Patent Description:
A vehicle such as hybrid and electric vehicles using a rotary electric machine as a driving source is known. The vehicle is equipped with the rotary electric machine and an electric power conversion device which is electrically connected to the rotary electric machine and converts the electric power supplied to the rotary electric machine and the electric power supplied from the rotary electric machine. In the related art, the rotary electric machine and the electric power conversion device are electrically connected by using a three-phase line. In recent years, however, attempts have been made to turn the rotary electric machine and the electric power conversion device into a unit by direct fixing.

For example, <CIT> proposes to directly fix an electric power conversion device as a driving unit above a rotary electric machine. However, in the configuration described in <CIT>, an increase in the height dimension of the driving unit leads to a decline in the degree of freedom in terms of layout. <CIT> proposes to directly fix an electric power conversion device as a driving unit to one side of a rotary electric machine in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to both a rotation axis direction and an up-down direction.

<CIT> and <CIT> each show a drive unit comprising: a rotary electric machine which has a rotation axis extending in a horizontal direction; a rotary electric machine unit which includes a rotary electric machine case having a rotary electric machine accommodating portion accommodating the rotary electric machine; and an electric power conversion device which is electrically connected to the rotary electric machine and converts electric power supplied to the rotary electric machine and electric power supplied from the rotary electric machine, wherein: the electric power conversion device has an electric power conversion device case and is disposed on one side of the rotary electric machine case in an orthogonal direction orthogonal to both a rotation axis direction and an up-down direction; the electric power conversion device case is fixed to the rotary electric machine case; a connecting portion where the rotary electric machine and the electric power conversion device are electrically connected is provided; and a guide portion protruding in the orthogonal direction and extending in the rotation axis direction is formed above the connecting portion at either the electric power conversion device case or the rotary electric machine case.

<CIT> shows a driving unit to be equipped with a vehicle, the driving unit comprising: a rotary electric machine unit which includes a rotary electric machine case having a rotary electric machine accommodating portion accommodating the rotary electric machine; and an electric power conversion device which is electrically connected to the rotary electric machine and converts electric power supplied to the rotary electric machine and electric power supplied from the rotary electric machine, wherein: the electric power conversion device has an electric power conversion device case and is disposed on one side of the rotary electric machine case in a direction orthogonal to both a rotation axis direction and an up-down direction of the vehicle; and the electric power conversion device case is fixed to the rotary electric machine case; a connecting portion where the rotary electric machine and the electric power conversion device are electrically connected is provided; and a guide portion protruding in the orthogonal direction and extending in the rotation axis direction is formed above the connecting portion at either the electric power conversion device case or the rotary electric machine case, wherein the connecting portion is disposed below the rotation axis and between the rotary electric machine and the electric power conversion device in the orthogonal direction.

<CIT> teaches to provide louvers for prevention ingress of foreign matter into the inverter chamber of a drive unit integrating a motor and an inverter.

However, in the driving unit of <CIT>, the electric power conversion device is fixed to one side of the rotary electric machine in the orthogonal direction orthogonal to both the rotation axis direction and the up-down direction. In a case where foreign matter such as water enters from above the driving unit, the foreign matter enters the connecting portion, where the rotary electric machine and the electric power conversion device are electrically connected, from between an electric power conversion device case and a rotary electric machine case. Then, electric leakage or the like may occur.

The present invention provides a driving unit capable of preventing foreign matter from entering the connecting portion where a rotary electric machine and an electric power conversion device are electrically connected even in a case where the foreign matter such as water enters between an electric power conversion device case and a rotary electric machine case from above the driving unit.

The invention provides a drive unit according to claim <NUM>.

According to claim <NUM>, the guide portion protruding in the orthogonal direction and extending in the rotation axis direction is formed above the connecting portion at either the electric power conversion device case or the rotary electric machine case. As a result, even in a case where foreign matter such as water enters between the electric power conversion device case and the rotary electric machine case from above the driving unit, the foreign matter which enters from above the connecting portion is guided in the rotation axis direction along the guide portion. As a result, it is possible to prevent the foreign matter which enters from above the connecting portion from entering the connecting portion. Further, the guide portion has the tapered portion where the protrusion length in the orthogonal direction decreases as the distance from the connecting portion increases in the rotation axis direction. As a result, it is possible to reduce the weight of the driving unit while preventing foreign matter from entering the connecting portion and the degree of freedom in designing the driving unit can be increased.

