CONTROL DEVICE UNIT INSTALLATION STRUCTURE FOR TRANSMISSION

Provided is a control device unit installation structure for a transmission in which wear of a terminal of a control device unit electrically connected to a lumped coupler is suppressed when the control device unit is fixed to a cover constituting a part of an outer wall of a transmission. In the control device unit installation structure for a transmission (1) in which a control device unit (60) of the transmission (1) of a vehicle is directly mounted on an outer wall of the transmission (1) and a harness connected to a functional part inside the transmission (1) is electrically connected to the control device unit (60), the control device unit (60) is installed on one cover (12) forming a part of the outer wall, and the harness is coupled to the controller device unit (60) on the one cover (12) via a lumped coupler installed in the transmission (1).

CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATION

This application claims the priority benefit of Japan Application no. 2017-071008, filed on Mar. 31, 2017. The entirety of the above-mentioned patent application is hereby incorporated by reference herein and made a part of this specification.

BACKGROUND

Technical Field

The disclosure relates to a control device unit installation structure for a transmission.

Description of Related Art

Conventionally, a vehicle such as an automobile includes a control device unit of a transmission which controls a transmission installed in a vehicle. For example, the control device unit is mounted on an upper surface of a valve body installed inside an oil pan in a vehicle (refer to, for example, Patent Document 1).

One end of a harness is electrically connected to each part of the transmission, and the other end of the harness converges to a lumped coupler. For example, the lumped coupler is fixed to a control body of the transmission. Further, the control device unit is not limited to the case of being fixed on the upper surface of a valve body installed inside an oil pan in a vehicle as described in the above-mentioned patent document and may be fixed to another part, for example, a cover forming a part of an outer wall of the transmission and then may be connected to the lumped coupler.

SUMMARY

However, when the control device unit is fixed to the cover forming a part of the outer wall of the transmission, as described above, wear of a terminal of the control device unit electrically connected to the lumped coupler increases.

The disclosure has been made in view of the problems of the related art, and it is an object of the disclosure to provide a control device unit installation structure for a transmission in which wear of a terminal of a control device unit electrically connected to a lumped coupler is minimized when the control device unit is fixed to a cover constituting a part of an outer wall of a transmission.

(1) The disclosure provides a control device unit installation structure for a transmission (for example, an automatic transmission1which will be described later) in which a control device unit (for example, a TCU60which will be described later) of the transmission of a vehicle is directly mounted on an outer wall (for example, a casing10which will be described later) of the transmission and a harness (for example, a harness104which will be described later) connected to a functional part inside the transmission is electrically connected to the control device unit, wherein the control device unit is installed on one cover (for example, a casing cover portion12which will be described later) forming a part of the outer wall, and the harness is coupled to the controller device unit on the one cover via a lumped coupler (for example, a lumped coupler105which will be described later) installed in the transmission.

In the control device unit installation structure for a transmission described in (1), it is possible to electrically connect the lumped coupler to the control device unit without using the harness. Therefore, the harness is covered with the cover, and it is possible to protect the harness from flying stones or the like.

(2) In the control device unit installation structure for a transmission described in (1), reinforcing ribs (for example, ribs121and ribs122which will be described later) of the cover may be formed on at least one of an inner surface and an outer surface of the cover.

In the control device unit installation structure for a transmission described in (2), it is possible to increase a rigidity of the cover. Therefore, the control device unit fixed to the cover is prevented from greatly vibrating together with the cover. Accordingly, it is possible to suppress wear of a terminal of the control device unit connected to the lumped coupler vibrating together with the transmission due to film surface vibration of the cover.

(3) In the control device unit installation structure for a transmission described in (2), the reinforcing ribs formed on the outer surface of the cover may constitute heat radiating ribs of the cover.

In the control device unit installation structure for a transmission described in (3), it is possible to efficiently discharge heat in an inner space of the outer wall outside of the cover. In particular, for example, by providing the cover on the opening portion which opens in a forward direction of the vehicle at a front portion of the wall portion, air flowing from a front of the vehicle to a rear thereof easily flows through the ribs, and thus an effective cooling effect can be obtained.

