The present disclosure relates to a motor device and a motor-driven type moving body. More specifically, the present disclosure relates to a motor device provided with a cooling mechanism, and a motor-driven type moving body.
A motor is rotated by supplying a coil with electric power. Many of the motors generate heat, and have a problem in that the amount of heat generated increases especially at the time of high-speed rotation.
With respect to a configuration for cooling a motor, there have been made various proposals.
For example, PTL 1 (JP 2011-11685A) discloses a configuration in which air is forced to flow from a center shaft of an in-wheel motor to the periphery of a coil, thereby cooling the motor.
In addition, PTL 2 (JP 2015-091198A) discloses a configuration in which a refrigerant is supplied to a rotor axis of a motor to cool a rotor core of the motor.
In the configurations disclosed in these related arts, however, air or the refrigerant as a coolant is supplied from one side of the rotary shaft of the motor and is discharged in the same direction.
Specifically, the coolant is not set to penetrate the rotary shaft of the motor, but the coolant supplied from one side of the rotary shaft of the motor is passed around the inside of the motor and is discharged in the same direction in the returning manner.
With such a configuration, the cooling effect would be lowered, and it may be impossible to restrain sufficiently the heat generation of the motor.
[PTL 1]
JP 2011-11685A
[PTL 2]
JP 2015-091198A
The present disclosure has been made in consideration of the above-mentioned problem, for example. It is an object of the present disclosure to provide a motor device and a motor-driven type moving body that are able to enhance a cooling effect and to restrain effectively the heat generation of a motor.
According to a first aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a motor device including:
a rotary shaft of a hollow structure;
a motor section rotated around the rotary shaft;
a coolant circulation pipe that is connected to both ends of the rotary shaft and that constitutes a closed loop shaped coolant circulation path together with a hollow section of the rotary shaft; and
a coolant flow control section that controls flow of a coolant in the coolant circulation pipe.
Further, according to a second aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided a motor-driven type moving body including:
a rotary shaft of a hollow structure;
a motor section that rotates around the rotary shaft;
a motor-driven type tire that is equipped with the motor section at a central portion thereof;
a coolant circulation pipe that is connected to both ends of the rotary shaft and that constitutes a closed loop shaped coolant circulation path together with a hollow section of the rotary shaft; and
a coolant flow control section that controls a flow of the coolant in the coolant circulation pipe.
Still further objects, features and advantages of the present disclosure will become apparent from the embodiments of the present invention described later and further detailed descriptions based on the attached drawings. Note that the system herein is a logical set configuration of a plurality of devices, and is not limited to those in which the devices of configurations are present in the same housing.
According to the configuration of one embodiment of the present disclosure, a motor device and a motor-driven type moving body that realize efficient cooling of a motor are realized.
Specifically, the motor device includes, for example, a rotary shaft of a hollow structure, a motor section that rotates around the rotary shaft, a coolant circulation pipe that is connected to both ends of the rotary shaft and that constitutes a closed loop shaped coolant circulation path together with a hollow section of the rotary shaft, and a coolant flow control section that controls the flow of the coolant in the coolant circulation pipe. The motor device includes a rotational speed sensor that detects the rotational speed of the motor, and a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the motor. The coolant flow control section receives detection information from the rotational speed sensor and the temperature sensor as inputs, and performs a control to accelerate the flow of the coolant in the coolant circulation pipe according to a rise in the rotational speed of the motor and a rise in temperature.
By this configuration, a motor device and a motor-driven type moving body that realize efficient cooling of a motor are realized.
Note that the effects described herein are merely illustrative and are not limitative, and additional effects may be present.
A motor device and a motor-driven type moving body according to the present disclosure will be described below, referring to the drawings. The descriptions will be made according to the following items.
1. One configuration example of motor device of the present disclosure
2. A plurality of embodiments of control of flow of coolant in coolant circulation pipe of motor device
3. Other embodiments
4. Summary of configuration of the present disclosure
[1. One configuration example of motor device of the present disclosure]
First, one configuration example of the motor device of the present disclosure will be described.
As illustrated in
The motor 10 is, for example, an in-wheel motor installed at a central portion of a wheel of a moving body such as a bicycle.
It is to be noted, however, that the motor device of the present disclosure is not limited to the in-wheel motor, but is applicable to other motors, for example, various motors such as motors for rotating media such as CD, BD, and hard disk.
As depicted in the side view of
The coolant circulation pipe 20 is set to penetrate a center shaft of the motor 10.