According to claim <NUM>, the guide portion is formed at the electric power conversion device case. As a result, the rigidity and strength of the electric power conversion device case are improved by the guide portion protruding in the orthogonal direction and extending in the rotation axis direction.

According to claim <NUM>, the guide portion has the inclined surface inclined downward as the distance from the connecting portion increases in the rotation axis direction. As a result, foreign matter which enters above the connecting portion can be more reliably guided in the rotation axis direction along the guide portion.

According to claim <NUM>, the plurality of guide portions are formed side by side in the up-down direction. As a result, foreign matter which enters above the connecting portion can be more reliably guided in the rotation axis direction and the rigidity and strength of the electric power conversion device case are further improved.

Hereinafter, a driving unit of one embodiment of the present invention and a vehicle of one embodiment equipped with the driving unit will be described with reference to the drawings. The front-rear, left-right, and up-down directions in the following description are directions seen from a vehicle operator. In the drawings, Fr is the front of the vehicle, Rr is the rear of the vehicle, L is the left side of the vehicle, R is the right side of the vehicle, U is the upper side of the vehicle, and D is the lower side of the vehicle.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a vehicle <NUM> is divided into passenger compartment <NUM> and luggage compartment <NUM> and a front room <NUM> in front thereof by a floor panel <NUM> and a dash panel <NUM>. The passenger compartment <NUM> is provided with a front seat <NUM> and a rear seat <NUM>.

The front room <NUM> is provided with an engine ENG as a driving source driving left and right front wheels FW. A driving unit <NUM> which accommodates an electric motor MOT as a driving source driving left and right rear wheels RW is provided below the luggage compartment <NUM>. In other words, the vehicle <NUM> is a so-called hybrid vehicle using both the engine ENG and the electric motor MOT as driving sources.

A battery BAT and a fuel tank <NUM> are disposed below the passenger compartment <NUM>. The battery BAT and the driving unit <NUM> are connected via a DC line <NUM>. The engine ENG and the fuel tank <NUM> are connected via fuel piping (not illustrated).

A vehicle body frame <NUM> includes a pair of left and right side frames <NUM> and <NUM> extending in the front-rear direction, a plurality of cross members <NUM> extending in the vehicle width direction (hereinafter, also referred to as the left-right direction) and interconnecting the side frames <NUM> and <NUM>, and a subframe <NUM> supporting the driving unit <NUM> and having a substantially rectangular shape in a plan view.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the driving unit <NUM> includes the electric motor MOT, an electric power conversion device PDU which is electrically connected to the electric motor MOT and converts the electric power supplied to the electric motor MOT and the electric power supplied from the electric motor MOT, and a power transmission mechanism TM which transmits the power of the electric motor MOT to the rear wheel RW. The electric power conversion device PDU is, for example, an inverter.

The electric motor MOT has a substantially cylindrical shape, and a rotation axis CL extends substantially horizontally in the vehicle width direction. The rotation axis CL is the axial center of rotation of the electric motor MOT. The power transmission mechanism TM is disposed side by side in the vehicle width direction with the electric motor MOT such that the axial center of an output axis is coaxial with the rotation axis CL of the electric motor MOT. In the present embodiment, the electric motor MOT and the power transmission mechanism TM are disposed side by side such that the electric motor MOT is on the left side and the power transmission mechanism TM is on the right side in the vehicle width direction.

The electric motor MOT and the power transmission mechanism TM are accommodated in an electric motor case <NUM>. The electric motor case <NUM> has an electric motor accommodating portion <NUM> and a power transmission mechanism accommodating portion <NUM>. The electric motor MOT is accommodated in the electric motor accommodating portion <NUM>, and the power transmission mechanism TM is accommodated in the power transmission mechanism accommodating portion <NUM>.

The electric power conversion device PDU is disposed adjacent to the front of the electric motor MOT and the power transmission mechanism TM in the front-rear direction of the vehicle <NUM>. The electric power conversion device PDU is positioned between the electric motor MOT and the power transmission mechanism TM and the passenger compartment <NUM> (see <FIG>). In other words, in the present embodiment, the electric power conversion device PDU is positioned in front of the electric motor MOT and the power transmission mechanism TM. Accordingly, in the event of a rear collision of the vehicle <NUM>, the impact is input to the electric motor MOT and the power transmission mechanism TM positioned behind the electric power conversion device PDU in the driving unit <NUM>. As a result, it is possible to prevent the impact caused by the rear collision of the vehicle <NUM> from being directly input to the electric power conversion device PDU.

