Patent Description:
Since the Paris Agreement was adopted in <NUM>, member countries have been making continuous efforts to reduce greenhouse gas emissions. As a part of such effort, technology is being developed for electric vehicles in place of technology for conventional internal combustion engine vehicles. In particular, as a drive motor of an electric vehicle is a core component that provides power to the electric vehicle, various technologies are being developed to increase the efficiency of the drive motor. If the drive motor is not properly cooled against heat generated during operation, the lifespan of the motor may be shortened or internal parts of the motor may be damaged. That is, the cooling technology of the drive motor may have an absolute influence on the performance of the motor. Therefore, to increase the efficiency and improve the performance of the motor, it may be necessary to efficiently by cooling reduce the heat generated inside the motor. For example, <CIT> discloses an electric motor and an electric vehicle provided with the same. <CIT> discloses a cooling apparatus according to the preamble of claim <NUM>.

The above description is information the inventor(s) acquired during the course of conceiving the present disclosure, or already possessed at the time, and is not necessarily art publicly known before the present application was filed.

Example embodiments provide a cooling apparatus for a drive motor and a manufacturing method thereof capable of: improving heat exchange efficiency inside the motor by implementing a fusion cooling scheme of water cooling and oil cooling; shortening manufacturing time by simplifying the manufacturing process by providing a cooling apparatus with a simple structure in which the upper and lower structures are symmetrical enabling the cooling apparatus to be produced with one manufacturing device; and improving robustness of the cooling apparatus by designing a structure in which a cooling channel is easy to fuse.

The technical tasks obtainable from the present disclosure are not limited to the above-mentioned technical tasks. Other unmentioned technical tasks can be clearly understood from the following description by those having ordinary skill in the technical field to which the present disclosure pertains.

Disclosed is a cooling apparatus for a drive motor according to example embodiments.

According to the invention, the cooling apparatus for a drive motor including an oil reserve tank in which cooling oil flows includes a first water jacket in which a first cooling channel passing up and down through the oil reserve tank is formed and a second water jacket in which a second cooling channel corresponding to the first cooling channel is formed, wherein the first water jacket and the second water jacket may be coupled to form the oil reserve tank.

The first water jacket includes a first housing in which a first water jacket inner space is defined by a first surface, a second surface opposite to the first surface, and at least two third surfaces forming a side between the first surface and the second surface and a first dividing plate dividing the first water jacket inner space into a first inner space through which coolant flows and a second inner space through which cooling oil flows, wherein the first cooling channel extends from the first dividing plate and pass through the second inner space.

The second water jacket may include a second housing in which a second water jacket inner space is defined by a fourth surface, a fifth surface opposite to the fourth surface, and at least two sixth surfaces forming a side between the fourth surface and the fifth surface and a second dividing plate dividing the inner space of the second water jacket into a third inner space through which cooling oil flows and a fourth inner space through which coolant flows, wherein the second cooling channel may extend from the second dividing plate and pass through the third inner space.

The first cooling channel may extend from the first dividing plate to an end portion of the second inner space, and the second cooling channel may extend from the second dividing plate to an end portion of the third inner space.

When the first water jacket and the second water jacket are coupled, the second inner space and the third inner space may be combined to form the oil reserve tank, and the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel may be connected to pass through the oil reserve tank, and the oil reserve tank may be formed by at least a portion of the first surface, at least a portion of the second surface, at least portions of the third surfaces, at least a portion of the fourth surface, at least a portion of the fifth surface, at least portions of the sixth surfaces, the first dividing plate, and the second dividing plate.

A coolant inlet may be formed on the first surface and a coolant outlet may be formed on the fifth surface.

Ribs may be formed in a connecting portion between the first cooling channel and the first dividing plate, and in a connecting portion between the second cooling channel and the second dividing plate.

The cooling apparatus for the drive motor may further include a first cover member covering an end portion of the first inner space and a fourth cover member covering an end portion of the fourth inner space, and the end portions of the first inner space and the fourth inner space may be open.

