JP5639946B2 - Vehicle drive device - Google Patents

Description

  The present invention relates to a vehicle drive device including at least a pair of electric motors that respectively drive a left wheel and a right wheel, and more specifically, considers the fluidity of a liquid fluid stored in each case that accommodates each electric motor. The present invention relates to a vehicle drive device.

  The vehicle drive device described in Patent Document 1 includes a pair of electric motors that can output driving force independently to the left and right axles, and a planetary gear type reduction gear is provided on a power transmission path between the axles and the electric motors. It is done. Further, on the power transmission path, the one-way clutch for transmitting the unidirectional rotational power of the motor to the axle, and one rotating element of the planetary gear reducer and the case are connected to each other to connect the two-way motor. And a hydraulic brake for transmitting the rotational power to the axle.

JP 2010-236684 A

  In the vehicle drive device described in Patent Document 1, oil is stored in the case to lubricate and cool the pair of electric motors and the power transmission path, but the oil does not flow properly. Then, there are problems such as non-uniform oil level in the case and increased oil agitation resistance. In patent document 1, although it describes about the oil which act | operates the piston of a hydraulic brake, there is no description about the fluidity | liquidity of the oil stored in the case.

  The present invention has been made in view of the above problems, and an object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle drive device capable of improving the fluidity of a liquid fluid stored in a case and leveling the liquid level. There is to do.

In order to achieve the above object, the invention described in claim 1
A first electric motor (for example, a first electric motor 2A in an embodiment described later) for driving a left wheel (for example, a left rear wheel LWr in an embodiment described later);
A first case (e.g., a left reservoir (e.g., a left reservoir RL in an embodiment described later)) that houses the first motor and stores a liquid fluid that is used for lubrication and / or cooling of the first motor. , A first case 11L of an embodiment described later),
A second electric motor (for example, a second electric motor 2B in an embodiment described later) for driving a right wheel (for example, a right rear wheel RWr in an embodiment described later);
A second case (e.g., a right reservoir (e.g., a right reservoir RR in an embodiment described later)) that accommodates the second motor and stores a liquid fluid that is used for lubrication and / or cooling of the second motor. A second case 11R) of an embodiment described later,
A first left and right communication passage (for example, a first left and right communication passage FP in an embodiment described later) communicating the left storage portion and the right storage portion;
A second left and right communication path (for example, a second left and right communication path SP of an embodiment described later) that is formed in parallel with the first left and right communication path and communicates the left storage portion and the right storage portion;
The vehicle drive device (for example, the rear-wheel drive device 1 of the below-mentioned embodiment) which has this.

Moreover, in addition to the structure of Claim 1, the invention of Claim 2 is
A drainage passage (for example, a drain passage 90 of the embodiment described later) that communicates the drainage port (for example, the drainage port 91 of the embodiment described later) and the first left and right communication passage for discharging the liquid fluid to the outside. )
The second left and right communication passages intersect with the drainage passage and communicate with each other.

In addition to the configuration described in claim 1 or 2, the invention described in claim 3
The first left and right communication passages have a central volume chamber (for example, described later) in which a suction port (for example, a suction port of a strainer 71 in an embodiment described later) of a liquid fluid supply device used for supplying the liquid fluid is disposed. The strainer accommodating chamber 86) of the embodiment,
The left reservoir and the central volume chamber communicate with each other via a left middle communication passage (for example, through holes 87a and 87b in the embodiments described later),
The right reservoir and the central volume chamber communicate with each other via a right middle communication passage (for example, a through hole 88 in an embodiment described later).

Moreover, in addition to the structure of Claim 3, the invention of Claim 4 adds to the structure of Claim 3,
The bottom part of the second left and right communication path (for example, the bottom part SPa of the embodiment described later) is the bottom part of the left middle communication path (for example, the bottom part 87ba of the embodiment described later) and the bottom part of the right middle communication path (for example, It is characterized by being lower than at least one of the later-described embodiments 88a).

