral surface 37c of the connecting member 37 is housed in the first adhesive accommodating portion R1. The corner portion formed by the end surface 36a and the inner peripheral surface 36b of the connector 36 may be chamfered in a curved surface shape. Further, the adhesive 49 may be contained in the entire first adhesive accommodating portion R1 or may be accommodated in a part of the first adhesive accommodating portion R1. Alternatively, the adhesive 49 may not be contained in the first adhesive accommodating portion R1.

An adhesive 49 is provided between the inner peripheral surface 38e of the portion of the flow path 38 where the connecting member 37 is arranged and the outer peripheral surface 37f of the connecting member 37. The outer peripheral surface 37f is the outer peripheral surface of the portion of the tubular portion 47 that is arranged inside the flow path 38. A flat chamfering process is applied to the corner portion formed by the end surface 38d and the inner peripheral surface 38e of the inverter housing 83. The portion where the corner portion where the end surface 38d and the inner peripheral surface 38e intersect is diagonally removed is called a chamfered portion 40. Further, the end surface 38d of the inverter housing 83 and the flange portion 48 are in contact with each other. As a result, a space closed by the inverter housing 83, the cylinder portion 47, and the flange portion 48 is formed. This closed space is called a second adhesive accommodating portion R2. The second adhesive accommodating portion R2 is a space having a triangular cross-sectional shape continuous in an annular shape along the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 47. The second adhesive accommodating portion R2 is provided between the inner edge portion of the connection port 38h and the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 47. The other end of the second adhesive accommodating portion R2 in the axial direction is closed by the flange portion 48.

The second adhesive accommodating portion R2 accommodates the adhesive 49 provided between the inner peripheral surface 38e of the flow path 38 and the outer peripheral surface 37f of the connecting member 37. The corner portion formed by the end surface 38d and the inner peripheral surface 38e of the inverter housing 83 may be chamfered in a curved surface. Further, the adhesive 49 may be contained in the entire second adhesive accommodating portion R2, or may be accommodated in a part of the second adhesive accommodating portion R2. Alternatively, the adhesive 49 may not be contained in the second adhesive accommodating portion R2.

The inverter housing 83 and the connector 36 are made of a material containing aluminum such as a simple substance of aluminum or an aluminum alloy. The constituent material of the inverter housing 83 and the constituent material of the connector 36 are not limited to the material containing aluminum. The constituent material of the inverter housing 83 and the constituent material of the connector 36 may be different from each other. The connecting member 37 is made of a material containing iron such as stainless steel. The constituent material of the connecting member 37 is not limited to the material containing iron. Further, it is desirable that the elastic modulus of the constituent material of the connecting member 37 is larger than the elastic modulus of the constituent material of the inverter housing 83 and the elastic modulus of the constituent material of the connector 36.

When connecting the cooling water pipe 98 to the inverter housing 83, for example, the following procedure is taken. The connection procedure shown below is an example and is not limited to this connection procedure.

First, a worker or the like performing the connection work attaches the connection member 37 to the connector 36. In addition, in this specification, "worker, etc." includes a worker, a device, etc. that perform each work. Each work may be performed only by the operator, may be performed only by the device, or may be performed by the worker and the device.

First, the operator or the like applies the adhesive 49 to the outer peripheral surface 37c of the connecting member 37.
Next, the operator or the like press-fits the side of the outer peripheral surface 37c coated with the adhesive 49 into the inside of the connector 36 among the connecting members 37. At this time, the connecting member 37 is sequentially inserted into the connector 36 from the side of the second end portion 47b while the outer peripheral surface 37c of the connecting member 37 rubs against the inner peripheral surface 36b of the connector 36. Along with this, the excess portion of the adhesive 49 moves from the side of the second end portion 47b of the connecting member 37 to the side of the flange portion 48. An operator or the like press-fits the connecting member 37 into the connector 36 until the end surface 36a of the connector 36 comes into contact with the flange portion 48. As a result, the connecting member 37 is fixed to the connector 36.

According to this embodiment, the adhesive 49 is provided at least between the inner peripheral surface 36b of the connector 36 and the outer peripheral surface 37c of the connecting member 37. Therefore, the mechanical strength and the sealing property between the connector 36 and the connecting member 37 can be enhanced as compared with the configuration in which the connector and the connecting member are connected by simply press-fitting.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the first adhesive accommodating portion R1 is provided between one end of the inner peripheral surface of the connector 36 in the axial direction and the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 47. Therefore, the excess portion of the adhesive 49 is accommodated in the first adhesive accommodating portion R1 after moving from the side of the second end portion 47b of the connecting member 37 to the side of the flange portion 48. That is, the first adhesive accommodating portion R1 functions as a region for accommodating the excess adhesive 49. As a result, the excess portion of the adhesive 49 is less likely to protrude to the outside through the gap between the end surface 36a of the connector 36 and the flange portion 48. As a result, in the assembling process of the drive device 1, the work of wiping off the adhesive 49 protruding outside the interface between the connector 36 and the connecting member 37 becomes unnecessary.