(4) In the control device unit installation structure for a transmission described in (2), the reinforcing ribs formed on the inner surface of the cover may constitute ribs for gas-liquid separation of lubricating oil and/or ribs configured to prevent blowing-up.

In the control device unit installation structure for a transmission described in (4), it is possible to lengthen a time during which the lubricating oil scraped up by the transmission and containing air flows along the inner surface of the wall portion, and it is also possible to reduce an amount of air mixed into the lubricating oil. Further, for example, since the air mixed into the lubricating oil comes in contact with the ribs before directly flowing into a breather device, it is possible to promote gas-liquid separation of the lubricating oil mixed with the air. Therefore, occurrence of so-called breather blowing is effectively suppressed, and breather robustness can be improved.

According to the disclosure, it is possible to provide a control device unit installation structure for a transmission in which wear of the terminal of the control device unit electrically connected to the lumped coupler is suppressed when the control device unit is fixed to the cover forming a part of the outer wall of the transmission.

DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENTS

Hereinafter, an embodiment of the disclosure will be described below with reference to the drawings.

FIGS. 1(a)-1(c)are schematic views illustrating a vehicle100with a control device unit installation structure for a transmission according to one embodiment of the disclosure, whereinFIG. 1(a)is a plan view,FIG. 1(b)is a front view, andFIG. 1(c)is a bottom view thereof.FIG. 2is a perspective view illustrating an automatic transmission1with a control device unit installation structure for a transmission according to one embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 3is an exploded perspective view illustrating the automatic transmission1with the control device unit installation structure for a transmission according to one embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 4is a front view illustrating the automatic transmission1with the control device unit installation structure for a transmission according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

The control device unit installation structure for a transmission is included in the automatic transmission1which transmits a torque of an internal combustion engine (ENG) of the vehicle100to front wheels RWf and LWf. As illustrated inFIGS. 1(a)-1(c), the automatic transmission1is disposed on a left side (right side inFIGS. 1(a)-1(c)) of an internal combustion engine110to be adjacent to the internal combustion engine110. The automatic transmission1includes a plurality of rotating shafts101(refer toFIG. 7) disposed parallel to each other, a transmission mechanism20which includes rotating parts such as a gear rotatably supported around each of the rotating shafts101and gear changing parts such as a clutch (not illustrated), and a casing10forming an outer wall of the transmission mechanism20which accommodates components of the automatic transmission1including the transmission mechanism20.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, an internal space of the casing10includes a machinery compartment40in which the transmission mechanism20is mainly accommodated, and an oil pan compartment50in which an automatic transmission fluid (ATF) present at a bottom portion of the casing10and in the vicinity thereof on a lower side of the machinery compartment40accumulates. The casing10has a casing wall portion11and a casing cover portion12. The casing wall portion11is defined by a wall portion forming the internal space of the casing10. An opening portion111which opens in a forward direction of the vehicle100and communicates with the internal space of the casing10is formed in a front portion of the casing wall portion11. As illustrated inFIG. 8, a circumferential edge portion of the casing cover portion12is fixed to a circumferential edge portion of the opening portion111with a bolt125, and the opening portion111is closed.

FIG. 7is a cross-sectional view taken along line A-A ofFIG. 4.FIG. 8is an enlarged cross-sectional view illustrating the automatic transmission1with the control device unit installation structure for a transmission according to one embodiment of the disclosure. Further, inFIG. 7, illustration of a hydraulic control valve or the like which controls an oil pressure supplied to the transmission mechanism20is omitted for convenience of explanation.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, in the machinery compartment40, the transmission mechanism20is accommodated in a transmission case102. A hydraulic control body103(refer toFIG. 8or the like) is installed in the transmission case102. The hydraulic control body103includes the hydraulic control valve (not illustrated) and so on which controls the oil pressure supplied to the transmission mechanism20, oil discharged from an oil pump (not illustrated) is supplied to the hydraulic control body103, and the hydraulic control valve is controlled on the basis of a signal for opening and closing the hydraulic control valve. One end of a harness104(refer toFIG. 3or the like) is electrically connected to the hydraulic control valve and sensors such as a hydraulic pressure sensor, a rotation sensor, and so on. The harness104is disposed to extend along the hydraulic control body103, and the other end of the harness104is bundled by a terminal (hereinafter, referred to as a “control body side terminal106”) of a lumped coupler105. As illustrated inFIG. 8, the lumped coupler105is fixed to the hydraulic control body103by a bolt1031.