The invention according to claim 5
A first electric motor for driving the left wheel;
A first transmission (for example, a first planetary gear speed reducer 12A in an embodiment described later) provided on a power transmission path between the first electric motor and the left wheel;
A first case that houses the first motor and the first transmission, and has a left reservoir that stores a liquid fluid used for lubrication and / or cooling of at least one of the first motor and the power transmission path; ,
A second electric motor for driving the right wheel;
A second transmission (for example, a second planetary gear speed reducer 12B according to an embodiment described later) provided on a power transmission path between the second electric motor and the right wheel;
A second case that houses the second motor and the second transmission, and has a right reservoir that stores a liquid fluid that is used for lubrication and / or cooling of at least one of the second motor and the power transmission path; ,
A first left and right communication passage communicating the left reservoir and the right reservoir;
A second left and right communication path formed in parallel with the first left and right communication path and communicating the left storage part and the right storage part;
A vehicle drive device having the following features.

Moreover, in addition to the structure of Claim 5, the invention of Claim 6 is
A drainage passage for communicating the drainage port for discharging the liquid fluid to the outside and the first left and right communication passage;
The second left and right communication passages intersect with the drainage passage and communicate with each other.

In addition to the configuration described in claim 5 or 6, the invention described in claim 7
The first left and right communication path includes a central volume chamber in which an inlet of a liquid fluid supply device used for supplying the liquid fluid is disposed,
The left reservoir and the central volume chamber communicate with each other via a left middle communication path,
The right reservoir and the central volume chamber communicate with each other through a right middle communication passage.

Moreover, in addition to the structure of Claim 7, invention of Claim 8 is added to the structure of Claim 7,
The bottom part of the second left and right communication path is lower than at least one of the bottom part of the left middle communication path and the bottom part of the right middle communication path.

  According to the first aspect of the present invention, the fluidity of the liquid fluid in the left reservoir and the right reservoir is improved by the first and second left and right communication paths, and the liquid level can be leveled.

  According to the second aspect of the present invention, in addition to the first left and right communication passages, the number of paths from the second left and right communication passages to the drainage ports increases, thereby improving drainage. In particular, since the second left and right communication passages have a short distance to the drain port, the drainage can be further improved.

  According to the invention described in claim 3, since the suction port of the liquid fluid supply device is disposed in the first left and right communication passages whose liquid levels are stable compared to the left reservoir and the right reservoir, the liquid fluid supply Inhalation of air into the device can be suppressed. In addition, since the central volume chamber is defined in the first left and right communication passages, the intake of air can be further reduced.

  According to the fourth aspect of the present invention, the liquid fluid that has not passed through the left middle and right middle communication passages can be discharged through the second left and right communication passages.

  According to the fifth aspect of the present invention, even in the configuration having the first and second transmissions, the fluidity of the liquid fluid in the left reservoir and the right reservoir is improved by the first and second left and right communication paths. The liquid level can be leveled.

  According to the invention described in claim 6, in addition to the first left and right communication passages, the number of paths extending from the second left and right communication passages to the drainage port increases, thereby improving drainage. In particular, since the second left and right communication passages have a short distance to the drain port, the drainage can be further improved.

  According to the seventh aspect of the present invention, the liquid fluid supply device is provided with the suction port of the liquid fluid supply device in the first left and right communication passages whose liquid levels are stable compared to the left reservoir and the right reservoir. Inhalation of air into the device can be suppressed. In addition, since the central volume chamber is defined in the first left and right communication passages, the intake of air can be further reduced.

  According to the eighth aspect of the present invention, the liquid fluid that has not passed through the left middle and right middle communication passages can be discharged through the second left and right communication passages.

1 is a block diagram showing a schematic configuration of a hybrid vehicle that is an embodiment of a vehicle on which a vehicle drive device according to the present invention can be mounted. It is sectional drawing which fractured | ruptured the whole rear-wheel drive device of 1st Embodiment along the II-II line | wire shown in FIG.5 (b). FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of the rear wheel drive device shown in FIG. 2. It is a perspective view which shows the state in which the vehicle drive device of FIG. 1 was mounted in the flame | frame. (A) is a front view showing the structure around the central case, (b) is a right perspective view of (a), and (c) is a left perspective view of (a). (A) is a rear view of the central case, (b) is a right side view of the central case, (c) is a front view of the central case, and (d) is a left side surface of the central case. FIG. It is sectional drawing along the VII-VII line of FIG.6 (b). It is sectional drawing along the VIII-VIII line of FIG.6 (c). It is sectional drawing along the IX-IX line of FIG.6 (c).

