JP7501137B2 - Vehicle power transmission device - Google Patents

Description

The present invention relates to a power transmission device for a vehicle.

An automatic vehicle transmission equipped with a hydraulic pressure supply device that supplies hydraulic pressure to friction elements is known, as described in Patent Document 1.

The vehicle automatic transmission described in Patent Document 1 includes a case, an oil pan provided at the bottom of the case, a valve body housed in the oil pan, and an oil temperature detector that detects the temperature of the oil stored in the oil pan.

The oil temperature detector is electrically connected to a connector via a wire harness, and the connector is located on the top of the case.

Patent No. 6597433

When the automatic transmission is applied to a front engine, rear drive (FR) vehicle, the automatic transmission is installed under the floor panel. In this case, the connector is located between the floor panel and the case.

This makes it difficult to see the connector from underneath the vehicle and difficult to access the connector from underneath, making it difficult to connect wiring to the connector and to replace the connector or wiring.

On the other hand, if the connector is installed at the bottom of the case, the connector can be easily seen from below and can be easily accessed from below, improving the workability of tasks such as connecting wiring to the connector.

However, if the connector is installed at the bottom of the case, there is a risk that the connector will collide with obstacles such as rocks and be subjected to excessive loads when the vehicle is traveling on rough roads.

The present invention was made in light of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a power transmission device for a vehicle that can improve the workability of operations such as connecting wiring to the connection part while protecting the connection part when the vehicle is traveling on rough roads.

The present invention is a power transmission device for a vehicle having a case member, a hydraulic control component installed in the case member, and a connection portion electrically connected to the hydraulic control component, wherein the case member has a first case, a second case installed rearward of the first case and connected to the first case, and a third case installed rearward of the second case and connected to the second case , the second case has a protrusion protruding downward from the lower end of the second case at a rear end on the third case side, the lower end of the first case and the lower end of the third case are located lower than the lower end of the second case excluding the protrusion , the rear wall surface of the first case faces the front wall surface of the third case in the fore-and-aft direction, the hydraulic control component is installed at the lower part of the first case inside the first case, and the connection portion is attached to the rear wall surface of the first case such that at least the lower end of the connection portion is located at a lower position than the second case excluding the protrusion .

In this way, the present invention can improve the workability of tasks such as connecting wiring to the connection part while protecting the connection part when the vehicle is traveling on rough roads.

FIG. 1 is a left side view of a vehicle power transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the vehicle power transmission device according to one embodiment of the present invention. FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of the center case and its periphery in FIG. 4 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IV-IV in FIG.

A vehicle power transmission device according to one embodiment of the present invention is a vehicle power transmission device having a case member, a hydraulic control component installed in the case member, and a connection part electrically connected to the hydraulic control component, the case member having a first case, a second case installed behind the first case and connected to the first case, and a third case installed behind the second case and connected to the second case, the lower end of the first case and the lower end of the third case are located lower than the lower end of the second case, the rear wall surface of the first case faces the front wall surface of the third case in the front-rear direction, the hydraulic control component is installed at the lower part of the first case inside the first case, and the connection part is attached to the rear wall surface of the first case with at least the lower end of the connection part located at a position lower than the second case.

As a result, the vehicle power transmission device according to one embodiment of the present invention can improve the ease of work such as connecting wiring to the connection part while protecting the connection part when the vehicle is traveling on rough roads.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle power transmission device according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings.
1 to 4 are diagrams showing a power transmission device for a vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention. In Fig. 1 to 4, the up, down, front, rear, left and right directions are based on the power transmission device for a vehicle installed in the vehicle, the front and rear direction of the vehicle is defined as the front-rear direction, the left and right direction of the vehicle (vehicle width direction) is defined as the left and right direction, and the up and down direction of the vehicle (vehicle height direction) is defined as the up and down direction.

First, the configuration will be described.
1 and 2, a vehicle 1 is equipped with a transmission 2, which is connected to an engine 3 and disposed vertically below a floor panel 1A of the vehicle 1. The vehicle 1 of this embodiment is a front engine, rear drive (FR) vehicle.

