Classifications

• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
  • H02K5/00—Casings; Enclosures; Supports
  • H02K5/04—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof
  • H02K5/20—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof with channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium
  • H02K5/203—Casings or enclosures characterised by the shape, form or construction thereof with channels or ducts for flow of cooling medium specially adapted for liquids, e.g. cooling jackets
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H57/00—General details of gearing
  • F16H57/04—Features relating to lubrication or cooling or heating
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H57/00—General details of gearing
  • F16H57/04—Features relating to lubrication or cooling or heating
  • F16H57/042—Guidance of lubricant
  • F16H57/0421—Guidance of lubricant on or within the casing, e.g. shields or baffles for collecting lubricant, tubes, pipes, grooves, channels or the like
  • F16H57/0424—Lubricant guiding means in the wall of or integrated with the casing, e.g. grooves, channels, holes
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H57/00—General details of gearing
  • F16H57/04—Features relating to lubrication or cooling or heating
  • F16H57/045—Lubricant storage reservoirs, e.g. reservoirs in addition to a gear sump for collecting lubricant in the upper part of a gear case
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H57/00—General details of gearing
  • F16H57/04—Features relating to lubrication or cooling or heating
  • F16H57/0457—Splash lubrication
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H57/00—General details of gearing
  • F16H57/04—Features relating to lubrication or cooling or heating
  • F16H57/0467—Elements of gearings to be lubricated, cooled or heated
  • F16H57/0476—Electric machines and gearing, i.e. joint lubrication or cooling or heating thereof
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
  • H02K9/00—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating
  • H02K9/19—Arrangements for cooling or ventilating for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil
• • F—MECHANICAL ENGINEERING; LIGHTING; HEATING; WEAPONS; BLASTING
  • F16—ENGINEERING ELEMENTS AND UNITS; GENERAL MEASURES FOR PRODUCING AND MAINTAINING EFFECTIVE FUNCTIONING OF MACHINES OR INSTALLATIONS; THERMAL INSULATION IN GENERAL
  • F16H—GEARING
  • F16H57/00—General details of gearing
  • F16H57/02—Gearboxes; Mounting gearing therein
  • F16H2057/02034—Gearboxes combined or connected with electric machines
• • H—ELECTRICITY
  • H02—GENERATION; CONVERSION OR DISTRIBUTION OF ELECTRIC POWER
  • H02K—DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES
  • H02K7/00—Arrangements for handling mechanical energy structurally associated with dynamo-electric machines, e.g. structural association with mechanical driving motors or auxiliary dynamo-electric machines
  • H02K7/10—Structural association with clutches, brakes, gears, pulleys or mechanical starters
  • H02K7/116—Structural association with clutches, brakes, gears, pulleys or mechanical starters with gears

Definitions

• This disclosure relates to a vehicle drive system.
• a technology is known in which a case is provided that defines a motor housing chamber that houses a rotating electric machine and a gear housing chamber that houses a transmission mechanism, and oil that accumulates at the bottom of the gear housing chamber is scooped up by the rotation of the gears of the transmission mechanism and supplied to various bearings of the transmission mechanism.
• the present disclosure aims to efficiently return oil scooped up by the rotation of the gears of the transmission mechanism to the space that can be scooped up by the rotation of the gears after it has been used to lubricate an object to be lubricated.
• a rotating electric machine a transmission mechanism that transmits driving force from the rotating electric machine to wheels; Case and a flow passage forming member that is housed in the case or is formed as a part of the case and forms a coolant flow passage around the rotating electric machine,
• the transmission mechanism transmits a driving force to a wheel via a shaft member, the flow passage forming member partitions the movement of oil between a space on one axial end side of the rotating electric machine that is connected to the transmission mechanism and a space on the other axial end side of the rotating electric machine,
• the first communication passage has one end communicating with a space on the axial one end side of the second housing chamber and the other end communicating with the first housing chamber,
• the present disclosure makes it possible to efficiently return oil scooped up by the rotation of the gears of the transmission mechanism to the space that can be scooped up by the rotation of the gears after it has been used to lubricate an object to be lubricated.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic top view showing a state in which a vehicle drive device is mounted in a vehicle.
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle drive device.
• FIG. 1 is a skeleton diagram showing a vehicle drive device. 1 is a side view showing a vehicle drive device according to an embodiment of the present invention, viewed from the A1 side;
• FIG. 3 is an enlarged view of part Q6 in FIG. 2.
• 2 is a side view showing the vehicle drive device according to the embodiment, viewed from the A2 side.
• FIG. 2 is a perspective view showing the vehicle drive device according to the embodiment as viewed from the A2 side;
• FIG. 3 is an explanatory diagram of a return flow path of the vehicle drive device according to the present embodiment.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic top view showing a state in which a vehicle drive device is mounted in a vehicle.