An oil strainer (strainer)51is installed at a lower side of the hydraulic control body103inside the oil pan compartment50. The oil strainer51has a suction port511in a lower surface thereof. The suction port511suctions the ATF accumulated in a bottom portion of the oil pan compartment50into the oil strainer51. A position of the suction port511in the oil strainer51is located at an optimum position in consideration of forward, backward, leftward and rightward acceleration during traveling of the vehicle100.

A control device unit60(hereinafter, referred to as a “transmission control unit (TCU)60”) controls the automatic transmission1by controlling the oil pressure of the ATF with the hydraulic control device (not illustrated) of the hydraulic control body103. As illustrated inFIG. 8or the like, the TCU60has an electronic substrate63, a case61and a TCU side terminal62. The electronic substrate63which is not illustrated is accommodated in the case61, and the electronic substrate63is electrically connected to the TCU side terminal62which is connectable to the control body side terminal106of the lumped coupler105. The harness104is electrically connected to the electronic substrate63of the TCU60by engaging the control body side terminal106of the lumped coupler105with the TCU side terminal62. Further, as illustrated inFIG. 8, the TCU60is directly installed and fixed to the casing cover portion12by a bolt65.

As illustrated inFIG. 7, a breather device70is provided on an upper portion of the casing10. The breather device70has a breather chamber71and a connecting portion72. In an internal space of the breather chamber71, the breather chamber71performs gas-liquid separation to separate out air mixed with the ATF (hereinafter, referred to as “ATF mixed air”) as lubricating oil sprayed into the transmission. The connecting portion72is connected to the casing10, has a communication port communicating with an inside of the casing10and allows the ATF mixed air to flow to an internal space of the breather chamber71through the communication port. That is, in the breather device70, breather blowing due to deterioration of defoaming performance of the ATF in the casing10or the like is prevented, and ventilation between an inside and an outside of the casing10is performed through the connecting portion72of the breather device70and the breather chamber71.

Next, the casing cover portion12will be described in detail with reference toFIG. 5andFIG. 6.FIG. 5is a front view illustrating the casing cover portion12of the automatic transmission1with the control device unit installation structure for a transmission according to one embodiment of the disclosure.FIG. 6is a rear view illustrating the casing cover portion12of the automatic transmission1with the control device unit installation structure for a transmission according to one embodiment of the disclosure.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, the casing cover portion12has substantially an oval shape which is longer in a vertical direction when seen from the front. An outer surface of the casing cover portion12has a protruding portion126which protrudes forward in a central portion, and an inner surface of the casing cover portion12is recessed forward by an amount corresponding to the protruding portion126protruding. That is, for example, the casing cover portion12as a whole has a shape which protrudes outward and curves like a shape obtained by cutting away a part of a spherical shape.

Further, as illustrated inFIG. 5, a through-hole123is formed in an upper left portion of the casing cover portion12. The through-hole123has a circular shape when seen from the front. In the through-hole123, as illustrated inFIG. 10, the lumped coupler105is inserted from an inner surface side of the casing cover portion12toward an outer surface side thereof, and the through-hole123is closed, and the TCU side terminal62is connected to the control body side terminal106(refer toFIG. 8) of the lumped coupler105from an outer surface side of the casing cover portion12. As illustrated inFIG. 8, the lumped coupler105and a circumferential edge portion of an opening portion of the casing cover portion12forming the through-hole123are liquid-tightly sealed by a ring seal1051.

As illustrated inFIGS. 5 and 6, ribs121and ribs122are formed on the outer surface and the inner surface of the casing cover portion12. The ribs121on the outer surface of the casing cover portion12include vertical ribs1211which protrude forward and extend vertically along the outer surface of the casing cover portion12, horizontal ribs1212which extend in leftward and rightward directions of the vehicle100, and other ribs1213(obliquely extending ribs and so on).

