DRIVE UNIT FOR A VEHICLE

Abstract

Drive unit for an electrical vehicle, which drive unit comprises an electric motor including a winding, comprising a winding terminal. The drive unit further comprises an inverter having an inverter housing, and an inverter circuit provided within the inverter housing. The inverter circuit comprising an inverter terminal, wherein the winding terminal and the inverter terminal are directly connected to each other.

Claims

1. A drive unit for an electrical vehicle comprising: an electric motor including a winding, wherein one end of the winding comprises a winding bus terminal; and an inverter having an inverter housing, and an inverter circuit provided within the inverter housing, the inverter circuit comprising an inverter terminal extending outwardly of the inverter housing; wherein the winding bus terminal and the inverter terminal are directly connected to each other.

2. The drive unit according to claim 1, further comprising a connector having a male connector member and a female connector member, wherein the winding bus terminal is associated with a first one of the male and female connector members and the inverter terminal is associated with a second one of the male and female connector members, the male connector member and the female connector member being arranged to mate, wherein in a connected state in which the male and female connector members mate, the winding bus terminal and the inverter terminal are electrically connected such as to establish an electrical connection between the winding of the electric motor and the inverter circuit.

3. The drive unit according to claim 2, wherein the inverter terminal is associated with the female connector member.

4. The drive unit according to claim 2, wherein winding bus terminal is associated with the male connector member.

5. The drive unit according to claim 2, wherein the connector is a snap-fit connector.

6. The drive unit according to claim 2, wherein at least one of the male and female connector members is arranged to elastically deform upon mating.

7. The drive unit according to claim 2, wherein the connector comprises locking means arranged for locking, in the connected state, the male and female connector members to each other.

8. The drive unit according to claim 2, wherein the connector comprises sealing means arranged for sealing the connector in the connected state from an environment of the connector.

9. The drive unit according to claim 1, comprising sealing means arranged for providing a fluid tight sealing between a housing of the electric motor and the inverter housing.

10. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the inverter circuit comprises six inverter terminals, each inverter terminal being associated with a respective phase of a six-phase electric power circuit.

11. The drive unit according to claim 10, wherein the electric motor comprises six winding bus terminals, each winding bus terminal arranged for connection with an associated inverter terminal.

12. An inverter for an electrical vehicle, the inverter comprising an inverter housing including an inverter housing wall, and an invertor circuit provided within the inverter housing, wherein the inverter circuit comprises at least one inverter terminal for connection to an electric motor of the electric vehicle, wherein the at least one inverter terminal includes a connector member for a direct connection to a connector member of the electric motor.

13. The inverter according to claim 12, wherein the connector member is a male connector member or a female connector member.

14. The inverter according to claim 12, wherein the at least one inverter terminal extends externally from the inverter housing.

15. The inverter according to claim 14, wherein a seal is provided, wherein the seal is arranged for providing a fluid seal between the at least one inverter terminal and the inverter housing wall.

16. The inverter according to claim 12, comprising sealing means arranged for providing a fluid seal between the inverter housing and a housing of the electric motor.

17. The inverter according to claim 12, wherein the inverter comprises a cooling body, wherein the cooling body is provided within the inverter housing adjacent the inverter housing wall, the at least one inverter terminal being provided through a hole in the cooling body.

18. A connector for electrically connecting an inverter circuit of an electric vehicle and a winding of an electric motor of the electric vehicle, the connector comprising a male connector member and a female connector member, wherein a first one of the male and female connector members is associated with a bus terminal of the winding and a second one of the male and female connector members is associated with a bus terminal of the inverter circuit, and wherein, in a connected state of the connector, the male and female connector members mate to establish an electrical connection of the bus terminal of the winding and the bus terminal of the inverter circuit.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0029] The invention will further be elucidated on the basis of exemplary embodiments which are represented in a drawing. The exemplary embodiments are given by way of non-limitative illustration. It is noted that the figures are only schematic representations of embodiments of the invention that are given by way of non-limiting example.