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle drive device.
• FIG. 1 is a skeleton diagram
• the Y direction corresponds to the up-down direction when the vehicle drive device 100 is in use, that is, the up-down direction when the vehicle drive device 100 is arranged in the direction in which it is in use.
• the Y1 side and the Y2 side correspond to the upper side and the lower side along the Y direction.
• the up-down direction does not necessarily have to be parallel to the vertical direction, but only needs to have a predominantly vertical component.
• the directions of each member in the following description represent the directions when they are assembled to the vehicle drive device 100.
• the terms related to the dimensions, arrangement direction, arrangement position, etc. of each member are concepts that include a state in which there is a difference due to an error (an error that can be tolerated in manufacturing).
• the A direction corresponds to the axial direction, and in FIG. 2, etc., the A1 side and the A2 side along the A direction are defined.
• the X direction (see FIG. 3, etc.) is a direction perpendicular to both the A direction and the Y direction, and in FIG. 3, etc., the X1 side and the X2 side along the X direction are defined.
• driving connection refers to a state in which two rotating elements are connected so as to be able to transmit a driving force (synonymous with torque), and includes a state in which the two rotating elements are connected so as to rotate as a unit, or a state in which the two rotating elements are connected so as to be able to transmit a driving force via one or more transmission members.
• Such transmission members include various members (e.g., shafts, gear mechanisms, belts, chains, etc.) that transmit rotation at the same speed or at a variable speed.
• the transmission members may also include engagement devices (e.g., friction engagement devices, meshing engagement devices, etc.) that selectively transmit rotation and driving force.
• communication refers to a state in which two spatial elements are fluidly connected to each other. In other words, it refers to a state in which a fluid can pass between the two spatial elements.
• the two spatial elements may be directly connected to each other, or indirectly connected to each other (i.e., via another spatial element).
• rotating electric machine is used as a concept that includes both motors (electric motors), generators (electric generators), and motor-generators that function as both motors and generators as necessary.
• overlapping when viewed in a specific direction means that when an imaginary line parallel to the line of sight is moved in each direction perpendicular to the imaginary line, there is at least a part of an area where the imaginary line intersects with both of the two components.
• arrangement areas in a specific direction overlap means that at least a part of the arrangement area in a specific direction of one component is included within the arrangement area in a specific direction of the other component.
• FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of a top view showing the vehicle drive device 100 mounted in a vehicle VC.
• FIG. 2 is a cross-sectional view of the vehicle drive device 100.
• FIG. 2A is a skeleton diagram showing the vehicle drive device 100.
• the vehicle drive device 100 includes a rotating electric machine 1, a pair of output members 6 each drivingly connected to a pair of wheels W (see FIG. 1), and a transmission mechanism 3 that transmits driving force between the rotating electric machine 1 and the pair of output members 6.
• the vehicle drive device 100 further includes a case 2 that houses the rotating electric machine 1.
• the case 2 also houses the pair of output members 6 and the transmission mechanism 3.
• the case 2 may house only one of the pair of output members 6 (e.g., the first output member 61).
• the vehicle drive device 100 can be used in any vehicle having a rotating electric machine 1, such as an electric vehicle or a hybrid vehicle, and can be used in any vehicle with a drive system such as front-wheel drive or rear-wheel drive.
• the drive source may be only an engine (internal combustion engine).
• the first output member 61 which is one of the pair of output members 6, is drivingly connected to the first wheel W1, which is one of the pair of wheels W
• the second output member 62 which is the other of the pair of output members 6, is drivingly connected to the second wheel W2, which is the other of the pair of wheels W.
• the vehicle VC on which the vehicle drive device 100 is mounted includes a first drive shaft 63 that rotates integrally with the first wheel W1 and a second drive shaft 64 that rotates integrally with the second wheel W2.
• the first drive shaft 63 is connected to the first wheel W1 via, for example, a constant velocity joint
• the second drive shaft 64 is connected to the second wheel W2 via, for example, a constant velocity joint.
• the first output member 61 is connected to the first drive shaft 63 so as to rotate integrally with the first drive shaft 63, and the second output member 62 is connected to the second drive shaft 64 so as to rotate integrally with the second drive shaft 64.
• the first output member 61 may be in the form of an intermediate shaft.
• the first output member 61 is rotatably supported on the case 2 via a bearing BR1 on the axial direction A2 side, and is rotatably supported on the case 2 via a bearing BR2 on the axial direction A1 side.
• the bearings BR1 and BR2 are in the form of ball bearings, but they may be in other forms.