The electric power conversion device PDU has an electric power conversion device case <NUM>. The electric power conversion device case <NUM> has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape and has a front surface 50F, a rear surface 50B, a left side surface <NUM>, a right side surface 50R, an upper surface 50U, and a lower surface 50D. The electric power conversion device case <NUM> is fixed to the electric motor case <NUM> such that the rear surface 50B of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> faces a front surface 40F of the electric motor case <NUM>.

A DC connector <NUM> is provided on the upper side of the right side surface 50R of the electric power conversion device case <NUM>, and a low-voltage connector <NUM> is provided on the lower side of the right side surface 50R of the electric power conversion device case <NUM>.

The DC line <NUM> is connected to the DC connector <NUM> (see <FIG>), and the electric power conversion device PDU and the battery BAT are electrically connected via the DC line <NUM>.

A low-voltage line <NUM> is connected to the low-voltage connector <NUM> (see <FIG>), and electric power for driving the electric power conversion device PDU is supplied to the electric power conversion device PDU. The low-voltage line <NUM> may be connected to the battery BAT or a low-voltage battery (not illustrated) provided separately from the battery BAT.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, the driving unit <NUM> includes an electric motor connecting portion <NUM> which electrically connects the electric motor MOT and the electric power conversion device PDU. Electrically connecting the electric motor MOT and the electric power conversion device PDU means that the electric motor MOT and the electric power conversion device PDU are connected such that electric power is exchangeable therebetween. The electric motor connecting portion <NUM> has three coil lead wires <NUM> of U phase, V phase, and W phase extending from the electric motor MOT and an electric power conversion device-side electric power connector <NUM> protruding from the rear surface 50B of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> into the electric motor accommodating portion <NUM> of the electric motor case <NUM>. The electric power conversion device-side electric power connector <NUM> is provided with terminal portions <NUM> of three bus bars connected to the substrate of the electric power conversion device PDU, and the three coil lead wires <NUM> are connected to the terminal portions <NUM> of the three bus bars.

As a result, the direct current electric power from the battery BAT is converted into alternating current electric power by the electric power conversion device PDU and supplied to the electric motor MOT during the power driving of the electric motor MOT. The alternating current electric power from the electric motor MOT is converted into direct current electric power by the electric power conversion device PDU and supplied to the battery BAT during the regenerative driving of the electric motor MOT.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> is disposed below the rotation axis CL and between the electric motor MOT and the electric power conversion device PDU in the front-rear direction of the vehicle <NUM>. As a result, the space between the electric motor MOT and the electric power conversion device PDU can be effectively used in the driving unit <NUM> and the driving unit <NUM> can be reduced in size. More specifically, the electric motor MOT has a substantially cylindrical shape, the electric power conversion device PDU has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and thus a space S1 is formed between a lower front-side cylindrical surface <NUM> extending from a front end portion 400F of the electric motor MOT to a lower end portion 400D and the rear surface 50B of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> even with the front end portion 400F of the electric motor MOT as close as possible to the electric power conversion device PDU side when viewed from the rotation axis direction. By disposing the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> in the space S1, the space S1 can be effectively used and the electric motor MOT can be disposed closer to the electric power conversion device PDU side. As a result, the dimension of the driving unit <NUM> in the front-rear direction can be reduced without increasing the dimension of the driving unit <NUM> in the up-down direction.

Lubricating oil LB is stored below the electric motor accommodating portion <NUM> of the electric motor case <NUM>. At least a part of the coil lead wire <NUM> and the electric power conversion device-side electric power connector <NUM> of the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> is immersed in the lubricating oil LB stored below the electric motor accommodating portion <NUM>. As a result, the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> can be cooled by the lubricating oil LB.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> is disposed to the right of the middle of the electric power conversion device PDU in the left-right direction.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the driving unit <NUM> includes a sensor connecting portion <NUM> which electrically connects a sensor provided to the electric motor MOT and the electric power conversion device PDU. Electrically connecting the sensor and the electric power conversion device PDU means that the sensor and the electric power conversion device PDU are connected such that a signal from the sensor can be input to the electric power conversion device PDU. The sensor connecting portion <NUM> has an electric motor-side sensor connector <NUM> provided to the electric motor case <NUM>, a device-side sensor connector <NUM> provided to the electric power conversion device case <NUM>, and a signal line <NUM> electrically connecting the electric motor-side sensor connector <NUM> and the device-side sensor connector <NUM>. The electric motor-side sensor connector <NUM> is electrically connected to the sensor (not illustrated) provided to the electric motor MOT. The sensor is not particularly limited insofar as the sensor is capable of detecting the state of the electric motor MOT. The sensor is, for example, a resolver detecting the rotational state of the electric motor MOT or a thermistor detecting the temperature of the electric motor MOT.

