# US 11,898,630 B2 · Vehicle drive apparatus

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- Number: US 11,898,630 B2
- Document ID: US11898630B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 17/639,538
- Filed: 2020-09-29
- Published: 2022-10-06
- Granted: 2024-02-13
- Earliest claimed: 2019-11-14
- Assignees: Aisin Corporation
- Applicants: Aisin Corporation
- Inventors: Ryohei Inoue
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11898630B2

## CPC

- F16H 57/0441: {Arrangements of pumps}
- F16H 57/0483: {Axle or inter-axle differentials}
- B60K 1/00: Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00)
- B60K 6/40: characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
- B60K 17/165: {provided between independent half axles (B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence)}
- F16H 57/037: Gearboxes for accommodating differential gearings (rotating cases for differential gearings F16H48/40)
- F16H 57/0404: {Lubricant filters}
- F16H 57/0423: {Lubricant guiding means mounted or supported on the casing, e.g. shields or baffles for collecting lubricant, tubes or pipes}
- F16H 57/043: {within rotary parts, e.g. axial channels or radial openings in shafts}
- 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 57/0476: {Electric machines and gearing, i.e. joint lubrication or cooling or heating thereof}
- F16H 63/3416: {Parking lock mechanisms or brakes in the transmission}
- H02K 7/006: {Structural association of a motor or generator with the drive train of a motor vehicle}
- H02K 9/19: for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil
- B60K 11/02: with liquid cooling
- B60K 2001/001: {one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle}
- B60K 2001/006: {the electric motors}
- B60Y 2306/03: Lubrication
- B60Y 2400/61: Arrangements of controllers for electric machines, e.g. inverters
- F16H 2057/02034: {Gearboxes combined or connected with electric machines}
- F16H 2057/02052: {Axle units; Transfer casings for four wheel drive}
- H02K 7/116: with gears
- F16H: GEARING
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53})
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

A rotating electrical machine and an input member are placed on a first axis, a counter gear mechanism is placed on a second axis, and a differential gear mechanism is placed on a third axis. The input member, the counter gear mechanism, and the differential gear mechanism have portions placed on an axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine. A pump portion is placed on the opposite side of an imaginary plane passing through the first axis and the third axis from the second axis, and is placed at a location that overlaps at least one of the rotating electrical machine and the differential gear mechanism in an axial view. The pump portion is placed on the axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A vehicle drive apparatus comprising:
a rotating electrical machine provided with a rotor and a stator;
an input member drivingly coupled to the rotor;
a counter gear mechanism;
a differential gear mechanism that distributes, to a first wheel and a second wheel, a driving force transmitted thereto from the rotating electrical machine via the input member and the counter gear mechanism;
a case that houses the rotating electrical machine, the input member, the counter gear mechanism, and the differential gear mechanism;
a pump portion that suctions a coolant and discharges the coolant into the case;
a parking gear that is provided in the counter gear mechanism or the input member; and
a parking lock mechanism that is configured to be locked with the parking gear, wherein
the rotating electrical machine and the input member are placed on a first axis,
the counter gear mechanism is placed on a second axis different from the first axis,
the differential gear mechanism is placed on a third axis different from the first axis and the second axis,
the input member, the counter gear mechanism, and the differential gear mechanism have portions that are placed on an axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine, the axial first side being one side in an axial direction,
a side opposite the axial first side in the axial direction is defined as an axial second side,
the differential gear mechanism is coupled to the first wheel via a shaft member on the third axis, the shaft member having a portion placed on the axial second side with respect to the differential gear mechanism,
the pump portion is placed on an opposite side of an imaginary plane from the second axis and at a location that overlaps at least one of the rotating electrical machine and the differential gear mechanism in an axial view that is along the axial direction, the imaginary plane passing through the first axis and the third axis,
the pump portion is placed on the axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine, and
the parking lock mechanism is placed on a same side of the imaginary plane as the second axis and is placed at a location that overlaps the rotating electrical machine in the axial view.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein a placement region of the pump portion in the axial direction overlaps a placement region of the counter gear mechanism in the axial direction.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the coolant discharged by the pump portion is supplied to the rotating electrical machine.