• the vehicle drive device 100 transmits the output torque of the rotating electric machine 1 to a pair of wheels W via a pair of output members 6, thereby driving the vehicle VC on which the vehicle drive device 100 is mounted.
• the rotating electric machine 1 is a driving force source for the pair of wheels W.
• the pair of wheels W is a pair of left and right wheels on the vehicle VC (e.g., a pair of left and right front wheels, or a pair of left and right rear wheels).
• the rotating electric machine 1 may be, for example, an AC rotating electric machine driven by three-phase AC.
• the rotating electric machine 1 and the pair of output members 6 are arranged on two parallel axes (specifically, a first axis C1 and a second axis C2). Specifically, the rotating electric machine 1 is arranged on the first axis C1, and the pair of output members 6 are arranged on a second axis C2 different from the first axis C1.
• the first axis C1 and the second axis C2 are axes (virtual axes) arranged parallel to each other.
• the transmission mechanism 3 includes an output gear (ring gear) 30 that is drivingly connected to at least one of the pair of output members 6, and is coaxial with the pair of output members 6 (i.e., on the second axis C2).
• the rotating electric machine 1 is, for example, an inner rotor type.
• a rotor 14 that can rotate around a first axis C1 is arranged radially inside a stator 11 (see FIG. 2).
• the transmission mechanism 3 includes a reduction mechanism 34 in the power transmission path between the rotating electric machine 1 and the output gear 30.
• the reduction mechanism 34 is optional and may include a reduction mechanism using a counter gear, a reduction mechanism using a planetary gear, or the like.
• the reduction mechanism 34 includes a planetary gear mechanism, and the reduction mechanism 34 is arranged coaxially with the rotating electric machine 1.
• the output gear (carrier) 342 of the reduction mechanism 34 radially meshes with the output gear 30 of the differential gear mechanism 5.
• Such a vehicle drive device 100 can have a compact configuration consisting of two shafts (first shaft C1 and second shaft C2). In a modified example, the vehicle drive device 100 may have three or more shafts.
• the reduction mechanism 34 is arranged coaxially with the rotating electric machine 1 (i.e., on the first axis C1) in a manner that the reduction mechanism 34 is drivingly connected to the rotating electric machine 1.
• the rotor 14 of the rotating electric machine 1 rotates integrally with the input member 16 together with the sun gear 341 of the reduction mechanism 34.
• the transmission mechanism 3 further includes a differential gear mechanism 5.
• the differential gear mechanism 5 distributes the driving force transmitted from the rotating electric machine 1 to a pair of output members 6.
• the differential gear mechanism 5 distributes the rotation of the output gear 30 to a first side gear 51 and a second side gear 52.
• the differential gear mechanism 5 may be arranged coaxially with the pair of output members 6 (i.e., on the second axis C2).
• the differential gear mechanism 5 may be a bevel gear type differential gear mechanism, and the output gear 30 may be connected to a differential case portion 50 included in the differential gear mechanism 5 so as to rotate integrally with the differential case portion 50.
• Figure 3 is a side view that shows a schematic of the vehicle drive device 100 according to this embodiment.
• the motor cover member 201 (see Figure 2) is omitted so that the state inside the motor housing chamber S1 can be seen.
• the inverter device 70 inside the inverter case portion 24 is shown in dotted lines.
• Figure 4 is a perspective view of the flow path forming member 90.
• the water-cooling structure of the rotating electric machine 1 is a structure for cooling the rotating electric machine 1 with cooling water.
• the cooling water may be water containing LLC (Long Life Coolant), for example, and may be circulated by a water pump (not shown).
• a heat dissipation section such as a radiator (not shown) may be provided in the cooling water circulation path.
• the cooling water may be used not only to cool the rotating electric machine 1, but also to cool other components, such as an inverter (not shown) electrically connected to the rotating electric machine 1.
• the water-cooling structure of the rotating electric machine 1 in this embodiment includes a coolant supply section 40, a coolant discharge section 42, and a flow path forming member 90.
• the refrigerant supply unit 40 is connected to, for example, the discharge side of a water pump (not shown) and supplies cooling water to the refrigerant flow path 300 formed by the flow path forming member 90.
• the coolant discharge section 42 is connected to, for example, the suction side of a water pump (not shown) and supplies (discharges) the cooling water from the coolant flow path 300 formed by the flow path forming member 90 to the water pump (not shown).
• the refrigerant supply section 40 and the refrigerant discharge section 42 may be provided on the upper and lower sides of the first output member 61. In this case, the space around the first output member 61 can be effectively utilized to establish the refrigerant supply section 40 and the refrigerant discharge section 42.
• the flow path forming member 90 is cylindrical in shape with an inner circumferential surface that faces the outer circumferential surface of the rotating electric machine 1 in the radial direction.
