WO2021137279A1 - Power transmission device - Google Patents

Abstract

[Problem] To improve lubrication efficiency. [Solution] A power transmission device including a differential mechanism and a case that is for accommodating the differential mechanism and that has a guide section (73). The case has a case inner oil path (781) into which lubricating oil (OL) is introduced via the inner peripheral surface (731) of the guide section (73), which protrudes radially outward.

Description

Power transmission device

The present invention relates to a power transmission device.

Patent Document 1 discloses a power transmission device for an electric vehicle having a bevel gear type differential mechanism and a planetary gear mechanism.
This planetary gear mechanism comprises a stepped pinion gear having a large pinion gear and a small pinion gear.

Japanese Unexamined Patent Publication No. 8-240254

In the power transmission device, the components of the power transmission device are densely arranged. Various measures are required to properly lubricate each of the densely arranged components. In the power transmission device, it is desired to improve the lubrication amount efficiency.

The power transmission device in a certain aspect of the present invention is
With a differential mechanism
It has a case that houses the differential mechanism and has a guide portion, and has.
The case has an oil passage in the case into which the lubricating oil is introduced via the inner peripheral surface of the guide portion that projects outward in the axial direction.

According to the present invention, the lubrication amount efficiency can be improved.

It is a skeleton diagram of a power transmission device. It is a schematic diagram of the cross section of a power transmission device. It is an enlarged view around the planetary reduction gear of a power transmission device. It is an enlarged view around the differential mechanism of a power transmission device. It is a perspective view of the differential mechanism of a power transmission device. It is an exploded perspective view of the differential mechanism of a power transmission device. It is a figure explaining the 1st case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the 1st case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the 1st case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the 1st case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the 2nd case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the 2nd case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the 2nd case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the 2nd case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the 2nd case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the 2nd case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the 2nd case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the 2nd case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the 2nd case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the 2nd case part of a differential mechanism. It is a figure explaining the oil catch part. It is a figure explaining the oil catch part. It is a figure explaining the oil catch part. It is a figure explaining the oil catch part. It is a figure explaining the oil catch part. It is a figure explaining the oil catch part. It is a figure explaining the deformation example of the oil passage in a case. It is a figure explaining the deformation example of the oil passage in a case. It is a figure explaining the deformation example of the oil passage in a case. It is a figure explaining the deformation example of the oil passage in a case.

Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described.
FIG. 1 is a skeleton diagram illustrating a power transmission device 1 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 2 is a schematic cross-sectional view illustrating the power transmission device 1 according to the present embodiment.
FIG. 3 is an enlarged view around the planetary reduction gear 4 of the power transmission device 1.
FIG. 4 is an enlarged view of the power transmission device 1 around the differential mechanism 5.

As shown in FIG. 1, the power transmission device 1 includes a motor 2 and a planetary reduction gear 4 (reduction mechanism) that decelerates the output rotation of the motor 2 and inputs it to the differential mechanism 5. The power transmission device 1 also has a drive shaft 9 (9A, 9B) and a park lock mechanism 3.
In the power transmission device 1, the park lock mechanism 3, the planetary reduction gear 4, the differential mechanism 5, and the drive shafts 9 (9A, 9B) are arranged along the transmission path of the output rotation around the rotation axis X of the motor 2. , Are provided. The axis of the drive shaft 9 (9A, 9B) is coaxial with the rotation axis X of the motor 2.

In the power transmission device 1, after the output rotation of the motor 2 is decelerated by the planetary reduction gear 4 and input to the differential mechanism 5, the power transmission device 1 is mounted via the drive shafts 9 (9A, 9B). It is transmitted to the left and right drive wheels W and W of the vehicle.
Here, the planetary reduction gear 4 is connected to the downstream side of the motor 2. The differential mechanism 5 is connected downstream of the planetary reduction gear 4. The drive shafts 9 (9A, 9B) are connected downstream of the differential mechanism 5.

As shown in FIG. 2, the main body box 10 of the power transmission device 1 has a first box 11 that houses the motor 2 and a second box 12 that is externally inserted into the first box 11. The main body box 10 has a third box 13 assembled to the first box 11 and a fourth box 14 assembled to the second box 12.

The first box 11 has a cylindrical support wall portion 111 and a flange-shaped joint portion 112 provided at one end 111a of the support wall portion 111.
The first box 11 is provided with the support wall portion 111 oriented along the rotation axis X of the motor 2. The motor 2 is housed inside the support wall portion 111.

The joint portion 112 is provided in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis X. The joint portion 112 is formed with an outer diameter larger than that of the support wall portion 111.

The second box 12 includes a cylindrical peripheral wall portion 121, a flange-shaped joint portion 122 provided at one end 121a of the peripheral wall portion 121, and a flange-shaped joint portion 123 provided at the other end 121b of the peripheral wall portion 121. ,have.
The peripheral wall portion 121 is formed with an inner diameter that can be extrapolated to the support wall portion 111 of the first box 11.
The first box 11 and the second box 12 are assembled to each other by externally inserting the peripheral wall portion 121 of the second box 12 into the support wall portion 111 of the first box 11.

The joint portion 122 on the one end 121a side of the peripheral wall portion 121 is in contact with the joint portion 112 of the first box 11 from the rotation axis X direction. These joints 122 and 112 are connected to each other by bolts (not shown).
In the first box 11, a plurality of concave grooves 111b are provided on the outer periphery of the support wall portion 111. A plurality of recessed grooves 111b are provided at intervals in the rotation axis X direction. Each of the concave grooves 111b is provided over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X.
The peripheral wall portion 121 of the second box 12 is externally inserted into the support wall portion 111 of the first box 11. The opening of the concave groove 111b is closed by the peripheral wall portion 121. A plurality of cooling passages CP through which cooling water flows are formed between the support wall portion 111 and the peripheral wall portion 121.

On the outer periphery of the support wall portion 111 of the first box 11, ring grooves 111c and 111c are formed on both sides of the region where the concave groove 111b is provided. Seal rings 113 and 113 are fitted and attached to the ring grooves 111c and 111c.
These seal rings 113 are pressed against the inner circumference of the peripheral wall portion 121 extrapolated to the support wall portion 111 to seal the gap between the outer circumference of the support wall portion 111 and the inner circumference of the peripheral wall portion 121.

The other end 121b of the second box 12 is provided with a wall portion 120 extending toward the inner diameter side. The wall portion 120 is provided in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis X. An opening 120a through which the drive shaft 9A is inserted is provided in a region of the wall portion 120 that intersects with the rotation axis X.
In the wall portion 120, a tubular motor support portion 125 surrounding the opening 120a is provided on the surface on the motor 2 side (right side in the drawing).
The motor support portion 125 is inserted inside the coil end 253b described later. The motor support portion 125 faces the end portion 21b of the rotor core 21 with a gap in the rotation axis X direction.

The peripheral wall portion 121 of the second box 12 has a thicker radial thickness in the lower region than in the upper region in the vertical direction with respect to the mounted state of the power transmission device 1 in the vehicle.
An oil reservoir 128 is provided so as to penetrate in the rotation axis X direction in the thick region in the radial direction.
The oil reservoir 128 communicates with the axial oil passage 138 provided at the joint 132 of the third box 13 via the communication hole 112a. The communication hole 112a is provided in the joint portion 112 of the first box 11.

The third box 13 has a wall portion 130 orthogonal to the rotation axis X. A ring-shaped joint 132 is provided on the outer periphery of the wall 130 when viewed from the rotation axis X direction.
The third box 13 is located on the opposite side (right side in the drawing) of the differential mechanism 5 when viewed from the first box 11. The joint portion 132 of the third box 13 is joined to the joint portion 112 of the first box 11 from the rotation axis X direction. The third box 13 and the first box 11 are connected to each other by bolts (not shown). In this state, in the first box 11, the opening of the support wall portion 111 on the joint portion 122 side (right side in the drawing) is closed by the third box 13.

In the third box 13, an insertion hole 130a for the drive shaft 9A is provided in the central portion of the wall portion 130.
A lip seal RS is provided on the inner circumference of the insertion hole 130a. In the lip seal RS, a lip portion (not shown) is elastically brought into contact with the outer circumference of the drive shaft 9A. The gap between the inner circumference of the insertion hole 130a and the outer circumference of the drive shaft 9A is sealed by the lip seal RS.
A peripheral wall portion 131 surrounding the insertion hole 130a is provided on the surface of the wall portion 130 on the side of the first box 11 (left side in the drawing). A drive shaft 9A is supported on the inner circumference of the peripheral wall portion 131 via a bearing B4.

