1. Field of the Invention
The present disclosure relates to a rotating electrical machine for a vehicle to be disposed in an engine room of a vehicle, particularly to a rotating electrical machine for a vehicle to be disposed on an inner side of a side member in a width direction of the vehicle, which side member is provided along a front-back direction of the vehicle.
2. Description of the Related Arts
In an engine room of a vehicle, a pair of side members are disposed on the left side and the right side in the width direction of the vehicle. The side members are each provided along the front-back direction of the vehicle, and an engine, a reduction gear and a rotating electrical machine are disposed between one of the side member and the other. The rotating electrical machine is disposed in a position facing one of the side member (e.g. the side member on the right side) (see JP 2011-213290 A, for example).
Further, it is known that in a vehicle having a pair of side members and a front cross member to connecting the pair of side members to each other, in a case where the right-side half of the vehicle crashes into a barrier (offset crash), the front cross member compressed by the barrier transmits the impact load to the side member, and the side member and its surrounding members are collapsed to absorb the impact load (see JP 2012-166653 A, for example).
Recent years, as an engine, a reduction gear, a rotating electrical machine, and the like are gathered in the engine room of a vehicle, and the rotating electrical machine is disposed facing and in the vicinity of the side member, if the side member is deformed inward along the width direction of the vehicle by e.g. a crash of the vehicle, the rotating electrical machine may be compressed by the side member. Thus, the rotating electrical machine for a vehicle is required to have sufficient protection strength.
However, as the rotating electrical machine for a vehicle is disposed in the vicinity of and facing the side member, increasing of the thickness of its housing is limited, and sufficient protection strength may not be obtained only by increasing the thickness of the housing.
In view of the above object, at least an embodiment of the present invention is to provide a rotating electrical machine for a vehicle capable of improving the protection strength efficiently.
A rotating electrical machine for a vehicle according to at least one embodiment of the present invention comprises: a rotating electrical machine housing disposed on an inner side in a width direction of the vehicle, of a side member, the side member being a component of a frame of the vehicle and provided along a front-back direction of the vehicle; and a protective member mounted on a facing surface of the rotating electrical machine housing facing the side member; the protective member having a protective portion apart from an outer surface forming the facing surface of the rotating electrical machine housing and in an area where the rotating electrical machine housing and the side member are facing each other.
By employing such a configuration, it is possible to ensure a space between the rotating electrical machine housing and the protective member. As the space functions as a deformation allowance, when the side member is deformed inward in the width direction of the vehicle, the protective member is compressed first, and thus the rotating electrical machine housing will not be immediately compressed. Further, as the rotating electrical machine housing is compressed only after the protective member is deformed in excess of the deformation allowance, the protection strength of the rotating electrical machine is high. It is thereby possible to efficiently increase the protection strength of the rotating electrical machine as compared with a case of increasing the thickness of the housing. Further, as the space between the rotating electrical machine housing and the protective member is ensured, heat generated within the rotating electrical machine will be emitted outside through the space between the rotating electrical machine housing and the protective member. Thus a heat release effect better than a case of increasing the thickness of the rotating electrical housing or a case of the protective member closely attached to the housing can be expected.
In an aspect of the present invention, the protective member is in contact with a mounting surface provided on the facing surface of the rotating electrical machine housing and has a mounting portion into which a mounting bolt is inserted.
By employing such a configuration, the upper surface of the head portion of the mounting bolt will not protrude to a large extent from the outside surface of the protective portion.
In an aspect of the present invention, the rotating electrical machine housing is provided with a fixing bolt having a head portion positioned in an area where the rotating electrical machine housing and the side member are facing each other, and the protective member has, in the protective portion, a hole into which the head portion of the fixing bolt is inserted.
By employing such a configuration, a apace between the periphery of the hole and the head portion of the fixing bolt, heat generated within the rotating electrical machine will be emitted outside through this space. Thus a heat release effect larger than a case of a protective portion having no hole can be expected. Further, as the periphery of the hole and the head portion of the fixing bolt become into contact and become engaged with each other when the protective member is compressed, it is possible to suppress an elongation (deformation) due to bending of the protective member. Thus it is possible to more efficiently increase the protection strength of the rotating electrical machine.
In an aspect of the present invention, an outer surface of the protective portion and an upper surface of the head portion of the fixing bolt are on the same level (the outer surface of the protective portion is flush with the upper surface of the head portion of the fixing bolt).
By employing such a configuration, it is possible to ensure a space between the rotating electrical housing and the protective portion, and thereby to ensure an allowance for contact and engagement between the periphery of the hole and the head portion of the fixing bolt.
In an aspect of the present invention, the rotating electrical machine includes an electric generator and an electric motor, and each of the electric generator and the electric motor comprises the protective member.
The protective member is provided for each of the electric generator and the electric motor, whereby it is possible to efficiently increase the protection strength of the housing of the rotating electrical machine including the electric generator and the electric motor.
Embodiments of the present invention will now be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. It is intended, however, that unless particularly specified, dimensions, materials, shapes, relative positions and the like of components described in the embodiments shall be interpreted as illustrative only and not limitative of the scope of the present invention.
