TRANSMISSION FOR A VEHICLE

• US 20140202402A1
• Filed: 01/18/2013
• Published: 07/24/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 01/18/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Original Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC (General Motors Company)
• Inventors: Triantos, Konstantinos, Diemer, John A., Garcia, Pete R., Miller, Kent A., Tata, Anthony P.
• Granted Patent: US 9,452,682 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 123/41.01
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/007 Physical arrangements or structures of drive train converters specially adapted for the propulsion motors of electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2210/40 DC to AC converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 3/003 relating to inverters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0424 Lubricant guiding means in the wall of or integrated with the casing, e.g. grooves, channels, holes means for guiding lubricant into an axial channel of a shaft F16H57/0426
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0476 Electric machines and gearing, i.e. joint lubrication or cooling or heating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 90/16 Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles

Abstract

A transmission for a vehicle is disclosed. The transmission includes a casing defining a first cavity and a second cavity inside the casing, with the first cavity selectively open to outside of the casing. The transmission also includes a platform at least partially disposed inside the casing to separate the first and second cavities. Furthermore, the transmission includes a power inverter module selectively disposed in the first cavity. The power inverter module includes a cooling system for cooling the power inverter module. The transmission also includes a guide attached to the platform and the casing within the second cavity such that the guide provides fluid communication between the cooling system of the power inverter module within the first cavity and outside of the casing while bypassing the second cavity.

Claims

1. A transmission for a vehicle, the transmission comprising:

a casing defining a first cavity and a second cavity inside the casing, with the first cavity selectively open to outside of the casing;

a platform at least partially disposed inside the casing to separate the first and second cavities;

a power inverter module selectively disposed in the first cavity and including a cooling system for cooling the power inverter module; and

a guide attached to the platform and the casing within the second cavity such that the guide provides fluid communication between the cooling system of the power inverter module within the first cavity and outside of the casing while bypassing the second cavity.

2. A transmission as set forth in claim 1 wherein the cooling system includes a body portion extending from the power inverter module and defining an inlet and an outlet in fluid communication with the guide for guiding fluid into and out of the cooling system of the power inverter module.

3. A transmission as set forth in claim 2 wherein the cooling system includes a conduit disposed in the power inverter module and coupled to the inlet and the outlet for guiding the fluid through the power inverter module.

4. A transmission as set forth in claim 2 wherein the guide includes a first segment disposed in the second cavity and defining a first passageway extending from the platform to the casing for guiding the fluid from outside of the casing to the inlet of the cooling system in the first cavity and bypassing fluid communication with the second cavity.

5. A transmission as set forth in claim 4 wherein the guide includes a second segment disposed in the second cavity, with the second segment defining a second passageway spaced from the first passageway and extending from the platform to the casing for guiding the fluid from the outlet of the cooling system in the first cavity to outside of the casing and bypassing fluid communication with the second cavity.

6. A transmission as set forth in claim 5 wherein the body portion includes a coupling portion adjacent to at least one of the inlet and the outlet for securing the power inverter module to the platform such that the inlet aligns with the first passageway of the first segment and the outlet aligns with the second passageway of the second segment.

7. A transmission as set forth in claim 5 wherein the platform defines a first bore and a second bore spaced from each other, with the inlet and the first passageway in fluid communication with the first bore to provide fluid communication between the cooling system and the first segment, and with the outlet and the second passageway in fluid communication with the second bore to provide fluid communication between the cooling system and the second segment.

8. A transmission as set forth in claim 7 wherein the casing defines a first hole and a second hole spaced from each other, with the inlet, the first bore and the first passageway in fluid communication with the first hole to provide fluid communication between the cooling system in the first cavity and outside of the casing, and with the outlet, the second bore and the second passageway in fluid communication with the second hole to provide fluid communication between the cooling system in the first cavity and outside of the casing.

9. A transmission as set forth in claim 5 wherein the casing defines a first hole and a second hole spaced from each other, with the inlet and the first passageway in fluid communication with the first hole to provide fluid communication between the cooling system in the first cavity and outside of the casing, and with the outlet and the second passageway in fluid communication with the second hole to provide fluid communication between the cooling system in the first cavity and outside of the casing.

10. A transmission as set forth in claim 9 further including a first port attached to an exterior of the casing about the first hole such that the first port, the first hole and the first passageway are in fluid communication with each other for guiding the fluid from the first port outside of the casing through the first hole to inside the casing.

11. A transmission as set forth in claim 10 further including a second port spaced from the first port and attached to the exterior of the casing about the second hole such that the second port, the second hole and the second passageway are in fluid communication with each other for guiding the fluid from inside the casing through the second hole to the second port outside of the casing.

12. A transmission as set forth in claim 5 wherein the first and second segments are integrally formed with the platform and the casing.

13. A transmission as set forth in claim 5 wherein the first and second passageways each include a first portion extending vertically from the platform, and wherein the first and second passageways each include a second portion extending horizontally from the casing, with the first and second portions of the first passageway intersecting at a first elbow, and with the first and second portions of the second passageway intersecting at a second elbow.

14. A transmission as set forth in claim 1 wherein the casing includes a base and a plurality of walls extending outwardly away from the base to a distal edge, with the platform and the first and second cavities disposed between the walls, and wherein one of the walls defines a first hole and a second hole spaced from each other, with a first port attached to an exterior of the casing about the first hole and a second port attached to the exterior of the casing about the second hole.

15. A transmission as set forth in claim 14 wherein the guide is integrally formed with the platform and one of the walls inside the second cavity.

16. A transmission as set forth in claim 1 wherein the guide is integrally formed with the platform and the casing inside the second cavity.

17. A transmission as set forth in claim 1 wherein the power inverter module defines a self-contained unit selectively disposed in the first cavity, with the self-contained unit supported by the platform when in the first cavity.

18. A transmission for a vehicle, the transmission comprising:

a casing including an exterior disposed outside of the casing, with the casing defining a first cavity and a second cavity inside the casing, with the first cavity selectively open to the exterior of the casing;

a platform at least partially disposed inside the casing to separate the first and second cavities;

a power inverter module including a bottom selectively coupled to the platform and a cover coupled to the bottom, with the bottom and the cover cooperating to define a self-contained unit, and with the power inverter module selectively disposed in the first cavity;

wherein the power inverter module includes a cooling system for cooling the power inverter module, with the cooling system including a body portion defining an inlet and an outlet, and with the body portion coupled to the bottom of the power inverter module; and

a guide attached to the platform and the casing within the second cavity such that the guide provides fluid communication between the inlet and the outlet of the cooling system of the power inverter module within the first cavity and outside of the casing while bypassing the second cavity.

19. A transmission as set forth in claim 18 wherein the guide includes a first segment disposed in the second cavity and defining a first passageway extending from the platform to the casing for guiding the fluid from outside of the casing to the inlet of the cooling system in the first cavity and bypassing fluid communication with the second cavity, and wherein the guide includes a second segment disposed in the second cavity, with the second segment defining a second passageway spaced from the first passageway and extending from the platform to the casing for guiding the fluid from the outlet of the cooling system in the first cavity to outside of the casing and bypassing fluid communication with the second cavity.

20. A transmission as set forth in claim 19 wherein the first and second passageways each include a first portion extending vertically from the platform, and wherein the first and second passageways each include a second portion extending horizontally from the casing, with the first and second portions of the first passageway intersecting at a first elbow, and with the first and second portions of the second passageway intersecting at a second elbow.