A motor support portion 135 is provided on the motor 2 side (left side in the drawing) when viewed from the peripheral wall portion 131. The motor support portion 135 has a tubular shape that surrounds the outer circumference of the rotating shaft X at intervals.
A cylindrical connecting wall 136 is connected to the outer circumference of the motor support portion 135. The connecting wall 136 is formed with an outer diameter larger than that of the peripheral wall portion 131 on the wall portion 130 side (right side in the drawing). The connection wall 136 is provided in a direction along the rotation axis X, and extends in a direction away from the motor 2. The connection wall 136 connects the motor support portion 135 and the wall portion 130 of the third box 13.

The motor support portion 135 is supported by the third box 13 via the connecting wall 136. One end 20a side of the motor shaft 20 penetrates the inside of the motor support portion 135 from the motor 2 side to the peripheral wall portion 131 side.
A bearing B1 is supported on the inner circumference of the motor support portion 135. The outer circumference of the motor shaft 20 is supported by the motor support portion 135 via the bearing B1.
A lip seal RS is provided at a position adjacent to the bearing B1.

In the third box 13, an oil hole 136a, which will be described later, is opened on the inner circumference of the connecting wall 136. The oil OL flows into the space (internal space Sc) surrounded by the connecting wall 136 from the oil hole 136a. The lip seal RS is provided to prevent the oil OL in the connecting wall 136 from flowing into the motor 2 side.

The fourth box 14 has a peripheral wall portion 141 surrounding the outer periphery of the planetary reduction gear 4 and the differential mechanism 5, and a flange-shaped joint portion 142 provided at the end portion of the peripheral wall portion 141 on the second box 12 side. doing.
The fourth box 14 is located on the differential mechanism 5 side (left side in the drawing) when viewed from the second box 12. The joint portion 142 of the fourth box 14 is joined to the joint portion 123 of the second box 12 from the rotation axis X direction. The fourth box 14 and the second box 12 are connected to each other by bolts (not shown).

Inside the main body box 10 of the power transmission device 1, a motor chamber Sa accommodating the motor 2 and a gear chamber Sb accommodating the planetary reduction gear 4 and the differential mechanism 5 are formed.
The motor chamber Sa is formed inside the first box 11 between the wall portion 120 of the second box 12 and the wall portion 130 of the third box 13.
The gear chamber Sb is formed on the inner diameter side of the fourth box 14 between the wall portion 120 of the second box 12 and the peripheral wall portion 141 of the fourth box 14.

A plate member 8 is provided inside the gear chamber Sb.
The plate member 8 is fixed to the fourth box 14.
The plate member 8 divides the gear chamber Sb into a first gear chamber Sb1 accommodating the planetary reduction gear 4 and the differential mechanism 5 and a second gear chamber Sb2 accommodating the park lock mechanism 3.
The second gear chamber Sb2 is located between the first gear chamber Sb1 and the motor chamber Sa in the X direction of the rotation axis.

The motor 2 has a cylindrical motor shaft 20, a cylindrical rotor core 21 extrapolated to the motor shaft 20, and a stator core 25 that surrounds the outer circumference of the rotor core 21 at intervals.

In the motor shaft 20, bearings B1 and B1 are extrapolated and fixed on both sides of the rotor core 21.
The bearing B1 located on one end 20a side (right side in the drawing) of the motor shaft 20 as viewed from the rotor core 21 is supported on the inner circumference of the motor support portion 135 of the third box 13. The bearing B1 located on the other end 20b side is supported on the inner circumference of the cylindrical motor support portion 125 of the second box 12.

The motor support portions 135 and 125 are arranged on the inner diameter side of the coil ends 253a and 253b, which will be described later, with one end 21a and the other end 21b of the rotor core 21 facing each other with a gap in the rotation axis X direction. ing.

The rotor core 21 is formed by laminating a plurality of silicon steel plates. Each of the silicon steel plates is extrapolated to the motor shaft 20 in a state where the relative rotation with the motor shaft 20 is restricted.
The silicon steel plate has a ring shape when viewed from the rotation axis X direction of the motor shaft 20. On the outer peripheral side of the silicon steel plate, magnets of N pole and S pole (not shown) are alternately provided in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X.

The stator core 25 that surrounds the outer circumference of the rotor core 21 is formed by laminating a plurality of electromagnetic steel sheets. The stator core 25 is fixed to the inner circumference of the cylindrical support wall portion 111 of the first box 11.
Each of the electrical steel sheets has a ring-shaped yoke portion 251 fixed to the inner circumference of the support wall portion 111, and a teeth portion 252 protruding from the inner circumference of the yoke portion 251 toward the rotor core 21.

In the present embodiment, the stator core 25 having a configuration in which the winding 253 is distributed and wound across a plurality of teeth portions 252 is adopted. The stator core 25 is longer in the rotation axis X direction than the rotor core 21 by the amount of the coil ends 253a and 253b protruding in the rotation axis X direction.

Note that a stator core having a configuration in which windings are centrally wound may be adopted for each of the plurality of tooth portions 252 protruding toward the rotor core 21 side.

The wall portion 120 (motor support portion 125) of the second box 12 is provided with an opening 120a. The other end 20b side of the motor shaft 20 penetrates the opening 120a to the differential mechanism 5 side (left side in the drawing) and is located in the fourth box 14.
The other end 20b of the motor shaft 20 faces the side gear 54A, which will be described later, with a gap in the rotation axis X direction inside the fourth box 14.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the motor shaft 20, a step portion 201 is provided in a region located in the fourth box 14. The step portion 201 is located in the vicinity of the motor support portion 125. A lip seal RS supported on the inner circumference of the motor support portion 125 is in contact with the outer periphery of the region between the step portion 201 and the bearing B1.
The lip seal RS separates the motor chamber Sa accommodating the motor 2 and the gear chamber Sb in the fourth box 14.

An oil OL for lubricating the planetary reduction gear 4 and the differential mechanism 5 is sealed in the inner diameter side of the fourth box 14 (see FIG. 2).
The lip seal RS is provided to prevent the inflow of oil OL into the motor chamber Sa.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the motor shaft 20, the region from the step portion 201 to the vicinity of the other end 20b is a fitting portion 202 provided with a spline on the outer periphery.
A park gear 30 and a sun gear 41 are spline-fitted on the outer circumference of the fitting portion 202.

In the park gear 30, one side surface of the park gear 30 in the X direction of the rotation axis is in contact with the step portion 201 (right side in the drawing). One end 410a of the cylindrical base 410 of the sun gear 41 is in contact with the other side surface of the park gear 30 (left side in the figure).
A nut N screwed into the other end 20b of the motor shaft 20 is in pressure contact with the other end 410b of the base portion 410 from the rotation axis X direction.
The sun gear 41 and the park gear 30 are provided so as not to rotate relative to the motor shaft 20 in a state of being sandwiched between the nut N and the step portion 201.

The sun gear 41 has a tooth portion 411 on the outer periphery of the motor shaft 20 on the other end 20b side. A large-diameter gear portion 431 of the stepped pinion gear 43 meshes with the outer periphery of the tooth portion 411.

The stepped pinion gear 43 has a large-diameter gear portion 431 that meshes with the sun gear 41 and a small-diameter gear portion 432 having a diameter smaller than that of the large-diameter gear portion 431.
The stepped pinion gear 43 is a gear component in which a large-diameter gear portion 431 and a small-diameter gear portion 432 are integrally provided side by side in the direction of the axis X1 parallel to the rotation axis X.
The large-diameter gear portion 431 is formed with an outer diameter R1 larger than the outer diameter R2 of the small-diameter gear portion 432.
The stepped pinion gear 43 is provided in a direction along the axis X1. In this state. The large-diameter gear portion 431 is located on the motor 2 side (on the right side in the drawing).

The outer circumference of the small diameter gear portion 432 meshes with the inner circumference of the ring gear 42. The ring gear 42 has a ring shape that surrounds the rotation shaft X at predetermined intervals. A plurality of engaging teeth 421 protruding outward in the radial direction are provided on the outer periphery of the ring gear 42. The plurality of engaging teeth 421 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X.
In the ring gear 42, the engaging teeth 421 provided on the outer circumference are spline-fitted to the tooth portions 146a provided on the support wall portion 146 of the fourth box 14. The ring gear 42 is restricted from rotating around the rotation axis X.

The stepped pinion gear 43 has a through hole 430 that penetrates the inner diameter side of the large-diameter gear portion 431 and the small-diameter gear portion 432 in the axis X1 direction.
The stepped pinion gear 43 is rotatably supported on the outer circumference of the pinion shaft 44 penetrating the through hole 430 via needle bearings NB and NB.