The vehicle drive device according to the present invention uses an electric motor as a drive source for driving wheels, and is used, for example, in a vehicle having a drive system as shown in FIG. In the following description, the case where the vehicle drive device is used for rear wheel drive will be described as an example, but it may be used for front wheel drive.
A vehicle 3 shown in FIG. 1 is a hybrid vehicle having a drive device 6 (hereinafter referred to as a front wheel drive device) in which an internal combustion engine 4 and an electric motor 5 are connected in series at the front portion of the vehicle. While power is transmitted to the front wheel Wf via the transmission 7, the power of the driving device 1 (hereinafter referred to as a rear wheel driving device) provided at the rear of the vehicle separately from the front wheel driving device 6 is the rear wheel Wr ( RWr, LWr). The electric motor 5 of the front wheel drive device 6 and the first and second electric motors 2A and 2B of the rear wheel drive device 1 on the rear wheel Wr side are connected to the battery 9 to supply power from the battery 9 and to regenerate energy to the battery 9. Is possible. In FIG. 1, reference numeral 8 denotes a control device for controlling the entire vehicle.

First, the vehicle drive device of 1st Embodiment which concerns on this invention is demonstrated based on FIGS.
FIG. 2 is a longitudinal sectional view of the entire rear wheel drive device 1, and FIG. 3 is a partially enlarged view of FIG. In the figure, reference numeral 11 denotes a case of the rear wheel drive device 1, and the case 11 is arranged on the left and right sides of the central case 11 </ b> M so as to sandwich the central case 11 </ b> M and the central case 11 </ b> M. It is comprised from the side cases 11A and 11B arrange | positioned, and the whole is formed in a substantially cylindrical shape. The case 11 includes an axle 10A, 10B for the rear wheel Wr, first and second motors 2A, 2B for driving the axle, and a power transmission path between the motors 2A, 2B and the left and right rear wheels Wr. The first and second planetary gear type speed reducers 12A and 12B serving as first and second transmissions for reducing the drive rotation of the electric motors 2A and 2B are disposed on the same axis. The axle 10A, the first electric motor 2A and the first planetary gear speed reducer 12A drive and control the left rear wheel LWr, and the axle 10B, the second electric motor 2B and the second planetary gear speed reducer 12B drive the right rear wheel RWr. Control. The axle 10A, the first electric motor 2A and the first planetary gear speed reducer 12A, and the axle 10B, the second electric motor 2B and the second planetary gear speed reducer 12B are arranged symmetrically in the vehicle width direction in the case 11. Yes.

  The side cases 11A and 11B are provided with partition walls 18A and 18B extending inward in the radial direction on the central case 11M side. The first and second partitions are provided between the side cases 11A and 11B and the partition walls 18A and 18B. Electric motors 2A and 2B are arranged, respectively. Further, first and second planetary gear speed reducers 12A and 12B are arranged in a space surrounded by the central case 11M and the partition walls 18A and 18B. 2 to 9 indicate the positional relationship when the rear wheel drive device 1 is mounted on the vehicle.

The rear wheel drive device 1 is provided with a breather device 40 that communicates the inside and outside of the case 11 so that the air inside the case 11 escapes to the outside through the breather chamber 41 so that the air does not become excessively high temperature and pressure. Configured as follows. The breather chamber 41 is arranged above the case 11 in the vertical direction, and includes an outer wall of the central case 11M, a first cylindrical wall 43 extending substantially horizontally in the central case 11M on the side case 11A side, and a side case. The second cylindrical wall 44 extending substantially horizontally on the 11B side, the left and right dividing walls 45 that connect the inner ends of the first and second cylindrical walls 43, 44, and the side case 11A of the first cylindrical wall 43 Baffle plate 47 attached to abut the side tip
A and the baffle plate 47B attached so that it may contact | abut to the side case 11B side front-end | tip part of the 2nd cylindrical wall 44 is comprised.