The sensor connecting portion <NUM> is disposed above the rotation axis CL and between the electric motor MOT and the electric power conversion device PDU in the front-rear direction of the vehicle <NUM>. As a result, the space between the electric motor MOT and the electric power conversion device PDU can be effectively used in the driving unit <NUM> and the driving unit <NUM> can be reduced in size. More specifically, the electric motor MOT has a substantially cylindrical shape, the electric power conversion device PDU has a substantially rectangular parallelepiped shape, and thus a space S2 is formed between an upper front-side cylindrical surface <NUM> extending from the front end portion 400F of the electric motor MOT to an upper end portion 400U and the rear surface 50B of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> even with the front end portion 400F of the electric motor MOT as close as possible to the electric power conversion device PDU side when viewed from the rotation axis direction. By disposing the sensor connecting portion <NUM> in the space S2, the space S2 can be effectively used and the electric motor MOT can be disposed closer to the electric power conversion device PDU side. As a result, the dimension of the driving unit <NUM> in the front-rear direction can be reduced without increasing the dimension of the driving unit <NUM> in the up-down direction.

The sensor connecting portion <NUM> may be disposed at any position in the left-right direction. In the present embodiment, the electric motor-side sensor connector <NUM> is disposed near the middle of the electric motor case <NUM> and the device-side sensor connector <NUM> is disposed near the middle of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> in the left-right direction. It is preferable that the electric motor-side sensor connector <NUM> and the device-side sensor connector <NUM> are disposed close to each other. As a result, the signal line <NUM> can be shortened.

As illustrated in <FIG>, as for the electric power conversion device case <NUM> of the electric power conversion device PDU which is viewed from the front-rear direction, an upper right end portion <NUM> is positioned to the left of a lower right end portion <NUM> in the left-right direction. The right side surface 50R of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> is provided with a lower right side surface <NUM> extending upward from the lower right end portion <NUM> of the electric power conversion device case <NUM>, an upper right side surface <NUM> extending downward from the upper right end portion <NUM> of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> and positioned to the left of the lower right side surface <NUM> in the left-right direction, and a step surface <NUM> connecting the upper end portion of the lower right side surface <NUM> and the lower end portion of the upper right side surface <NUM> in the left-right direction.

The DC connector <NUM> is disposed on the upper right side surface <NUM>, and the low-voltage connector <NUM> is disposed on the lower right side surface <NUM>.

The DC connector <NUM> is positioned above the rotation axis CL and below the upper surface of the electric power conversion device PDU in the up-down direction and to the left of the lower right side surface <NUM> in the left-right direction. Since the DC connector <NUM> is positioned above the rotation axis CL, it is possible to prevent the DC connector <NUM> from being damaged or causing electric leakage even in a case where foreign matter enters from below the vehicle <NUM>. In addition, since the DC connector <NUM> is positioned below the upper surface of the electric power conversion device PDU and to the left of the lower right side surface <NUM> in the left-right direction, it is possible to prevent the DC connector <NUM> from being exposed outside the electric power conversion device PDU in the up-down direction and the left-right direction (rotation axis direction). Further, since the DC connector <NUM> is positioned to the left of the lower right side surface <NUM> in the left-right direction, the lower right side surface <NUM> can be visually recognized with ease from above the driving unit <NUM> (see <FIG>). Since the low-voltage connector <NUM> is disposed on the lower right side surface <NUM>, which can be visually recognized with ease from above the driving unit <NUM>, excellence in maintainability is achieved while the space of the lower right side surface <NUM> of the electric power conversion device PDU is effectively used.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the DC connector <NUM> disposed on the upper right side surface <NUM> is disposed so as to protrude diagonally forward to the right from the electric power conversion device PDU when viewed from above. In other words, the DC connector <NUM> is disposed so as to be inclined at a predetermined angle in a direction away from the electric motor MOT in the front-rear direction and protrude from the electric power conversion device PDU toward the direction away from the electric power conversion device PDU in the left-right direction (rotation axis direction). As a result, a large space can be taken between the tip of the DC connector <NUM> and the electric motor case <NUM> in the front-rear direction when the DC line <NUM> is connected to the DC connector <NUM>, and thus a work space is ensured with ease and maintainability is improved.