First, a rotating electrical machine for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention, particularly as to mounting position of an electrical generator, will be described with reference to
The vehicle 1 is a HV (hybrid vehicle) having engine (internal combustion engine) 2 and an electric motor (rotating electrical machine) 3 as the power source, but is not limited thereto, and is applicable to an electric vehicle having an electric motor as the power source.
As illustrated in
The engine 2 and the reduction gear 4 are arranged in series in the width direction of the vehicle. The electric motor 3 and the generator 5 are arranged adjacent to the reduction gear 4 with an offset along the height direction of the reduction gear 4, while arranged in parallel along the front-back direction of the vehicle.
The side members 11 and 12 are components forming the framework of the body of the vehicle, each comprising a structural member having a tube-like shape with a rectangular-like cross section. In a case of a head-on crash of the vehicle 1, the side members 11 and 12 are collapsed along the direction of the front-back direction of the vehicle to absorb the impact load, and they are bent inward along the width direction of the vehicle to absorb the impact load. Thus, in a case of a head-on crash or a side crash of the vehicle, the side member 12 may be deformed inward along the width direction of the vehicle to compress the generator 5.
Then, a rotating electrical machine according to an embodiment of the present invention where the rotating machine is a generator, with reference to
As seen in
The housing 62 is a container of metal (e.g. aluminum) to accommodate the high-voltage coil 61 and has an opening on a side (facing side) facing the side member 12. The housing 62 has a female thread (not shown) formed around the end of the opening, for fixing the cover 63. The housing 62 has ribs 621 and 622 (see
The cover 63 is a cover of metal (e.g. aluminum) to close the opening of the housing 62 and has projections formed on the outer surface 63A to increase the stiffness of the cover 63. The cover 63 has a through-hole (not shown) in the edge portion. The through-hole is formed on a position corresponding to the female thread formed around the end of the opening of the housing 62, and a bolt (not shown) inserted into the through-hole is configured to be screwed together with the female thread formed around the end of the opening of the housing 62. The cover 63 is thereby fixed to the housing 62. The cover 63 further has through-holes 631 and 632 (see
Then, the protective member will be described in detail with
As illustrated in
Further, as illustrated in
Further, as illustrated in
Further, as illustrated in
The hole 71B has a sufficient size such that the head portion of the bolt 65 and the convex portion 63D formed in the cover 63 can be inserted in the hole 71B. The periphery of the hole 71B has an arc shape of which center is the head portion of the bolt 65, as a part.
In the above-described generator 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention, as illustrated in
If the side member 12 is deformed inward in the width direction of the vehicle by e.g. a crash of the vehicle, the protective member 7 is compressed by the side member 12. At this time, the protective member 7 is compressed first, and the cover 63 will not be immediately compressed. If the protective member 7 is compressed by the side member 12 and then the protective portion 71 is deformed toward the cover 63 as seen in
As described above, in the generator 5 according to an embodiment of the present invention, a space is ensured between the cover 63 (generator housing 6) and the protective member 7. As this space functions as a deformation allowance of the protective member 7, if the side member 12 is deformed inward along the width direction of the vehicle, the protective member 7 is firstly compressed, and thus the cover 63 (generator housing 6) will not be immediately compressed. Further, as the cover 63 (generator housing 6) will not compressed until the protective member 7 is deformed, the protection strength of the generator 5 is high. It is thereby possible to efficiently increase the protection strength of the generator as compared with a case of increasing the thickness of the cover 63.
Further, as a space is ensured between the cover 63 (generator housing 6) and the protective member 7, head generated within the generator housing 6 can be emitted outside through between the cover 63 and the protective member 7. Thus a heat release effect better than a case of increasing the thickness of the cover 63 or a case of the protective portion 71 closely attached to the cover 63 can be expected.
Further, as the protective member 7 is disposed on the cover 63 side (generator housing 6 side) then the protective portion 71 in the area where the rotating electrical machine and the side member 12 are facing each other and is in contact with mounting surfaces 63A1 and 63A2 provided on the cover 63 and has mounting portions 72A, 72B and 72C into which the bolt 66 is inserted, the upper surface of the head portion of the bolt 66 will not protrude to a large extent from the outside surface 71C of the protective portion 71. Further, the upper surface of the head portion of the bolt 66 mounted in the area where the rotating electrical machine and the side member 12 are facing each other may be flush with the outer surface 71C of the protective portion 71. It is thereby possible to ensure a space between the outer surface 71C of the protective portion 71 and the side member 12, and an air flow in the space, whereby a heat release effect can be expected.
Further, as a space between the periphery of the hole 71A of the protective portion 71 and the head portion of the bolt 64 is ensured, heat generated within the generator housing 6 can be emitted outside through this space. Thus a heat release effect better than a case of the protective portion 71 having no hole 71A can be expected. Further, as the side member 12 is deformed inward along the width direction of the vehicle, and the periphery of the hole 71A of the protective portion 71 is in contact and engaged with the bolt 64 when the protective member 7 is compressed, it is possible to suppress an elongation (deformation) of the protective member 7 due to bending of the protective portion 71. It is thereby possible to increase the protection strength of the generator 5 more efficiently.