• the flow path forming member 90 forms a refrigerant flow path 300 around the rotating electric machine 1. Note that in the example shown in FIG. 4, the refrigerant flow path 300 has multiple flow path sections SC1 to SC4 in the circumferential direction, but the configuration of the refrigerant flow path 300 is arbitrary.
• the flow path forming member 90 may be formed from a material with good thermal conductivity, such as aluminum.
• the flow path forming member 90 is fitted into the stator core 12 of the stator 11 by, for example, shrink fitting.
• the flow path forming member 90 may be formed integrally with the stator core 12 by, for example, casting in place.
• the flow path forming member 90 is in the form of an inner case that is fastened to the case 2, as shown in FIG. 3, for example.
• the flow path forming member 90 may have a plurality of fastening portions 500 at one axial end side, as shown in FIG. 3.
• the plurality of fastening portions 500 are fastened to the case 2 by bolts (not shown) (see bolt hole BT4).
• the flow path forming member 90 may be formed as part of the case 2.
• the flow path forming member 90 is inserted into the cylindrical space of the case 2. At this time, the outer peripheral surface of the flow path forming member 90 faces radially against the inner peripheral surface of the case 2 (the inner peripheral surface that bounds the multiple fastening portions 500).
• the inner peripheral surface of the case 2 that surrounds the flow path forming member 90 in this manner is also referred to as the "flow path forming surface 209 of the case 2" (see Figure 5).
• the inner diameter of the flow path forming surface 209 of the case 2 may be a constant value that is larger than the basic outer diameter of the stator core 12 by the basic thickness of the flow path forming member 90.
• the flow path forming member 90 cooperates with the flow path forming surface 209 of the case 2 to form the refrigerant flow path 300.
• the refrigerant flow path 300 is formed in the radial direction between the outer peripheral surface of the flow path forming member 90 and the flow path forming surface 209 of the case 2.
• the refrigerant flow passage 300 may extend in the circumferential direction so that the cooling water flows in the circumferential direction over the entire circumferential direction.
• the refrigerant flow passage 300 may be formed so as to face the outer peripheral surface of the stator core 12 in the radial direction over the entire axial direction of the stator core 12 of the rotating electric machine 1.
• the refrigerant flow passage 300 is closed at both axial ends.
• a seal member 97 (see FIG. 5) may be provided over the entire circumferential direction at both axial ends of the flow passage forming member 90 between the flow passage forming member 90 and the flow passage forming surface 209 of the case 2.
• the various oil passages related to the oil passage structure described below are formed by the case 2.
• the various oil passages formed by the case 2 is a concept that includes not only oil passages formed by the case 2 alone, but also oil passages formed by a combination of the case 2 and other components (components other than the case 2).
• a storage chamber such as the output shaft storage chamber S3 also constitutes an oil passage.
• the case 2 includes a motor case portion 21, a transmission mechanism case portion 22, an output shaft case portion 23, and an inverter case portion 24, all integrated together.
• integrated includes a form integrated with fastening members such as bolts, and a form integrated by integral molding (for example, casting or casting using aluminizing, etc.).
• the motor case portion 21 forms the motor housing chamber S1 that houses the rotating electric machine 1
• the transmission mechanism case portion 22 forms the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2 that houses the transmission mechanism 3
• the output shaft case portion 23 forms the output shaft housing chamber S3 that houses the first output member 61
• the inverter case portion 24 forms the inverter housing chamber S4 that houses the inverter device 70.
• the motor case portion 21 forms the motor housing chamber S1
• the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2, the output shaft case portion 23, and the inverter case portion 24 is true for the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2, the output shaft case portion 23, and the inverter case portion 24.
• the motor case portion 21 has a cylindrical shape that corresponds to the external shape of the rotating electric machine 1. However, the motor case portion 21 does not need to have the entire cylindrical outer periphery closed.
• the motor housing chamber S1 and the output shaft housing chamber S3 may be in communication, in which case the side of the motor case portion 21 facing the output shaft housing chamber S3 does not need to have a wall portion (partition portion) formed.
• the transmission mechanism case portion 22 is provided on the axial A2 side of the motor case portion 21 and the output shaft case portion 23.
• the output shaft case portion 23 is provided on the X2 side of the motor case portion 21 in the X direction.
• the inverter case portion 24 is provided above the transmission mechanism case portion 22 and the output shaft case portion 23. Details of the inverter case portion 24 will be described later.
• the first output member 61 can be more effectively protected from the external environment (e.g., flying stones, etc.) than when the first output member 61 is provided outside the case 2. In addition, the clearance that must be secured between the first output member 61 and surrounding components can be reduced. However, in a modified example, the first output member 61 may be provided outside the case 2.
