JP2015121281A - Ventilation structure of vehicle drive device - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a ventilation structure of a vehicle drive device which inhibits a lubrication oil scattering on an inner wall of a case from adhering to a breather plug.SOLUTION: A ventilation structure 100 of a vehicle drive device 1 conducts ventilation between the interior and the exterior of a case 10 for storing a rotary member and includes: a breather plug 110 disposed on an upper part of the case 10 and having a ventilation passage 111 that is formed so as to open at the exterior of the case 10; a protruding part 13 which is formed on a side wall 12 of the case 10 so as to protrude to an inner part of the case 10 in a direction of an axis 1a of the rotary member and has an opening part 13aa opening to the inner part of the case 10 in the axis 1a direction; and a communication hole 120 which allows the opening part 13aa and the ventilation passage 111 to communicate with each other.

Description

  The present invention relates to a ventilation structure for a vehicle drive device.

  For example, in the ventilation structure of the vehicle drive device disclosed in Patent Document 1, the cover of the terminal block is disposed at a position where the breather plug covers the breather plug against the lubricating oil scattered toward the breather plug in the case. Yes.

JP 2009-115304 A

  However, in the ventilation structure of the vehicle drive device disclosed in Patent Literature 1, there is a possibility that the lubricating oil scattered on the inner wall of the case flows along the inner wall, so that the lubricating oil adheres to the breather plug. When the lubricating oil adheres to the breather plug, the lubricating oil may blow out from the breather plug together with air.

  Accordingly, the present invention has been made to solve the above-described problems, and an object thereof is to provide a vehicle drive device ventilation structure that suppresses the lubricant scattered on the inner wall of the case from adhering to the breather plug. To do.

  In order to solve the above-described problem, a vent structure for a vehicle drive device according to claim 1 is a vent structure for a vehicle drive device that ventilates between the inside and the outside of a case housing a rotating member, and is provided at the upper portion of the case. A breather plug having an air passage formed so as to be openable to the outside of the case, and formed on the side wall of the case so as to protrude into the case in the axial direction of the rotating member, and axially into the case A projecting portion having an opening that is open to the opening, and a communication hole that communicates the opening with the air passage.

  According to this, since the protruding portion is formed on the side wall of the case so as to protrude in the axial direction of the rotating member into the case, and the opening portion is opened in the axial direction inside the case. Lubricating oil scattered by force can be prevented from directly entering the communication hole.

  In addition, since the protruding portion is formed on the side wall of the case so as to protrude in the axial direction of the rotating member into the case, a part of the scattered lubricating oil that flows along the side wall is formed on the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion. Flows to the upper side. Here, since the opening portion is opened in the axial direction inside the case, the inflow of the lubricating oil that has flowed to the upper side surface of the protruding portion into the communication hole can be suppressed. Therefore, it can suppress that lubricating oil adheres to a breather plug.

  According to a second aspect of the present invention, in the vent structure of the vehicle drive device according to the first aspect, an inclined surface that is inclined downward toward the opening is formed below the communication hole, and the inclined surface is inclined with respect to the horizontal direction. The angle is formed to be larger than the inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the vehicle when the vehicle swings.

  According to this, even when the lubricating oil flows into the communication hole, the lower surface of the communication hole is formed with a slope inclined downward toward the opening, so that the lubricating oil communicates with its own weight. It flows out of the hole. In addition, the inclination angle of the slope with respect to the horizontal direction is formed to be larger than the inclination angle of the vehicle with respect to the horizontal direction when the vehicle swings. Inclined downward toward Therefore, the lubricating oil that has flowed into the communication hole flows out of the communication hole by its own weight. Therefore, it can suppress more that lubricating oil adheres to a breather plug.

  According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the vent structure of the vehicle drive device according to the second aspect, the portion other than the inclined surface in the communication hole expands toward the opening so that it can be punched in the axial direction. Is formed.

  According to this, since the communication hole can be formed into a shape that can be punched, it can be formed at a lower cost than the case where the communication hole is formed by processing.

  According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the vent structure of the vehicle drive device according to any one of the first to third aspects, the amount of protrusion at a portion of the protrusion above the lower end of the opening is at the lower end of the opening. The protrusion amount is larger than the protrusion amount.