[0030] In the drawing:

[0031] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a drive unit for a vehicle.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0032] FIG. 1 shows a schematic representation of a drive unit 1. The drive unit comprises an inverter 3 having an inverter housing 5. The inverter 3 comprises an inverter circuit (not shown) having at least one inverter terminal 7. The inverter is arranged to convert a direct current electric power of a battery (not shown) into an alternating current electric power and supply, at least a part of, this alternating current electric power via the inverter terminal 7 to an electric motor of the vehicle. In this example, the inverter terminal 7 is electrically connected to the inverter circuit via a inverter bus 9. It is also possible that the inverter terminal 7 is directly coupled to the inverter circuit. The inverter generally comprises a plurality of inverter terminals corresponding to a plurality of windings of the electric motor. The inverter 3 may for example comprise three inverter terminals. Each terminal, for example, corresponds to a phase of a three-phase electric power circuit of the inverter. Alternatively, the inverter 3 may for example comprise six inverter terminals. Each terminal, for example, corresponds to a phase of a six-phase electric power circuit of the inverter.

[0033] The drive unit 1 further comprises the electric motor of the vehicle. The electric motor has at least one winding 11, for example a stator winding. The winding 11 is electrically connected, e.g. at an end of the winding, to a winding bus terminal 15 for connection to the inverter terminal 7.

[0034] A connector 17 is provided for connecting the winding bus terminal 15 to the inverter terminal 7. Here, the connector 7 is a snap-fit connector having a male connector member 17A and a female connector member 17B. the male and female connector members 17A, 17B are arranged to mate such as to establish an engagement of the winding bus terminal 15 and the inverter terminal 7. FIG. 1 shows the connector 17 in a connected state in which the male and female connector members 17A, 17B mate. In the connected state, the winding bus terminal 15 and the inverter terminal make contact with each other to electrically connect the inverter circuit with the winding 11. Here, in the mating position the male connector member 17A elastically deforms the female connector member 17B. Thus the female connector member 17B will continuously apply a force onto the male connector member 17A. Hence, a good and lasting electrical connection is provided.

[0035] In FIG. 1, the female connector member 17B is associated with the inverter terminal 7. The male connector member 17A is associated with the winding bus terminal 13. It is clear that this configuration can be reversed, i.e. that the female connector member 17B is associated with the winding bus terminal 13 and the male connector member 17A with the inverter terminal 7.

[0036] The inverter bus 9 extends from the inverter terminal through a seal, here a gland, 19 in the inverter housing 5 to a remainder of the inverter circuit. To prevent oil and other debris from infiltrating the interior of the inverter 3, gland seals 21 are provided around the inverter bus 9. Retention means 29 are provided to retain the inverter bus from being pulled out of the inverter housing 5.

[0037] The inverter 3 is provided with a cooling body 31 for cooling the inverter. Accordingly, the inverter bus 9 also extends through a hole 35 in the cooling body 31. The cooling body 31 is provided adjacent an outer wall 33 of the inverter housing to transmit heat to towards the exterior of the inverter 3. More specifically, the cooling body 31 is provided between the outer wall 33 and an inner wall 35 of the inverter housing 5.

[0038] In FIG. 1, the drive unit 1 comprises additional sealing means 23 which provide a fluid sealing between a housing of the electric motor 25 and the inverter housing 5. The sealing means 23 comprise a resilient member 27.

[0039] Herein, the invention is described with reference to specific examples of embodiments of the invention. It will, however, be evident that various modifications and changes may be made therein, without departing from the essence of the invention. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate examples or embodiments, however, alternative embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described in these separate embodiments are also envisaged.

[0040] In the example an electric motor is described. It will be appreciated that additionally the vehicle may comprise an internal combustion engine.

[0041] The vehicle can comprise a transmission. It is possible that a housing of the transmission also houses the electric motor

[0042] Herein, the invention is described with reference to specific examples of embodiments of the invention. It will, however, be evident that various modifications, variations, alternatives and changes may be made therein, without departing from the essence of the invention. For the purpose of clarity and a concise description features are described herein as part of the same or separate examples or embodiments, however, alternative embodiments having combinations of all or some of the features described in these separate embodiments are also envisaged and understood to fall within the framework of the invention as outlined by the claims. The specifications, figure and examples are, accordingly, to be regarded in an illustrative sense rather than in a restrictive sense. The invention is intended to embrace all alternatives, modifications and variations which fall within the spirit and scope of the appended claims. Further, many of the elements that are described are functional entities that may be implemented as discrete or distributed components or in conjunction with other components, in any suitable combination and location.

[0043] In the claims, any reference signs placed between parentheses shall not be construed as limiting the claim. The word ‘comprising’ does not exclude the presence of other features or steps than those listed in a claim. Furthermore, the words ‘a’ and ‘an’ shall not be construed as limited to ‘only one’, but instead are used to mean ‘at least one’, and do not exclude a plurality. The mere fact that certain measures are recited in mutually different claims does not indicate that a combination of these measures cannot be used to an advantage.