  The first and second cylindrical walls 43, 44 and the left and right dividing walls 45 that form the lower surface of the breather chamber 41 are such that the first cylindrical wall 43 is positioned radially inward from the second cylindrical wall 44, and the left and right dividing walls 45 are A third cylinder that extends from the inner end of the second cylindrical wall 44 to the inner end of the first cylindrical wall 43 while being bent while reducing the diameter, and further extends radially inward and extends substantially horizontally. Reach wall 46. The third cylindrical wall 46 is located on the inner side of both outer end portions of the first cylindrical wall 43 and the second cylindrical wall 44 and substantially in the center thereof.

  In addition, an external communication path 49 that connects the breather chamber 41 and the outside is connected to the central case 11M on the upper surface in the vertical direction of the breather chamber 41. The breather chamber side end portion 49a of the external communication passage 49 is arranged so as to be directed downward in the vertical direction. Accordingly, the oil is prevented from being discharged to the outside through the external communication passage 49.

  In the first and second electric motors 2A and 2B, stators 14A and 14B are fixed to side cases 11A and 11B, respectively, and annular rotors 15A and 15B are rotatably arranged on the inner peripheral sides of the stators 14A and 14B. Yes. Cylindrical shafts 16A and 16B surrounding the outer periphery of the axles 10A and 10B are coupled to the inner peripheral portions of the rotors 15A and 15B, and the cylindrical shafts 16A and 16B can be relatively rotated coaxially with the axles 10A and 10B. The side cases 11A and 11B are supported by end walls 17A and 17B and partition walls 18A and 18B via bearings 19A and 19B. Further, the rotation position information of the rotors 15A and 15B is fed back to the control controllers (not shown) of the electric motors 2A and 2B on the end walls 17A and 17B on the outer periphery on one end side of the cylindrical shafts 16A and 16B. Resolvers 20A and 20B are provided.

  The first and second planetary gear speed reducers 12A and 12B include sun gears 21A and 21B, a plurality of planetary gears 22A and 22B meshed with the sun gear 21, and planetary carriers 23A that support these planetary gears 22A and 22B. , 23B and ring gears 24A, 24B meshed with the outer peripheral sides of the planetary gears 22A, 22B. The driving forces of the electric motors 2A, 2B are input from the sun gears 21A, 21B, and the decelerated driving forces are transmitted to the planetary carrier 23A, It is output through 23B.

  The sun gears 21A and 21B are formed integrally with the cylindrical shafts 16A and 16B. Further, the planetary gears 22A and 22B are double pinions having first pinions 26A and 26B having large diameters directly meshed with the sun gears 21A and 21B, and second pinions 27A and 27B having smaller diameters than the first pinions 26A and 26B. The first pinions 26A and 26B and the second pinions 27A and 27B are integrally formed in a state of being coaxial and offset in the axial direction. The planetary gears 22A and 22B are supported by the planetary carriers 23A and 23B, and the planetary carriers 23A and 23B are supported so as to be integrally rotatable with the axially inner ends extending inward in the radial direction and being spline-fitted to the axles 10A and 10B. At the same time, it is supported by the partition walls 18A and 18B via bearings 33A and 33B.

  The ring gears 24A and 24B have gear portions 28A and 28B that are meshed with the second pinions 27A and 27B whose inner peripheral surfaces are small diameters, and small diameters that are smaller than the gear portions 28A and 28B and that are opposed to each other at an intermediate position of the case 11. Parts 29A, 29B, and connecting parts 30A, 30B for connecting the axially inner ends of the gear parts 28A, 28B and the axially outer ends of the small diameter parts 29A, 29B in the radial direction. In the case of this embodiment, the radial outer edges of the ring gears 24A, 24B are set to be smaller than the maximum distance from the center of the axles 10A, 10B of the first pinions 26A, 26B.

  The gear portions 28A and 28B face each other in the axial direction with a third cylindrical wall 46 formed at the inner diameter side end portion of the left and right dividing wall 45 of the central case 11M. The outer diameter surfaces of the small diameter portions 29A and 29B are spline-fitted to an inner race 51 of a one-way clutch 50, which will be described later, and the ring gears 24A and 24B are connected to each other so as to rotate integrally with the inner race 51 of the one-way clutch 50. Configured.