• the case 2 may be formed by joining multiple members (case members and cover members). Therefore, one member forming the case 2 may form two or more case parts among the motor case part 21, the transmission mechanism case part 22, the output shaft case part 23, and the inverter case part 24.
• the motor housing chamber S1, the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2, the output shaft housing chamber S3, and the inverter housing chamber S4 formed by the case 2 may be completely isolated from each other, may be partially connected, or may be shared without a boundary.
• the motor housing chamber S1 and the output shaft housing chamber S3 may be shared without a partition wall separating them.
• the rotating electric machine 1 and the first output member 61 are housed in a common housing chamber (specifically, the motor housing chamber S1 and the output shaft housing chamber S3) formed by the case 2.
• the motor housing chamber S1 and the inverter housing chamber S4 may be separated, but if the rotating electric machine 1 is completely water-cooled, the motor housing chamber S1 and the inverter housing chamber S4 do not need to be separated.
• the case 2 is formed by joining a case member 200, a motor cover member 201, a differential cover member 202, and an inverter cover member 203.
• the joining method may be fastening with bolts or the like.
• the case member 200 may be formed as a one-piece member (e.g., a single member made of a common material formed by a die casting method).
• the motor housing chamber S1 and the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2 may be separated by a single partition wall 26.
• the case member 200 opens in the axial direction on the axial direction A1 side and also opens in the axial direction on the axial direction A2 side.
• the motor cover member 201 is provided so as to cover the opening on the axial direction A1 side of the case member 200 (i.e., the opening on the axial direction A1 side of the motor housing chamber S1).
• the motor cover member 201 may be formed as a one-piece member.
• the motor cover member 201 may be joined to the end face (joint surface) on the axial direction A1 side of the case member 200.
• the joint surface (mating surface) 221 between the motor cover member 201 and the case member 200 may extend in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction.
• the differential cover member 202 is provided so as to cover the opening on the axial direction A2 side of the case member 200 (i.e., the opening on the axial direction A2 side of the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2).
• the differential cover member 202 may be formed as a one-piece member.
• the differential cover member 202 may be joined to the end face (joint surface) on the axial direction A2 side of the case member 200.
• the joint surface (mating surface) 222 between the differential cover member 202 and the case member 200 may extend in a plane perpendicular to the axial direction.
• the inverter cover member 203 is provided to cover the opening of the inverter storage chamber S4 in the case member 200.
• the inverter cover member 203 may be formed as a one-piece member.
• the inverter device 70 may be in the form of a module, and may be fixed to the wall that forms the inverter case portion 24 by bolts or the like.
• the inverter device 70 includes a plurality of switching elements (power semiconductor elements, not shown) that constitute the inverter circuit, a control board (not shown) on which a control device that controls the inverter circuit is mounted, a smoothing capacitor, etc.
• FIG. 5 is a cross-sectional view taken along a plane passing through the second axis C2 and the Y direction, and is an enlarged view of part Q6 in FIG. 2 (cross-sectional view passing through the output shaft housing S3).
• FIG. 6 is a side view showing the vehicle drive device 100 according to this embodiment as viewed from the A2 side.
• FIG. 7 is a perspective view showing the vehicle drive device 100 according to this embodiment as viewed from the A2 side.
• FIG. 8 is an explanatory diagram of the return flow paths 290, 292 of the vehicle drive device according to this embodiment.
• the differential cover member 202 is omitted so that the state inside the transmission mechanism housing S2 can be seen.
• FIG. 6 and 7 the differential cover member 202 is omitted so that the state inside the transmission mechanism housing S2 can be seen.
• the transmission mechanism accommodating chamber S2 and the output shaft accommodating chamber S3 overlap the second axis C2 in top view and are adjacent to each other in the axial direction. Furthermore, since the transmission mechanism accommodating chamber S2 extends in the X direction to accommodate the reduction gear mechanism 34 and the differential gear mechanism 5, the transmission mechanism accommodating chamber S2 and the output shaft accommodating chamber S3 extend in an L shape in top view.
• the portion of the transmission mechanism accommodating chamber S2 that accommodates the reduction gear mechanism 34 will also be referred to as the "reduction gear accommodating chamber S21,” and the portion that accommodates the differential gear mechanism 5 will also be referred to as the "differential gear accommodating chamber S22.”
• the output shaft case portion 23 extends around the second axis C2 along the extension direction (i.e., the axial direction) of the first output member 61.
• the output shaft case portion 23 may be in the form of a peripheral wall portion that forms a space (output shaft accommodating chamber S3) around the first output member 61.
• the output shaft case portion 23 extends radially outward (X2 side in the X direction) of the rotating electric machine 1 and may also form part of the motor case portion 21.
