Drive apparatus
A drive apparatus includes a motor that includes a motor shaft disposed along a first central axis that extends in one direction, a housing that includes a first housing portion housing the motor and that is capable of storing oil, and a liquid cooling portion disposed in thermal contact with an inverter electrically coupled to the motor, the liquid cooling portion including a refrigerant liquid flowing therein. The housing includes a contact portion with which the liquid cooling portion is in thermal contact. At least a portion of the contact portion is disposed below an oil surface of the oil stored in the housing.
1. A drive apparatus comprising:
a motor that includes a motor shaft positioned along a first central axis that extends in an axial direction;
a housing that includes a first housing portion housing the motor and that is capable of storing oil; and
a liquid cooling portion in thermal contact with an inverter electrically coupled to the motor, the liquid cooling portion including a refrigerant liquid flowing therein; wherein
the first housing portion includes: (i) a protruding portion with which the liquid cooling portion is in thermal contact and (ii) a cylindrical portion;
at least a portion of the protruding portion is below an oil surface of oil stored in the housing;
the cylindrical portion extends in the axial direction, and the protruding portion protrudes in a radial direction which is perpendicular to the axial direction; and
the cylindrical portion, the protruding portion, the liquid cooling portion, and the inverter all overlap a single straight line that extends in parallel with the radial direction.
2. The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first housing portion is capable of storing oil; and
the protruding portion is a lower portion of the first housing portion.
3. The drive apparatus according to claim 2 , wherein the inverter includes a first inverter portion in thermal contact with and below the liquid cooling portion.
4. The drive apparatus according to claim 3 , wherein the inverter includes a second inverter portion on a first side of the first housing portion in a first direction orthogonal to a vertical direction.
5. The drive apparatus according to claim 4 , further comprising:
a differential gear to which driving force from the motor is transmitted through the motor shaft; wherein
the housing houses the differential gear and includes a second housing portion capable of storing oil;
the axial direction is orthogonal to both the vertical direction and the first direction;
the differential gear is capable of outputting a driving force about a second central axis parallel to the first central axis; and
the second central axis is, with respect to the first central axis, on a side opposite to the second inverter portion in the first direction.
6. The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
a differential gear to which a driving force from the motor is transmitted through the motor shaft; wherein
the housing houses the differential gear and includes a second housing portion capable of storing oil; and
the protruding portion is a lower portion of the second housing portion.
7. The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a pipe portion connected to the liquid cooling portion, the refrigerant liquid inside the liquid cooling portion flowing in the pipe portion; wherein
the pipe portion extends inside the housing.
8. The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a pipe portion connected to the liquid cooling portion, the refrigerant liquid inside the liquid cooling portion flowing in the pipe portion; wherein
the pipe portion is in thermal contact with an outer lateral surface of the housing.
9. The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein
the first housing portion is capable of storing oil;
the motor includes a rotor core fixed to the motor shaft; and
the rotor core is above an oil surface of the oil stored in the first housing portion.
10. The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a bus bar electrically coupling the inverter and the motor to each other; wherein
the motor includes:
a rotor core fixed to the motor shaft; and
a stator that opposes the rotor core in a radial direction with a gap in between;
the stator includes:
a stator core; and
a plurality of coils mounted in the stator core;
the bus bar extends inside the housing and is coupled to the coils through crimped terminals; and
the crimped terminals are above an oil surface of oil stored in the housing.