  A space is secured between the second cylindrical wall 44 of the central case 11M constituting the case 11 and the gear portion 28B of the ring gear 24B, and a hydraulic brake 60 constituting braking means for the ring gear 24B is provided in the space. It arrange | positions so that it may overlap with 1 pinion 26B in radial direction, and it may overlap with 2nd pinion 27B in an axial direction. The hydraulic brake 60 includes a plurality of fixed plates 35 that are spline-fitted to the inner peripheral surface of the second cylindrical wall 44 and a plurality of rotary plates 36 that are spline-fitted to the outer peripheral surface of the gear portion 28B of the ring gear 24B. These plates 35 and 36 are arranged to be fastened and released by an annular piston 37. The piston 37 is accommodated in an annular cylinder chamber formed between the left and right dividing walls 45 of the central case 11M and the third cylindrical wall 46, and is further provided with a receiving provided on the outer peripheral surface of the third cylindrical wall 46. The elastic member 39 supported by the seat 38 is constantly urged in a direction to release the fixed plate 35 and the rotating plate 36.

  More specifically, the working chamber S into which oil is directly introduced is defined between the left and right dividing walls 45 and the piston 37, and when the pressure of the oil introduced into the working chamber S exceeds the urging force of the elastic member 39, The piston 37 moves forward (to the right), and the fixed plate 35 and the rotating plate 36 are pressed against each other and fastened. When the urging force of the elastic member 39 exceeds the pressure of the oil introduced into the working chamber S, the piston 37 moves backward (leftward movement), and the fixed plate 35 and the rotating plate 36 are separated and released. . The hydraulic brake 60 is connected to an electric oil pump 70 (see FIG. 4) as a liquid fluid supply device.

  In the case of this hydraulic brake 60, the fixed plate 35 is supported by the second cylindrical wall 44 extending from the left and right dividing walls 45 of the central case 11M constituting the case 11, while the rotating plate 36 is supported by the gear portion 28B of the ring gear 24B. Therefore, when the plates 35 and 36 are pressed by the piston 37, a braking force is applied to the ring gear 24B by the frictional engagement between the plates 35 and 36, and is fixed. When the fastening by the piston 37 is released from this state, the ring gear 24B is allowed to rotate freely. As described above, since the ring gears 24A and 24B are connected to each other, the braking force is also applied to the ring gear 24A when the hydraulic brake 60 is fastened, and the ring gear 24A is fixed when the hydraulic brake 60 is released. Free rotation is allowed.

  Also, a space is secured between the coupling portions 30A and 30B of the ring gears 24A and 24B facing each other in the axial direction, and only power in one direction is transmitted to the ring gears 24A and 24B in the space to transmit power in the other direction. A one-way clutch 50 is arranged to be shut off. The one-way clutch 50 has a large number of sprags 53 interposed between an inner race 51 and an outer race 52. The inner race 51 is connected to the small diameter portions 29A, 29B of the ring gears 24A, 24B by spline fitting. It is configured to rotate integrally. The outer race 52 is positioned by the third cylindrical wall 46 and is prevented from rotating.

  The one-way clutch 50 is configured to engage and lock the rotation of the ring gears 24A and 24B when the vehicle 3 moves forward with the power of the electric motors 2A and 2B. More specifically, the one-way clutch 50 is engaged when rotational power in the forward direction on the motors 2A, 2B side (rotation direction when the vehicle 3 is advanced) is input to the wheel Wr side. When the rotational power in the reverse direction on the electric motors 2A and 2B is input to the wheels Wr, the non-engagement state is established, and when the rotational power in the forward direction on the wheels Wr is input to the electric motors 2A and 2B, it is not engaged. The engaged state is established when the rotating power in the reverse direction on the wheel Wr side is input to the electric motors 2A, 2B while being engaged.

