# US 10,371,254 B2 · Vehicle drive device

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- Number: US 10,371,254 B2
- Document ID: US10371254B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 14/902,177
- Filed: 2014-08-28
- Published: 2016-09-29
- Granted: 2019-08-06
- Earliest claimed: 2013-08-29
- Assignees: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Aisin Aw Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Taisuke Fukui; Satoru Kasuya; Nobukazu Ike; Masashi Kito; Seigo Kano
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10371254B2

## CPC

- F16H 61/0031: {using auxiliary pumps, e.g. pump driven by a different power source than the engine}
- F16H 37/0813: {with only one input shaft}
- F16H 57/02: Gearboxes; Mounting gearing therein
- F16H 57/023: Mounting or installation of gears or shafts in the gearboxes, e.g. methods or means for assembly
- F16H 57/04: Features relating to lubrication or cooling {or heating} (control of lubrication or cooling in hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4165)
- F16H 57/0439: {using multiple pumps with different power sources or a single pump with different power sources, e.g. one and the same pump may selectively be driven by either the engine or an electric motor}
- F16H 57/0441: {Arrangements of pumps}
- F16H 57/0404: {Lubricant filters}
- F16H 61/0028: {using a single pump driven by different power sources}
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

A vehicle drive device that includes an input member that is drivingly connected to a driving force source for wheels; a hydraulic transmission device that includes a transmission input member coaxially disposed with the input member and changes a speed of rotation of the transmission input member and transmits the rotation to a transmission output member; a differential gear device that has an axis different from an axis of the input member and distributes a drive force transmitted from the transmission output member to the wheels; a case that houses at least the transmission device and the differential gear device; an electric oil pump that is driven by a pump rotary electric machine; and a hydraulic control device that controls a hydraulic pressure of oil discharged from the electric oil pump and supplies the oil at least to the transmission device.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle drive device for a vehicle configured with a combustion engine as a driving source, the vehicle drive device comprising:
a hydraulic transmission device that includes a transmission input member, the hydraulic transmission device configured to change a speed of rotation of the transmission input member and transmits the rotation to a transmission output member;
a differential gear device that has an axis different from an axis of the transmission input member and configured to distribute a drive force transmitted from the transmission output member to left and right shafts such that the left and right shafts can rotate at different speeds from each other;
a sealed case that houses at least the transmission device and the differential gear device;
an electric oil pump that is driven by a pump rotary electric machine; and
a hydraulic control device that controls a hydraulic pressure of oil discharged from the electric oil pump and supplies the oil at least to the transmission device, wherein
the electric oil pump and the pump rotary electric machine are housed in the case,
the transmission device, the differential gear device, and the pump rotary electric machine are disposed such that a transmission axial center that is a rotation axial center of the transmission input member, a differential axial center that is a rotation axial center of the differential gear device, and a pump axial center that is a rotation axial center of the pump rotary electric machine are parallel to one another,
the differential gear device is disposed such that the differential axial center is located below the transmission axial center and the differential axial center is not located on a vertical plane passing through the transmission axial center when viewed in an axial direction parallel to the axial centers in a vehicle mounted state,
the hydraulic control device is disposed such that the vertical plane is between the hydraulic control device and the differential axial center when viewed in the axial direction,
the pump rotary electric machine is disposed such that the pump axial center is located below the transmission axial center and between the transmission axial center and the hydraulic control device when viewed in the axial direction, and
the pump rotary electric machine is disposed so as not to overlap any of the transmission device and the hydraulic control device when viewed in the axial direction.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive device according to claim 1, wherein
at least a part of the pump rotary electric machine is located below an oil level of oil stored in the case.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive device according to claim 1, further comprising
a strainer for filtering oil, wherein
the strainer is located below the transmission axial center and between the differential axial center and the electric oil pump when viewed in the axial direction.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive device according to claim 1, further comprising
a mechanical oil pump that is driven by the driving force source, wherein
the mechanical oil pump is disposed such that a rotation axial center of the mechanical oil pump is located below the transmission axial center and between the transmission axial center and the hydraulic control device when viewed in the axial direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 2)

The vehicle drive device according to claim 2, further comprising
a strainer for filtering oil, wherein
the strainer is located below the transmission axial center and between the differential axial center and the electric oil pump when viewed in the axial direction.

### Claim 6 (depends on 2)

The vehicle drive device according to claim 2, further comprising
a mechanical oil pump that is driven by the driving force source, wherein
the mechanical oil pump is disposed such that a rotation axial center of the mechanical oil pump is located below the transmission axial center and between the transmission axial center and the hydraulic control device when viewed in the axial direction.

### Claim 7 (depends on 3)

The vehicle drive device according to claim 3, further comprising
a mechanical oil pump that is driven by the driving force source, wherein
the mechanical oil pump is disposed such that a rotation axial center of the mechanical oil pump is located below the transmission axial center and between the transmission axial center and the hydraulic control device when viewed in the axial direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 5)

The vehicle drive device according to claim 5, further comprising
a mechanical oil pump that is driven by the driving force source, wherein
the mechanical oil pump is disposed such that a rotation axial center of the mechanical oil pump is located below the transmission axial center and between the transmission axial center and the hydraulic control device when viewed in the axial direction.
