Thermal management system for use with an integrated motor assembly

摘要

An integrated drive system assembly is provided that combines an electric motor, a power inverter assembly and a gearbox into a single, multi-piece enclosure. Combining these components into a single enclosure reduces weight, reduces drive system complexity, reduces system volume, simplifies assembly integration into an electric vehicle, reduces manufacturing cost, allows the flexible and lengthy electrical cables between the power inverter and the electric motor to be replaced with short, low loss, rigid bus bars, and simplifies component cooling by allowing the use of a common thermal management system, i.e., a mutual thermal management system. The common thermal management system includes a liquid coolant loop that is thermally coupled to the electric motor, the power inverter assembly and the gearbox.

主权项

1. An integrated drive system assembly of an electric vehicle, comprising:
a single, multi-piece enclosure; an electric motor disposed within said single, multi-piece enclosure; a power inverter assembly operable to convert DC current supplied by an energy storage system of said electric vehicle to AC current capable of operating said electric motor, wherein said power inverter assembly is disposed within said single, multi-piece enclosure; a gearbox disposed within said single, multi-piece enclosure and coupled to said electric motor, wherein said electric motor is coupled to a drive train of said electric vehicle via said gearbox, and wherein said electric motor provides propulsive power to said electric vehicle; and a mutual thermal management system coupled to said integrated drive system assembly and comprised of a liquid coolant loop containing a liquid coolant, wherein said liquid coolant loop is thermally coupled to said electric motor, said power inverter assembly and said gearbox.