In addition, the DC connector <NUM> is disposed behind the front-side end portion of the electric power conversion device PDU in the front-rear direction, that is, on the electric motor MOT side. As a result, it is possible to prevent the DC connector <NUM> from being exposed outside the electric power conversion device PDU in the front-rear direction.

The low-voltage connector <NUM> disposed on the lower right side surface <NUM> is disposed so as to protrude to the right from the electric power conversion device PDU when viewed from above. In other words, the low-voltage connector <NUM> is disposed so as to protrude in the left-right direction (rotation axis direction) from the electric power conversion device PDU.

Accordingly, when viewed from above, the low-voltage connector <NUM> is disposed so as to protrude to the right from the electric power conversion device PDU whereas the DC connector <NUM> is disposed so as to protrude diagonally forward to the right from the electric power conversion device PDU, and thus the DC line <NUM> connected to the DC connector <NUM> and the low-voltage line <NUM> connected to the low-voltage connector <NUM> can be disposed so as to be misaligned in the front-rear direction and it is possible to prevent the positions of the DC line <NUM> and the low-voltage line <NUM> from interfering with each other.

As illustrated in <FIG>, the step surface <NUM> of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> has a first step surface 505a extending substantially horizontally rearward from the front surface 50F of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> and a second step surface 505b extending substantially horizontally rearward on the rear side of the first step surface 505a and below the first step surface 505a. Further, the step surface <NUM> of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> has a first wall surface <NUM> extending in the up-down direction from the rear end of the first step surface 505a to the front end of the second step surface 505b. Further, the step surface <NUM> of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> is formed with a second wall surface <NUM> extending downward from the rear end of the second step surface and configuring a part of the rear surface 50B of the electric power conversion device case <NUM>.

The first wall surface <NUM> has a right wall surface 531a extending leftward from the right end of the electric power conversion device case <NUM>, a curved wall surface 531b extending rearward from the left end of the right wall surface 531a, and a left wall surface 531c extending leftward from the rear end of the curved wall surface 531b.

The second wall surface <NUM> has a right end wall surface 532a extending leftward from the right end of the electric power conversion device case <NUM>, a first curved wall surface 532b extending rearward from the left end of the right end wall surface 532a, a right wall surface 532c extending leftward from the rear end of the first curved wall surface 532b, a second curved wall surface 532d extending rearward from the left end of the right wall surface 532c, and a left wall surface 532e extending leftward from the rear end of the second curved wall surface 532d.

As illustrated in <FIG> and <FIG>, a guide portion <NUM> is formed on the second wall surface <NUM> positioned above the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> and below the step surface <NUM> and configuring a part of the rear surface 50B. In the present embodiment, the guide portion <NUM> extends from the rear end of the second curved wall surface 532d of the second wall surface <NUM> toward the right end of the right wall surface 532c. Accordingly, the guide portion <NUM> protrudes rearward from the second wall surface <NUM> toward the electric motor case <NUM> and extends in the rotation axis direction. Further, the guide portion <NUM> has a shape having a tapered portion 54A extending from the rear end of the second curved wall surface 532d of the second wall surface <NUM> toward the right end of the right wall surface 532c and having a rearward protrusion length decreasing rightward. In other words, the rearward protrusion length of the tapered portion 54A of the guide portion <NUM> decreases as the distance from the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> to the tapered portion 54A of the guide portion <NUM> increases in the rotation axis direction.

Accordingly, in a case where foreign matter such as water enters between the electric power conversion device case <NUM> and the rotary electric machine case <NUM> from above the driving unit <NUM>, the foreign matter which enters above the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> hits an upper surface 54U of the guide portion <NUM> and then is guided rightward along the upper surface 54U of the guide portion <NUM> and discharged to the right of the electric power conversion device case <NUM>. As a result, it is possible to prevent the foreign matter which enters above the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> from entering the electric motor connecting portion <NUM>.

In addition, the guide portion <NUM> is formed on the rear surface 50B of the electric power conversion device case <NUM>, the guide portion <NUM> protrudes in the front-rear direction and extends in the rotation axis direction, and thus the moment of inertia of area and section modulus of the rear surface 50B of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> increase. As a result, the guide portion <NUM> also functions as a rib for rigidity and strength improvement and the rigidity and strength of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> are improved.