A plurality of first cooling channels and a plurality of second cooling channels may be provided, and the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel may each have a hexagonal cross section.

At least two of the plurality of first cooling channels may be disposed adjacent to each other and connected to each other, or at least two of the plurality of second cooling channels may be disposed adjacent to each other and connected to each other.

The cooling apparatus for the drive motor may further include a heat sink connecting adjacent cooling channels, wherein the heat sink may be slidably coupled to a longitudinal groove of the adjacent cooling channels.

At least a portion of the first cooling channel or at least a portion of the second cooling channel may include a protrusion protruding from an end portion and a depression recessed from the end portion and having a shape corresponding to the protrusion.

The first cooling channel or the second cooling channel may include a cooling channel body at least partly composed of a metallic material, and a cooling channel end portion connected to the cooling channel body and at least partly composed of a plastic material.

According to the invention, a method of manufacturing a cooling apparatus for a drive motor including an oil reserve tank in which cooling oil flows includes manufacturing a first water jacket in which a first cooling channel passing up and down through the oil reserve tank is formed, manufacturing a second water jacket in which a second cooling channel corresponding to the first cooling channel is formed, aligning the first cooling channel and the second cooling channel, and coupling the first water jacket and the second water jacket to form an inner space of the oil reserve tank.

The first cooling channel or the second cooling channel includes a cooling channel body at least partly composed of a metallic material, and a cooling channel end portion connected to the cooling channel body and at least partly composed of a plastic material, and at least one of the first cooling channel or the second cooling channel is manufactured by double injection, and the coupling of the first water jacket and the second water jacket is performed by ultrasonic welding.

As described above, according to example embodiments, a cooling apparatus having a simple structure for a drive motor may have excellent productivity due to the simple structure, and may more efficiently cool the drive motor via a dual cooling scheme using water cooling and oil cooling, and may be more robust having a structure in which an end portion of a cooling channel is easy to fuse.

The effects of the cooling apparatus for the drive motor are not limited to the above-mentioned effects, and other unmentioned effects can be clearly understood from the following description by one of ordinary skill in the art.

The accompanying drawings illustrate preferred example embodiments of the present disclosure, and are provided together with the detailed description to promote better understanding of the technical idea of the present disclosure. Therefore, the present disclosure should not be construed as being limited to the example embodiments set forth in the drawings.

Hereinafter, examples will be described in detail with reference to the accompanying drawings. However, various alterations and modifications may be made to the examples.

The terminology used herein is for the purpose of describing particular examples only and is not to be limiting of the examples.

Unless otherwise defined, all terms including technical and scientific terms used herein have the same meaning as commonly understood by one of ordinary skill in the art to which examples belong. It will be further understood that terms, such as those defined in commonly-used dictionaries, should be interpreted as having a meaning that is consistent with their meaning in the context of the relevant art and will not be interpreted in an idealized or overly formal sense unless expressly so defined herein.

When describing the examples with reference to the accompanying drawings, like reference numerals refer to like constituent elements and a repeated description related thereto will be omitted. In the description of the example embodiments, a detailed description of well-known related structures or functions will be omitted when it is deemed that such description will cause ambiguous interpretation of the present disclosure.

Also, in the description of the components, terms such as first, second, A, B, (a), (b) or the like may be used herein when describing components of the present disclosure. These terms are used only for the purpose of discriminating one constituent element from another constituent element, and the nature, the sequences, or the orders of the constituent elements are not limited by the terms. When one constituent element is described as being "connected", "coupled", or "attached" to another constituent element, it should be understood that one constituent element can be connected or attached directly to another constituent element, and an intervening constituent element can also be "connected", "coupled", or "attached" to the constituent elements.

The constituent element, which has the same common function as the constituent element included in any one example embodiment, will be described by using the same name in other example embodiments. Unless disclosed to the contrary, the configuration disclosed in any one example embodiment may be applied to other example embodiments, and the specific description of the repeated configuration will be omitted.