  According to this, since the portion of the protruding portion above the lower end of the opening is formed so as to shield the opening from above, the lubricating oil that has flowed to the upper surface of the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion flows into the communication hole. It can be suppressed more.

  According to a fifth aspect of the present invention, in the ventilation structure for a vehicle drive device according to any one of the first to fourth aspects, the upper side surface of the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion is formed so as to be inclined in the axial direction. Yes.

  According to this, since it is possible to suppress the lubricating oil that has flowed to the upper side surface of the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion from flowing into the opening portion, the lubricating oil that has flowed to the upper side surface of the protruding portion flows into the communication hole. Can be further suppressed.

1 is a front view of a vehicle illustrating a case where a ventilation structure of a vehicle drive device according to the present invention is applied to a vehicle. It is an axial sectional view of the ventilation structure of the vehicle drive device shown in FIG. It is an enlarged view of the protrusion part by the III arrow shown in FIG.

  An embodiment of a ventilation structure 100 of a vehicle drive device 1 according to the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In this specification, for convenience of explanation, the upper side and the lower side in FIG. 1 will be described as the upper and lower sides of the vehicle M, respectively, and the left side and the right side will be described as the left and right sides of the vehicle M, respectively.

  As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle M to which the ventilation structure 100 is applied includes a body B, wheels WL, and the vehicle drive device 1. The vehicle drive device 1 is, for example, a device or a transmission that includes an electric motor as a drive source. The vehicle drive device 1 includes a rotating member (not shown), a case 10 and a lubricating oil L. The rotating member is a rotating member. The rotating member is, for example, a rotor constituting an electric motor or a gear constituting a transmission.

  The case 10 accommodates members constituting the vehicle drive device 1. That is, case 10 accommodates a rotating member. The case 10 is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape having the same axial direction as the shaft 1a of the rotating member. The case 10 is formed by being divided into a plurality of parts. In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 2, among the plurality of divided surfaces that divide the case 10 into a plurality of parts, the divided surface 10 a in the vicinity of the ventilation structure 100 is provided perpendicular to the axis 1 a direction. Further, the vehicle drive device 1 is disposed in the vehicle M so that the direction of the shaft 1a is horizontal and the left-right direction of the vehicle M.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the case 10 includes an upper wall 11 that is an upper wall and a side wall 12 that is a wall that partitions the case 10 and is suspended from the upper wall 11. In addition, a protruding portion 13 is formed on the side wall 12. The protruding portion 13 is formed on the side wall 12 of the case 10 so as to protrude into the case 10 in the direction of the axis 1a of the rotating member. The end portion 13a of the protruding portion 13 is formed in a planar shape in which a surface perpendicular to the axis 1a direction is inclined downward. An opening 13aa that opens in the direction of the axis 1a is formed inside the case 10 at the end 13a of the protrusion 13. Moreover, the upper side surface 13b in the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion part 13 is formed so that it may incline around the axis | shaft 1a direction. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 3, it is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape in which the axial direction is the axis 1a direction and the upper side is convex. And the side surface 13c of the left-right direction in the outer peripheral surface of the protrusion part 13 is droopingly formed from the lower end of the upper side surface 13b.

  Furthermore, a screw hole 12 b is formed in the upper part of the case 10. The screw hole portion 12b is for fixing a breather plug 110, which will be described later, and is formed in the side wall 12 so that the central axis direction of the screw is the vertical direction.

  The lubricating oil L is a lubricant that reduces the rotational resistance of the rotating member. The liquid level LS1 of the lubricating oil L is positioned approximately in the center of the case 10 in the up-down direction when the vehicle M is not inclined, as indicated by a dotted line in FIG.

  The ventilation structure 100 performs ventilation between the inside and the outside of the case 10. Specifically, the ventilation structure 100 opens the inside of the case 10 to the outside air when the pressure inside the case 10 exceeds a predetermined value. The predetermined value is a pressure value determined according to the pressure resistance of the members constituting the vehicle drive device 1 in order to operate the vehicle drive device 1 normally. The ventilation structure 100 is disposed on the upper portion of the case 10. In addition, the ventilation structure 100 is disposed so as to be positioned approximately at the center of the vehicle M in the left-right direction. The ventilation structure 100 includes a breather plug 110 and a communication hole 120.

