IP Library Granted Patent US 9,379,593
Granted Patent B2
US 9,379,593 · App. 14/349,527 · Granted Jun 28, 2016

Vehicle drive device

View Patent ↗
Loading inventors, assignments & file history…
Monitor This Case
Get email alerts when status or documents change.
Order Certified Copies
Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.
Order via The Patent Place →
Pre-filled with this patent's details
Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 9,379,593
App. No.
14/349,527
Granted
Jun 28, 2016
Kind
B2
Abstract

A vehicle drive device that has a stator and a rotor disposed on the inside of the vehicle wheel and drives the wheel, wherein the whole stator can be intensively cooled without causing an increase in production costs. The vehicle drive device comprises: the stator that has a stator core ( 20 ) and a hollow stator coil ( 30 ), is arranged on the inside of the rotating vehicle wheel ( 10 ), and electrically generates magnetic force; the rotor that has permanent magnets ( 11 ) connected to the wheel ( 10 ), and applies rotational force to the wheel ( 10 ) using the magnetic force of the stator; a cooling medium that flows through the hollow section of the stator coil ( 20 ); and a first radiator unit ( 50 ) that releases heat from the cooling medium.

Claims (18)

1. A vehicle driving apparatus comprising:

a stator that includes a stator core and a stator coil is placed inside an automobile wheel, and that electrically generates a magnetic force;

a rotor that has a permanent magnet connected to the wheel and that applies a rotational force to the wheel by the magnetic force of the stator;

a cooling medium that flows through a hollow portion included in wiring of the stator coil; and

a first radiator section that radiates heat of the cooling medium, wherein

the first radiator section and the stator coil are connected to each other and electrically isolated from each other.

2. The vehicle driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein a side of the stator coil that is in contact with the stator core has a linear shape in a cross section of wiring of the stator coil.

3. The vehicle driving apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein a side of the hollow portion on the side of the stator coil on the stator core in the cross section of the wiring of the stator coil has a linear shape along a contact surface of the stator core.

4. The vehicle driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow portion of the stator coil is formed in a rectangular shape in a cross section of the hollow portion.

5. The vehicle driving apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the hollow portion of the stator coil is formed to have a larger width on the side of the stator core than on an opposite side of the side of the stator core.

6. The vehicle driving apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a cooling pipe which passes through an inside of the stator core and through which a cooling medium flows; and

a second radiator section that radiates heat of the cooling medium flowing through the cooling pipe.

7. The vehicle driving apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a tubular axle that rotatably supports the wheel and unrotatably supports the stator core, wherein:

the permanent magnet is fixed to an inner peripheral surface of the wheel;

the stator core is placed so as to be closer to a center of the wheel than the permanent magnet; and

wiring of the stator coil passes through the hollow portion of the axle and is wound around the stator core.

Assignments (4)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 28, 2024
From: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
To: PANASONIC AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 066703/0223 →
CORRECTIVE ASSIGNMENT TO CORRECT THE ERRONEOUSLY FILED APPLICATION NUMBERS 13/384239, 13/498734, 14/116681 AND 14/301144 PREVIOUSLY RECORDED ON REEL 034194 FRAME 0143. ASSIGNOR(S) HEREBY CONFIRMS THE ASSIGNMENT. Recorded Dec 24, 2020
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 056788/0362 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Nov 10, 2014
From: PANASONIC CORPORATION
To: PANASONIC INTELLECTUAL PROPERTY MANAGEMENT CO., LTD.
Reel/Frame 034194/0143 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jun 25, 2014
From: SUGIHARA, KENJI; ITANI, SATORU
To: PANASONIC CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 033181/0375 →