With reference to the drawings, a cooling apparatus and system for a drive motor is described. <FIG> is a schematic view of a cooling system for a drive motor according to an example embodiment, <FIG> are views illustrating a configuration of a cooling apparatus for a drive motor according to an example embodiment, <FIG> is a view illustrating a cross section of a cooling channel of a cooling apparatus for a drive motor according to an example embodiment, <FIG> is a view illustrating a configuration of a first cooling channel and a second cooling channel according to an example embodiment, <FIG> is a view illustrating an arrangement of a second cooling channel according to an example embodiment, <FIG> is a view illustrating a configuration in which a rib is formed in a second cooling channel according to an example embodiment, <FIG> are views illustrating a configuration in which a heat sink is formed between second cooling channels according to an example embodiment, and <FIG> is a flowchart illustrating a method of manufacturing a cooling apparatus for a drive motor according to an example embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, a cooling system <NUM> for a drive motor according to an example embodiment may include a housing <NUM> of the drive motor, an oil pump <NUM>, an oil cooling line <NUM>, an oil reserve tank <NUM>, and a cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor.

The housing <NUM> of the drive motor according to an example embodiment may form the exterior of the drive motor. A space in which the drive motor, the oil pump <NUM>, the oil cooling line <NUM>, the oil reserve tank <NUM>, and the cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor are accommodated may be formed in the housing <NUM> of the drive motor.

The oil pump <NUM> according to an example embodiment may be provided inside the housing <NUM> of the drive motor and may supply oil to the oil cooling line <NUM> described below. For example, the oil pump <NUM> may be provided at the bottom of the housing <NUM> of the drive motor to circulate cooling oil in the oil cooling line <NUM> by applying pressure to the oil cooling line <NUM>. In this example, the cooling oil may be used to cool the drive motor.

The oil cooling line <NUM> according to an example embodiment may form a path to circulate cooling oil to cool the drive motor. The oil cooling line <NUM> may be connected from one side of the oil pump <NUM> to the other side of the oil pump <NUM> through an oil reserve tank <NUM> described below. The oil cooling line <NUM> may be provided inside the housing <NUM> of the drive motor to cool the drive motor, and a structural arrangement of the oil cooling line <NUM> is not limited to what is shown in the drawings and may be flexibly changed.

The oil reserve tank <NUM> according to an example embodiment may store and cool cooling oil. A space in which cooling oil flows may be formed inside the oil reserve tank <NUM>, and the cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor described below may be provided in the space in which the cooling oil flows, so that the cooling oil may be cooled by heat exchange.

The cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor according to an example embodiment may be provided in the oil reserve tank <NUM> to cool the cooling oil flowing in the oil reserve tank <NUM>.

Referring to <FIG>, the cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor according to an example embodiment is described in detail.

The cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor according to an example embodiment may include a first water jacket <NUM> and a second water jacket <NUM>. The first water jacket <NUM> and the second water jacket <NUM> may be connected to each other and may each be formed in a shape corresponding to the other. The cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor may combine the first water jacket <NUM> and the second water jacket <NUM> of corresponding shapes to form the oil reserve tank <NUM> having a space in which cooling oil flows. At the same time, a cooling channel passing up and down through the oil reserve tank <NUM> may be formed.

In the first water jacket <NUM> according to an example embodiment, a first cooling channel <NUM> passing up and down through the oil reserve tank <NUM> may be formed. The first water jacket <NUM> may include a first housing <NUM> and a first dividing plate <NUM>.

The first housing <NUM> according to an example embodiment may include a first surface <NUM>, a second surface <NUM> opposite to the first surface <NUM>, and at least two third surfaces <NUM> forming a side between the first surface <NUM> and the second surface <NUM>, by which a first water jacket inner space may be defined.