The coolant circulation pipe 20 is configured to penetrate a rotary center shaft of the motor 10 and have a closed loop shape surrounding a peripheral portion of the motor 10, and is configured such that a coolant is circulated in the inside of the pipe.
A coolant composed of a liquid or a gas is sealed in the inside of the coolant circulation pipe 20.
The coolant sealed in the inside of the coolant circulation pipe 20 is controlled as to flow velocity or flow direction under control by the coolant flow control section 30.
The coolant flow control section 30 has, for example, a fan or pump configuration, and controls the moving velocity or moving direction of the coolant sealed in the inside of the coolant circulation pipe 20.
The example depicted in the front view of
The flow velocity or flow direction of the coolant can be changed under control by the coolant flow control section 30.
For example, in the case where the rotational speed of the motor 10 increases and the amount of heat generated increases, the coolant flow control section 30 performs a control to accelerate the flow velocity of the coolant.
In addition, for example, based on temperature detection information on the left side and the right side of the motor 10, the coolant flow control section 30 performs a control to change the flow direction of the coolant in such a manner that the coolant will flow from a high temperature side toward a low temperature side.
Specific examples of these flow controls will be described later.
An example of internal structure of the motor 10 will be described below, referring to
The motor 10 illustrated in
As depicted in
A cylindrical rotary shaft 14 of the motor rotary section 12 has a hollow structure, and the coolant circulation pipe 20 is connected to both ends of a both end hollow section of the cylindrical rotary shaft 14.
Specifically, the hollow section of the cylindrical rotary shaft 14 and the coolant circulation pipe 20 connected to the hollow section forms a coolant circulation path having a closed loop shape.
A bearing 13 is disposed around the hollow section of the cylindrical rotary shaft 14. With this configuration, the motor rotary section 12 can be rotated with a center position of the cylindrical rotary shaft 14 as a center of rotation.
Note that a main heat generating part of the motor 10 is the coil 15 supplied with electric power.
In the above configuration, the hollow section of the cylindrical rotary shaft 14 and the coolant circulation pipe 20 connected to the hollow section form the closed loop coolant circulation path. However, a configuration may be adopted in which the coolant circulation pipe 20 having a closed loop shape penetrates the cylindrical rotary shaft 14 of the motor rotary section 12, to form the closed loop coolant circulation path composed only of the coolant circulation pipe 20.
A specific use example of the motor device of the present disclosure will be described below, referring to
The motor 10 is mounted to the center of a front wheel of the electric bicycle 50, and the front wheel is rotated by the rotation of the motor 10.
A hollow section is set in a central portion of the motor 10, and, further, the coolant circulation pipe 20 extending in a handle direction is connected to the hollow section. By this connecting configuration, a coolant circulation path having a closed loop shape is configured.
The coolant flow control section 30 is mounted to the center of an upper portion of the coolant circulation pipe 20.
Note that the motor 10 and the coolant flow control section 30 is supplied with electric power from a battery 51.
When the motor 10 is rotated, the coolant in the inside of the coolant circulation pipe 20 is circulated in the pipe and in the hollow section of the cylindrical rotary shaft 14 of the motor 10, under control by the coolant flow control section 30.
The coolant stores heat in the inside of the motor 10 when passing through the inside of the motor 10, and releases the heat when passing through a peripheral portion of the motor 10.
With the coolant circulated in the coolant circulation pipe 20, the heat storage and heat release are carried out continuously, whereby the inside of the motor 10 can be prevented from being brought to a high temperature.
The motor 10 is mounted to the center of a front wheel of the electric Kickboard 60, and the front wheel is rotated by the rotation of the motor 10.
A hollow section is set in a central portion of the motor 10, and, further, the coolant circulation pipe 20 extending in a handle direction is connected to the hollow section. By this connecting configuration, a coolant circulation path having a closed loop shape is configured.
The coolant flow control section 30 is mounted to the center of an upper portion of the coolant circulation pipe 20.
Note that the motor 10 and the coolant flow control section 30 are supplied with electric power from a battery 61.
When the motor 10 is rotated, the coolant in the inside of the coolant circulation pipe 20 is circulated in the pipe and in a hollow section of the cylindrical rotary shaft 14 of the motor 10, under control by the coolant flow control section 30.
The coolant stores heat in the inside of the motor 10 when passing through the inside of the motor 10, and releases the heat when passing through a peripheral portion of the motor 10.
With the coolant circulated in the coolant circulation pipe 20, the heat storage and heat release are carried out continuously, whereby the inside of the motor 10 can be prevented from being brought to a high temperature.