  Thus, in the rear wheel drive device 1 of the present embodiment, the one-way clutch 50 and the hydraulic brake 60 are provided in parallel on the power transmission path between the electric motors 2A, 2B and the wheels Wr. It should be noted that the hydraulic brake 60 is released, weakly engaged, or engaged by the pressure of oil supplied from the oil pump 70 according to the running state of the vehicle and the engaged / disengaged state of the one-way clutch 50. Be controlled. For example, when the vehicle 3 moves forward by powering drive of the electric motors 2A and 2B (at low vehicle speed and medium vehicle speed), the one-way clutch 50 is engaged, so that power can be transmitted but the hydraulic brake 60 is weakly engaged. Therefore, even when the input of forward rotational power from the motors 2A and 2B side temporarily decreases and the one-way clutch 50 is disengaged, the motors 2A and 2B Inability to transmit power to the wheel Wr side is suppressed. Further, when the vehicle 3 moves forward by power driving of the internal combustion engine 4 and / or the electric motor 5 (at the time of high vehicle speed), the one-way clutch 50 is disengaged and the hydraulic brake is controlled to be in a released state, so that the electric motor Over-rotation of 2A and 2B is prevented. On the other hand, when the vehicle 3 moves backward or regenerates, the one-way clutch 50 is disengaged, so that the hydraulic brake 60 is controlled to be in the engaged state, so that the rotational power in the reverse direction from the electric motors 2A and 2B is changed to the wheels Wr. Or forward rotational power on the wheel Wr side is input to the electric motors 2A and 2B.

  As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the left side case 11A and the central case 11M constitute the first case 11L of the present invention that houses the first electric motor 2A and the first planetary gear type speed reducer 12A. Further, the right side case 11B and the central case 11M constitute a second case 11R that houses the second electric motor 2B and the second planetary gear type speed reducer 12B. The first case 11L includes a left reservoir RL that stores oil as a liquid fluid used for lubrication and / or cooling of at least one of the first electric motor 2A and the power transmission path, and the second case 11R. Has a right reservoir RR that stores oil for lubrication and / or cooling of at least one of the second electric motor 2B and the power transmission path.

  As shown in FIGS. 5 to 9, the outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second cylindrical walls 43, 44 and the left and right dividing walls 45 of the central case 11 </ b> M are exposed to the outside except for forming the breather chamber 41. On the outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second cylindrical walls 43 and 44 and the left and right dividing walls 45, a pair of projecting portions 81 and 82 projecting radially from both axial end portions are formed.

  The first and second cylindrical walls 43, 44 and the left and right dividing walls 45 are formed obliquely below the outer peripheral surfaces of the first and second cylindrical walls 43, 44 and the left and right dividing walls 45, and below these outer peripheral surfaces. The liquid fluid supply device includes a wall portion 83, a bottom portion 84 extending forward from below the wall portion 83, an upper wall 85 extending forward from an intermediate portion of the outer peripheral surface, and a pair of projecting portions 81 and 82. A strainer accommodating chamber (central volume chamber) 86 for accommodating the strainer 71 is formed. The front opening of the strainer accommodating chamber 86 is closed by a lid member 72 (see FIG. 4) to which the electric oil pump 70 is attached, and the discharge port 71a of the strainer 71 is connected to the electric oil pump 70. For this reason, the oil sucked from the suction port (not shown) provided on the lower surface of the strainer 71 is removed by the strainer 71 and sent to the electric oil pump 70.

  The pair of overhanging portions 81 and 82 forming the strainer accommodating chamber 86 include through holes 87a and 87b as left middle communication passages that communicate the left reservoir RL and the strainer accommodating chamber 86, and the right reservoir RR and the strainer accommodating. A through hole 88 is formed as a right middle communication passage communicating with the chamber 86. Thereby, the left reservoir RL and the right reservoir RR communicate with each other via the first left and right communication passage FP configured by the strainer storage chamber 86.

  The lower wall portion 83 is formed with a drain passage 90 as a drainage passage, one end of which faces the strainer storage chamber 86 and penetrates in the front-rear direction. A drain port 91 for discharging is formed. The drain port 91 is closed by a drain bolt 92, and the oil is discharged to the outside by removing the drain bolt 92. The lower wall 83 is formed with a second left and right communication passage SP that crosses the drain passage 90 and penetrates in the vehicle width direction and communicates the left reservoir RL and the right reservoir RR. Accordingly, the second left and right communication path SP is formed in parallel with the first left and right communication path FP configured by the strainer accommodating chamber 86.