On the outer circumference of the pinion shaft 44, an intermediate spacer MS is interposed between the needle bearing NB that supports the inner circumference of the large-diameter gear portion 431 and the needle bearing NB that supports the inner circumference of the small-diameter gear portion 432.

As shown in FIG. 4, an in-shaft oil passage 440 is provided inside the pinion shaft 44. The in-shaft oil passage 440 penetrates from one end 44a of the pinion shaft 44 to the other end 44b along the axis X1.
The pinion shaft 44 is provided with oil holes 442 and 443 that communicate the in-shaft oil passage 440 and the outer circumference of the pinion shaft 44.

The oil hole 443 opens in the region where the needle bearing NB that supports the inner circumference of the large-diameter gear portion 431 is provided.
The oil hole 442 is open in the region where the needle bearing NB that supports the inner circumference of the small diameter gear portion 432 is provided.
In the pinion shaft 44, the oil holes 443 and 442 are opened in the region where the stepped pinion gear 43 is extrapolated.

Further, the pinion shaft 44 is provided with an introduction path 441 for introducing the oil OL into the in-shaft oil passage 440.
On the outer circumference of the pinion shaft 44, the introduction path 441 is open to a region located in the support hole 71a of the second case portion 7, which will be described later. The introduction path 441 communicates the in-shaft oil passage 440 with the outer circumference of the pinion shaft 44.

An oil passage 781 in the case is opened on the inner circumference of the support hole 71a. The oil passage 781 in the case communicates the outer circumference of the guide portion 78 protruding from the base portion 71 of the second case portion 7 on the rotation axis X side with the inner circumference of the support hole 71a.
In a cross-sectional view along the axis X1, the oil passage 781 in the case is inclined with respect to the axis X1. The oil passage 781 in the case is inclined toward the rotation axis X side toward the slit-shaped oil hole 710 provided in the base 71.

The oil OL scraped up by the differential case 50, which will be described later, flows into the oil passage 781 in the case. The oil OL that moves to the outer diameter side flows into the oil passage 781 inside the case due to the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the differential case 50.
The oil OL that has flowed from the oil passage 781 in the case into the introduction passage 441 flows into the in-shaft oil passage 440 of the pinion shaft 44. The oil OL that has flowed into the in-shaft oil passage 440 is discharged radially outward from the oil holes 442 and 443. The oil OL discharged from the oil holes 442 and 443 lubricates the needle bearing NB extrapolated to the pinion shaft 44.

In the pinion shaft 44, a through hole 444 is provided on the other end 44b side of the region where the introduction path 441 is provided. The through hole 444 penetrates the pinion shaft 44 in the diameter line direction.
The pinion shaft 44 is provided so that the through hole 444 and the insertion hole 782 on the second case portion 7 side, which will be described later, are in phase with each other around the axis X1. The positioning pin P inserted into the insertion hole 782 penetrates the through hole 444 of the pinion shaft 44. As a result, the pinion shaft 44 is supported on the second case portion 7 side in a state where rotation around the axis X1 is restricted.

As shown in FIG. 4, on the one end 44a side of the pinion shaft 44 in the longitudinal direction, the region protruding from the stepped pinion gear 43 is the first shaft portion 445. The first shaft portion 445 is supported by a support hole 61a provided in the first case portion 6 of the differential case 50.
On the other end 44b side of the pinion shaft 44 in the longitudinal direction, a region protruding from the stepped pinion gear 43 is the second shaft portion 446. The second shaft portion 446 is supported by a support hole 71a provided in the second case portion 7 of the differential case 50.

Here, the first shaft portion 445 means a region on the pinion shaft 44 on the one end 44a side where the stepped pinion gear 43 is not extrapolated. The second shaft portion 446 means a region on the other end 44b side of the pinion shaft 44 where the stepped pinion gear 43 is not extrapolated.
In the pinion shaft 44, the length of the second shaft portion 446 in the axis X1 direction is longer than that of the first shaft portion 445.

Hereinafter, the main configuration of the differential mechanism 5 will be described.
FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the differential mechanism 5 around the differential case 50.
FIG. 6 is an exploded perspective view of the differential mechanism 5 around the differential case 50.
As shown in FIGS. 4 to 6, the differential case 50 is a case for accommodating the differential mechanism 5. The differential case 50 is formed by assembling the first case portion 6 and the second case portion 7 in the rotation axis X direction. In the present embodiment, the first case portion 6 and the second case portion 7 of the differential case 50 have a function as a carrier for supporting the pinion shaft 44 of the planetary reduction gear 4.

As shown in FIG. 6, three pinion mate gears 52 and three pinion mate shafts 51 are provided between the first case portion 6 and the second case portion 7 of the differential case 50.
The pinion mate shafts 51 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X (see FIG. 6).
Each inner diameter end of the pinion mate shaft 51 is connected to a common connecting portion 510.

One pinion mate gear 52 is extrapolated to each of the pinion mate shaft 51. Each of the pinion mate gears 52 is in contact with the connecting portion 510 from the radial outside of the rotating shaft X.
In this state, each of the pinion mate gears 52 is rotatably supported by the pinion mate shaft 51.

As shown in FIG. 4, a spherical washer 53 is extrapolated to the pinion mate shaft 51. The spherical washer 53 is in contact with the spherical outer circumference of the pinion mate gear 52.

In the differential case 50, the side gear 54A is located on one side of the connecting portion 510 in the rotation axis X direction, and the side gear 54B is located on the other side. The side gear 54A is rotatably supported by the first case portion 6. The side gear 54B is rotatably supported by the second case portion 7.
The side gear 54A meshes with three pinion mate gears 52 from one side in the rotation axis X direction. The side gear 54B meshes with the three pinion mate gears 52 from the other side in the rotation axis X direction.

7 to 10 are views for explaining the first case portion 6.
FIG. 7 is a perspective view of the first case portion 6 as viewed from the second case portion 7 side.
FIG. 8 is a plan view of the first case portion 6 as viewed from the second case portion 7 side.
FIG. 9 is a schematic view of a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 9 shows the arrangement of the pinion mate shaft 51 and the pinion mate gear 52 with virtual lines.
FIG. 10 is a schematic view of a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. In FIG. 10, the arrangement of the side gear 54A, the stepped pinion gear 43, and the drive shaft 9A is shown by a virtual line while omitting the illustration of the connecting beam 62 on the back side of the paper.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, the first case portion 6 has a ring-shaped base portion 61. The base portion 61 is a plate-shaped member having a thickness W61 in the rotation axis X direction.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, an opening 60 is provided in the central portion of the base portion 61. A tubular wall portion 611 surrounding the opening 60 is provided on the surface of the base portion 61 opposite to the second case portion 7 (on the right side in the drawing). The outer circumference of the tubular wall portion 611 is supported by a plate member 8 via a bearing B3 (see FIG. 3).

Three connecting beams 62 extending to the second case portion 7 side are provided on the surface of the base portion 61 on the second case portion 7 side (left side in the drawing).
The connecting beams 62 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X (see FIGS. 7 and 8).
The connecting beam 62 has a base portion 63 orthogonal to the base portion 61 and a connecting portion 64 wider than the base portion 63.

As shown in FIG. 9, the tip surface 64a of the connecting portion 64 is a flat surface orthogonal to the rotation axis X, and the tip surface 64a is provided with a support groove 65 for supporting the pinion mate shaft 51. ..

As shown in FIG. 8, the support groove 65 is formed in a straight line along the radius line L of the ring-shaped base portion 61 when viewed from the rotation axis X direction. The support groove 65 crosses the central portion of the connecting portion 64 in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X from the inner diameter side to the outer diameter side.
As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the support groove 65 has a semicircular shape along the outer diameter of the pinion mate shaft 51. The support groove 65 is formed to a depth that can accommodate half of the columnar pinion mate shaft 51. That is, the support groove 65 is formed at a depth corresponding to half (= Da / 2) of the diameter Da of the pinion mate shaft 51.

An arc portion 641 is formed on the inner diameter side (rotation shaft X side) of the connecting portion 64 in a shape along the outer circumference of the pinion mate gear 52.
In the arc portion 641, the outer circumference of the pinion mate gear 52 is supported via the spherical washer 53.
In the arc portion 641, an oil groove 642 is provided in a direction along the radius line L described above. The oil groove 642 is provided in a range from the support groove 65 of the pinion mate shaft 51 to the gear support portion 66 fixed to the inner circumference of the connecting portion 64.

The gear support portion 66 is connected to a boundary portion between the base portion 63 and the connecting portion 64. The gear support portion 66 is provided in a direction orthogonal to the rotation axis X. The gear support portion 66 has a through hole 660 in the central portion.
As shown in FIG. 8, the outer circumference of the gear support portion 66 is connected to the inner circumference of the three connecting portions 64. In this state, the center of the through hole 660 is located on the rotation axis X.

