Electric drive device

An electric drive device for an electric power steering system, the electric drive device comprising:

• an electric motor including a motor case, a stator arranged inside a cavity of the motor case, a rotor arranged rotatable about an axis, and a motor shaft attached to the rotor, the motor shaft having a drive end, the motor case having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the drive end of the motor shaft projecting in a first axial direction from the first end of the motor case,
• an electronic control unit that is configured to control the drive of the electric motor and being connected to and projecting in a second axial direction from the second end of the motor case, the second axial direction being opposite to the first axial direction, the electronic control unit comprising a heatsink coupled to the second end of the motor case, an outer periphery of the heatsink having one or more housings of a first configuration;
• and
• an electrical connector that is configured to connect the electronic control unit to electrical sources external to the electric drive device, the electrical connector being laterally coupled to the electric drive device and having one or more projections of a second configuration that respectively reside in the one or more housings of the heatsink, the first configuration and second configuration preventing a lateral movement of the connector in respect to the heatsink,
• wherein the electronic control unit comprises a power board configured to supply a current to the electric motor and the heatsink comprises first and second parts that are separable from one another, the first part having an outer surface that faces away from the motor and that is in abutment with at least a part of the power board, the second part abutting the first part and having a housing for receiving a position end of the motor shaft, the position end comprising a bearing assembly that is supported by a support structure that at least partially forms the housing.

An electric drive device for an electric power steering system, the electric drive device comprising:

• an electric motor including a motor case, a stator arranged inside a cavity of the motor case, a rotor arranged rotatable about an axis, and a motor shaft attached to the rotor, the motor shaft having a drive end, the motor case having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the drive end of the motor shaft projecting in a first axial direction from the first end of the motor case,
• an electronic control unit that at least partially resides inside a cover that is coupled to the second end of the motor case, the electronic control unit configured to control the drive of the electric motor and being connected to and projecting in a second axial direction from the second end of the motor case, the second axial direction being opposite to the first axial direction, the electronic control unit comprising a power board, a control board and a heatsink, the power board configured to supply a current to the electric motor, the control board electrically connected to the power board which controls the drive of the electric motor through the power board, the heatsink thermally coupled with the power board and having a first surface facing the electric motor and a second surface facing away from the electric motor, the second surface having an outer vertical edge that extends only partially around the heatsink;
• and
• an electrical connector that is configured to connect the electronic control unit to electrical sources external to the electric drive device, the electrical connector having a first area that at least partially resides inside the cover and a second area that resides outside the cover, the first area including a first terminal connected to the power board and a second terminal connected to the control board, the second area including a first connector electrically coupled to the first terminal and a second connector electrically coupled to the second terminal, the electrical connector being laterally attached to the electric drive device and having a vertical edge running along the area of intersection between the first area and second area, the vertical edge of the electrical connector and the outer vertical edge of the heatsink collectively forming a vertical edge that extends entirely around the heatsink.

An electric drive device for an electric power steering system, the electric drive device comprising:

• an electric motor including a motor case, a stator arranged inside a cavity of the motor case, a rotor arranged rotatable about an axis, and a motor shaft attached to the rotor, the motor shaft having a drive end, the motor case having a first end and a second end opposite the first end, the drive end of the motor shaft projecting in a first axial direction from the first end of the motor case,
• an electronic control unit that is configured to control the drive of the electric motor and being connected to and projecting in a second axial direction from the second end of the motor case, the second axial direction being opposite to the first axial direction, the electric control unit comprising a heatsink coupled to the second end of the motor case,
• an electrical connector that is configured to connect the electronic control unit to electrical sources external to the electric drive device, the electrical connector being laterally attached to the electric drive device,
• wherein the electronic control unit comprises a power board configured to supply a current to the electric motor and the heatsink comprises first and second parts that are separable from one another, the first part having an outer surface that faces away from the electric motor and that is in abutment with at least a part of the power board, the second part abutting the first part and having a housing for receiving a position end of the motor shaft, the position end comprising a bearing assembly that is supported by a support structure that at least partially forms the housing.