The transmission 2 includes a transmission case 4, which includes a front case 5, a center case 6, a rear case 7, and an extension case 8. The transmission 2 of the embodiment constitutes the vehicle power transmission device of the present invention, and the transmission case 4 constitutes the case member of the present invention.

The engine 3, which serves as an internal combustion engine, is connected to the front end of the front case 5 by bolts (not shown). The engine 3 burns fuel and converts thermal energy into mechanical energy.

The center case 6 is installed behind the front case 5 and is connected to the center case 6 by bolts 31A.

The rear case 7 is installed behind the center case 6 and is connected to the center case 6 by bolts 31B. The extension case 8 is installed behind the rear case 7 and is connected to the rear case 7 by bolts 31C.

That is, the front case 5, center case 6, rear case 7 and extension case 8 are arranged side by side in the front-to-rear direction from the front to the rear.

As shown in FIG. 4, a partition wall 6W is provided at the front end of the center case 6, and the space between the front cases 5 and the space inside the center case 6 are separated by the partition wall 6W.

The transmission case 4 houses a torque converter (not shown), a friction clutch 20 (see FIG. 4), and a speed change mechanism (not shown). The torque converter is a fluid coupling to which power is transmitted from the engine 3, and the speed change mechanism changes the speed of the power (rotational speed) transmitted from the torque converter and outputs it.

The friction clutch 20 is installed between the torque converter and the transmission mechanism in the front-rear direction, and transmits the power of the engine 3 to the transmission mechanism and also blocks the transmission of the power to the transmission mechanism.

In the transmission 2 of this embodiment, the torque converter and friction clutch 20 are housed in the front case 5, and the transmission mechanism is housed in the center case 6, rear case 7, and extension case 8.

As shown in FIG. 4, the transmission mechanism includes, for example, an input shaft 9 having multiple input gears (not shown), and a counter shaft 10 having multiple counter gears (not shown) that mesh with the input gears.

The transmission mechanism transmits the power of the engine 3 from the input shaft 9 via the input gear and counter gear to the counter shaft 10, and from the counter shaft 10 to a differential device (not shown) via an output shaft (not shown). The input shaft 9 is rotatably supported by the partition wall 6W of the center case 6.

The torque converter is provided with a lock-up clutch (not shown), which transmits engine power to the input shaft 9 without passing through a fluid when oil for engaging the lock-up clutch is supplied.

When oil for releasing the lock-up clutch is supplied, the lock-up clutch transmits the power of the engine 3 to the input shaft 9 via the fluid.

As shown in FIG. 1, an oil pan 11 is provided at the bottom of the front case 5. The oil pan 11 houses a valve body 12 and stores oil. A flange portion 11A is formed on the outer periphery of the oil pan 11 (see FIG. 2).

An oil pan fastening portion 5C is formed at the bottom of the front case 5, and the oil pan fastening portion 5C protrudes downward from the bottom wall 5c of the front case 5 so as to surround the periphery of the valve body 12. The flange portion 11A is fastened to the bottom of the oil pan fastening portion 5C by bolts 21.

The valve body 12 is fastened to the bottom wall 5c of the front case 5 by bolts (not shown).

The space surrounded by the bottom wall 5c of the front case 5, the oil pan fastening portion 5C, and the oil pan 11 constitutes a valve body chamber, and the valve body 12 is installed in the valve body chamber. In other words, the valve body 12 in this embodiment is installed in the lower part of the front case 5.

The front case 5 is formed with a breather chamber (not shown). The breather chamber is formed above the valve body chamber and is connected to the valve body chamber. A part of the valve body 12 is installed in the breather chamber.

The front case 5 and oil pan 11 of this embodiment constitute the first case of the present invention, and the center case 6 constitutes the second case of the present invention. The rear case 7 constitutes the third case of the present invention.

The valve body 12 is equipped with a regulator, a lock-up valve, an electromagnetic solenoid, etc., none of which are shown.