Examples in which the motor 10 is mounted to a tire of a moving body such as a bicycle and a Kickboard have been described referring to
A plurality of embodiments of control of flow of the coolant in the coolant circulation pipe of the motor device of the present disclosure will be described.
A motor 110 has a hollow section around a center axis thereof, and a coolant circulation pipe 120 is connected to the hollow section. By this connecting configuration, a coolant circulation path having a closed loop shape is configured.
Specifically, the coolant circulation path has a closed loop shape configured by the hollow section at the rotary center shaft of the motor 110, and the coolant circulation pipe 120 having a shape surrounding a peripheral portion of the motor 110.
In addition, a coolant flow control section 130 that controls flow of the coolant in the inside of the coolant circulation pipe 120 is mounted to the coolant circulation pipe 120.
As illustrated in
The controller 131 controls the coolant driving section 132, to change the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120.
The coolant driving section 132 has, for example, a fan or pump configuration, and is configured to be able to change the moving velocity or moving direction of the coolant sealed in the inside of the coolant circulation pipe 120.
As depicted in
The rotational speed sensor 140 detects the rotational speed of the motor 110, and inputs the detection information to the controller 131 of the coolant flow control section 130.
According to the rotational speed of the motor 110 inputted from the rotational speed sensor 140, the controller 131 controls an output to the coolant driving section 132, to change the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120.
Specifically, a control is performed such that when the rotational speed of the motor 110 is enhanced, the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120 is raised, and, in the case where the rotational speed of the motor 110 is low, the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120 is lowered.
When the rotational speed of the motor 110 is enhanced, the amount of heat generated in the motor 110 is increased; for lowering the heat generation, a control is performed to increase the amount of the coolant passed through the inside of the motor 110 per unit time, thereby enhancing the cooling effect.
A specific example of flow velocity control for the coolant by the controller 131 of the coolant flow control section 130 is depicted in
A graph depicted in
As illustrated in
On the other hand, when the rotational speed of the motor 110 is lowered, the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120 is lowered.
In such a way, the controller 131 of the coolant flow control section 130 performs a coolant flow velocity control according to the rotational speed of the motor 110. By this control, a cooling effect according to a heat generation level of the motor 110 can be realized.
An embodiment of the motor device utilizing a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the motor 110 will be described, referring to
A motor device depicted in
Specifically, the coolant circulation path has a closed loop shape configured by the hollow section at a rotary center shaft of the motor 110, and the coolant circulation pipe 120 having a shape surrounding a peripheral portion of the motor 110.
In addition, a coolant flow control section 130 that controls the flow of the coolant in the inside of the coolant circulation pipe 120 is mounted to the coolant circulation pipe 120.
As depicted in
The controller 131 controls the coolant driving section 132, to change the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120.
The embodiment illustrated in
The temperature sensor 150 detects the temperature of the motor 110, and inputs the detection information to the controller 131 of the coolant flow control section 130.
According to the temperature of the motor 110 inputted from the temperature sensor 150, the controller 131 controls an output to the coolant driving section 132, to thereby change the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120.
Specifically, a control is performed such that in the case where the temperature of the motor 110 is raised, the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120 is enhanced, and, where the temperature of the motor 110 is low, the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120 is lowered.
In the case where the temperature of the motor 110 is high, it indicates that the amount of heat generated by the motor 110 is increased; for lowering the heat generation, a control is performed such as to increase the amount of the coolant passed through the inside of the motor 110 per unit time, thereby enhancing the cooling effect.
A specific example of flow velocity control for the coolant by the controller 131 of the coolant flow control section 130 is illustrated in
A graph in
As depicted in
On the other hand, when the temperature of the motor 110 is lowered, the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120 is lowered.
In such a way, the controller 131 of the coolant flow control section 130 performs a flow velocity control for the coolant according to the temperature of the motor 110. By this control, a cooling effect according to the heat generation level of the motor 110 can be realized.
Further, an embodiment of the motor device that performs a control to change the flow direction of the coolant by utilizing a plurality of temperature sensors detecting the temperatures at a plurality of different positions of the motor 110 will be described, referring to
The motor device depicted in
Specifically, the coolant circulation path has a closed loop shape composed of the hollow section at a rotary center shaft of the motor 110, and the coolant circulation pipe 120 having a shape surrounding a peripheral portion of the motor 110.
In addition, a coolant flow control section 130 that controls the flow of the coolant in the inside of the coolant circulation pipe 120 is mounted to the coolant circulation pipe 120.