As shown in FIGS. 9 and 10, the gear support portion 66 is provided with a recess 661 surrounding the through hole 660 on the surface opposite to the base portion 61 (left side in the drawing). A ring-shaped washer 55 that supports the back surface of the side gear 54A is housed in the recess 661.
A cylindrical wall portion 541 is provided on the back surface of the side gear 54A. The washer 55 is extrapolated to the cylinder wall portion 541.

Three oil grooves 662 are provided on the surface of the gear support portion 66 on the recess 661 side when viewed from the rotation axis X direction. The oil grooves 662 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X.
The oil groove 662 extends from the inner circumference to the outer circumference of the gear support portion 66 along the radius line L described above. The oil groove 662 communicates with the oil groove 642 on the arc portion 641 side described above.

As shown in FIGS. 7 and 8, a support hole 61a of the pinion shaft 44 is opened in the base portion 61. The support holes 61a are open in the region between the connecting beams 62, 62 arranged at intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X.
The base portion 61 is provided with a boss portion 616 that surrounds the support hole 61a. A washer Wc (see FIG. 10) extrapolated to the pinion shaft 44 comes into contact with the boss portion 616 from the rotation axis X direction.

In the base portion 61, an oil groove 617 is provided in a range from the central opening 60 to the boss portion 616.
As shown in FIG. 8, the oil groove 617 is formed in a tapered shape in which the width in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X becomes narrower as it approaches the boss portion 616. The oil groove 617 is in contact with the oil groove 618 provided in the boss portion 616.

In the connecting portion 64, bolt holes 67 and 67 are provided on both sides of the support groove 65.
A connecting portion 74 on the side of the second case portion 7 is joined to the connecting portion 64 of the first case portion 6 from the rotation axis X direction. In the first case portion 6 and the second case portion 7, bolts B penetrating the connecting portion 74 on the second case portion 7 side are screwed into the bolt holes 67 and 67 and joined to each other.

11 to 16 are views for explaining the second case portion 7.
FIG. 11 is a perspective view of the second case portion 7 as viewed from the first case portion 6 side.
FIG. 12 is a plan view of the second case portion 7 as viewed from the first case portion 6 side.
FIG. 13 is a schematic view of a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. FIG. 13 shows the arrangement of the pinion mate shaft 51 and the pinion mate gear 52 by a virtual line.
FIG. 14 is a schematic view of a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. In FIG. 14, the arrangement of the side gear 54B, the stepped pinion gear 43, and the drive shaft 9B is shown by a virtual line while omitting the illustration of the connecting portion 74 on the back side of the paper.
FIG. 15 is a perspective view of the second case portion 7 as viewed from the side opposite to the first case portion 6.
FIG. 16 is a plan view of the second case portion 7 as viewed from the side opposite to the first case portion 6.
FIG. 17 is a schematic view of a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG.
FIG. 18 is a schematic view of a cross section taken along the line BB in FIG.
FIG. 19 is a schematic view of a CC cross section in FIG.
FIG. 20 is a diagram illustrating the operation of the rib 711.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the second case portion 7 has a ring-shaped base portion 71.
The base portion 71 is a plate-shaped member having a thickness W71 in the rotation axis X direction.
A through hole 70 that penetrates the base portion 71 in the thickness direction is provided in the central portion of the base portion 71.
On the surface of the base portion 71 opposite to the first case portion 6 (on the left side in the drawing), a cylindrical wall portion 72 surrounding the through hole 70 and a cylindrical guide portion 73 surrounding the tubular wall portion 72 at predetermined intervals are provided. It is provided.

As shown in FIG. 17, a step portion 722 is provided on the outer periphery of the cylinder wall portion 72. The outer diameter of the tubular wall portion 72 is larger on the base portion 71 side than on the tip end side. The height h72 from the base portion 71 to the step portion 722 is higher than the height h73 from the base portion 71 to the guide portion 73 (h73 <h72).
At the tip of the guide portion 73, a protruding portion 73a protruding toward the rotation shaft X side is provided. The protruding portion 73a is provided over the entire circumference in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X.

As shown in FIG. 16, three support holes 71a of the pinion shaft 44 are opened on the outer diameter side of the guide portion 73.
The support holes 71a are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X.
On the inner diameter side of the guide portion 73, three oil holes 710 that penetrate the base portion 71 in the thickness direction are provided. The oil hole 710 opens toward the outside of the differential case 50 in the X direction of the rotation axis.
The oil hole 710 is formed in an arc shape along the inner circumference of the guide portion 73 when viewed from the rotation axis X direction. The oil holes 710 are formed in a predetermined angle range in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X.
As shown in FIG. 13, the outer peripheral edge of the oil hole 710 is flush with the inner peripheral surface 731 of the guide portion 73.

As shown in FIG. 16, in the second case portion 7, the oil holes 710 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X. Each of the oil holes 710 is provided across the inner diameter side of the support hole 71a in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X.

A rib 711 protruding toward the front side of the paper surface is provided between the oil holes 710 and 710 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X. The rib 711 extends linearly in the radial direction of the rotation axis X. The rib 711 is provided so as to straddle the guide portion 73 on the outer diameter side and the cylinder wall portion 72 on the inner diameter side.
As shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, recessed grooves 711a and 711b are formed on one side and the other side of the rib 711 in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X.
These concave grooves 711a and 711b are formed in a range from the cylinder wall portion 72 on the inner diameter side to the protruding portion 73a of the guide portion 73.

As shown in FIG. 16, the three ribs 711 are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X. The three ribs 711 are provided so as to be out of phase with respect to the oil hole 710 in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X by approximately 45 degrees.

On the outer diameter side of the guide portion 73, bolt accommodating portions 76, 76 recessed on the inner side of the paper surface are provided between the support holes 71a, 71a adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X. These bolt accommodating portions 76, 76 are provided in a symmetrical positional relationship with a radius line L in between. The bolt accommodating portion 76 is open to the outer circumference 71c of the base portion 71.
A bolt insertion hole 77 is opened inside the bolt accommodating portion 76. The insertion hole 77 penetrates the base 71 in the thickness direction (rotation axis X direction).

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, three connecting portions 74 projecting to the first case portion 6 side are provided on the surface of the base portion 71 on the first case portion 6 side (right side in the drawing).
The connecting portions 74 are provided at equal intervals in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X. The connecting portion 74 is formed with a width W7 in the same circumferential direction as the connecting portion 64 on the first case portion 6 side.

As shown in FIG. 13, the tip surface 74a of the connecting portion 74 is a flat surface orthogonal to the rotation axis X. The tip surface 74a is provided with a support groove 75 for supporting the pinion mate shaft 51.

As shown in FIG. 12, the support groove 75 is formed linearly along the radius line L of the base 71 when viewed from the rotation axis X direction. The support groove 75 is formed so as to cross the connecting portion 74 from the inner diameter side to the outer diameter side.
As shown in FIG. 5, the support groove 75 has a semicircular shape along the outer diameter of the pinion mate shaft 51.
As shown in FIG. 13, the support groove 75 is formed at a depth capable of accommodating half of the columnar pinion mate shaft 51. That is, the support groove 75 is formed at a depth corresponding to half (= Da / 2) of the diameter Da of the pinion mate shaft 51.

An arc portion 741 along the outer circumference of the pinion mate gear 52 is provided on the inner diameter side (rotation shaft X side) of the connecting portion 74.
In the arc portion 741, the outer circumference of the pinion mate gear 52 is supported via the spherical washer 53 (see FIGS. 13 and 14).
In the arc portion 741, the oil groove 742 is provided in the direction along the radius line L described above. The oil groove 742 is provided in a range from the support groove 75 of the pinion mate shaft 51 to the base portion 71 located on the inner circumference of the connecting portion 74.

The oil groove 742 communicates with the oil groove 712 provided on the surface 71b of the base 71. The oil groove 712 is provided along the radius line L when viewed from the rotation axis X direction, and is formed up to the through hole 70 provided in the base portion 71.
A ring-shaped washer 55 that supports the back surface of the side gear 54B is placed on the surface 71b of the base portion 71. A cylindrical wall portion 540 is provided on the back surface of the side gear 54B. The washer 55 is extrapolated to the cylinder wall portion 540.

An oil groove 721 is formed at a position intersecting the oil groove 712 on the inner circumference of the tubular wall portion 72 surrounding the through hole 70. On the inner circumference of the cylinder wall portion 72, an oil groove 721 is provided along the rotation axis X over the entire length of the cylinder wall portion 72 in the rotation axis X direction.