Further, as the outer surface 71C of the protective portion 71 is flush with the upper surface of the head portion of the bolt 64, a space can be ensured between the outer surface 71C of the protective portion 71 and the side member 12.
Further, as the outer surface 71C of the protective portion 71 is flush with the upper surface of the head portion of the bolt 64, the periphery of the hole 71A can be in contact and engaged with the head portion of the bolt 64 more surely when the side member 12 is deformed inward along the width direction of the vehicle to compress the protective member 7 at the time of a vehicle crash, than a case where the upper surface of the head portion of the bolt 64 is positioned closer to the cover 63 than the outer surface 71C of the protective portion 71. It is thereby possible to more surely suppress an elongation (deformation) due to bending of the protective member 7.
Then, a modified example of a protective member will be described with reference to
The protective member 8 as seen in
Then, an embodiment where the rotating electrical machine for a vehicle is an electric motor, i.e. an electrical motor 3 will be described with reference to
The electric motor 3 comprises a motor housing (rotating electrical machine housing) 311 and a motor protective member 312. The motor housing 311 includes a motor housing body 313 and a motor cover 314.
As seen in
The motor housing body 313 is a container of a metal to accommodate a motor coil and has an opening on a side (facing side) facing the side member 12. The motor cover 314 is fixed by a bolt (not shown) to the motor housing body 313 to close the opening. The motor housing body 313 has a shape of a cylindrical tube or a rectangular tube, for example, and the end of the opening is closed by the motor cover 314.
As illustrated in
Among the mounting portions 372A, 372B, 72C and 72D, the mounting portions 372A, 372B and 372C facing the side member 12 have the same structures as the mounting portions 72A, 72B and 72C of the protective member 7, respectively, and the mounting portions 372D outside the area facing the side member 12 has the same structure as the mounting portion 72D of the protective member 7.
The mounting portion 372D is provided on the side outer (outer side in along the width direction of the vehicle) than the motor protective portion 371 in the area facing the side member 12 and is closely attached to a mounting surface protruding from the mounting surface provided in the area facing the side member 12.
Further, the motor protective member 312 has a hole 371A and a hole 371B, which correspond to holes into which e.g. a head portion of a fixing bolt is inserted, similarly to the hole 71A and the hole 71B of the protective member 7.
By employing such a motor protective member 312, as with the case of the protective member 7, a space between the motor cover 314 and the motor protective member 312 is ensured, and this space functions as a deformation allowance for the motor protective member 12. Thus, if the side member 12 is deformed inward along the width direction of the vehicle, the motor protective member 312 is firstly compressed, and the motor cover 314 (motor housing 311) will not be immediately compressed. Further, as the motor cover 314 (motor housing 311) will not be compressed until the motor protective member 312 is deformed, the protection strength of the electric motor 3 becomes high. It is thereby possible to efficiently increase the protection strength relative to the case of increasing the thickness of the motor cover 314.
Further, as a space between the motor cover 314 and the motor protective member 312 is ensured, heat generated within the electric motor 3 can be emitted outside through the space between the motor cover 314 and the motor protective member 312. This a heat release effect can be expected.
Further, by employing the motor protective member 312, the same operation and effect can be obtained as with the case of the above protective member 7.
Further, the protective member 7 for the generator housing 6 and the motor protective member 312 for the motor housing may be arranged along the front-back direction of the vehicle and integrally formed. It is thereby possible to more efficiently increase the protection strength of the rotating electrical machine including the generator housing 6 and the motor housing 311.
A rotating electrical machine for a vehicle according to at least one embodiment of the present invention is capable of efficiently increasing the protection strength and is applicable to a vehicle in which a generator and an electric motor are disposed close to and facing a side member.
Number | Date | Country | Kind |
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2013-158355 | Jul 2013 | JP | national |
2014-080073 | Apr 2014 | JP | national |
Number | Name | Date | Kind |
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3834476 | Donaldson | Sep 1974 | A |
5738378 | Yazejian | Apr 1998 | A |
8720976 | Oyama et al. | May 2014 | B2 |
20030209380 | Anzai et al. | Nov 2003 | A1 |
20130270862 | Hotta et al. | Oct 2013 | A1 |
20130341963 | Hirano et al. | Dec 2013 | A1 |
20150060179 | Tsuchida et al. | Mar 2015 | A1 |
Number | Date | Country |
---|---|---|
2011-213290 | Oct 2011 | JP |
2012-166653 | Sep 2012 | JP |
2012-236539 | Dec 2012 | JP |
2013-129220 | Jul 2013 | JP |
WO 2013014745 | Jan 2013 | WO |
Entry |
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Japanese Office Action mailed Aug. 29, 2014 for corresponding JP Application No. 2014-080073. |
Number | Date | Country | |
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20150035399 A1 | Feb 2015 | US |