In addition, the first housing <NUM> may further include a first dividing plate <NUM> in contact with the first surface <NUM>, the second surface <NUM>, and the third surface <NUM>, and dividing the first water jacket inner space into a first inner space <NUM> and a second inner space <NUM>. Coolant may flow in the first inner space <NUM>, and cooling oil may flow in the second inner space <NUM>. Here, the first cooling channel <NUM> may be formed to extend from the first dividing plate <NUM> and pass up and down through the second inner space <NUM>. For example, the first cooling channel <NUM> may extend from the first dividing plate <NUM> to an end portion C of the second inner space <NUM>.

In addition, a cooling oil inlet <NUM> may be formed in a semicircular shape on a surface of the first surface <NUM>. The cooling oil inlet <NUM> may be formed on a surface of the first surface <NUM> located on a side of the second inner space <NUM>. The cooling oil inlet <NUM> may be connected to the oil cooling line <NUM>, and oil may be supplied from the oil pump <NUM> to supply cooling oil to the second inner space <NUM>. The cooling oil inlet <NUM> formed on the surface of the first surface <NUM> may be formed in a semicircular shape and combined with the cooling oil inlet <NUM> formed on a surface of the fourth surface <NUM> to be described later, to form the cooling oil inlet <NUM> in a circular shape.

In addition, a cooling oil outlet <NUM> may be formed in a semicircular shape on a surface of the second surface <NUM>. The cooling oil outlet <NUM> may also be formed on a surface of the second surface <NUM> located on a side of the second inner space <NUM>, and the oil cooling line <NUM> may be connected to discharge cooling oil flowing through the second inner space <NUM> to the outside. The cooling oil outlet <NUM> formed on the surface of the second surface <NUM> may also be formed in a semicircular shape, and combined with the cooling oil outlet <NUM> formed on a surface of a fifth surface <NUM> to be described later, to form the cooling oil outlet <NUM> in a circular shape.

Here, a coolant outlet <NUM> may be formed on a surface of the second surface <NUM>. The coolant outlet <NUM> may be formed on a surface of the second surface <NUM> located on a side of the first inner space <NUM>. In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the coolant outlet <NUM> may be connected to a coolant line to discharge the coolant to the outside.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, the coolant may exchange heat with the cooling oil flowing in the second inner space <NUM> while flowing along the first cooling channel <NUM> formed on a surface of the first dividing plate <NUM> in the first inner space <NUM>.

In the second water jacket <NUM>, a second cooling channel <NUM> passing up and down through the oil reserve tank <NUM> may be formed. The second water jacket <NUM> may include a second housing <NUM> and a second dividing plate <NUM>.

The second housing <NUM> may include a fourth surface <NUM>, a fifth surface <NUM> opposite to the fourth surface <NUM>, and at least two sixth surfaces <NUM> forming a side between the fourth surface <NUM> and the fifth surface <NUM>, by which a second water jacket inner space may be defined.

In addition, the second housing <NUM> may further include a second dividing plate <NUM> in contact with the fourth surface <NUM>, the fifth surface <NUM>, and the sixth surface <NUM>, and dividing the second water jacket inner space into a third inner space <NUM> and a fourth inner space <NUM>. Cooling oil may flow in the third inner space <NUM>, and coolant may flow in the fourth inner space <NUM>. Here, the second cooling channel <NUM> may be formed to extend from the second dividing plate <NUM> and pass up and down through the third inner space <NUM>. For example, the second cooling channel <NUM> may extend from the second dividing plate <NUM> to an end portion of the third inner space <NUM>.

In this example, a coolant inlet <NUM> may be formed on a surface of the fourth surface <NUM>. The coolant inlet <NUM> may be formed on a surface of the fourth surface <NUM> located on a side of the fourth inner space <NUM>. In addition, although not shown in the drawings, the coolant inlet <NUM> may be connected to a coolant line to introduce external coolant into the fourth inner space <NUM>.

In addition, the cooling oil inlet <NUM> may be formed in a semicircular shape on a surface of the fourth surface <NUM>. The cooling oil inlet <NUM> may be formed on a surface of the fourth surface <NUM> located on a side of the third inner space <NUM>. The cooling oil inlet <NUM> may be connected to the oil cooling line <NUM>, and oil may be supplied from the oil pump <NUM> to supply cooling oil to third inner space <NUM>. The cooling oil inlet <NUM> formed on the surface of the fourth surface <NUM> may be formed in a semicircular shape and combined with the cooling oil inlet <NUM> formed on a surface of the first surface <NUM>, to form the cooling oil inlet <NUM> in a circular shape.