  The breather plug 110 performs ventilation with the outside. In the present embodiment, the breather plug 110 performs ventilation with the outside when the pressure in the case 10 exceeds a predetermined value. Moreover, the breather plug 110 is arrange | positioned at the upper part of the case 10, as shown in FIG. The breather plug 110 has a threaded portion 110a on the outer periphery. And it fixes to the screw hole part 12b so that the longitudinal direction of the breather plug 110 may turn up and down. The breather plug 110 has a ventilation path 111 and a valve 112.

  The air passage 111 is a passage through which air flows. One end of the air passage 111 is opened below the breather plug 110. The other end of the ventilation path 111 is connected to the valve 112. The valve 112 is closed when the pressure in the air passage 111 is smaller than a predetermined value, and opens to the outside when the pressure becomes equal to or higher than the predetermined value. That is, the air passage 111 is formed to be openable to the outside through the valve 112.

  The communication hole 120 allows the opening 13aa and the air passage 111 to communicate with each other. In other words, the communication hole 120 communicates the inside of the case 10 and the air passage 111. The communication hole 120 has a slope 121, an upper side surface 122, and a plurality of side surfaces 123.

  The slope 121 is formed on the lower side of the communication hole 120 and is inclined downward toward the opening 13aa. In the present embodiment, the slope 121 is formed in a planar shape as shown in FIGS. Here, the inclination angle A1 with respect to the horizontal direction of the slope 121 is formed to be larger than the inclination angle A2 with respect to the horizontal direction of the vehicle M when the vehicle M swings. The swing of the vehicle M occurs when the vehicle M turns or depending on the road surface condition on which the vehicle M travels. In the present embodiment, the inclination angle A1 of the inclined surface 121 is set to 30 degrees, for example.

  As shown in FIG. 2, the upper side surface 122 is formed to be positioned below the lower end of the breather plug 110. Further, the upper side surface 122 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape having the axial direction as the direction of the axis 1a and protruding upward. And the upper side surface 122 is formed so that the diameter of a semicylinder may become large gradually as it goes to the opening part 13aa side from the ventilation path 111 side. Further, the side surface 123 is formed by hanging the lower end of the upper side surface 122 to the inclined surface 121. Thereby, the length of the communicating hole 120 in the up-down direction and the left-right direction gradually increases from the end surface 124 that is the end portion on the air passage 111 side toward the opening 13aa. That is, the upper side surface 122 and the side surface 123 are formed in a tapered shape that expands toward the opening portion 13aa so that the die can be removed in the direction of the shaft 1a.

  Moreover, the protrusion amount in the region above the lower end of the opening 13aa in the protrusion 13 is formed to be larger than the protrusion amount D1 at the lower end of the opening 13aa. In the present embodiment, the end portion 13a is formed in a flat shape in which a plane perpendicular to the axis 1a direction is inclined downward, and the opening portion 13aa is formed in the end portion 13a so as to open in the axis 1a direction. Yes. Therefore, the protrusion amount at the portion above the lower end of the opening 13aa in the protrusion 13 is larger than the protrusion amount D1 at the lower end of the opening 13aa. That is, the part of the protrusion 13 above the lower end of the opening 13aa is formed so as to shield the opening 13aa from above.

  Next, the case where the lubricating oil L scatters in the case 10 and the lubricating oil L flows to the protruding portion 13 will be described. As shown in FIG. 1, when the vehicle M is tilted in the R direction by swinging, the liquid level LS <b> 1 of the lubricating oil L is tilted to the liquid level LS <b> 2 and the lubricating oil L is biased in the case 10. And when the bias | inclination of the lubricating oil L arises in the rotating member rotated at high speed, the scattering amount of the lubricating oil L increases. Since the lubricating oil L is scattered by the centrifugal force of the rotating member, it is scattered in a large amount in the radial direction of the rotating member from the direction of the shaft 1a. 2, a part of the lubricating oil L scattered on the upper wall 11 of the case 10 flows to the side wall 12, and flows from the side wall 12 to the upper side surface 13b of the protruding portion 13.