As shown in FIGS. 11 and 12, in the base portion 71 of the second case portion 7, a guide portion 78 is provided between the connecting portions 74 and 74 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X. The guide portion 78 projects toward the first case portion 6 side (front side of the paper surface).
The guide portion 78 has a tubular shape when viewed from the rotation axis X direction. The guide portion 78 surrounds the support hole 71a provided in the base portion 71. The outer peripheral portion of the guide portion 78 is cut along the outer peripheral portion 71c of the base portion 71.

As shown in FIGS. 13 and 14, the pinion shaft 44 is inserted into the support hole 71a of the guide portion 78 from the side of the first case portion 6 in the cross-sectional view along the axis X1. The pinion shaft 44 is positioned in a state where rotation around the axis X1 is restricted by the positioning pin P.
In this state, the small-diameter gear portion 432 of the stepped pinion gear 43 extrapolated to the pinion shaft 44 is in contact with the guide portion 78 from the axis X1 direction with the washer Wc sandwiched between them.

As shown in FIG. 4, in the differential case 50, the bearing B2 is extrapolated to the cylinder wall portion 72 of the second case portion 7. The bearing B2 has an inner race in contact with a step portion 722 provided on the outer periphery of the cylinder wall portion 72 from the rotation axis X direction. The bearing B2 extrapolated to the cylinder wall portion 72 is held by the support portion 145 of the fourth box 14. The tubular wall portion 72 of the differential case 50 is rotatably supported by the fourth box 14 via the bearing B2.

A drive shaft 9B penetrating the opening 145a of the fourth box 14 is inserted into the support portion 145 from the rotation axis X direction. The drive shaft 9B is rotatably supported by the support portion 145.
A lip seal RS is fixed to the inner circumference of the opening 145a. A lip portion (not shown) of the lip seal RS is elastically in contact with the outer circumference of the cylinder wall portion 540 of the side gear 54B extrapolated to the drive shaft 9B.
As a result, the gap between the outer circumference of the cylinder wall portion 540 of the side gear 54B and the inner circumference of the opening 145a is sealed.

The first case portion 6 of the differential case 50 is supported by the plate member 8 via the bearing B3 extrapolated to the cylinder wall portion 611 (see FIG. 2).

Inside the first case portion 6, a drive shaft 9A penetrating the insertion hole 130a of the third box 13 is inserted from the direction of the rotation axis.
The drive shaft 9A is provided across the motor shaft 20 of the motor 2 and the inner diameter side of the sun gear 41 of the planetary reduction gear 4 in the rotation axis X direction.

As shown in FIG. 4, inside the differential case 50, side gears 54A and 54B are spline-fitted on the outer periphery of the tip of the drive shaft 9 (9A, 9B). The side gears 54A and 54B and the drive shafts 9 (9A and 9B) are integrally rotatably connected around the rotation shaft X.

In this state, the side gears 54A and 54B are arranged to face each other at intervals in the rotation axis X direction. The connecting portion 510 of the pinion mate shaft 51 is located between the side gears 54A and 54B.
In this embodiment, a total of three pinion mate shafts 51 extend radially outward from the connecting portion 510. A pinion mate gear 52 is supported on each of the pinion mate shafts 51. The pinion mate gear 52 is assembled to the side gear 54A located on one side in the rotation axis X direction and the side gear 54B located on the other side in a state where the teeth are meshed with each other.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lubricating oil OL is stored inside the fourth box 14. The lower side of the differential case 50 is located in the stored oil OL.
In the present embodiment, when the connecting beam 62 is located on the lowermost side, the oil OL is stored up to the height at which the connecting beam 62 is located in the oil OL.
The stored oil OL is scraped up by the differential case 50 that rotates around the rotation axis X when the output rotation of the motor 2 is transmitted.

21 to 26 are views for explaining the oil catch portion 15.
FIG. 21 is a plan view of the fourth box 14 as viewed from the third box 13 side.
FIG. 22 is a perspective view of the oil catch portion 15 shown in FIG. 21 as viewed from diagonally above.
FIG. 23 is a plan view of the fourth box 14 as viewed from the third box 13 side, and is a view showing a state in which the differential case 50 is arranged.
FIG. 24 is a perspective view of the oil catch portion 15 shown in FIG. 23 as viewed from diagonally above.
FIG. 25 is a schematic view of a cross section taken along the line AA in FIG. 23.
FIG. 26 is a schematic view illustrating the positional relationship between the oil catch portion 15 and the differential case 50 (first case portion 6, second case portion 7) when the power transmission device 1 is viewed from above.
In addition, in FIG. 21 and FIG. 23, hatching is added in order to clarify the positions of the joint portion 142 of the fourth box 14 and the support wall portion 146.

As shown in FIG. 21, the fourth box 14 when viewed from the rotation axis X direction is provided with support wall portions 146 that surround the central opening 145a at predetermined intervals. The inside (rotation axis X) side of the support wall portion 146 is the accommodating portion 140 of the differential case 50.
A space for the oil catch portion 15 and a space for the breather chamber 16 are formed in the upper part of the fourth box 14.

In the support wall portion 146 of the fourth box 14, a communication port 147 for communicating the oil catch portion 15 and the accommodating portion 140 of the differential case 50 is provided in the region intersecting the vertical line VL.

The oil catch portion 15 and the breather chamber 16 are located on one side (left side in the figure) and the other side (right side in the figure) of the vertical line VL orthogonal to the rotation axis X, respectively.
The oil catch portion 15 is arranged at a position offset from the vertical line VL passing through the rotation center (rotation axis X) of the differential case 50. As shown in FIG. 26, when the oil catch portion 15 is viewed from above, the oil catch portion 15 is arranged at a position offset from directly above the differential case 50.
Here, the vertical line VL is a vertical line VL based on the installation state of the power transmission device 1 in the vehicle. The vertical line VL when viewed from the rotation axis X direction is orthogonal to the rotation axis X.

As shown in FIG. 22, the oil catch portion 15 is formed so as to extend to the back side of the paper surface from the support wall portion 146. A support base portion 151 is provided on the lower edge of the oil catch portion 15 so as to project toward the front side of the paper surface. The support base portion 151 is provided on the front side of the paper surface of the support wall portion 146 and in the range from the joint portion 142 of the fourth box 14 to the back side of the paper surface.

As shown in FIG. 21, a communication port 147 is formed by cutting out a part of the support wall portion 146 on the vertical line VL side (right side in the drawing) of the oil catch portion 15 when viewed from the rotation axis X direction. Has been done. The communication port 147 communicates the oil catch portion 15 with the accommodating portion 140 of the differential case 50.
The communication port 147 is provided in a range that crosses the vertical line VL from the breather chamber 16 side (right side in the figure) to the oil catch portion 15 side (left side in the figure) when viewed from the rotation axis X direction.

As shown in FIG. 23, in the present embodiment, when the vehicle equipped with the power transmission device 1 is traveling forward, the differential case 50 rotates in the counterclockwise direction CCW around the rotation axis X when viewed from the third box 13 side. ..
Therefore, the oil catch portion 15 is located on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the differential case 50. The width of the communication port 147 in the circumferential direction is wider on the left side of the vertical line VL than on the right side. The left side of the vertical line VL is the downstream side in the rotation direction of the differential case 50, and the right side is the upstream side. As a result, most of the oil OL scraped up by the differential case 50 that rotates around the rotation axis X can flow into the oil catch portion 15.

Further, as shown in FIG. 26, the outer peripheral position of the rotary orbit of the second shaft portion 446 and the outer peripheral position of the rotary orbit of the large-diameter gear portion 431 are offset in the radial direction of the rotary shaft X. The outer peripheral position of the rotary orbit of the second shaft portion 446 is located on the inner diameter side of the outer peripheral position of the rotary orbit of the large-diameter gear portion 431.
Therefore, there is a space margin on the outer diameter side of the second shaft portion 446. By using this space and providing the oil catch portion 15, the space inside the main body box 10 can be effectively used.

The second shaft portion 446 projects toward the back side of the small diameter gear portion 432 when viewed from the motor 2. The peripheral member of the second shaft portion 446 (for example, the guide portion 73 of the differential case 50 that supports the second shaft portion 446) is located close to the oil catch portion 15.
Therefore, the oil OL (lubricating oil) can be smoothly supplied from the peripheral member to the oil catch portion 15.