In addition, the cooling oil outlet <NUM> may be formed in a semicircular shape on a surface of the fifth surface <NUM>. The cooling oil outlet <NUM> may also be formed on a surface of the fifth surface <NUM> located on a side of the third inner space <NUM>, and the oil cooling line <NUM> may be connected to discharge cooling oil flowing through the third inner space <NUM> to the outside. The cooling oil outlet <NUM> formed on the surface of the fifth surface <NUM> may also be formed in a semicircular shape, and combined with the cooling oil outlet <NUM> formed on a surface of the second surface <NUM>, to form the cooling oil outlet <NUM> in a circular shape.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, the coolant may exchange heat with the cooling oil flowing in the third inner space <NUM> while flowing along the second cooling channel <NUM> formed on a surface of the second dividing plate <NUM> in the fourth inner space <NUM>.

In addition, the cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor according to an example embodiment may further include a first cover member <NUM> covering an end portion of the first inner space <NUM> and a fourth cover member <NUM> covering an end portion of the fourth inner space <NUM>, wherein the end portions of the first inner space <NUM> and the fourth inner space <NUM> are open. Providing the first cover member <NUM> and the fourth cover member <NUM> may make manufacturing and maintaining the cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor easier.

According to the above-mentioned configuration, when the first water jacket <NUM> and the second water jacket <NUM> are coupled, the second inner space <NUM> and the third inner space <NUM> may be combined to form the oil reserve tank <NUM>, and the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> may be connected to form a structure passing up and down through the oil reserve tank <NUM>. Here, the oil reserve tank <NUM> may be formed by at least a portion of the first surface <NUM>, at least a portion of the second surface <NUM>, at least portions of the third surfaces <NUM>, at least a portion of the fourth surface <NUM>, at least a portion of the fifth surface <NUM>, at least portions of the sixth surfaces <NUM>, the first dividing plate <NUM>, and the second dividing plate <NUM>.

In the cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor according to an example embodiment, a plurality of the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> may be provided, and the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> may each have a hexagonal cross section. Having hexagonal shaped cross sections may give the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> structural stability on the first dividing plate <NUM> and the second dividing plate <NUM>, respectively. However, this is only an example, and the number and shape of the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> may be changed flexibly.

Referring to <FIG>, in the cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor according to an example embodiment, at least a portion of the first cooling channel <NUM> or at least a portion of the second cooling channel <NUM> may include a protrusion <NUM> protruding from an end portion and a depression <NUM> recessed from the end portion and having a shape corresponding to the protrusion <NUM>. For example, the protrusion <NUM> may be formed on one side of the cross section of the first cooling channel <NUM>, and the depression <NUM> may be formed on one side of the cross section of the second cooling channel <NUM> corresponding to the protrusion <NUM> so that the protrusion <NUM> and the depression <NUM> may be engaged and coupled to each other.

In this example, the cross sections of the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> may be formed to face each other. For example, the protrusion <NUM> may be formed on one side of the cross section of the first cooling channel <NUM>, and the depression <NUM> may be formed on one side of the cross section of the second cooling channel <NUM> corresponding thereto, and on the other side of the cross section of the first cooling channel <NUM>, the depression <NUM> may be formed, and on the other side of the cross section of the second cooling channel <NUM>, the protrusion <NUM> may be formed, so that the one side and the other side of the cross sections of the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> may be formed to face each other and be simultaneously engaged. According to the above-mentioned configuration, when the first water jacket <NUM> and the second water jacket <NUM> are manufactured, productivity may be improved when each of the first water jacket <NUM> and the second water jacket <NUM> are formed to face the coupling surface in the same shape.

