Cooling structure of in-wheel motor
A cooling structure of an in-wheel motor includes a rotary electric machine and a knuckle. The rotary electric machine is configured to rotate a hub to which a wheel is fixed. The knuckle rotatably supports the hub and is provided in contact with a stator of the rotary electric machine. Here, the knuckle is provided with one or more cooling fins extending in the axial direction of the tire-wheel assembly.
1 . A cooling structure of an in-wheel motor, the cooling structure being provided in a wheel of a tire-wheel assembly, the cooling structure comprising:
a rotary electric machine configured to rotate a hub to which the wheel is fixed; and
a knuckle that supports the hub so as to be rotatable and that is provided in contact with a stator of the rotary electric machine,
wherein the knuckle is provided with one or more cooling fins extending in an axial direction of the tire-wheel assembly,
wherein the one or more cooling fins is disposed on a side surface in a circumferential direction of a leg portion on a vehicle rear side of the knuckle.
2 . A cooling structure of an in-wheel motor, the cooling structure being provided in a wheel of a tire-wheel assembly, the cooling structure comprising:
a rotary electric machine configured to rotate a hub to which the wheel is fixed; and
a knuckle that supports the hub so as to be rotatable and that is provided in contact with a stator of the rotary electric machine,
wherein the knuckle is provided with one or more cooling fins extending in an axial direction of the tire-wheel assembly,
wherein the one or more cooling fins is disposed only on a vehicle rear side of the knuckle.
3 . The cooling structure according to claim 1 , wherein an inside of the knuckle and an inside of the stator are provided with a forward flow path and a return flow path for circulating a cooling liquid, and the forward flow path and the return flow path are connected to a pump that is driven as the hub rotates.
4 . The cooling structure according to claim 2 , wherein an inside of the knuckle and an inside of the stator are provided with a forward flow path and a return flow path for circulating a cooling liquid, and the forward flow path and the return flow path are connected to a pump that is driven as the hub rotates.
5 . The cooling structure according to claim 1 , wherein the side surface in the circumferential direction of the leg portion includes a first side surface and a second side surface that is opposite from the first side surface and in the circumferential direction of the leg portion, and the one or more cooling fins extend from each of the first side surface and the second side surface of the leg portion.
6 . The cooling structure according to claim 2 , wherein the one or more cooling fins is disposed on a side surface in a circumferential direction of a leg portion of the knuckle.
7 . The cooling structure according to claim 1 , wherein the vehicle rear side of the knuckle is located rearward of a rotary shaft of the wheel on which the in-wheel motor is mounted.
8 . The cooling structure according to claim 2 , wherein the vehicle rear side of the knuckle is located rearward of a rotary shaft of the wheel on which the in-wheel motor is mounted.
9 . The cooling structure according to claim 1 , wherein the leg portion of the knuckle further includes an exterior facing surface and an interior facing surface, and the side surface in the circumferential direction of the leg portion extends from the exterior facing surface to the interior facing surface.
10 . The cooling structure according to claim 6 , wherein the leg portion of the knuckle further includes an exterior facing surface and an interior facing surface, and the side surface in the circumferential direction of the leg portion extends from an edge of the exterior facing surface to an edge of the interior facing surface.