The chamfered portion provided at the corner between the end surface 36a and the inner peripheral surface 36b of the connector 36 is made larger than the general chamfered portion, and the annular first adhesive accommodating portion surrounded by the connector 36 and the connecting member 37. It is desirable that the volume of R1 is larger than the volume of the adhesive 49 applied to the outer peripheral surface 37c of the connecting member 37. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the excess portion of the adhesive 49 will protrude to the outside through the gap between the end surface 36a of the connector 36 and the flange portion 48.

Next, the operator or the like attaches the connector 36 to which the connecting member 37 is attached to the inverter housing 83.
First, the operator or the like applies the adhesive 49 to the outer peripheral surface 37f of the connecting member 37.
Next, the operator or the like press-fits the side of the outer peripheral surface 37f coated with the adhesive 49 from the connecting member 37 into the inside of the flow path 38 from the connecting port 38h. At this time, the connecting member 37 is sequentially inserted into the flow path 38 from the side of the first end portion 47a while the outer peripheral surface 37f of the connecting member 37 rubs against the inner peripheral surface 38e of the flow path 38. Along with this, the excess portion of the adhesive 49 moves from the side of the first end portion 47a of the connecting member 37 to the side of the flange portion 48. The connecting member 37 is press-fitted into the inside of the connecting port 38h until the end surface 38d provided with the connecting port 38h comes into contact with the flange portion 48. As a result, the connecting member 37 is fixed to the inverter housing 83, and the connector 36 is fixed to the inverter housing 83 via the connecting member 37.

According to this embodiment, the adhesive 49 is provided at least between the inner peripheral surface 38e of the flow path 38 and the outer peripheral surface 37f of the connecting member 37. Therefore, the mechanical strength and the sealing property between the connection port 38h and the connection member 37 can be enhanced as compared with the configuration in which the connection port 38h and the connection member 37 are connected by simply press-fitting.

Further, according to the present embodiment, the second adhesive accommodating portion R2 is provided between the inner edge portion of the connection port 38h and the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion 47. The excess portion of the adhesive 49 is accommodated in the second adhesive accommodating portion R2 after moving from the side of the first end portion 47a of the connecting member 37 to the side of the flange portion 48. Therefore, the excess portion of the adhesive 49 is less likely to protrude to the outside through the gap between the end face 38d provided with the connection port 38h and the flange portion 48. As a result, in the assembling process of the drive device 1, the work of wiping off the adhesive 49 protruding outside the interface between the connector 36 and the connecting member 37 becomes unnecessary.

A second chamfered portion provided at a corner formed by an end surface 38d provided with a connection port 38h and an inner peripheral surface 38e is made larger than a general chamfered portion, and is surrounded by an inverter housing 83 and a connecting member 37. It is desirable that the volume of the adhesive accommodating portion R2 is larger than the volume of the adhesive 49 applied to the outer peripheral surface 37f of the connecting member 37. As a result, it is possible to reduce the possibility that the excess portion of the adhesive 49 will protrude to the outside through the gap between the end face 38d and the flange portion 48.

In addition, the operator or the like may connect the connector 36 to the connection member 37 connected to the inverter housing 83 after connecting the connection member 37 to the inverter housing 83, contrary to the above procedure.

Next, the operator or the like connects the cooling water pipe 98 to the connector 36 by fitting the mounting bracket of the cooling water pipe 98 into the groove 36v of the connector 36.
By the above procedure, the cooling water pipe 98 is connected to the inverter housing 83.

According to the present embodiment, the first connection portion 35 between the cooling water pipe 98 and the inverter housing 83 includes the connector 36 and the connection member 37, and the first end portion 47a of the connection member 37 is the connection port 38h. It is arranged inside, and the second end portion 47b of the connecting member 37 is arranged inside the connector 36. That is, the connector 36 is connected to the connection port 38h of the inverter housing 83 via the connection member 37. Therefore, even if the shape and material of the connector 36 are changed in response to the cooling water pipe 98, the connecting member 37 suitable for the connector 36 can be selected. As a result, the cooling water pipe 98 can be stably fixed to the inverter housing 83, and the sealing property of the first connection portion 35 can be ensured.

In this type of connection, a method of press-fitting a part of one member into the inside of the other member is preferably used. However, when both the connector 36 and the inverter housing 83 are made of a material containing aluminum as in the present embodiment, the elastic modulus of aluminum is lower than that of many other metals, so that the connector It is difficult to press a part of 36 directly into the connection port 38h of the inverter housing 83. On the other hand, as in the present embodiment, by using a constituent material such as iron having a higher elastic modulus than aluminum as the constituent material of the connecting member 37, the first end portion 47a side of the connecting member 37 is connected to the connecting port 38h. It is possible to press-fit the second end portion 47b side of the connecting member 37 into the connector 36. Thereby, the first connection portion 35 having mechanical strength and sealing property can be realized with a simple structure.