The valve body 12 regulates the pressure of the oil stored in the oil pan using a regulator. When the lock-up valve is driven by an electromagnetic solenoid, the valve body 12 switches to select an oil path for engaging the lock-up clutch or an oil path for releasing the lock-up clutch (neither of which is shown).

When the lock-up valve is driven by the electromagnetic solenoid and the oil passage for lock-up clutch engagement is selected, oil adjusted by the regulator is supplied to the lock-up clutch through the oil passage for lock-up clutch engagement by an oil pump (not shown). This engages the lock-up clutch, and the power of the engine 3 is transmitted to the input shaft 9 via the lock-up clutch.

When the lock-up valve is actuated by an electromagnetic solenoid and the oil passage for releasing the lock-up clutch is selected, the oil pressure adjusted by the regulator is supplied to the lock-up clutch by the oil pump through the oil passage for releasing the lock-up clutch.

As a result, the lock-up clutch is released and the power of the engine 3 is transmitted to the input shaft 9 via the fluid. The valve body 12 of this embodiment constitutes the hydraulic control component of the present invention.

The outer diameter shapes of the front case 5, center case 6, and rear case 7 are such that the front case 5 is the largest, the center case 6 is the smallest, and the rear case 7 is smaller than the front case 5 and larger than the center case 6.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, the lower end 11a of the oil pan 11 and the lower end 7a of the rear case 7 are located below the lower end 6a of the center case 6.

As shown in FIG. 3, the oil pan 11 covers the entire underside of the front case 5, and the lower end 11a of the oil pan 11 in this embodiment constitutes the lower end of the first case of the present invention. Hereinafter, the lower end 11a of the oil pan 11 will be referred to as the lower end 11a of the front case 5.

The rear wall surface 5a of the front case 5 faces the front wall surface 7b of the rear case 7 in the front-rear direction. The rear wall surface 5a of the front case 5 includes the rear wall surface 5a of the front case 5 and the rear wall surface of the oil pan 11.

A connector 13 is attached to the front case 5. The connector 13 has its lower end 13a located lower than the lower end 6a of the center case 6, and is attached to the rear wall surface 5a of the front case 5. The lower end 13a of the connector 13 constitutes the lower end of the connection part of the present invention. Note that the connector 13 may be located entirely lower than the lower end 6a of the center case 6.

The connector 13 is connected to the valve solenoid of the valve body 12 via a wire harness 16 and is electrically connected to the valve body 12 via the wire harness 16.

A connector of an external wire harness (not shown) is connected to the connector 13. The external wire harness is connected to a control circuit such as an ECM (Engine Control Module) (not shown), and the valve body 12 is controlled by the control circuit. The connector 13 in this embodiment constitutes the connection portion of the present invention.

As shown in Figures 2 and 3, the center case 6 has a bulging portion 6A. The bulging portion 6A bulges toward the connector 13 from the front wall surface 7b of the rear case 7, which faces the connector 13 in the front-rear direction.

A parking lock mechanism is housed in the rear case 7, and part of the parking lock mechanism is housed in the bulge 6A.

The center case 6 has a protruding portion 6B. The protruding portion 6B protrudes downward from the lower end 6a of the center case 6 so as to face the connector 13 in the front-to-rear direction, and the lower end 6u in the protruding direction is located below the rear lower end 5u of the oil pan 11, i.e., the rear lower end 5u of the front case 5.

As shown in FIG. 4, the connector 13 is installed in a position overlapping the center case 6 in the width direction of the vehicle 1 (hereinafter simply referred to as the vehicle width direction), and is installed between the lower end 11a of the front case 5 and the center case 6 in the vertical direction.

The center case 6 has a rib 6C. The rib 6C protrudes outward (to the left) in the vehicle width direction from the outer peripheral wall 6b of the center case 6 located above the connector 13, and covers the upper side of the connector 13.

