# US 10,873,246 B2 · Driving unit

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- Number: US 10,873,246 B2
- Document ID: US10873246B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/507,110
- Filed: 2019-07-10
- Published: 2020-01-16
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2018-07-13
- Assignees: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Yuichi Hidaka
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10873246B2

## CPC

- H02K 11/33: Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics (H02K11/38 takes precedence)
- B60K 6/26: characterised by the motors or the generators
- H02K 5/12: specially adapted for operating in liquid or gas (combined with cooling arrangements H02K9/00)
- H02K 9/223: {Heat bridges}
- H02K 9/227: {Heat sinks}
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES

## Abstract

A driving unit includes a motor, a control unit and a partition member. The control unit includes an inverter configured to transfer electric power to and/or from the motor, and a casing configured to accommodate the inverter. The partition member is disposed between the motor and the inverter. The partition member includes a first heat conductive member, and a second heat conductive member disposed at a first side of the first heat conductive member in a thickness direction and having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the first heat conductive member and a third heat conductive member disposed at a second side of the first heat conductive member in the thickness direction of the first heat conductive member and having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the first heat conductive member. The heat conductive member is coupled to the casing.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A driving unit comprising:
a motor;
an inverter configured to transfer electric power to and/or from the motor;
a casing configured to accommodate the motor and the inverter; and
a partition member disposed between the motor and the inverter,
wherein the partition member comprises a first heat conductive member, a second heat conductive member disposed at a first side of the first heat conductive member in a thickness direction of the first heat conductive member and having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the first heat conductive member, and a third heat conductive member disposed at a second side of the first heat conductive member in the thickness direction of the first heat conductive member and having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the first heat conductive member, and
the first heat conductive member is coupled to at least one of a part of the casing closer to the accommodated inverter compared to the motor and a heat sink, wherein the first heat conductive member does not expose from the second heat conductive member on the side of a motor housing and does not come in direct contact with the motor housing.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The driving unit according to claim 1,
wherein a part of the first heat conductive member is exposed from the second heat conductive member, and comes in contact with at least one of the part of the casing closer to the accommodated inverter and the heat sink.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The driving unit according to claim 1,
wherein a part of the casing closer to the accommodated motor and the part of the casing closer to the accommodated inverter are coupled via a sealing member having a thermal conductivity lower than that of the casing.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The driving unit according to claim 1,
wherein the partition member constitutes a cover of the inverter.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The driving unit according to claim 1,
wherein an external form of the partition member is formed in a shape having a concave section or a flat plate shape.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The driving unit according to claim 1,
wherein, among the second heat conductive member and the third heat conductive member, the one disposed closer to the motor has a larger thickness.