### Claim 4 (depends on 3)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 3, further comprising a coolant supply portion that supplies the stator with the coolant discharged by the pump portion, wherein
the coolant supply portion is provided with a supply pipe that is placed in such a manner as to extend along the axial direction and to face the stator in a radial direction, and
the supply pipe has a flow channel formed therein to cause the coolant to flow therethrough and is provided with a supply hole that supplies the coolant toward the stator.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the second axis is placed on an upper side with respect to the first axis and the third axis.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein the first axis is placed on an upper side with respect to the third axis.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising an inverter that drives the rotating electrical machine, wherein
the inverter is placed on an upper side with respect to the rotating electrical machine in such a manner as to overlap the rotating electrical machine in a vertical view that is along a vertical direction.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1, further comprising a strainer that filters the coolant to be suctioned by the pump portion, wherein
the strainer is placed on a same side of the imaginary plane as the pump portion and is placed at a location that overlaps neither the rotating electrical machine nor the differential gear mechanism in the axial view.

### Claim 9 (depends on 8)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 8, wherein
in the axial view, a side on which the first axis is placed with respect to the third axis in a horizontal direction is defined as a horizontal first side, and
the pump portion and the strainer are placed on a lower side with respect to the first axis and the second axis, and are placed on the horizontal first side with respect to the third axis in the axial view.

### Claim 10 (depends on 9)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 9, wherein
the pump portion is defined as a first pump portion, and the vehicle drive apparatus further includes a second pump portion that suctions the coolant and discharges the coolant into the case,
the counter gear mechanism is provided with a gear group, a differential case portion that encloses the gear group, and a differential input gear that meshes with a gear provided in the counter gear mechanism and that rotates as a unit with the differential case portion,
the first pump portion is driven by a dedicated driving-force source independent of a force transmission path that connects the rotating electrical machine to the first wheel and the second wheel,
the second pump portion is driven by rotation of the differential case portion,
the second pump portion is placed in such a manner as to overlap the differential input gear in the axial view,
the strainer is placed on the horizontal first side with respect to the second pump portion in the axial view, and
the first pump portion is placed on an upper side with respect to the strainer and on the horizontal first side with respect to the differential gear mechanism in the axial view.

### Claim 11 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the counter gear mechanism is provided with the parking gear,
in the axial view, the first axis, the second axis, and the third axis are placed in this order from one side to another side in a horizontal direction,
in the axial view, a side on which the first axis is placed with respect to the third axis in the horizontal direction is defined as a horizontal first side, and
in the axial view, at least part of the parking lock mechanism that is configured to be locked with the parking gear is placed on the horizontal first side with respect to the counter gear mechanism.

### Claim 12 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the pump portion is placed inside the case.

### Claim 13 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
an imaginary line segment connecting the first axis and the second axis in the axial view is defined as a first line segment and an imaginary line segment connecting the second axis and the third axis in the axial view is defined as a second line segment, and
an angle formed by the first line segment and the second line segment is acute.

### Claim 14 (depends on 13)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 13, wherein
an imaginary line segment connecting the first axis and the third axis in the axial view is defined as a third line segment, and
the angle formed by the first line segment and the second line segment is greater than an angle formed by the first line segment and the third line segment, and is greater than an angle formed by the second line segment and the third line segment.

### Claim 15 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
a gear group that structures the differential gear mechanism is placed on the axial first side with respect to the stator.

### Claim 16 (depends on 1)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 1, wherein
the counter gear mechanism is provided with a first gear that meshes with an input gear that rotates as a unit with the input member, and a second gear that meshes with a differential input gear that is provided in the differential gear mechanism, and
the second gear and the differential input gear are placed on the axial second side with respect to the first gear and the input gear.