Further, as shown in FIG. 26, between the second shaft portion 446 and the rotating shaft X, the guide portion 73 and the oil hole 710 are located on the inner diameter side (rotating shaft X side) of the second shaft portion 446. .. Therefore, the drive shaft 9B is located on the inner diameter side (inner circumference) of the second shaft portion 446.
Further, the drive shaft 9A is located on the inner diameter side (inner circumference) of the first shaft portion 445 and the stepped pinion gear 43.

As shown in FIG. 22, an end portion on the outer diameter side of the oil passage 151a is opened on the inner side of the support base portion 151. The oil passage 151a extends in the fourth box 14 toward the inner diameter side. The inner diameter side end of the oil passage 151a is open to the inner circumference of the support portion 145.
As shown in FIG. 2, the end of the oil passage 151a on the inner diameter side of the support portion 145 is open between the lip seal RS and the bearing B2.

As shown in FIGS. 24 and 26, the oil guide 152 is mounted on the support base portion 151.
The oil guide 152 has a catch portion 153 and a guide portion 154 extending from the catch portion 153 to the first box 11 side (the front side of the paper surface in FIG. 24).

As shown in FIG. 26, the support base portion 151 is stepped on the radial side of the rotation axis X at a position overlapping a part of the differential case 50 (first case portion 6, second case portion 7) when viewed from above. It is provided so as to avoid interference with the attached pinion gear 43 (large diameter gear portion 431).
The catch portion 153 is provided at a position overlapping the second shaft portion 446 of the pinion shaft 44 when viewed from the radial direction of the rotation shaft X. Further, the guide portion 154 is provided at a position where it overlaps the first shaft portion 445 of the pinion shaft 44 and the large diameter gear portion 431.

Therefore, when the differential case 50 rotates around the rotation axis X, the oil OL scraped up by the differential case 50 moves toward the catch portion 153 and the guide portion 154 side.

As shown in FIG. 24, a wall portion 153a extending in a direction away from the support base portion 151 (upward) is provided on the outer peripheral edge of the catch portion 153. A part of the oil OL scraped up by the differential case 50 that rotates around the rotation axis X by the wall portion 153a is stored in the oil guide 152.

On the back side of the catch portion 153 (the back side of the paper surface in FIG. 24), a notch portion 155 is provided in the wall portion 153a.
The cutout portion 155 is provided in a region facing the oil passage 151a. A part of the oil OL stored in the catch portion 153 is discharged from the notch portion 155 toward the oil passage 151a.

The guide portion 154 is inclined downward as the distance from the catch portion 153 increases. Wall portions 154a and 154a are provided on both sides of the guide portion 154 in the width direction. The wall portions 154a and 154a are provided over the entire length of the guide portion 154 in the longitudinal direction. The wall portions 154a and 154a are connected to the wall portion 153a surrounding the outer circumference of the catch portion 153.
A part of the oil OL stored in the catch portion 153 is also discharged to the guide portion 154 side.

As shown in FIGS. 25 and 26, the guide portion 154 extends toward the second box 12 at a position where it avoids interference with the differential case 50. The tip 154b of the guide portion 154 faces the through hole 126a provided in the wall portion 120 of the second box 12 with a gap in the rotation axis X direction.
As shown in FIG. 25, a boss portion 126 surrounding the through hole 126a is provided on the outer periphery of the wall portion 120. One end of the pipe 127 is fitted into the boss portion 126 from the rotation axis X direction.

The pipe 127 passes through the outside of the second box 12 and extends to the third box 13. The other end of the pipe 127 communicates with an oil hole 136a (see FIG. 2) provided in the cylindrical connection wall 136 of the third box.

A part of the oil OL that has been scraped up by the differential case 50 that rotates around the rotation axis X and has reached the oil catch portion 15 is supplied to the internal space Sc of the connection wall 136 through the guide portion 154 and the pipe 127. ..

The third box 13 is provided with a radial oil passage 137 communicating with the internal space Sc.
The radial oil passage 137 extends radially downward from the internal space Sc. The radial oil passage 137 communicates with the axial oil passage 138 provided in the joint portion 132.

The axial oil passage 138 communicates with the oil reservoir 128 provided at the lower part of the second box 12 via the communication hole 112a provided at the joint portion 112 of the first box 11.
The oil sump portion 128 penetrates the inside of the peripheral wall portion 121 in the rotation axis X direction. The oil sump 128 is in contact with the second gear chamber Sb2 provided in the fourth box 14.

The operation of the power transmission device 1 having such a configuration will be described.
As shown in FIG. 1, in the power transmission device 1, the planetary reduction gear 4, the differential mechanism 5, and the drive shafts 9 (9A, 9B) are provided along the transmission path of the output rotation of the motor 2. ing.

As shown in FIG. 2, when the rotor core 21 rotates about the rotation axis X by driving the motor 2, the rotation is input to the sun gear 41 of the planetary reduction gear 4 via the motor shaft 20 that rotates integrally with the rotor core 21. To.

As shown in FIG. 3, in the planetary reduction gear 4, the sun gear 41 is an input unit for the output rotation of the motor 2. The differential case 50 that supports the stepped pinion gear 43 serves as an output unit for the input rotation.

When the sun gear 41 rotates around the rotation axis X by the input rotation, the stepped pinion gear 43 (large diameter gear portion 431, small diameter gear portion 432) rotates around the axis X1 by the rotation input from the sun gear 41 side. To do.
Here, the small-diameter gear portion 432 of the stepped pinion gear 43 meshes with the ring gear 42 fixed to the inner circumference of the fourth box 14. Therefore, the stepped pinion gear 43 revolves around the rotation axis X while rotating around the axis X1.

Here, the outer diameter R2 of the small-diameter gear portion 432 of the stepped pinion gear 43 is smaller than the outer diameter R1 of the large-diameter gear portion 431 (see FIG. 3).
As a result, the differential case 50 (first case portion 6, second case portion 7) that supports the stepped pinion gear 43 rotates around the rotation axis X at a rotation speed lower than the rotation input from the motor 2 side.
Therefore, the rotation input to the sun gear 41 of the planetary reduction gear 4 is greatly reduced by the stepped pinion gear 43. The reduced rotation is output to the differential case 50 (differential mechanism 5).

Then, when the differential case 50 rotates around the rotation axis X by the input rotation, the drive shafts 9 (9A, 9B) that mesh with the pinion mate gear 52 rotate around the rotation axis X in the differential case 50. As a result, the left and right drive wheels W and W (see FIG. 1) of the vehicle on which the power transmission device 1 is mounted are rotated by the transmitted rotational driving force.

As shown in FIG. 2, the lubricating oil OL is stored inside the fourth box 14. Therefore, the stored oil OL is scraped up by the differential case 50 that rotates around the rotation axis X when the output rotation of the motor 2 is transmitted.
Due to the oil OL scraped up, the meshing portion between the sun gear 41 and the large diameter gear portion 431, the meshing portion between the small diameter gear portion 432 and the ring gear 42, and the meshing portion between the pinion mate gear 52 and the side gears 54A and 54B. Is lubricated.

As shown in FIG. 23, the differential case 50 rotates in the counterclockwise direction CCW around the rotation axis X when viewed from the third box 13 side.
An oil catch portion 15 is provided on the upper portion of the fourth box 14. The oil catch portion 15 is located on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the differential case 50. Most of the oil OL scraped up by the differential case 50 flows into the oil catch portion 15.

As shown in FIG. 26, an oil guide 152 mounted on the support base portion 151 is provided in the oil catch portion 15.
The guide portion 154 and the catch portion 153 of the oil guide 152 are located on the radial outside of the first case portion 6 of the differential case 50 and on the radial outside of the second case portion 7 of the differential case 50.
Therefore, most of the oil that has been scraped up by the differential case 50 and has flowed into the oil catch portion 15 is captured by the oil guide 152.
A part of the oil OL captured by the oil guide 152 is discharged from the notch 155 provided in the wall portion 153a. The discharged oil OL flows into the oil passage 151a having one end opened on the upper surface of the support base portion 151.

The end of the oil passage 151a on the inner diameter side is open to the inner circumference of the support portion 145 (see FIG. 2). Therefore, the oil OL that has flowed into the oil passage 151a is discharged into the gap Rx between the inner circumference of the support portion 145 of the fourth box 14 and the cylinder wall portion 540 of the side gear 54B.

A part of the oil OL discharged into the gap Rx lubricates the bearing B2 supported by the support portion 145. The oil OL that lubricates the bearing B2 moves on the outside of the differential case 50 (bearing B2 side) to the outer diameter side by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the differential case 50 (see FIGS. 17 and 18).
On the outer diameter side of the differential case 50, a guide portion 73 forming an annular shape when viewed from the rotation axis X direction is provided. Therefore, the oil OL that has moved to the outer diameter side is captured by the guide portion 73.
As shown in FIG. 13, in the base portion 71 of the second case portion 7, an oil hole 710 is provided along the inner peripheral surface 731 of the guide portion 73. The guide portion 73 prevents the oil OL from further moving to the outer diameter side. The oil OL whose movement is hindered passes through the oil hole 710 that opens on the inner circumference of the guide portion 73 toward the first case portion 6 side.

