Transaxle

A transaxle comprising:

• a planetary gear reducer;
• a differential device;
• and
• a transaxle case for housing the planetary gear reducer and the differential device, wherein:
• the transaxle is configured to transmit drive force of an electric motor to an axle via the planetary gear reducer and the differential device;
• and
• the planetary gear reducer includes
• a stepped pinion including a pinion shaft with which a large diameter pinion and a small diameter pinion are integrated, the large diameter pinion configured to mesh with a sun gear provided in an output shaft of the electric motor, and the small diameter pinion configured to mesh with a ring gear fixed to the transaxle case,
• a first needle bearing fitted to a part of a shaft surface from a first end of the pinion shaft to the large diameter pinion, the first end located closer to the large diameter pinion than to the small diameter pinion,
• a second needle bearing fitted to a part of the shaft surface from a second end of the pinion shaft to the small diameter pinion, the second end located closer to the small diameter pinion than to the large diameter pinion, and
• a carrier configured to support the stepped pinion via the first needle bearing and the second needle bearing such that the stepped pinion is rotatable with respect to the carrier, and to couple the stepped pinion and the differential device, the carrier including a first stopper configured to restrict movement of the stepped pinion in a direction toward the first end, the first stopper being a first bearing boss portion into which the first needle bearing is fitted.

A transaxle comprising:

• a first thrust washer or a first thrust bearing and a second thrust washer or a second thrust bearing;
• a planetary gear reducer;
• a differential device;
• and
• a transaxle case for housing the planetary gear reducer and the differential device, wherein:
• the transaxle is configured to transmit drive force of an electric motor to an axle via the planetary gear reducer and the differential device;
• and
• the planetary gear reducer includes
• a stepped pinion including a pinion shaft with which a large diameter pinion and a small diameter pinion are integrated, the large diameter pinion configured to mesh with a sun gear provided in an output shaft of the electric motor, and the small diameter pinion configured to mesh with a ring gear fixed to the transaxle case,
• a first needle bearing fitted to a part of a shaft surface from a first end of the pinion shaft to the large diameter pinion, the first end located closer to the large diameter pinion than to the small diameter pinion,
• a second needle bearing fitted to a part of a shaft surface from a second end of the pinion shaft to the small diameter pinion, the second end located closer to the small diameter pinion than to the large diameter pinion, and
• a carrier configured to support the stepped pinion via the first needle bearing and the second needle bearing such that the stepped pinion is rotatable with respect to the carrier, and to couple the stepped pinion and the differential device, wherein:
• the carrier includes a first stopper and a second stopper, the first stopper configured to restrict movement of the stepped pinion in a direction toward the first end, and the second stopper configured to restrict movement of the stepped pinion in a direction toward the second end;
• the stepped pinion includes a first facing surface facing the first stopper and a second facing surface facing the second stopper;
• the first thrust washer or the first thrust bearing is provided between the first stopper and the first facing surface;
• the second thrust washer or the second thrust bearing is provided between the second stopper and the second facing surface;
• the first stopper is a first bearing boss portion into which the first needle bearing is fitted;
• and
• the first facing surface is provided in the large diameter pinion.