### Claim 17 (depends on 16)

The vehicle drive apparatus according to claim 16, wherein
the differential gear mechanism is provided with a pinion shaft that extends along a direction perpendicular to the axial direction, and
a center axis of the pinion shaft is placed on the axial first side with respect to the differential input gear.

### Claim 18

A vehicle drive apparatus comprising:
a rotating electrical machine provided with a rotor and a stator;
an input member drivingly coupled to the rotor;
a counter gear mechanism;
a differential gear mechanism that distributes, to a first wheel and a second wheel, a driving force transmitted thereto from the rotating electrical machine via the input member and the counter gear mechanism;
a case that houses the rotating electrical machine, the input member, the counter gear mechanism, and the differential gear mechanism; and
a pump portion that suctions a coolant and discharges the coolant into the case, wherein
the rotating electrical machine and the input member are placed on a first axis,
the counter gear mechanism is placed on a second axis different from the first axis,
the differential gear mechanism is placed on a third axis different from the first axis and the second axis,
the input member, the counter gear mechanism, and the differential gear mechanism have portions that are placed on an axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine, the axial first side being one side in an axial direction,
a side opposite the axial first side in the axial direction is defined as an axial second side,
the differential gear mechanism is coupled to the first wheel via a shaft member on the third axis, the shaft member having a portion placed on the axial second side with respect to the differential gear mechanism,
the pump portion is placed on an opposite side of an imaginary plane from the second axis and at a location that overlaps at least one of the rotating electrical machine and the differential gear mechanism in an axial view that is along the axial direction, the imaginary plane passing through the first axis and the third axis,
the pump portion is placed on the axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine, and
the coolant discharged by the pump portion is supplied to the rotating electrical machine.

### Claim 19

A vehicle drive apparatus comprising:
a rotating electrical machine provided with a rotor and a stator;
an inverter that drives the rotating electrical machine;
an input member drivingly coupled to the rotor;
a counter gear mechanism;
a differential gear mechanism that distributes, to a first wheel and a second wheel, a driving force transmitted thereto from the rotating electrical machine via the input member and the counter gear mechanism;
a case that houses the rotating electrical machine, the input member, the counter gear mechanism, and the differential gear mechanism; and
a pump portion that suctions a coolant and discharges the coolant into the case, wherein
the rotating electrical machine and the input member are placed on a first axis,
the counter gear mechanism is placed on a second axis different from the first axis,
the differential gear mechanism is placed on a third axis different from the first axis and the second axis,
the input member, the counter gear mechanism, and the differential gear mechanism have portions that are placed on an axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine, the axial first side being one side in an axial direction,
a side opposite the axial first side in the axial direction is defined as an axial second side,
the differential gear mechanism is coupled to the first wheel via a shaft member on the third axis, the shaft member having a portion placed on the axial second side with respect to the differential gear mechanism,
the pump portion is placed on an opposite side of an imaginary plane from the second axis and at a location that overlaps at least one of the rotating electrical machine and the differential gear mechanism in an axial view that is along the axial direction, the imaginary plane passing through the first axis and the third axis,
the pump portion is placed on the axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine, and
the inverter is placed on an upper side with respect to the rotating electrical machine in such a manner as to overlap the rotating electrical machine in a vertical view that is along a vertical direction.

### Claim 20

A vehicle drive apparatus comprising:
a rotating electrical machine provided with a rotor and a stator;
an input member drivingly coupled to the rotor;
a counter gear mechanism;
a differential gear mechanism that distributes, to a first wheel and a second wheel, a driving force transmitted thereto from the rotating electrical machine via the input member and the counter gear mechanism;
a case that houses the rotating electrical machine, the input member, the counter gear mechanism, and the differential gear mechanism;
a pump portion that suctions a coolant and discharges the coolant into the case; and
a strainer that filters the coolant to be suctioned by the pump portion, wherein
the rotating electrical machine and the input member are placed on a first axis,
the counter gear mechanism is placed on a second axis different from the first axis,
the differential gear mechanism is placed on a third axis different from the first axis and the second axis,
the input member, the counter gear mechanism, and the differential gear mechanism have portions that are placed on an axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine, the axial first side being one side in an axial direction,
a side opposite the axial first side in the axial direction is defined as an axial second side,
the differential gear mechanism is coupled to the first wheel via a shaft member on the third axis, the shaft member having a portion placed on the axial second side with respect to the differential gear mechanism,
the pump portion is placed on an opposite side of an imaginary plane from the second axis and at a location that overlaps at least one of the rotating electrical machine and the differential gear mechanism in an axial view that is along the axial direction, the imaginary plane passing through the first axis and the third axis,
the pump portion is placed on the axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine, and
the strainer is placed on a same side of the imaginary plane as the pump portion and is placed at a location that overlaps neither the rotating electrical machine nor the differential gear mechanism in the axial view.