Here, on the surface of the second case portion 7 on the bearing B2 side, ribs 711 are provided between the oil holes 710 and 710 adjacent to each other in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X (see FIG. 16).
As shown in FIGS. 16 and 20, the differential case 50 (second case portion 7) rotates clockwise in the drawing when the vehicle equipped with the power transmission device 1 travels forward.

The oil OL moves to the outer diameter side by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the differential case 50. The oil OL that did not directly flow into the oil hole 710 moves to the downstream side in the rotation direction of the differential case 50 while moving to the outer diameter side as shown by the broken line arrow in FIG. 20.
The rib 711 is located on the downstream side in the rotation direction of the differential case 50. The flow of oil OL that has moved to the downstream side is dammed by the rib 711.

The area of the oil OL dammed and retained by the rib 711 expands toward the upstream side in the rotation direction of the differential case 50. The oil OL that has spread toward the upstream side reaches the oil hole 710 and flows into the oil hole 710.

In the present embodiment, as shown in FIG. 19, recessed grooves 711a and 711b are provided on the side surface of the rib 711. Therefore, most of the oil OL that has reached the rib 711 stays at the rib 711 without getting over the rib 711.
The concave groove 711a is a portion that contributes to the retention of oil OL when the vehicle equipped with the power transmission device 1 travels forward. The concave groove 711b is a portion that contributes to the retention of oil OL when the vehicle equipped with the power transmission device 1 travels backward.

Further, as shown in FIGS. 19 and 20, the guide portion 73 is provided with a protruding portion 73a. The inner peripheral surface 731 of the protruding portion 73a between the second case portion 7 and the base portion 71 functions as an oil groove.
The oil OL reaches the guide portion 73 by the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the differential case 50. Most of the oil OL that has reached the guide portion 73 flows into the oil hole 710 that opens in the rotation axis X direction on the side of the inner peripheral surface 731 without getting over the guide portion 73.

As shown in FIG. 4, an oil passage 781 in the case is opened on the inner circumference of the guide portion 78 on the side of the first case portion 6 of the oil hole 710. A part of the oil OL that has passed through the oil hole 710 flows into the oil passage 781 in the case due to the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the differential case.
The oil OL that has flowed into the oil passage 781 in the case flows into the in-shaft oil passage 440 of the pinion shaft 44 through the introduction passage 441. The oil OL that has flowed into the in-shaft oil passage 440 is discharged radially outward from the oil holes 442 and 443. The discharged oil OL lubricates the needle bearing NB extrapolated to the pinion shaft 44.

Here, as shown in FIG. 13, the oil passage 781 in the case is inclined with respect to the axis X1 in a direction in which the separation distance Dc from the oil hole 710 becomes shorter toward the rotation axis X side (inner diameter side). ing.
Therefore, most of the oil OL that has flowed into the inside of the differential case 50 through the oil hole 710 flows into the oil passage 781 in the case before being diffused by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the differential case 50.

When the separation distance Dc between the opening 781a on the rotation axis X side of the oil passage 781 in the case and the oil hole 710 becomes large, the amount of oil OL diffused by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the differential case 50 before reaching the opening 781a. Will increase. As a result, the total amount of oil OL flowing into the oil passage 781 in the case is reduced.

Further, among the oil OLs that have passed through the oil holes 710 to the first case portion 6 side, most of the oil OLs that have not flowed into the oil passage 781 in the case are pinion mate gears located on the inner diameter side of the stepped pinion gear 43. Lubricate the meshing portion of the 52, the pinion mate gear 52, and the side gears 54A and 54B.

Further, as shown in FIG. 14, a part of the oil OL discharged into the gap Rx passes through the oil groove 721 provided on the inner circumference of the cylinder wall portion 72 of the second case portion 7. The oil OL that has passed through the oil groove 721 is supplied to the washer 55 that supports the back surface of the side gear 54B to lubricate the washer 55.
Further, the oil OL passes through the oil groove 712 provided in the base portion 71 of the second case portion 7 and the oil groove 742 provided in the arc portion 741. The oil OL that has passed through the oil groove 742 is supplied to the spherical washer 53 that supports the back surface of the pinion mate gear 52, and lubricates the spherical washer 53.

Further, a part of the oil OL captured by the oil guide 152 of the oil catch portion 15 is discharged to the guide portion 154 side (see FIG. 24). The tip 154b of the guide portion 154 faces the through hole 126a provided in the wall portion 120 of the second box 12 with a gap in the rotation axis X direction (see FIG. 25).
Therefore, most of the oil OL discharged to the guide portion 154 side flows into the through hole 126a of the second box 12.

A boss portion 126 surrounding the through hole 126a is provided on the outer periphery of the wall portion 120. One end of the pipe 127 is fitted into the boss portion 126 from the rotation axis X direction.
The pipe 127 passes through the outside of the second box 12 and extends to the third box 13. The other end of the pipe 127 communicates with an oil hole 136a (see FIG. 2) provided in the cylindrical connection wall 136 of the third box.

Therefore, in the present embodiment, a part of the oil OL that has reached the oil catch portion 15 is supplied to the internal space Sc of the connection wall 136 through the guide portion 154 and the pipe 127.
The oil OL discharged from the oil hole 136a into the internal space Sc is stored in the internal space Sc. The oil OL also lubricates the bearing B4 supported by the peripheral wall portion 131 of the third box 13.

A part of the oil OL discharged into the internal space Sc moves to the other end 20b side of the motor shaft 20 through the gap between the outer circumference of the drive shaft 9A and the inner circumference of the motor shaft 20.
As shown in FIG. 10, the other end 20b of the motor shaft 20 is inserted inside the tubular wall portion 541 of the side gear 54A. A connecting path 542 communicating with the back surface of the side gear 54A is provided on the inner circumference of the cylinder wall portion 541.
Therefore, a part of the oil OL that has moved to the other end 20b side of the motor shaft 20 and has been discharged to the inside of the cylinder wall portion 541 passes through the connecting path 542. The oil OL that has passed through the connecting path 542 is supplied to the washer 55 on the back surface of the side gear 54A to lubricate the washer 55.

Further, the oil OL that lubricates the washer 55 on the back surface of the side gear 54A passes through the oil groove 662 provided in the gear support portion 66 of the first case portion 6 and the oil groove 642 provided in the arc portion 641. The oil OL that has passed through the oil groove 642 is supplied to the spherical washer 53 that supports the back surface of the pinion mate gear 52, and lubricates the spherical washer 53.

Further, as shown in FIG. 2, the internal space Sc of the third box 13 includes a radial oil passage 137, an axial oil passage 138, a communication hole 112a, and an oil reservoir provided at the lower part of the second box 12. It communicates with the second gear chamber Sb2 provided in the fourth box 14 via 128.
Therefore, the oil OL in the internal space Sc is held at the same height position as the oil OL stored in the fourth box 14.

In this way, most of the oil OL scraped up by the differential case 50 that rotates around the rotation axis X flows into the oil catch portion 15. The oil OL is supplied from the oil catch portion 15 into the support portion 145 of the fourth box 14 to lubricate the bearing B2. The oil OL is also supplied to the internal space Sc in the third box 13 to lubricate the bearing B4.
Then, the oil OL that lubricates the bearings B2 and B4 is finally returned to the fourth box 14, and is scraped up by the rotating differential case 50.

Therefore, in the power transmission device 1, the oil OL in the fourth box 14 is scraped up when the drive wheels W and W rotate, and is used for lubrication of the bearing and the meshing portion between the gears. The oil OL used for lubrication is returned to the fourth box 14 so that it can be scraped up again.

As described above, the power transmission device 1 according to the present embodiment has the following configuration.
(1) The power transmission device 1 is
Differential mechanism 5 and
It has a differential case 50 (case) that houses the differential mechanism 5 and has a guide portion 73.
The differential case 50 has a case inner oil passage 781 in which oil OL (lubricating oil) is introduced via the inner peripheral surface 731 of the guide portion 73 protruding in the rotation axis X direction (axial direction).

Using the centrifugal force generated by the rotation of the differential case 50 and the guide portion 73 of the second case portion 7, the oil OL (lubricating oil) on the outside of the differential case 50 is moved toward the oil hole 710. As a result, the oil OL can be smoothly introduced into the oil hole 710, so that the lubrication efficiency can be improved.