According to this embodiment, the connecting member 37 has a flange portion 48. Therefore, by applying a load to the flange portion 48 using a predetermined jig, it is easy to press-fit the connecting member 37 into the connection port 38h of the connector 36 and the inverter housing 83. Further, by press-fitting the connecting member 37 to a position where the end surface 36a of the connector 36 is in contact with the flange portion 48 and the end surface 38d provided with the connection port 38h, the length and flow of the press-fitting portion of the connecting member 37 into the connector 36 Both the length of the press-fitted portion into the road 38 and the length can be controlled. That is, since the connecting member 37 has the flange portion 48, it is possible to suppress manufacturing variations in the lengths of the press-fitted portions of the connecting member 37 into the connector 36 and the flow path 38. Thereby, the mechanical strength and the sealing property of the first connecting portion 35 can be ensured.

The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and other configurations may be adopted.
For example, the inverter unit housing and the motor housing or the gear housing may be a single member. Further, the connecting member does not have to have a flange portion. Further, no adhesive may be provided between the inner peripheral surface of the connector and the outer peripheral surface of the connecting member. That is, the connector and the connecting member do not have to be fixed by the adhesive. No adhesive may be provided between the inner peripheral surface of the flow path provided in the housing and the outer peripheral surface of the connecting member. That is, the housing and the connecting member do not have to be fixed by the adhesive. The connection portion of the above embodiment has a first adhesive accommodating portion and a second adhesive accommodating portion, but even if it has only one of the first adhesive accommodating portion and the second adhesive accommodating portion. Good.

In addition, the shape, number, arrangement, constituent materials, and the like of the constituent elements constituting the drive device are not limited to the above-described embodiment, and can be appropriately changed.

In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to the connection portion between the cooling water pipe and the inverter unit housing is shown, but the present invention is applied to the connection portion between the cooling water pipe and another part of the housing. You may. In the above embodiment, an example in which the present invention is applied to a drive device is shown, but the present invention may be applied to a connection structure of a fluid pipe in another device. The configurations described herein can be combined as appropriate to the extent that they do not contradict each other.

1 ... drive device, 2 ... motor, 4 ... reduction device, 5 ... differential device, 6 ... housing, 34 ... second connection part, 35 ... first connection part, 36 ... connector, 36a ... end face, 36b ... inner circumference Surface, 37 ... Connecting member, 37c ... Outer surface, 37f ... Outer surface, 47a ... First end (one end), 47b ... Second end (the other end), 38 ... Flow path, 38h ... Connection port, 38e ... Inner peripheral surface, 48 ... Flange, 49 ... Adhesive, 98 ... Cooling water piping (piping, first piping), 99 ... Cooling water piping (piping, second piping), R1 ... No. 1 Adhesive accommodating part, R2 ... 2nd adhesive accommodating part

Claims (10)

A drive device that rotates the axle of a vehicle.
With the motor
A housing that has a flow path through which fluid flows and houses the motor inside,
The piping connected to the flow path and
A connection portion that connects the pipe and the flow path,
With
The connection portion includes a tubular connector to which the pipe is connected, and a tubular connecting member that extends in a predetermined direction and connects the connection port of the flow path and the connector.
A drive device in which one end of the connecting member in a predetermined direction is arranged inside the connection port, and the other end of the connecting member in the predetermined direction is arranged inside the connector. The connecting member has a tubular portion and a flange portion that projects outward from the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion.
The driving device according to claim 1, wherein the flange portion is located between one end surface of the connector in the predetermined direction and a surface of the housing provided with the connection port. At least one of the inner peripheral surfaces of the connector between one end in the predetermined direction and the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion, or between the inner edge portion of the connection port and the outer peripheral surface of the tubular portion. The drive device according to claim 2, further comprising an adhesive accommodating portion for accommodating the adhesive. The driving device according to claim 3, wherein the end portion of the adhesive accommodating portion in the predetermined direction is closed by the flange portion. The drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the elastic modulus of the constituent material of the connecting member is higher than the elastic modulus of the constituent material of the housing and the elastic modulus of the constituent material of the connector. .. The drive device according to claim 5, wherein the component material of the housing and the component material of the connector include aluminum. The housing includes an inverter housing having the flow path and accommodating an inverter.
The connection portion connects the pipe and the inverter housing, and connects the pipe to the inverter housing.
The driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 6, wherein the fluid is cooling water for cooling the inverter. It has a plurality of said connections and
The housing comprises a motor housing having the flow path and accommodating the motor.
The pipe includes a first pipe connected to the flow path of the inverter housing and a second pipe connected to the flow path of the motor housing.
The plurality of connections are
A first connection portion that connects the first pipe and the inverter housing,
The drive device according to claim 7, further comprising a second connection portion for connecting the second pipe and the motor housing. The drive device
A speed reducer connected to the motor and
A differential device connected to the speed reducer and rotating the axle around the working axis is further provided.
The speed reducer and the differential are housed inside the housing.
The driving device according to any one of claims 1 to 8. Piping that circulates the fluid introduced inside the housing,
A connection portion that connects the pipe and the housing,
With
The connection portion includes a tubular connector to which the pipe is connected, and a tubular connecting member for connecting the connection port of the housing and the connector.
A pipe connection structure in which one end of the connecting member in the axial direction is arranged inside the connection port, and the other end of the connecting member in the axial direction is arranged inside the connector.

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