As illustrated in
The controller 131 controls the coolant driving section 132, to change the flow direction of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120.
In the embodiment depicted in
These two temperature sensors L or 150L and R or 150R individually detect the temperatures on the left (L) side and the right (R) side of the motor 110.
Temperature information on the two parts is inputted to the controller 131 of the coolant flow control section 130.
According to the temperatures on the left (L) side and the right (R) side of the motor 110 which are inputted from the two temperature sensors L or 150L and R or 150R, the controller 131 controls an output to the coolant driving section 132, to change the direction of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120.
Specifically, when the temperature on the left (L) side of the motor 110 becomes higher than that on the right (R) side, the direction of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120 is set to be from the left (L) side toward the right (R) side of the motor 110.
On the other hand, when the temperature on the right (R) side of the motor 110 becomes higher than that on the left (L) side, the direction of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120 is set to be from the right (R) side toward the left (L) side of the motor 110.
With such a setting, the coolant at a low temperature is supplied to a region in which the temperature is higher, whereby a cooling efficiency can be enhanced.
A control example of a specific flow direction of the coolant is illustrated in
In this case, the controller 131 of the coolant flow control section 130 performs a control to set the direction of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120 to be clockwise, namely, from the right (R) side toward the left (L) side of the motor 110.
In this case, the controller 131 of the coolant flow control section 130 performs a control to set the direction of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120 to be counterclockwise, namely, from the left (L) side toward the right (R) side of the motor 110.
Further, an example of control of flow velocity of the coolant according to the velocity of a moving body such as, for example, a bicycle equipped with the motor, without setting sensors in the motor 110, will be described referring to
A motor device illustrated in
Specifically, the coolant circulation path has a closed loop shape composed of the hollow section at a rotary center shaft of the motor 110, and the coolant circulation pipe 120 having a shape surrounding a peripheral portion of the motor 110.
In addition, a coolant flow control section 130 that controls the flow of the coolant in the inside of the coolant circulation pipe 120 is mounted to the coolant circulation pipe 120.
As depicted in
The controller 131 controls the coolant driving section 132, to change the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120.
In the embodiment illustrated in
Specifically, a control is performed such that when the rotational speed of the propeller 170 is enhanced, the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120 is enhanced, and, when the rotational speed of the propeller 170 is lowered, the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120 is lowered.
The propeller 170 is mounted to a front surface of the moving body such as a bicycle, and is rotated at a higher speed as the traveling velocity of the moving body such as a bicycle increases.
The traveling velocity of the moving body such as a bicycle and the rotational speed of the motor 110 are in a proportional relation, and the rotational speed of the propeller 170 is proportional to the rotational speed of the motor 110.
In other words, when the rotational speed of the motor 110 is raised and the amount of heat generated by the motor 110 is increased, the traveling velocity of the moving body such as a bicycle is enhanced, resulting in that the rotational speed of the propeller 170 is enhanced.
As a result, the flow velocity of the coolant flowing in the coolant circulation pipe 120 is enhanced, whereby a cooling effect can be enhanced.
The embodiment illustrated in
Note that while a plurality of embodiments of the motor device have been described referring to
Further, other embodiments of the motor device of the present disclosure will be described referring to
(a) Standard type
(b) Pipe extension type
(c) Heat release section (radiator) type
A motor device of (a) standard type is the motor device as described referring to
A motor device of (b) pipe extension type has a configuration including the motor 10, the coolant circulation pipe 20, and the coolant flow control section 30, like that of (a) standard type, in which the length of the coolant circulation pipe 20 is set to be longer than that in (a) standard type.
With the length of the coolant circulation pipe 20 thus enlarged, the time for which the coolant in the inside of the coolant circulation pipe 20 makes contact with the outside air through the pipe is prolonged, the heat stored in the coolant becomes liable to be released, and a cooling effect can be enhanced.
A motor device of (c) heat release section (radiator) setting type also has a configuration including the motor 10, the coolant circulation pipe 20, and the coolant flow control section 30, like that of (a) standard type, in which a heat release section (radiator) 21 is set in part of the coolant circulation pipe 20.
The coolant circulation pipe 20 has, at part thereof, the heat release section (radiator) 21 in which the flow path of the coolant is branched into a plurality of flow paths.
With the heat release section (radiator) 21 thus set in part of the coolant circulation pipe 20, the heat stored in the coolant becomes liable to be released through the heat release section (radiator) 21, whereby a cooling effect can be enhanced.