That is, the vertical ribs1211and the horizontal ribs1212are provided in a lattice pattern in both a region of a portion of the outer surface of the casing cover portion12in which the protruding portion126exists and a region of a portion thereof in which the protruding portion126is not provided. Further, on the outer surface of the casing cover portion12, the vertical ribs1211and the horizontal ribs1212are provided to extend around a predetermined region to surround the predetermined region.

The ribs121on the outer surface of the casing cover portion12constitute reinforcing ribs which increase rigidity of the casing cover portion12. Further, the ribs121on the outer surface of the casing cover portion12protrude in the forward direction of the vehicle and constitute heat radiating ribs in the casing cover portion12.

The ribs122on the inner surface of the casing cover portion12protrude rearward and are provided to extend around a predetermined region (for example, a region of the inner surface of the casing cover portion12with respect to the region in which the vertical ribs1211and the horizontal ribs1212are provided in a lattice pattern on the outer surface of the casing cover portion12) to surround the predetermined region.

More specifically, as illustrated inFIG. 6, the ribs on the inner surface include vertical ribs1221which extend vertically, horizontal ribs1222which extend in the leftward and rightward directions of the vehicle100, and other ribs1223(curved ribs, obliquely extending ribs and so on), and the vertical ribs1221and the horizontal ribs1222are arranged around a predetermined region so that the predetermined region is surrounded by the vertical ribs1221and the horizontal ribs1222. Therefore, the horizontal ribs1222cause a falling time of the ATF flowing down along the inner surface of the casing cover portion12to be longer. Thus, a time during which the air mixed into the ATF of the falling liquid is discharged from the ATF is made longer, an amount of air mixed into the ATF is reduced, and aeration toughness is improved.

Furthermore, as illustrated inFIG. 7, the curved rib1223located in the vicinity of the connecting portion72of the breather device70in an upper portion of the casing cover portion12extends along an edge portion of the casing cover portion12and also extends in a rearward direction of the vehicle100. Also, the horizontal ribs1222located on a lower side of the connecting portion72of the breather device70in a middle portion of the casing cover portion12extend in the leftward and rightward directions of the vehicle100and also extend in a rearward direction of the vehicle100. The ATF scattered from a vicinity of the inner surface of a portion from the middle portion of the casing cover portion12to a lower portion thereof toward the connecting portion72of the breather device70in the internal space of the casing10collides with the curved ribs1223and the horizontal ribs1222, and thus scattering of the ATF toward the connecting portion72of the breather device70is minimized.

The ribs122on the inner surface of the casing cover portion12constitute reinforcing ribs which enhance the rigidity of the casing cover portion12. Further, the ribs122on the inner surface of the casing cover portion12constitute ribs for gas-liquid separation which promote gas-liquid separation of the ATF mixed air by being in contact with the ATF mixed air over a wider area and suppress blowing-up from the breather device70(so-called breather blowing in the breather device70).

A portion around the through-hole123on the outer surface of the casing cover portion12constitutes a TCU fixing portion which fixes the TCU60to the outer surface of the casing cover portion12. In the TCU fixing portion, four screw holes124which allow the TCU60to be fixed with bolts65are formed. In addition, the through-hole123is located in a central portion of the TCU fixing portion. By fixing the TCU60to the TCU fixing portion, the TCU side terminal62is coupled to the control body side terminal106of the lumped coupler105inserted into the through-hole123on the casing cover portion12, and thus the harness104is electrically connected to the electronic substrate63of the TCU60.

An installation of the control device unit in the automatic transmission1having the control device unit installation structure for a transmission having the above-described configuration will be described with reference toFIGS. 9 and 10.

FIG. 9is a rear view illustrating a state before the casing cover portion and the TCU of the automatic transmission with the control device unit installation structure for a transmission according to one embodiment of the disclosure are installed.FIG. 10is a rear view illustrating a state in which the casing cover portion is installed in the automatic transmission with the control device unit installation structure for a transmission according to one embodiment of the disclosure but the TCU is not yet installed.