As shown in Figures 1 and 3, a shift case 14 is attached to the top of the center case 6, and a shift and select shaft 15 is housed in the shift case 14. The shift and select shaft 15 extends in the vehicle width direction and is supported by the shift case 14 so as to be rotatable and movable in the axial direction.

The shift and select shaft 15 selectively operates a shift yoke for gear changes (not shown) and connects, for example, an input gear that can rotate relative to the input shaft 9 and establish a predetermined gear shift stage to the input shaft 9 via a shift shaft, shift fork, and synchronizer, all of which are not shown.

When an input gear capable of establishing a specified gear shift is connected to the input shaft 9, the power of the engine 3 is transmitted to the counter shaft 10 via the input gear, the synchronizer, the input shaft 9, and the counter gear.

As shown in FIG. 3, the length L1 of the shift case 14 in the front-to-rear direction is slightly shorter than the length L2 of the center case 6 in the front-to-rear direction, and the length L1 of the shift case 14 in the front-to-rear direction and the length L2 of the center case 6 in the front-to-rear direction are approximately the same. In this case, approximately the same also includes the case where the length L1 of the shift case 14 in the front-to-rear direction and the length L2 of the center case 6 in the front-to-rear direction are the same.

The shift and select shaft 15 in this embodiment is installed at the top of the center case 6 so that its axial direction extends in the vehicle width direction, so the length of the shift case 14 attached to the top of the center case 6 in the front-to-rear direction can be shortened.

As a result, the length of the center case 6 in the front-to-rear direction can be made shorter than the length of the front case 5 and the rear case 7 in the front-to-rear direction, and the outer diameter of the center case 6 can be made smaller than the outer diameters of the front case 5 and the rear case 7.

As shown in FIG. 3, the rear end 11r of the flange portion 11A of the oil pan 11 protrudes from the rear wall surface 5a of the front case 5 toward the front wall surface 7b of the rear case 7. The front-to-rear distance L3 between the front surface 6f of the protruding portion 6B and the rear end 11r of the flange portion 11A of the oil pan 11 is smaller than the front-to-rear length L1 of the shift case 14 and the front-to-rear length L2 of the center case 6. In particular, the relationship is L2>L1>L3.

Next, the effects of the transmission 2 of this embodiment will be described.
The transmission 2 of this embodiment has a transmission case 4, which has a front case 5, an oil pan 11 connected to the lower part of the front case 5, a center case 6 installed behind the front case 5 and connected to the front case 5, and a rear case 7 installed behind the center case 6 and connected to the center case 6.

The lower end 11a of the front case 5 and the lower end 7a of the rear case 7 are located below the lower end 6a of the center case 6, and the rear wall surface 5a of the front case 5 faces the front wall surface 7b of the rear case 7 in the front-to-rear direction.

In addition, the valve body 12 is installed at the bottom of the front case 5, and the connector 13 is attached to the rear wall surface 5a of the front case 5 with its lower end 13a positioned lower than the center case 6.

This makes it easy to see the connector 13 from below the vehicle 1 and to access the connector 13 from below. This improves the ease of operation when removing the oil pan 11 from the front case 5 to maintain the valve body 12 or replacing or maintaining the wire harness 16.

In addition, it is possible to improve the ease of operation when replacing the connector 13, connecting the connector of an external wire harness to the connector 13, or replacing the external wire harness.

The connector 13 can also be installed in the narrowed portion of the transmission case 4, i.e., in the space 18 surrounded by the rear wall surface 5a of the front case 5, the lower end 6a of the center case 6, and the front wall surface 7b of the rear case 7.

As a result, when the vehicle 1 is traveling on rough roads, obstacles such as rocks and flying stones on the road collide with the lower end 11a of the front case 5 and the lower end 7a of the rear case 7 before they interfere with the connector 13, thereby preventing the obstacles from interfering with the connector 13 and preventing external forces from being applied to the connector 13. This protects the connector 13.

In addition, according to the transmission 2 of this embodiment, the center case 6 has a bulging portion 6A, which bulges toward the connector 13 from the front wall surface 7b of the rear case 7 that faces the connector 13 in the front-rear direction.