Referring to <FIG>, the first cooling channel <NUM> or the second cooling channel <NUM> according to an example embodiment may include a cooling channel body <NUM> and a cooling channel end portion <NUM>.

The cooling channel body <NUM> of the first cooling channel <NUM> or the cooling channel body <NUM> of the second cooling channel <NUM> may be formed to protrude from a surface in contact with the first dividing plate <NUM> and the second dividing plate <NUM>, respectively. Here, the cooling channel body <NUM> may be at least partly composed of a metallic material. When the cooling channel body <NUM> is formed of a metallic material, it may be structurally stable.

The cooling channel end portion <NUM> of the first cooling channel <NUM> or the cooling channel end portion <NUM> of the second cooling channel <NUM> may be connected to the cooling channel body <NUM>. Here, the cooling channel end portion <NUM> may be at least partly composed of a plastic material. When the cooling channel end portion <NUM> is formed of a plastic material, the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> may be easy to fuse.

Referring to <FIG>, in the cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor according to an example embodiment, at least two of the plurality of first cooling channels <NUM> may disposed adjacent to each other and connected to each other, or at least two of the plurality of second cooling channels <NUM> may be disposed adjacent to each other and connected to each other. When at least two of the plurality of first cooling channels <NUM> and the plurality of second cooling channels <NUM> are disposed adjacent to each other and connected to each other, the cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor may be more stable. Although there are two cooling channels disposed adjacent to each other in the drawings, the cooling channels are not limited in number, and the number of cooling channels may be changed flexibly.

Referring to <FIG>, the cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor according to an example embodiment may include a rib <NUM> formed in a connection portion between the first cooling channel <NUM> and the first dividing plate <NUM>. The rib <NUM> may support the first cooling channel <NUM> against the first dividing plate <NUM> to provide structural stability. The rib <NUM> may attenuate vibration in the first cooling channel <NUM> due to hydraulic pressure of coolant flowing inside the first cooling channel <NUM> and may prevent separation. In addition, the rib <NUM> may be formed between the second cooling channel <NUM> and the second dividing plate <NUM>. The rib <NUM> formed between the second cooling channel <NUM> and the second dividing plate <NUM> is substantially the same in configuration and effect as the rib <NUM> formed in the connection portion of the first cooling channel <NUM> and the first dividing plate <NUM>, so a description thereof is omitted.

Referring to <FIG>, the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> according to an example embodiment may further include a heat sink <NUM> connecting the cooling channels <NUM> and <NUM> disposed adjacent to each other. The heat sink <NUM> may support the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> against the first dividing plate <NUM> and the second dividing plate <NUM> to provide structural stability like the above described rib <NUM>. Here, a heat dissipation effect may be increased by using a material having a high heat transfer coefficient as the material for the heat sink <NUM>.

<FIG> is a diagram illustrating a structure in which the heat sink <NUM> is connected between cooling channels. Referring to <FIG>, the heat sink <NUM> according to an example embodiment may be slidably coupled to a longitudinal groove <NUM> of adjacent cooling channels. For example, the groove <NUM> may be respectively formed in a longitudinal direction of the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM>, and the heat sink <NUM> may be slidably coupled to the groove <NUM>. According to the above-mentioned structure, a process of attaching the heat sink <NUM> between the cooling channels by welding or the like may not be needed, so the productivity of the cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor may be improved.

<FIG> is a flowchart schematically illustrating a method of manufacturing the cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor according to an example embodiment.

Referring to <FIG>, by a method of manufacturing the cooling apparatus <NUM> for the drive motor according to an example embodiment, in operation S10, the first water jacket <NUM> in which the first cooling channel <NUM> passes up and down through the oil reserve tank <NUM> may be manufactured. Here, the first water jacket <NUM> may be manufactured by injection molding or the like.

In operation S20, the second water jacket <NUM> in which the second cooling channel <NUM> corresponding to the first cooling channel <NUM> is formed may be manufactured. Here, since the second water jacket <NUM> has the same shape as the first water jacket <NUM>, and is disposed opposed to the coupling surface, the second water jacket <NUM> may be manufactured in substantially the same manner as the first water jacket <NUM>. Accordingly, the first water jacket <NUM> and the second water jacket <NUM> may be manufactured using the same mold or equipment, such that productivity may be improved.