In addition, the guide portion <NUM> has the shape having the tapered portion 54A extending from the rear end of the second curved wall surface 532d of the second wall surface <NUM> toward the right end of the right wall surface 532c and having the rearward protrusion length decreasing rightward. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the weight of the driving unit <NUM> while preventing foreign matter from entering the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> and the degree of freedom in designing the driving unit <NUM> can be increased. For example, a bolt or the like can be disposed behind the right end of the tapered portion 54A, that is, behind the right end of the right wall surface 532c of the second wall surface <NUM>.

As illustrated in <FIG>, a plurality of the guide portions <NUM> may be formed on the second wall surface <NUM> side by side in the up-down direction. Further, the upper surface 54U of the guide portion <NUM> may have an inclined surface 54B inclined downward toward the right. In other words, the inclined surface 54B is inclined downward as the distance from the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> to the inclined surface 54B increases in the rotation axis direction.

By the guide portion <NUM> having the inclined surface 54B inclined downward as the distance from the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> to the inclined surface 54B increases in the rotation axis direction, foreign matter which enters above the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> can be more reliably guided to the right along the guide portion <NUM>.

In addition, by the plurality of guide portions <NUM> being formed on the second wall surface <NUM> side by side in the up-down direction, foreign matter which enters above the electric motor connecting portion <NUM> can be more reliably guided to the right and the rigidity and strength of the electric power conversion device case <NUM> are further improved.

Although various embodiments have been described above with reference to the drawings, it is a matter of course that the present invention is not limited to such examples. It is clear that those skilled in the art can devise various changes or modifications within the scope of the claims.

In addition, each component in the above-described embodiments may be freely combined within the scope of the claims.

For example, although a hybrid vehicle having the engine ENG and the electric motor MOT as its driving source is exemplified in the above embodiment, the vehicle may be an electric vehicle having only the electric motor MOT as its driving source.

In the above embodiment, the driving unit <NUM> accommodating the electric motor MOT is disposed in the rear portion of the vehicle <NUM>. Alternatively, the electric motor MOT may be used as a driving source driving the left and right front wheels FW with the driving unit <NUM> disposed in the front room <NUM>. In this case, it is preferable that the electric power conversion device PDU is disposed so as to be positioned between the electric motor MOT and the passenger compartment <NUM> in the front-rear direction, that is, such that the electric power conversion device PDU faces rearward.

In addition, although the guide portion <NUM> is formed at the electric power conversion device case <NUM> in the above embodiment, the guide portion <NUM> may be formed at the electric motor case <NUM> or both the electric power conversion device case <NUM> and the electric motor case <NUM>.

At least the following matters are described in this specification. Although components or the like corresponding to the embodiment described above are in the parentheses, the present invention is not limited thereto.

Claim 1:
A driving unit (<NUM>) to be equipped with a vehicle, the driving unit (<NUM>) comprising:
a rotary electric machine (MOT) which has a rotation axis (CL) extending in a horizontal left-right direction (L-R) of the vehicle;
a rotary electric machine unit which includes a rotary electric machine case (<NUM>) having a rotary electric machine accommodating portion (<NUM>) accommodating the rotary electric machine (MOT); and
an electric power conversion device (PDU) which is electrically connected to the rotary electric machine (MOT) and converts electric power supplied to the rotary electric machine and electric power supplied from the rotary electric machine, wherein:
the electric power conversion device (PDU) has an electric power conversion device case (<NUM>) and is disposed on one side of the rotary electric machine case (<NUM>) in a front-rear direction (Fr- Rr) orthogonal to both the rotation axis direction (L-R) and an up-down direction (U-D) of the vehicle; and
the electric power conversion device case (<NUM>) is fixed to the rotary electric machine case (<NUM>);
a connecting portion (<NUM>) where the rotary electric machine (MOT) and the electric power conversion device (PDU) are electrically connected is provided, the connecting portion (<NUM>) being disposed below the rotation axis (CL) and between the rotary electric machine (MOT) and the electric power conversion device (PDU) in the front-rear direction (Fr-Rr); and
a guide portion (<NUM>) protruding rearward in the front-rear direction (Fr-Rr) and extending in the rotation axis direction (L-R) is formed above the connecting portion (<NUM>) at either the electric power conversion device case (<NUM>) or the rotary electric machine case (<NUM>),
characterized in that
the guide portion (<NUM>) has a tapered portion (54A) where a protrusion length in the front-rear direction (Fr-Rr) decreases as a distance from the connecting portion (<NUM>) increases in the rotation axis direction (L-R), such that a foreign matter entering from above the connecting portion (<NUM>) is guided in the rotation axis direction (L-R) along the guide portion (<NUM>).