As a result, as shown in FIG. 2, when the transmission 2 is viewed from below, the gap in the front-to-rear direction between the bulge 6A and the rear wall surface 5a of the front case 5 can be reduced, thereby narrowing the space 18 in which the connector 13 is installed.

This makes it possible to more effectively prevent obstacles from interfering with the connector 13, and more effectively protect the connector 13.

In addition, the bulge 6A can improve the rigidity of the front wall surface 7b of the rear case 7, and the bulge 6A can improve the rigidity of the lower end 7a of the rear case 7 that is continuous with the front wall surface 7b.

In other words, the bulge 6A can improve the rigidity of the lower end 7a of the rear case 7 on the front wall surface 7b side, which is located below the connector 13 and is therefore more likely to interfere with obstacles than the connector 13.

Therefore, when an obstacle collides with the lower end 7a of the rear case 7, deformation of the lower end 7a of the rear case 7 on the front wall surface 7b side is suppressed, and interference of the obstacle with the connector 13 can be more effectively suppressed, thereby more effectively protecting the connector 13.

In addition, according to the transmission 2 of this embodiment, the rear case 7 has a protrusion 6B that protrudes downward from the lower end 6a of the center case 6 so as to face the connector 13 in the fore-and-aft direction, and the lower end 6u in the protruding direction is located lower than the rear lower end 5u of the front case 5.

This allows obstacles to collide with the protrusion 6B before colliding with the connector 13 when the vehicle 1 is traveling on rough roads, more effectively preventing the obstacle from interfering with the connector 13 and more effectively protecting the connector 13.

In addition, the protrusion 6B can improve the rigidity of the front wall surface 7b of the rear case 7, and the rigidity of the lower end 7a of the rear case 7, which is continuous with the front wall surface 7b, can be improved by the protrusion 6B.

In other words, the protrusion 6B can improve the rigidity of the lower end 7a of the rear case 7 on the front wall surface 7b side, which is located lower than the connector 13 and is therefore more likely to interfere with obstacles than the connector 13.

Therefore, when an obstacle collides with the lower end 7a of the rear case 7, deformation of the lower end 7a of the rear case 7 on the front wall surface 7b side is suppressed, and interference of the obstacle with the connector 13 can be more effectively suppressed, thereby more effectively protecting the connector 13.

In addition, according to the transmission 2 of this embodiment, the connector 13 is installed at a position overlapping the center case 6 in the vehicle width direction, and between the lower end 11a of the front case 5 and the center case 6 in the vertical direction.

This allows the connector 13 to be installed at the center in the vehicle width direction of the space 18 surrounded by the rear wall surface 5a of the front case 5, the lower end 6a of the center case 6, and the front wall surface 7b of the rear case 7.

As a result, by colliding the obstacle with the lower end 11a of the front case 5 and the lower end 7a of the rear case 7 before the obstacle interferes with the connector 13 when the vehicle 1 is traveling on rough roads, the obstacle can be more effectively prevented from interfering with the connector 13, and the connector 13 can be more effectively protected.

In addition, because the connector 13 can be covered from above by the center case 6, when driving in the rain, water W (see FIG. 4) dripping from above the transmission case 4 below the floor panel 1A can be blocked by the center case 6 and prevented from reaching the connector 13. This prevents the connector 13 from becoming wet, and protects it from water.

In addition, according to the transmission 2 of this embodiment, the center case 6 has a rib 6C, which protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the outer peripheral wall 6b of the center case 6 located above the connector 13 and covers the upper side of the connector 13.

As a result, the connector 13 can be covered from above by the rib 6C, so that when driving in the rain, for example, water W dripping from above the transmission case 4 below the floor panel 1A can be blocked by the rib 6C (see FIG. 4), more effectively preventing the water from reaching the connector 13. This prevents the connector 13 from becoming wet, and protects the connector 13 from water.