The power transmission device 1 according to the present embodiment has the following configuration.
(2) The guide portion 73 is annular when viewed from the rotation axis X direction.

The guide portion 73 may be annular or non-annular when viewed from the rotation axis X direction. When the guide portion 73 is annular, the rotational resistance of the differential case 50 can be reduced as compared with the case where the guide portion 73 is non-annular.
Further, when the guide portion 73 is acyclic, the amount of oil OL to be moved toward the oil hole 710 is reduced. By forming the guide portion 73 into an annular shape, it is possible to secure the amount of oil OL that moves toward the oil hole 710.
As a result, the amount of oil OL supplied to the pinion shaft 44, the pinion mate gear 52, and the side gears 54A and 54B via the oil passage 781 in the case can be secured. The lubrication efficiency of the power transmission device 1 can be improved.

The power transmission device 1 according to the present embodiment has the following configuration.
(3) The differential case 50 has an oil hole 710 that opens outward on the inner circumference of the guide portion 73.
The guide portion 73 has a protruding portion 73a that projects toward the inner diameter side.
The inner circumference of the guide portion 73 has an oil groove between the protruding portion 73a and the oil hole 710.

The oil OL that moves to the outer diameter side by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the differential case 50 can be captured by the portion of the oil groove between the protrusion 73a and the oil hole 710 and guided to the oil hole 710.

The power transmission device 1 according to the present embodiment has the following configuration.
(4) The differential case 50 has a rib 711 located on the inner circumference of the guide portion 73 and projecting outward in the X direction of the rotation axis.

The oil OL is guided to the inner peripheral surface 731 of the guide portion 73 through the concave grooves 711a and 711b on the side surface of the rib 711. Since the oil OL is introduced to the oil passage 781 in the case along the inner peripheral surface 731, the lubrication efficiency can be improved.
Here, the term "position on the outer circumference" in the present specification is synonymous with overlapping in the radial direction on the outside. "Position on the inner circumference" is synonymous with overlapping in the radial direction on the inside.

The power transmission device 1 according to the present embodiment has the following configuration.
(5) The axial height of the rib 711 (height h711 in the rolling axis X direction, see (b) in FIG. 12) is the axial height of the guide portion 73 (height h73 in the rotation axis direction, FIG. 12). Lower than (see (a)).

The rib 711 when viewed from the rotation axis X direction is a band-shaped portion extending linearly in the radial direction of the rotation axis X, and is acyclic. Therefore, when the differential case 50 rotating around the rotation axis X scrapes up the oil OL, the rib 711 portion becomes the rotation resistance of the differential case 50.
By making the height h711 of the rib 711 portion in the rotation axis X direction lower than the height h73 of the guide portion 73 forming an annular shape when viewed from the rotation axis X direction in the rotation axis X direction, the rotation resistance received by the differential case 50 is reduced. Can be reduced.

The power transmission device 1 according to the present embodiment has the following configuration.
(6) The rib 711 extends from the inner circumference of the guide portion 73 toward the inner diameter side when viewed from the rotation axis X direction of the differential case 50.
Recessed grooves 711a (oil grooves) and 771b are provided on the side edges of the ribs 711 in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis X.

A part of the oil OL that moves to the outer diameter side by the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the differential case 50 can be retained at the rib 711 portion. The region of the oil OL retained in the rib 711 portion expands toward the upstream side in the rotation direction of the differential case 50, and the oil OL flows into the oil hole 710.
As a result, the amount of oil OL supplied to the pinion shaft 44, the pinion mate gear 52, and the side gears 54A and 54B can be secured, so that the lubrication efficiency can be improved.

The power transmission device 1 according to the present embodiment has the following configuration.
(7) The oil groove on the inner circumference of the guide portion 73 (the portion of the inner peripheral surface 731 between the protruding portion 73a and the oil hole 710) is in contact with the concave grooves 711a and 711b (oil grooves) of the rib 711. ..

The oil OL accumulated in the rib 711 portion can be guided from the concave grooves 711a and 711b of the rib 711 to the oil groove on the inner circumference of the guide portion 73. Since the oil hole 710 can be formed along the inner circumference of the guide portion 73, the oil OL accumulated in the rib 711 portion can be guided toward the oil hole 710.

The power transmission device 1 according to the present embodiment has the following configuration.
(8) The oil passage 781 inside the case is an oil passage that supplies the oil OL (lubricating oil) outside the differential case 50 to the differential mechanism 5.

The lubrication efficiency of the differential mechanism 5 can be improved.

The power transmission device 1 according to the present embodiment has the following configuration.
(9) The oil passage 781 inside the case is an oil passage that supplies the oil OL (lubricating oil) outside the differential case 50 to a rotating element other than the differential mechanism 5.

It is possible to improve the lubrication efficiency of rotating elements other than the differential mechanism 5, for example, the needle bearing NB (bearing) that supports the stepped pinion gear 43.

The power transmission device 1 according to the present embodiment has the following configuration.
(10) The motor 2 is located on the upstream side of the differential mechanism 5 on the power transmission path in the power transmission device 1.
The differential mechanism 5 overlaps with the motor 2 in the X direction of the rotation axis.

It is a power transmission device for a single-axis electric vehicle, and can provide a compact power transmission device.

FIG. 17 is a diagram illustrating a modified example of the oil passage 781 in the case.
In the above-described embodiment, as shown in FIG. 17A, the opening 781a on the inner diameter side of the oil passage 781 in the case opens inside the differential case 50 (on the right side in the drawing) with respect to the base 71 having the oil hole 710. The case where it is done is illustrated.
As shown in FIG. 17B, the opening 781a on the inner diameter side of the oil passage 781A in the case may be configured to be opened at the portion of the oil hole 710. As shown in FIG. 17 (c), the opening 781a on the inner diameter side of the oil passage 781B in the case may be opened outside the oil hole 710 (outside the differential case 50).

Further, as shown in FIG. 17D, the opening 781a on the inner diameter side of the oil passage 781C in the case is a region in the base 71 where the oil hole 710 is not provided, and is opened to the outside of the differential case 50. It may be configured as such.
In any configuration, among the oil OLs that have moved toward the outer diameter side due to the centrifugal force due to the rotation of the differential case 50, the oil OLs captured by the guide portion 73 are taken from the oil passages 781A to 781C in the case to the pinion shaft 44. It can be guided to the side.

Although the embodiments of the present invention have been described above, the present invention is not limited to the embodiments shown in these embodiments. It can be changed as appropriate within the scope of the technical idea of the invention.

1 Power transmission device 2 Motor 4 Planetary reduction gear 43 Stepped pinion gear 5 Differential mechanism 50 Diff case 710 Oil hole 711 Rib 711a, 711b Recessed groove 73 Guide part 73a Protruding part 731 Inner peripheral surface 742 Oil groove 781 Oil passage in case X Axis of rotation

Claims (10)

1. With a differential mechanism
   It has a case that houses the differential mechanism and has a guide portion, and has.
   The case is a power transmission device having an oil passage in the case into which lubricating oil is introduced via an inner peripheral surface of the guide portion protruding outward in the axial direction.
2. In claim 1,
   The guide portion is a power transmission device characterized by having an annular shape.
3. In claim 1 or 2,
   The case has an oil hole that opens outward on the inner circumference of the guide portion.
   The guide portion has a protruding portion that protrudes toward the inner diameter side.
   The inner circumference of the guide portion is a power transmission device in which an oil groove is formed between the protruding portion and the oil hole.
4. In claim 3,
   The case is a power transmission device having ribs located on the inner circumference of the guide portion and projecting outward in the axial direction.
5. In claim 4,
   A power transmission device in which the axial height of the rib is lower than the axial height of the guide portion.
6. In claim 5,
   When viewed from the rotation axis direction of the case, the rib extends from the inner circumference of the guide portion toward the inner diameter side.
   A power transmission device provided with an oil groove on the side edge of the rib in the circumferential direction around the rotation axis.
7. In claim 6,
   A power transmission device in which the oil groove on the inner circumference of the guide portion is in contact with the oil groove on the rib.
8. In any one of claims 1 to 7,
   The oil passage in the case is a power transmission device which is an oil passage for supplying lubricating oil outside the case to the differential mechanism.
9. In any one of claims 1 to 7,
   The oil passage in the case is a power transmission device which is an oil passage for supplying lubricating oil on the outside of the case to a rotating element other than the differential mechanism.
10. In any one of claims 1 to 9,
    It has a motor located upstream of the differential mechanism and has a motor.
    The differential mechanism is a power transmission device that overlaps with the motor in the axial direction.

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