• the output shaft accommodating chamber S3 communicates with the transmission mechanism accommodating chamber S2 (particularly the differential gear accommodating chamber S22) on the axial A2 side.
• An object to be lubricated by oil is arranged on the axial A1 side of the output shaft accommodating chamber S3. That is, the axial A1 side end of the output shaft accommodating chamber S3 communicates with the space S31 in which the object to be lubricated by oil is arranged.
• the object to be lubricated by oil includes the bearing BR2 and the oil seal 700.
• the oil seal 700 is provided at the A1 side end of the first output member 61, and provides an oil-tight seal between the first output member 61 and the case 2.
• the axial A1 side end of the output shaft accommodating chamber S3 may include the space S31 (the space in which the bearing BR2 and the oil seal 700 are arranged).
• oil is circulated within the vehicle drive device 100 by a lubrication method (natural lubrication method) in which oil is lubricated by being scooped up by the rotation of the gears, rather than by a so-called forced lubrication method that uses an oil pump (mechanical or electric oil pump).
• a lubrication method natural lubrication method
• forced lubrication method that uses an oil pump (mechanical or electric oil pump).
• an oil pump may also be used in combination with the oil pump for some of the lubrication.
• this embodiment employs a lubrication method in which the rotation of the output gear 30 (so-called diff ring) of the differential gear mechanism 5 is used to lubricate various objects to be lubricated.
• the surface 231 (hereinafter also referred to as the "circumferential wall inner surface 231") (see FIG. 5) of the output shaft case portion 23 that faces the first output member 61 and the outer peripheral surface of the first output member 61 are configured so that the axial direction A1 side extends to a lower position than the axial direction A2 side.
• the circumferential wall inner surface 231 includes an inclined surface that forms a height difference between the axial A1 side and the axial A2 side.
• Such an inclined surface may be realized by increasing the inner diameter (inner diameter around the first axis C1) of the circumferential wall inner surface 231 toward the axial A1 side.
• a step may be formed instead of or in addition to the inclined surface. In this case, too, the step may be formed so that the inner diameter (inner diameter around the first axis C1) of the circumferential wall inner surface 231 increases in stages toward the axial A1 side.
• the outer peripheral surface of the first output member 61 similarly includes an inclined surface that forms a height difference between the axial A1 side and the axial A2 side.
• Such an inclined surface may be realized by increasing the outer diameter (outer diameter around the first axis C1) of the outer peripheral surface of the first output member 61 toward the axial A1 side.
• the outer diameter of the outer peripheral surface of the first output member 61 may be smaller by a constant value than the inner diameter of the peripheral wall inner surface 231 at each position along the axial direction.
• a step may be formed instead of or in addition to the inclined surface.
• Such a peripheral wall inner surface 231 and the outer surface of the first output member 61 can have the function of using the action of gravity to flow oil supplied from the axial direction A2 side by the rotation of the output gear 30 of the differential gear mechanism 5 along the inclined surface to the axial direction A1 side at a relatively large flow rate.
• the oil supplied from the axial direction A2 side by the rotation of the output gear 30 of the differential gear mechanism 5 falls onto the surface of the first output member 61, and then flows along the surface of the first output member 61 to the axial direction A1 side (see arrow R62 in FIG. 5).
• the oil scooped up by the rotation of the output gear 30 of the differential gear mechanism 5 can be appropriately supplied to the object to be lubricated (bearing BR2 and oil seal 700) without the need for additional parts such as a catch tank. Therefore, while the natural lubrication method allows for size reduction and cost reduction, oil can also be appropriately supplied to the object to be lubricated that is located relatively far in the axial direction from the output gear 30 of the differential gear mechanism 5 (bearing BR2 and oil seal 700).
• the portion of the transmission mechanism case portion 22 located at the boundary with the output shaft case portion 23 in the axial direction (hereinafter also referred to as the "bearing support portion 223") has a hollow portion S223.
• the bearing support portion 223 is located around the bearing BR1 and is a portion that supports the bearing BR1.
• the hollow portion S223 may be formed radially outward of the bearing BR1 at a height that will allow oil scooped up by the rotation of the output gear 30 of the differential gear mechanism 5 to fall therein.
• Two or more hollow portions S223 may be provided around the bearing BR1, for example, directly above in the vertical direction (the 12 o'clock position) and at a position lower than directly above (for example, the 11 o'clock position).
• the oil scooped up by the rotation of the output gear 30 of the differential gear mechanism 5 can be introduced into the output shaft housing chamber S3 from the axial direction A2 side at an appropriate flow rate.