  In addition, the strainer accommodating chamber 86 has an outer periphery when the first and second cylindrical walls 43, 44, the outer peripheral surfaces of the left and right dividing walls 45, and the bottom 84 are continuous without the wall 83. A drain passage 90 is formed at the boundary portion between the surface and the bottom portion 84, and the second left and right communication passage SP is also formed at this boundary portion.

  As shown in FIG. 6, the bottom part SPa of the second left and right communication path SP is formed lower than the bottom part 87ba of the through hole 87b as the left middle communication path and the bottom part 88a of the through hole 88 as the right middle communication path. Has been. As a result, the oil that has not passed through the two through holes 87b and 88 can be discharged from the second left and right communication passage SP. Note that, as shown in FIGS. 6D and 7, the second left and right communication passage SP is formed to be largely cut out from the drain passage 90 to the left overhanging portion 81 at the circumferential position.

  As described above, according to the rear wheel drive device 1 of the present embodiment, the first and second left and right communication passages FP and SP that are formed in parallel and communicate with each other between the left reservoir RL and the right reservoir RR. Thus, the fluidity of the oil in the left reservoir RL and the right reservoir RR is improved, and the oil level can be leveled. Further, when an obstacle is placed innately in one of the left and right communication paths FP and SP, or when a foreign object has invaded, the other left and right communication paths FP and SP cause the left reservoir RL and the right reservoir. The fluidity of RR can be ensured.

  Further, since the second left and right communication passage SP communicates with the drain passage 90 that communicates the drain port 91 and the first left and right communication passage FP, the second left and right communication passage FP is added to the second left and right communication passage FP. Oil drainage is improved by increasing the number of paths from the passage SP to the drain port 91. In particular, since the second left and right communication passage SP has a short distance to the drain port 91, the oil drainage can be further improved.

  The first left and right communication passage FP includes a strainer storage chamber 86 in which a suction port of a strainer 71 used for supplying oil is disposed. The left storage portion RR and the strainer storage chamber 86 have through holes 87a and 87b. The right reservoir RL and the strainer storage chamber 86 communicate with each other through a through hole 88. As a result, since the suction port of the strainer 71 is disposed in the first left and right communication passage FP in which the liquid level is stable compared to the left reservoir RR and the right reservoir RL, the air flow to the strainer 71 and the oil pump 70 is reduced. Inhalation can be suppressed. In addition, since the strainer accommodating chamber 86 is defined in the first left and right communication passage FP, the intake of air can be further reduced.

  Further, since the bottom part SPa of the second left and right communication path SP is lower than the bottom part 87ba of the through hole 87b and the bottom part 88a of the through hole 88, oil that has not passed through the through holes 87b and 88 passes through the second left and right communication path SP. Can be discharged.

In addition, this invention is not limited to embodiment mentioned above, A deformation | transformation, improvement, etc. are possible suitably.
Further, the output shafts of the electric motors 2A and 2B and the axles 10A and 10B do not need to be arranged coaxially.
Further, the front wheel drive device 6 may use the electric motor 5 as a sole drive source without using the internal combustion engine 4.

  In the present embodiment, the left case 11A and the central case 11M constitute a first case 11L, and the right case 11B and the central case 11M constitute a second case 11R. However, as long as the first case 11L of the present invention accommodates the first electric motor 2A and the first planetary gear type speed reducer 12A and has the left reservoir RL, the second case 11R is the second electric motor. The structure is not limited to this as long as it accommodates 2B and the second planetary gear type speed reducer 12B and has the right reservoir RR.