In addition, at least one of the first cooling channel <NUM> or the second cooling channel <NUM> may include a cooling channel body <NUM> at least partly composed of a metallic material, and a cooling channel end portion <NUM> at least partly composed of a plastic material. Here, providing the cooling channel end portion <NUM> of the first cooling channel <NUM> or the cooling channel end portion <NUM> of the second cooling channel <NUM> composed of a plastic material, makes ultrasonic welding possible when the first water jacket <NUM> and the second water jacket <NUM> are combined, which will be described later.

In operation S30, the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> may be aligned. Here, the cooling channel end portion <NUM> of the first cooling channel <NUM> formed in the first water jacket <NUM> and the cooling channel end portion <NUM> of the second cooling channel <NUM> formed in the second water jacket <NUM> may be aligned to be in contact with each other. For the cooling channel end portion <NUM> of the first cooling channel <NUM> and the cooling channel end portion <NUM> of the second cooling channel <NUM> to be in contact with each other stably, the protrusion <NUM> and the depression <NUM> may be formed on the cooling channel end portion <NUM>, as described above. For example, the protrusion <NUM> of the first cooling channel <NUM> may engage with the depression <NUM> of the second cooling channel <NUM>, and the depression <NUM> of the first cooling channel <NUM> may engage with the protrusion <NUM> of the second cooling channel <NUM> so that the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> may be stably fastened.

In operation S40, the first water jacket <NUM> and the second water jacket <NUM> may be combined to form an inner space of the oil reserve tank <NUM>. The end portions of the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> may be fused to each other, and the end portions of the first water jacket <NUM> and the second water jacket <NUM> may be fused to each other, so that an inner space may be formed in the oil reserve tank <NUM>, wherein the first cooling channel <NUM> and the second cooling channel <NUM> pass up and down through in the inner space of the oil reserve tank <NUM>. Here, the coupling of the first water jacket <NUM> and the second water jacket <NUM> may be performed by ultrasonic welding.

According to example embodiments, a cooling apparatus for a drive motor may have a simple structure, so that productivity may be excellent, and heat exchange efficiency may be improved.

While this disclosure includes specific examples, it will be apparent to one of ordinary skill in the art that various changes in form and details may be made in these examples. The examples described herein are to be considered in a descriptive sense only, and not for purposes of limitation. Descriptions of features or aspects in each example are to be considered as being applicable to similar features or aspects in other examples. Suitable results may be achieved if the described techniques are performed in a different order, and/or if components in a described system, architecture, device, or circuit are combined in a different manner.

Claim 1:
A cooling apparatus (<NUM>) for a drive motor comprising an oil reserve tank (<NUM>) in which cooling oil flows, the cooling apparatus (<NUM>) comprising:
a first water jacket (<NUM>) in which a first cooling channel (<NUM>) passing up and down through the oil reserve tank (<NUM>) is formed; and
a second water jacket (<NUM>) in which a second cooling channel (<NUM>) corresponding to the first cooling channel (<NUM>) is formed,
wherein the first water jacket (<NUM>) and the second water jacket (<NUM>) are coupled to form the oil reserve tank (<NUM>), characterized in that the first water jacket (<NUM>) comprises:
a first housing (<NUM>) in which a first water jacket inner space is defined by a first surface (<NUM>), a second surface (<NUM>) opposite to the first surface (<NUM>), and at least two third surfaces (<NUM>) forming a side between the first surface (<NUM>) and the second surface (<NUM>); and
a first dividing plate (<NUM>) dividing the first water jacket inner space into a first inner space (<NUM>) through which coolant flows and a second inner space (<NUM>) through which cooling oil flows,
and the first cooling channel (<NUM>) extends from the first dividing plate (<NUM>) and passes through the second inner space (<NUM>).