US-12620876-B2 - Drive apparatus

Abstract

A drive apparatus is provided, including: an electric motor; a gear that is mechanically connected to the electric motor; an electric power control unit that is electrically connected to the electric motor; and a casing that houses the electric motor, the gear, and the electric power control unit. The casing includes a fixation portion to which an electric unit for function expansion is attached in a detachable manner and a connection portion by which the electric unit fixed to the fixation portion is electrically connected to the electric power control unit.

Inventors

• Hiroto Kusaka

Assignees

• TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA

Dates

Publication Date

20260505

Application Date

20231229

Priority Date

20230208

Claims (9)

1. 1 . A drive apparatus comprising: an electric motor; a gear that is mechanically connected to the electric motor; an electric power control unit that is electrically connected to the electric motor; and a casing that houses the electric motor, the gear, and the electric power control unit, the casing including a fixation portion to which an electric unit for function expansion is attached in a detachable manner and a connection portion by which the electric unit fixed to the fixation portion is electrically connected to the electric power control unit, wherein the electric unit is attached to the casing, the drive apparatus is equipped in a vehicle that includes a battery, one unit of the electric power control unit and the electric unit is directly connected to the battery, the other unit of the electric power control unit and the electric unit is connected to the battery through the one unit, and the electric power control unit is disposed on a left side of the electric motor as viewed in a forward movement direction of the vehicle.
2. 2 . The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein the electric unit includes a direct-current converter circuit, an alternating-current charge circuit, and a high-voltage branch circuit.
3. 3 . The drive apparatus according to claim 1 , wherein: the electric power control unit is disposed along a first surface of the casing; and the electric unit is attached to a second surface of the casing by the fixation portion, the second surface being adjacent to the first surface.
4. 4 . A drive apparatus comprising: an electric motor; a gear that is mechanically connected to the electric motor; an electric power control unit that is electrically connected to the electric motor; and a casing that houses the electric motor, the gear, and the electric power control unit, the casing including a fixation portion to which an electric unit for function expansion is attached in a detachable manner and a connection portion by which the electric unit fixed to the fixation portion is electrically connected to the electric power control unit, wherein the electric unit is attached to the casing, the drive apparatus is equipped in a vehicle that includes a battery, one unit of the electric power control unit and the electric unit is directly connected to the battery, the other unit of the electric power control unit and the electric unit is connected to the battery through the one unit, and the electric power control unit is disposed on a forward side of the electric motor as viewed in a forward movement direction of the vehicle.
5. 5 . The drive apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein: the electric unit includes a direct-current converter circuit, an alternating-current charge circuit, and a high-voltage branch circuit.
6. 6 . The drive apparatus according to claim 4 , wherein: the electric power control unit is disposed along a first surface of the casing, and the electric unit is attached to a second surface of the casing by the fixation portion, the second surface being adjacent to the first surface.
7. 7 . A drive apparatus comprising: an electric motor; a gear that is mechanically connected to the electric motor; an electric power control unit that is electrically connected to the electric motor; and a casing that houses the electric motor, the gear, and the electric power control unit, the casing including a fixation portion to which an electric unit for function expansion is attached in a detachable manner and a connection portion by which the electric unit fixed to the fixation portion is electrically connected to the electric power control unit, wherein the electric unit is attached to the casing, the drive apparatus is equipped in a vehicle that includes a battery, one unit of the electric power control unit and the electric unit is directly connected to the battery, the other unit of the electric power control unit and the electric unit is connected to the battery through the one unit, and the electric power control unit is disposed on an upward side of the electric motor within the vehicle.
8. 8 . The drive apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein the electric unit includes a direct-current converter circuit, an alternating-current charge circuit, and a high-voltage branch circuit.
9. 9 . The drive apparatus according to claim 7 , wherein: the electric power control unit is disposed along a first surface of the casing; and the electric unit is attached to a second surface of the casing by the fixation portion, the second surface being adjacent to the first surface.

Description

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION This application claims priority to Japanese Patent Application No. 2023-017909 filed on Feb. 8, 2023, incorporated herein by reference in its entirety. BACKGROUND 1. Technical Field The technology disclosed in the present specification relates to a drive apparatus. 2. Description of Related Art Japanese Unexamined Patent Application Publication No. 2021-048748 discloses a mechatronically-integrated electric power conversion device including an electric motor, a power drive unit that controls actuation of the electric motor, and a transmission that is interlocked and coupled with a rotation shaft of the electric motor. In the mechatronically-integrated electric power conversion device, a casing that houses the electric motor and the power drive unit and a transmission case that houses the transmission are coupled with each other. SUMMARY To this kind of mechatronically-integrated electric power conversion device, an electric unit for function expansion is sometimes attached. The present disclosure provides a novel technology for attaching the electric unit to the casing of the mechatronically-integrated electric power conversion device. An aspect of the present disclosure relates to a drive apparatus including an electric motor, a gear, an electric power control unit, and a casing. The gear is mechanically connected to the electric motor. The electric power control unit is electrically connected to the electric motor. The casing houses the electric motor, the gear, and the electric power control unit. The casing includes a fixation portion to which an electric unit for function expansion is attached in a detachable manner and a connection portion by which the electric unit fixed to the fixation portion is electrically connected to the electric power control unit. With the drive apparatus in the aspect of the present disclosure, the casing that houses the electric motor, the gear, and the electric power control unit includes the fixation portion and the connection portion. The electric unit for function expansion that is fixed to the fixation portion can be electrically connected to the electric power control unit by the connection portion of the casing. Further, the electric unit is attached to the fixation portion in a detachable manner. Therefore, in the drive apparatus, the electric unit can be easily attached to the casing through the fixation portion and the connection portion. Furthermore, the electric unit can be easily detached. Thereby, the versatility of the drive apparatus can be improved. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS Features, advantages, and technical and industrial significance of exemplary embodiments of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the accompanying drawings, in which like signs denote like elements, and wherein: FIG. 1 shows a plan view of an electrified vehicle that is equipped with two drive apparatuses according to a first embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 2 shows an exploded perspective view of one drive apparatus shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 3 shows a perspective view of the other drive apparatus shown in FIG. 1; FIG. 4 shows a front view and lateral view of a drive apparatus in a second embodiment of the present disclosure; FIG. 5 shows a front view and lateral view of a drive apparatus in a third embodiment of the present disclosure; and FIG. 6 shows a front view and lateral view of a drive apparatus in a fourth embodiment of the present disclosure. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS In an embodiment of the present technology, the electric unit includes a direct-current converter circuit, an alternating-current charge circuit, and a high-voltage branch circuit. In another embodiment, the electric unit may include only the direct-current converter circuit. Furthermore, in another embodiment, the electric unit may include only the alternating-current charge circuit, or may include only the high-voltage branch circuit. In an embodiment of the present technology, the electric power control unit may be disposed along a first surface of the casing. In that case, the electric unit may be attached to a second surface of the casing by the fixation portion, the second surface being adjacent to the first surface. In another embodiment, the electric unit may be attached to the first surface of the casing. In an embodiment of the present technology, the drive apparatus may further include the electric unit that is attached to the casing. In another embodiment, the drive apparatus may exclude the electric unit. In an embodiment of the present technology, the drive apparatus may be equipped in a vehicle that includes a battery. In that case, one unit of the electric power control unit and the electric unit may be directly connected to the battery, and the other unit of the electric power control unit and the electric unit may be connected to the battery through the one unit. In this configuration, both of the electric power c