  Furthermore, even if the rear wheel drive device 1 of the above embodiment does not include the first and second planetary gear speed reducers 12A and 12B, the effects of the above embodiment can be achieved. That is, the present invention includes a first motor that drives the left wheel, and a first case that has a left reservoir that houses the first motor and stores a liquid fluid that is used for lubrication and / or cooling of the first motor. A second motor that drives the right wheel; a second case that houses the second motor and has a right reservoir that stores liquid fluid used for lubrication and / or cooling of the second motor; and a left reservoir Even if it is the composition which has the 1st right-and-left communication path which connects the right storage part, and the 2nd right-and-left communication path formed in parallel with the 1st right-and-left communication path and connects the left storage part and the right storage part Good.

1 Rear wheel drive system (vehicle drive system)
2A 1st electric motor 2B 2nd electric motor 11 Case 12A 1st planetary gear type reduction gear (1st transmission)
12B Second planetary gear type speed reducer (second transmission)
21A, 21B Sun gear (second rotating element)
22A, 22B Planetary gear (double pinion)
23A, 23B Planetary carrier (carrier, third rotating element)
24A, 24B Ring gear (first rotating element)
26A, 26B 1st pinion (large diameter pinion)
27A, 27B Second pinion (small pinion)
35 Fixed plate 36 Rotating plate 49 External communication path 50 One-way clutch (one-way power transmission means)
60 Hydraulic brake (connection / disconnection means)
87a, 87b Through hole (Left middle communication path)
88 Through hole (Right middle communication passage)
FP 1st left and right communication path LWr Left rear wheel (left wheel)
RWr Right rear wheel (right wheel)
RL Left reservoir RR Right reservoir SP Second left and right communication path

Claims (8)

A first electric motor for driving the left wheel;
A first case that houses the first motor and has a left reservoir that stores a liquid fluid used for lubrication and / or cooling of the first motor;
A second electric motor for driving the right wheel;
A second case that houses the second motor and has a right reservoir that stores liquid fluid that is used for lubrication and / or cooling of the second motor;
A first left and right communication passage communicating the left reservoir and the right reservoir;
A second left and right communication path formed in parallel with the first left and right communication path and communicating the left storage part and the right storage part;
A vehicle drive device comprising: A drainage passage for communicating the drainage port for discharging the liquid fluid to the outside and the first left and right communication passage;
2. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1, wherein the second left and right communication passage communicates with the drainage passage. The first left and right communication path includes a central volume chamber in which an inlet of a liquid fluid supply device used for supplying the liquid fluid is disposed,
The left reservoir and the central volume chamber communicate with each other via a left middle communication path,
The vehicle drive device according to claim 1, wherein the right storage section and the central volume chamber communicate with each other via a right middle communication passage.   4. The vehicle drive device according to claim 3, wherein a bottom portion of the second left and right communication passage is lower than at least one of a bottom portion of the left middle communication passage and a bottom portion of the right middle communication passage. A first electric motor for driving the left wheel;
A first transmission provided on a power transmission path between the first electric motor and the left wheel;
A first case that houses the first motor and the first transmission, and has a left reservoir that stores a liquid fluid used for lubrication and / or cooling of at least one of the first motor and the power transmission path; ,
A second electric motor for driving the right wheel;
A second transmission provided on a power transmission path between the second electric motor and the right wheel;
A second case that houses the second motor and the second transmission, and has a right reservoir that stores a liquid fluid that is used for lubrication and / or cooling of at least one of the second motor and the power transmission path; ,
A first left and right communication passage communicating the left reservoir and the right reservoir;
A second left and right communication path formed in parallel with the first left and right communication path and communicating the left storage part and the right storage part;
A vehicle drive device comprising: A drainage passage for communicating the drainage port for discharging the liquid fluid to the outside and the first left and right communication passage;
The vehicle drive device according to claim 5, wherein the second left and right communication passage communicates with the drainage passage. The first left and right communication path includes a central volume chamber in which an inlet of a liquid fluid supply device used for supplying the liquid fluid is disposed,
The left reservoir and the central volume chamber communicate with each other via a left middle communication path,
The vehicle drive device according to claim 5 or 6, wherein the right storage portion and the central volume chamber communicate with each other via a right middle communication passage.   The vehicle drive device according to claim 7, wherein a bottom portion of the second left and right communication passage is lower than at least one of a bottom portion of the left middle communication passage and a bottom portion of the right middle communication passage.

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