In addition, according to the transmission 2 of this embodiment, a shift case 14 that houses a shift and select shaft 15 extending in the vehicle width direction is attached to the upper part of the center case 6, and the length L2 in the front-rear direction of the center case 6 is formed to be approximately the same length as the length L1 in the front-rear direction of the shift case 14.

This allows the length of the shift case 14 attached to the top of the center case 6 in the front-to-rear direction to be shorter, and the length of the center case 6 in the front-to-rear direction to be shorter than the length of the front case 5 and the rear case 7 in the front-to-rear direction.

This makes it possible to further reduce the gap in the front-to-rear direction between the rear wall surface 5a of the front case 5 and the front wall surface 7b of the rear case 7, thereby making it possible to further narrow the space 18 in which the connector 13 is installed.

As a result, interference with the connector 13 by obstacles can be more effectively prevented, and the connector 13 can be more effectively protected.

In addition, according to the transmission 2 of this embodiment, the rear end 11r of the flange portion 11A of the oil pan 11 protrudes from the rear wall surface 5a of the front case 5 toward the front wall surface 7b, so that a portion of the lower part of the connector 13 can be covered by the flange portion 11A.

Therefore, the flange portion 11A can prevent obstacles from colliding with the connector 13, and the connector 13 can be protected more effectively.
Although the vehicle power transmission device of this embodiment is applied to a transmission, it is not limited to a transmission.

Although an embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, it is apparent that modifications may be made by one of ordinary skill in the art without departing from the scope of the present invention. All such modifications and equivalents are intended to be included in the following claims.

1...vehicle, 2...transmission (power transmission device for vehicle), 4...transmission case (case member), 5...front case (first case), 5a...rear wall (rear wall of first case), 5u...rear lower end (rear lower end of first case), 6...center case (second case), 6A...bulge, 6a...lower end (lower end of second case), 6B...projection, 6b...outer wall (outer wall of second case), 6C...rib, 7...rear case (third case), 6u...lower end (lower end of projection in the projection direction), 7a...lower end (lower end of third case), 7b...front wall (front wall of third case), 11...oil pan (first case), 11a...lower end (lower end of first case), 12...valve body (hydraulic control part), 13...connector (connection), 13a...lower end (lower end of connection), 14...shift case, 15...shift and select shaft

Claims (6)

A power transmission device for a vehicle having a case member, a hydraulic control component installed in the case member, and a connection portion electrically connected to the hydraulic control component,
the case member includes a first case, a second case disposed behind the first case and connected to the first case, and a third case disposed behind the second case and connected to the second case,
the second case has a protruding portion protruding downward from a lower end of the second case at a rear end portion on the third case side,
a lower end of the first case and a lower end of the third case are located lower than a lower end of the second case excluding the protruding portion ,
a rear wall surface of the first case faces a front wall surface of the third case in the front-rear direction,
The hydraulic control component is installed inside the first case and at a lower part of the first case,
A power transmission device for a vehicle, characterized in that the connection portion is attached to the rear wall surface of the first case so that at least the lower end of the connection portion is positioned lower than the second case excluding the protrusion portion . the second case has a bulge,
2. The power transmission device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the bulging portion bulges toward the connecting portion from the front wall surface side of the third case that faces the connecting portion in the front-rear direction. 3. A power transmission device for a vehicle as described in claim 1 or claim 2, characterized in that the protrusion protrudes downward from the lower end of the second case so as to face the connection portion in the fore-and-aft direction, and the lower end in the protruding direction is located lower than the rear lower end of the first case. The vehicle power transmission device according to any one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the connection portion is installed at a position overlapping the second case in the width direction of the vehicle and between the lower part of the first case and the second case in the vertical direction. the second case has a rib,
5. The power transmission device for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein the rib protrudes outward in the vehicle width direction from the outer peripheral wall of the second case located above the connection portion and covers an upper portion of the connection portion. A shift case is attached to an upper portion of the second case, the shift case housing a shift and select shaft extending in a vehicle width direction,
6. The power transmission device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a length of the second case in the front-rear direction is approximately the same as a length of the shift case in the front-rear direction.

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