### Claim 21

A vehicle drive apparatus comprising:
a rotating electrical machine provided with a rotor and a stator;
an input member drivingly coupled to the rotor;
a counter gear mechanism;
a differential gear mechanism that distributes, to a first wheel and a second wheel, a driving force transmitted thereto from the rotating electrical machine via the input member and the counter gear mechanism;
a case that houses the rotating electrical machine, the input member, the counter gear mechanism, and the differential gear mechanism; and
a pump portion that suctions a coolant and discharges the coolant into the case, wherein
the rotating electrical machine and the input member are placed on a first axis,
the counter gear mechanism is placed on a second axis different from the first axis,
the differential gear mechanism is placed on a third axis different from the first axis and the second axis,
the input member, the counter gear mechanism, and the differential gear mechanism have portions that are placed on an axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine, the axial first side being one side in an axial direction,
a side opposite the axial first side in the axial direction is defined as an axial second side,
the differential gear mechanism is coupled to the first wheel via a shaft member on the third axis, the shaft member having a portion placed on the axial second side with respect to the differential gear mechanism,
the pump portion is placed on an opposite side of an imaginary plane from the second axis and at a location that overlaps at least one of the rotating electrical machine and the differential gear mechanism in an axial view that is along the axial direction, the imaginary plane passing through the first axis and the third axis,
the pump portion is placed on the axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine,
an imaginary line segment connecting the first axis and the second axis in the axial view is defined as a first line segment and an imaginary line segment connecting the second axis and the third axis in the axial view is defined as a second line segment, and
an angle formed by the first line segment and the second line segment is acute.

### Claim 22

A vehicle drive apparatus comprising:
a rotating electrical machine provided with a rotor and a stator;
an input member drivingly coupled to the rotor;
a counter gear mechanism;
a differential gear mechanism that distributes, to a first wheel and a second wheel, a driving force transmitted thereto from the rotating electrical machine via the input member and the counter gear mechanism;
a case that houses the rotating electrical machine, the input member, the counter gear mechanism, and the differential gear mechanism; and
a pump portion that suctions a coolant and discharges the coolant into the case, wherein
the rotating electrical machine and the input member are placed on a first axis,
the counter gear mechanism is placed on a second axis different from the first axis,
the differential gear mechanism is placed on a third axis different from the first axis and the second axis,
the input member, the counter gear mechanism, and the differential gear mechanism have portions that are placed on an axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine, the axial first side being one side in an axial direction,
a side opposite the axial first side in the axial direction is defined as an axial second side,
the differential gear mechanism is coupled to the first wheel via a shaft member on the third axis, the shaft member having a portion placed on the axial second side with respect to the differential gear mechanism,
the pump portion is placed on an opposite side of an imaginary plane from the second axis and at a location that overlaps at least one of the rotating electrical machine and the differential gear mechanism in an axial view that is along the axial direction, the imaginary plane passing through the first axis and the third axis,
the pump portion is placed on the axial first side with respect to the rotating electrical machine,
the counter gear mechanism is provided with a first gear that meshes with an input gear that rotates as a unit with the input member, and a second gear that meshes with a differential input gear that is provided in the differential gear mechanism, and
the second gear and the differential input gear are placed on the axial second side with respect to the first gear and the input gear.