First, as illustrated inFIG. 9, the hydraulic control body103is installed in the transmission case102disposed in an internal space of the casing wall portion11in a state in which the casing cover portion12is not installed on the casing wall portion11, and thus one end of the harness104is electrically connected to the hydraulic control valve or the like, and the control body side terminal106of the lumped coupler105is installed at the other end of the harness104.

Next, the lumped coupler105is inserted into the through-hole123of the casing cover portion12, and the through-hole123is closed as illustrated inFIG. 10. Additionally, the casing cover portion12is fixed to the casing wall portion11by a bolt113, and the casing10in which the casing wall portion11is fixed to the casing cover portion12is assembled. At this time, in the through-hole123, the lumped coupler105is exposed on the outer surface side of the casing cover portion12.

Next, the TCU60is brought closer from the outer surface side of the casing cover portion12to a position facing the through-hole123of the casing and the cover portion12, and the TCU side terminal62is coupled to the control body side terminal106(refer toFIG. 8) of the lumped coupler105. Therefore, the TCU60is fixed to the casing wall portion11through the casing cover portion12.

According to the embodiment, the following effects are obtained.

In the control device unit installation structure for a transmission according to the embodiment, the TCU60as the control device unit of the automatic transmission1is directly mounted on the casing10as the outer wall of the automatic transmission1of the vehicle100, and the harness104connected to the hydraulic control valve or the like serving as a functional part inside the automatic transmission1is electrically connected to the TCU60.

The control device unit60is installed on the casing cover12forming a part of the casing10. The harness104is coupled to the TCU60on the casing cover portion12via the lumped coupler105installed in the automatic transmission1.

Accordingly, it is possible to electrically connect the lumped coupler105and the TCU60without using the harness104. Therefore, the harness104is covered with the casing cover portion12, and thus it is possible to protect the harness104from flying stones or the like.

Further, the ribs121and ribs122for reinforcing the casing cover portion12are formed on the inner surface and the outer surface of the casing cover portion12, respectively. Therefore, the rigidity of the casing cover portion12can be increased. This suppresses the TCU60fixed to the casing cover portion12from greatly vibrating together with the casing cover portion12. Therefore, it is possible to suppress wear of the TCU side terminal62connected to the lumped coupler105vibrating together with the automatic transmission1and the hydraulic control body103due to film surface vibration of the casing cover portion12.

Further, the ribs121formed on the outer surface of the casing cover portion12constitute the heat radiating ribs in the casing cover portion12. Therefore, it is possible to efficiently discharge the heat in the internal space of the casing10to the outside of the casing cover portion12. In particular, since the casing cover portion12is provided in the opening portion111which opens in the forward direction of the vehicle100at the front portion of the casing wall portion11, the air flowing from a front of the vehicle100to a rear thereof is likely to flow through the ribs121, and thus an effective cooling effect can be obtained.

Further, the reinforcing ribs122formed on the inner surface of the casing cover portion12constitute ribs for gas-liquid separation of the ATF and ribs for preventing blowing-up. Therefore, it is possible to lengthen the time during which the ATF scraped up by the transmission mechanism20and mixed with air flows along the inner surface of the casing wall portion11, and thus it is possible to reduce the amount of air mixed into the ATF. Further, since the ATF mixed air is in contact with the rib122before directly flowing into the breather device70, it is possible to promote the gas-liquid separation of the ATF mixed air. Therefore, the so-called breather blowing is effectively prevented from occurring, and thus the breather robustness can be improved.

Further, the disclosure is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and variations, improvements or the like within the scope of achieving the object of the disclosure are included in the disclosure.

For example, although the ribs121and the ribs122are formed on the outer surface and the inner surface of the casing cover portion12, the disclosure is not limited to this configuration. The ribs may be formed on at least one of the inner surface and the outer surface of the cover. Further, the ribs for gas-liquid separation may or may not serve as the ribs for preventing blowing-up.

Furthermore, the configuration of each part of the control device unit installation structure for a transmission is not limited to the configuration of each part of the control device unit installation structure for a transmission in the embodiment. Specifically, for example, the configurations of the cover, the lumped coupler, the ribs, and so on are not limited to the configurations of the casing cover portion12, the lumped coupler105and the ribs121and122in the embodiment.