Embodiments of the present disclosure have been described in detail while referring to the specific embodiments above. However, it is clear that those skilled in the art can make corrections and substitutions within the scope of the gist of the present disclosure. In other words, the present invention has been disclosed in the form of illustrations, which are not to be construed as limitative. To judge the gist of the present disclosure, the column of claims should be taken into account.
Note that the technology disclosed herein can take the following configurations.
(1)
A motor device including:
a rotary shaft of a hollow structure;
a motor section rotated around the rotary shaft;
a coolant circulation pipe that is connected to both ends of the rotary shaft and that constitutes a closed loop shaped coolant circulation path together with a hollow section of the rotary shaft; and
a coolant flow control section that controls flow of a coolant in the coolant circulation pipe.
(2)
The motor device as described in the above paragraph (1), further including:
a rotational speed sensor that detects rotational speed of the motor section,
in which the coolant flow control section
The motor device as described in the above paragraph (1) or (2), further including:
a temperature sensor that detects temperature of the motor section,
in which the coolant flow control section
The motor device as described in any one of the above paragraphs (1) to (3), further including:
a plurality of temperature sensors that detects temperatures at different positions of the motor section,
in which the coolant flow control section
The motor device as described in any one of the above paragraphs (1) to (4), further including:
a propeller that rotates according to movement of a moving body equipped with the motor section,
in which the coolant flow control section
The motor device as described in any one of the above paragraphs (1) to (5),
in which the coolant circulation pipe has a heat release section in which a flow path of the coolant is branched into a plurality of flow paths.
(7)
The motor device as described in any one of the above paragraphs (1) to (6),
in which the motor section includes an in-wheel motor that drives a wheel of a moving body.
(8)
A motor-driven type moving body including:
a rotary shaft of a hollow structure;
a motor section that rotates around the rotary shaft;
a motor-driven type tire that is equipped with the motor section at a central portion thereof;
a coolant circulation pipe that is connected to both ends of the rotary shaft and that constitutes a closed loop shaped coolant circulation path together with a hollow section of the rotary shaft; and
a coolant flow control section that controls a flow of the coolant in the coolant circulation pipe.
(9)
The motor-driven type moving body as described in the above paragraph (8), further including:
a rotational speed sensor that detects rotational speed of the motor section,
in which the coolant flow control section
The motor-driven type moving body as described in the above paragraph (8) or (9), further including:
a temperature sensor that detects temperature of the motor section,
in which the coolant flow control section
The motor-driven type moving body as described in any one of the above paragraphs (8) to (10), further including:
a plurality of temperature sensors that detect temperatures at different positions of the motor section,
in which the coolant flow control section
The motor-driven type moving body as described in any one of the above paragraphs (8) to (11), further including:
a propeller that rotates according to movement of a moving body equipped with the motor section,
in which the coolant flow control section
The motor-driven type moving body as described in any one of the above paragraphs (8) to (12),
in which the coolant circulation pipe has a heat release section in which a flow path of the coolant is branched into a plurality of flow paths.
(14)
The motor-driven type moving body as described in any one of the above paragraphs (8) to (13),
in which the motor section includes an in-wheel motor that drives a wheel of a moving body.
Note that various kinds of processes described herein are not only be carried out in time series according to the description but may also be carried out concurrently or individually according to the processing capability of the device that performs the processes or as required. In addition, the system herein is a logical set configuration of a plurality of devices, and is not limited to those in which the devices of configurations are present in the same housing.
As aforementioned, according to the configuration of one embodiment of the present disclosure, a motor device and a motor-driven type moving body that realize efficient cooling of a motor are realized.
Specifically, the motor device includes, for example, a rotary shaft of a hollow structure, a motor section that rotates around the rotary shaft, a coolant circulation pipe that is connected to both ends of the rotary shaft and that constitutes a closed loop shaped coolant circulation path together with a hollow section of the rotary shaft, and a coolant flow control section that controls a flow of the coolant in the coolant circulation pipe. The motor device includes a rotational speed sensor that detects the rotational speed of the motor, and a temperature sensor that detects the temperature of the motor. The coolant flow control section receives detection information from the rotational speed sensor and the temperature sensor as an input, and performs a control to accelerate the flow of the coolant in the coolant circulation pipe according to a rise in the rotational speed of the motor and a rise in temperature.
According to the present configuration, a motor device and a motor-driven type moving body that realize efficient cooling of a motor are realized.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2017-158639 | Aug 2017 | JP | national |
Filing Document | Filing Date | Country | Kind |
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PCT/JP2018/028625 | 7/31/2018 | WO | 00 |