• the oil scooped up by the rotation of the output gear 30 of the differential gear mechanism 5 can be directly introduced into the hollow portion S223. Therefore, the oil can be introduced into the output shaft housing chamber S3 from the axial direction A2 side at an appropriate flow rate without providing additional parts such as a catch tank.
• the A2 end of the return flow passage 290 opens into the differential gear housing chamber S22, and the A1 end communicates with the output shaft housing chamber S3. At this time, the A1 end of the return flow passage 290 opens into the space in the output shaft housing chamber S3 formed in the axial direction by the case member 200 and the motor cover member 201.
• the return flow passage 290 is located below the output shaft housing chamber S3 (and the first output member 61 therein), and the A1 end of the return flow passage 290 is located below the output shaft case portion 23.
• the output shaft case portion 23 may have an opening or notch 99 (see FIG. 3) for ensuring communication between the output shaft housing chamber S3 and the return flow passage 290. This allows oil to be efficiently introduced from the output shaft housing chamber S3 into the return flow passage 290.
• a natural lubrication method is adopted, so it is useful to relatively quickly return the oil used to lubricate various objects to the lower part of the differential gear housing chamber S22 (the oil reservoir in which the output gear 30 is immersed).
• a return flow passage such as the return flow passage 290 described above opens into the reduction mechanism housing chamber S21 other than the differential gear housing chamber S22 in the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2
• the oil returning to the lower part of the differential gear housing chamber S22 via the return flow passage is likely to be insufficient.
• the oil temperature sensor may not be immersed in oil and may measure the internal air temperature.
• the return flow passage 290 opens at the lower part of the differential gear housing chamber S22 (below the second axis C2) in the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2.
• the end part of the return flow passage 290 on the axial direction A2 side preferably overlaps with the output gear 30 when viewed in the axial direction. This makes it possible to relatively quickly return the oil used to lubricate various objects to be lubricated, including the above-mentioned bearing BR2 and oil seal 700, to the lower part of the differential gear housing chamber S22 (the oil reservoir in which the output gear 30 is immersed).
• a flow passage forming member 90 is provided on the radial outside of the rotating electric machine 1.
• the radial inside of the flow passage forming member 90 is fitted to the stator core 12, and the radial outside is sealed on both axial sides against the flow passage forming surface 209 of the case 2. That is, the flow passage forming member 90 is provided in a manner that partitions the movement of oil between the space S11 (see FIG. 2) in which the coil end 13 on the axial direction A2 side in the motor housing chamber S1 (in this embodiment, the coil end 13 on the lead side) is located, and the space S12 (see FIG. 2) in which the coil end 13 on the axial direction A1 side is located. For this reason, the space S11 (see FIG.
• the refrigerant flow passage 300 is formed over the entire circumferential area of the rotating electric machine 1, and there is no gap between the rotating electric machine 1 and the flow passage forming member 90 in the radial direction, so that the movement of oil through the gap (movement between the space S11 and the space S12) does not occur.
• the oil (oil ejected by the centrifugal force when the rotor rotates) ejected toward each coil end 13 through the axial oil passage 15a of the rotor shaft 15 and the radial ejection hole 15b of the rotor shaft 15 cannot be returned to the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2 by only one return flow passage.
• the oil ejected to the coil end 13 in the space S12 can return to the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2 (particularly the differential gear housing chamber S22) by the above-mentioned return flow passage 290 due to the communication between the space S12 and the output shaft housing chamber S3 (see FIG. 2).
• the oil ejected to the coil end 13 in the space S11 cannot substantially return to the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2 (particularly the differential gear housing chamber S22) by the above-mentioned return flow passage 290.
• a return flow path 292 that communicates the space S11 and the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2 is provided as a second return flow path.
• the end of the return flow path 292 on the axial direction A1 side communicates with the space S11 of the motor housing chamber S1
• the end of the return flow path 292 on the axial direction A2 side communicates with the lower part of the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2 (the lower part of the catch tank 920 described later).
• the end of the return flow path 292 on the axial direction A2 side opens to the lower part of the reduction mechanism housing chamber S21 (below the first axis C1).
• the end of the return flow path 292 on the axial direction A2 side (the opening on the reduction mechanism housing chamber S21 side) preferably opens below the second axis C2.
• the oil supplied to the motor housing chamber S1 can be efficiently returned to the lower part of the differential gear housing chamber S22 (the oil reservoir in which the output gear 30 is immersed).
• the end of the return flow passage 292 on the axial direction A2 side (the opening on the side of the reduction mechanism housing chamber S21) is disposed in a catch tank 920 in the reduction mechanism housing chamber S21.
• the return flow passage 292 may be in the form of a hole that axially penetrates the partition wall 26 that axially separates the motor housing chamber S1 and the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2 in the case 2.