  Here, since the upper side surface 13b is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape in which the axial direction is the direction of the axis 1a and the upper side is convex, the lubricating oil L that has flowed to the upper side surface 13b is indicated by a thick dotted arrow in FIG. As shown, the fluid flows toward the side surface 13c. In this case, since the lubricating oil L does not flow into the communication hole 120, the lubricating oil L does not adhere to the breather plug 110.

  On the other hand, when the lubricating oil L that has flowed to the upper side surface 13b flows into the opening 13aa due to the direction in which the vehicle M swings, the lubricating oil L may flow into the communication hole 120. Further, when the lubricating oil L scatters toward the opening 13aa, the lubricating oil L flows into the communication hole 120. Here, even when the lubricating oil L flows into the communication hole 120, the inclined surface 121 is inclined downward toward the opening 13 aa, so that the lubricating oil is indicated by a dashed dotted thick arrow in FIG. 2. L flows out by its own weight. Further, the inclination angle A1 with respect to the horizontal direction of the slope 121 is formed to be larger than the inclination angle A2 with respect to the horizontal direction of the vehicle M when the vehicle M swings, so that the vehicle M swings. However, since the inclined surface 121 is inclined downward toward the opening 13aa, the lubricating oil L flows out by its own weight. Therefore, it is suppressed that the lubricating oil L adheres to the breather plug 110.

  According to the present embodiment, the protruding portion 13 protrudes in the side wall 12 of the case 10 into the inside of the case 10 in the direction of the axis 1 a of the rotating member, and the opening 13 aa is inside the case 10 at the end portion 13 a of the protruding portion 13. Therefore, the lubricating oil L scattered by the centrifugal force of the rotating member can be prevented from directly entering the communication hole 120.

  Further, since the protruding portion 13 is formed on the side wall 12 of the case 10 so as to protrude in the direction of the axis 1 a of the rotating member into the inside of the case 10, one of the scattered lubricating oil L that flows along the side wall 12. The part flows to the upper side surface 13 b of the protruding part 13. Here, since the opening 13aa is open in the direction of the shaft 1a at the end 13a of the protrusion 13, the inflow of the lubricating oil L that has flowed to the upper side surface 13b of the protrusion 13 into the communication hole 120 is suppressed. Can do. Therefore, it is possible to suppress the lubricating oil L from adhering to the breather plug 110.

  Then, the protruding portion 13 protrudes in the side wall 12 of the case 10 into the inside of the case 10 in the direction of the axis 1a of the rotating member, and the opening portion 13aa extends into the inside of the case 10 at the end portion 13a of the protruding portion 13 in the direction of the axis 1a. It is formed to open. Here, when the protruding portion 13 is formed so as to protrude downward from the upper wall 11 and the opening portion 13aa opens downward corresponding to the radial direction of the rotating member, the lubricating oil L scattered in the radial direction of the rotating member. In order to suppress the intrusion of the protrusion 13, it is necessary to lengthen the protrusion of the protrusion 13. That is, the protruding portion 13 protruding in the direction of the shaft 1a can reduce the protruding amount as compared with the case of protruding downward. Therefore, the protruding portion 13 protruding in the direction of the shaft 1a is less likely to interfere with a member such as a rotating member as compared with the case of protruding downward. Therefore, the freedom degree of the position which arrange | positions the breather plug 110 in the case 10 can be raised.

  Further, even when the lubricating oil L flows into the communication hole 120, a slope 121 that is inclined downward toward the opening 13aa is formed on the lower side of the communication hole 120. It flows out of the communication hole 120 by its own weight. In addition, the inclination angle A1 of the slope 121 with respect to the horizontal direction is larger than the inclination angle A2 with respect to the horizontal direction of the vehicle M when the vehicle M swings. In addition, the inclined surface 121 is inclined downward toward the opening 13aa. Therefore, the lubricating oil L flowing into the communication hole 120 flows out of the communication hole 120 by its own weight. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the lubricating oil L from adhering to the breather plug 110.

