US 12,392,399 B2
Vehicle drive device with an axial oil guide passage
Takatoshi Katayama, Kariya (JP); Nozomu Takahashi, Kariya (JP); Takayoshi Hanai, Kariya (JP); Teppei Yamashita, Kariya (JP); and Hiroaki Sanji, Kariya (JP)
Assigned to AISIN CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
Appl. No. 18/694,296
Filed by AISIN CORPORATION, Kariya (JP)
PCT Filed Sep. 27, 2022, PCT No. PCT/JP2022/035924
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Mar. 21, 2024,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/054351, PCT Pub. Date Apr. 6, 2023.
Claims priority of application No. 2021-158219 (JP), filed on Sep. 28, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2024/0401679 A1, Dec. 5, 2024
Int. Cl. F16H 57/04 (2010.01); F16H 37/08 (2006.01); F16H 57/037 (2012.01); F16H 57/02 (2012.01)
CPC F16H 37/0813 (2013.01) [F16H 57/037 (2013.01); F16H 57/0423 (2013.01); F16H 57/0441 (2013.01); F16H 57/045 (2013.01); F16H 57/0457 (2013.01); F16H 57/0476 (2013.01); F16H 57/0483 (2013.01); F16H 2057/02034 (2013.01); F16H 2057/02052 (2013.01)] 9 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle drive device, comprising:
a rotary electric machine including a rotor;
a differential gear assembly configured to distribute a driving force transmitted to a differential input gear to a pair of wheels;
a counter gear assembly configured to transmit the driving force between the rotor and the differential input gear;
a case accommodating the rotary electric machine, the differential gear assembly, and the counter gear assembly, wherein:
the rotor is located on a first axis,
a rotor output gear rotatable integrally with the rotor is located on the first axis,
the differential gear assembly is located on a second axis parallel to and different from the first axis, and
the counter gear assembly is located on a third axis parallel to and different from the first axis and the second axis and includes a first counter gear meshing with the rotor output gear and a second counter gear rotatable integrally with the first counter gear and meshing with the differential input gear;
a first catch tank configured to store oil splashed by the differential input gear in response to the rotor rotating in a first rotation direction and to store oil splashed by the first counter gear in response to the rotor rotating in a second rotation direction reverse to the first rotation direction;
a second catch tank configured to store oil splashed by the first counter gear in response to the rotor rotating in the second rotation direction, wherein the first catch tank and the second catch tank are aligned in a vertical direction and at least partially overlap each other when viewed in the vertical direction, and the second catch tank is at a lower position than the first catch tank; and
an axial oil guide passage configured to receive oil splashed by the differential input gear and dropping from a meshing portion between the differential input gear and the second counter gear and guide the oil in an axial direction along the third axis to a tooth surface of the first counter gear.