• the catch tank 920 extends radially outward from the axial wall portion 9201 around the reduction mechanism 34 in the reduction mechanism housing chamber S21, and has an inlet 921 at a position where it can capture the oil scooped up by the rotation of the output gear 30.
• the catch tank 920 has a discharge port 922 that opens into the differential gear housing chamber S22 at the bottom.
• the end portion of the return flow passage 292 on the axial A2 side may be provided near the discharge port 922.
• the catch tank 920 may also be connected to the axial oil passage 15a of the rotor shaft 15, etc., so as to supply oil to the axial oil passage 15a of the rotor shaft 15.
• the lower part of the catch tank 920 refers to the part below the center of the catch tank 920 in the vertical direction, for example, the part below the first axis C1.
• the return flow path 292 may be connected to the return flow path 290 described above.
• the return flow path 292 may be formed as a flow path that connects the space S11 and the return flow path 290. In this case, the overall length of the return flow path can be reduced, and an efficient return flow path configuration can be achieved.
• An oil temperature sensor 98 (position is shown diagrammatically by a circle in FIG. 6) is provided at the bottom of the catch tank 920. In this case, the oil temperature sensor 98 is provided near the outlet 922 of the catch tank 920. This reduces the possibility that the oil temperature sensor 98 will be above the oil level depending on the vehicle's running conditions, thereby improving the reliability of the sensor information from the oil temperature sensor 98.
• the oil scooped up by the rotation of the output gear 30 of the differential gear mechanism 5 is introduced from the transmission mechanism housing chamber S2 to the output shaft housing chamber S3 via the hollow portion S223 located above the second shaft C2.
• the oil then flows downward due to gravity, lubricating the bearing BR2 and the like, and is then returned from the output shaft housing chamber S3 to the differential gear housing chamber S22 via the end (the end on the axial direction A2 side) of the return flow passage 290 located below the second shaft C2. This makes it possible for the oil to be scooped up again by the rotation of the output gear 30 of the differential gear mechanism 5.
• the oil supplied to the axial oil passage 15a is sprayed from the spray hole 15b to the coil end 13 of the rotating electric machine 1, as described above. This allows the coil end 13 to be efficiently cooled by the oil scooped up by the rotation of the output gear 30 of the differential gear mechanism 5.
• the oil sprayed onto the coil end 13 in the space S12 of the motor housing S1 is returned from the space S12 to the transmission mechanism housing S2 through the end (axial A2 end) of the return flow passage 290 located below the second axis C2.
• the oil sprayed onto the coil end 13 in the space S11 of the motor housing S1 is returned from the space S11 to the transmission mechanism housing S2 through the end (axial A2 end) of the return flow passage 292 located below the second axis C2.
• the oil returned to the transmission mechanism housing S2 in this way is returned to the differential gear housing S22 from the discharge port 922 below the second axis C2 in the catch tank 920. This allows the oil to be scooped up again by the rotation of the output gear 30 of the differential gear mechanism 5.
• both the surface (circumferential wall inner surface 231) of the output shaft case portion 23 that faces the first output member 61 and the outer circumferential surface of the first output member 61 have inclined surfaces, but this is not limited to the above.
• only the peripheral wall inner surface 231 may have an inclined surface.
• the output shaft case portion 23 is in the form of a peripheral wall portion that surrounds the first output member 61 in at least a portion of the axial direction of the first output member 61, but is not limited to this.
• the output shaft case portion 23 may face only a portion of the periphery of the first output member 61, including the lower side.
• 100 Vehicle drive device, 1: Rotating electric machine, 15: Rotor shaft, 15a: Axial oil passage, 2: Case, 21: Motor case part (rotating electric machine case part), 231: Inner peripheral surface of peripheral wall (surface of peripheral wall part), 26: Partition, 200: Case member, 201: Motor cover member (cover member), 290: Return passage (second communication passage), 292: Return passage (first communication passage), 34: Reduction mechanism (transmission mechanism), 30: Output gear (gear), 5: Differential gear mechanism (transmission mechanism), 61: First output member (shaft member), 300: Coolant passage, 90: Passage forming member, 98: Oil temperature sensor, 920: Catch tank, BR1: Bearing (first bearing), BR2: Bearing (lubrication object, second bearing), S1: Motor housing (second housing), S22: Differential gear housing (first housing), S3: Output shaft housing (third housing), W: Wheel

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• 2023
  • 2023-09-28 WO PCT/JP2023/035360 patent/WO2024075622A1/ja not_active Ceased
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  • 2023-09-28 CN CN202380068886.0A patent/CN119948279A/zh active Pending
  • 2023-09-28 EP EP23874749.7A patent/EP4575271A4/en active Pending

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