  Since the upper side surface 122 and the side surface 123, that is, the portions other than the inclined surface 121 in the communication hole 120 are formed in a tapered shape that expands toward the opening portion 13aa so that the die can be removed in the direction of the axis 1a. The communication hole 120 can be formed in a shape that can be punched. Therefore, compared with the case where the communicating hole 120 is formed by processing, it can be formed at a low cost. Moreover, since the inclined surface 121 is formed in a planar shape, a mold can be created more easily than in the case where the inclined surface 121 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape, for example.

  Moreover, since the site | part above the lower end of opening part 13aa in the protrusion part 13 is formed so that opening part 13aa may be shielded from upper direction, the lubricating oil L which flowed to the upper side surface 13b of the protrusion part 13 to the communication hole 120 is formed. Inflow can be further suppressed.

  And since the upper side surface 13b of the protrusion part 13 is formed so that it may incline around the axis | shaft 1a direction, it can suppress that the lubricating oil L which flowed to the upper side surface 13b of the protrusion part 13 flows into opening part 13aa. it can. Therefore, the lubricating oil L that has flowed to the upper side surface 13 b of the protruding portion 13 can be further suppressed from flowing into the communication hole 120.

  Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the upper side surface 122 is formed so as to be positioned below the lower end of the breather plug 110, so that the lubricating oil L is prevented from being directly scattered on the breather plug 110. Can do.

  In the above-described embodiment, an example of the ventilation structure of the vehicle drive device has been described. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and other configurations can be adopted. For example, in the present embodiment, the end portion 13a is formed in a planar shape, but instead of this, it may be formed in a shape including a step.

Further, in the present embodiment, the upper side surface 13b is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape having an upward projection, but instead, it may be formed in a planar shape inclined in one direction.
And although the slope 121 is formed in planar shape, it may replace with this and may be made to form in the semi-cylinder shape which makes convex downward.
In addition, the breather plug 110 vents to the outside when the pressure in the case 10 exceeds a predetermined value. Instead, the breather plug 110 always vents to the outside. good.
And although the axis | shaft 1a is arrange | positioned so that it may become horizontal and the left-right direction of the vehicle M, you may make it incline from a horizontal direction.
The upper side 122 is formed in a semi-cylindrical shape, and the side 123 is formed by hanging the lower end of the upper side 122. For example, the upper side 122 and the side 123 may be formed by the same curved surface. good.

  DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 1 ... Vehicle drive device, 1a ... Shaft, 10 ... Case, 10a ... Dividing surface, 11 ... Upper wall, 12 ... Side wall, 13 ... Projection part, 13a ... End part, 13aa ... Opening part, 13b ... Upper side surface, 13c ... Side surface, 100: Ventilation structure, 110: Breather plug, 111: Air passage, 120: Communication hole, 121: Slope, 122 ... Upper side surface, 123 ... Side surface, A1 ... Inclination angle, L: Lubricating oil, M ... Vehicle.

Claims (5)

A ventilation structure for a vehicle drive device that ventilates the inside and the outside of a case that houses a rotating member,
A breather plug having an air passage that is disposed at an upper portion of the case and is openable to the outside of the case;
A protruding portion formed on the side wall of the case so as to protrude in the axial direction of the rotating member into the case; and having an opening opening in the axial direction inside the case;
A ventilation structure for a vehicle drive device, comprising: a communication hole that communicates the opening and the ventilation path. On the lower side of the communication hole, a slope inclined downward toward the opening is formed,
The ventilation structure for a vehicle drive device according to claim 1, wherein an inclination angle of the slope with respect to the horizontal direction is formed to be larger than an inclination angle with respect to the horizontal direction of the vehicle when the vehicle swings.   The ventilation structure of the vehicle drive device according to claim 2, wherein a portion other than the inclined surface in the communication hole is formed in a tapered shape that expands toward the opening so as to be die-cut in the axial direction.   4. The vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a protrusion amount at a portion of the protrusion portion above the lower end of the opening is formed to be larger than a protrusion amount at a lower end of the opening. Ventilation structure of the drive device.   The vent structure for a vehicle drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an upper side surface of the outer peripheral surface of the protruding portion is formed to be inclined around the axial direction.

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