# US 12,007,008 B2 · Left-right wheel driving device > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,007,008 B2 - Document ID: US12007008B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/434,695 - Filed: 2019-12-24 - Published: 2022-06-23 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-03-28 - Assignees: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Applicants: Mitsubishi Jidosha Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha - Inventors: Motoharu Chiba; Kiminobu Terao; Naoki Takahashi - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12007008B2 ## CPC - F16H 48/36: characterised by intentionally generating speed difference between outputs - B60K 1/02: comprising more than one electric motor - B60K 17/165: {provided between independent half axles (B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence)} - F16H 57/04: Features relating to lubrication or cooling {or heating} (control of lubrication or cooling in hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4165) - F16H 57/0457: {Splash lubrication} - B60K 2001/001: {one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle} - B60Y 2200/91: Electric vehicles - F16H 1/08: the members having helical, herringbone, or like teeth - F16H 48/38: Constructional details (the outer casing comprising the differential and supporting input and output shafts F16H57/037) - F16H 2048/364: {using electric or hydraulic motors} - F16H 2057/02034: {Gearboxes combined or connected with electric machines} - 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 - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract A left-right wheel driving device (10) includes: a casing (15) including a reservoir (18) that stores oil; a suction port (19) that is disposed on the reservoir (18) and that sucks the oil from the reservoir (18); and two gears (34) that are each having helical teeth, that are supported so as to be rotatable about a rotating shaft (13) at least in one direction (D), that are provided on a power transmission path that transmits power to left and right wheels of a vehicle, and that are spaced apart from each other. The suction port (19) is positioned between the two gears (34). Each of the gears (34) is offset from the suction port in an axial direction of the rotating shaft (13), being in a state of being partially immersed in the oil stored in the reservoir (18). The helical teeth of each of the gears (34) extend in the one direction (D) and in a direction that departs from the suction port (19). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A left-right wheel driving device comprising: a casing including a bottom face portion and a reservoir that stores oil; a suction port that is disposed on the reservoir and that sucks the oil from the reservoir to outside of the casing; and two gears that are each having helical teeth, that are supported so as to be rotatable at least in one rotation direction around respective two rotating shafts which have a same rotation center, that are provided on a power transmission path that transmits power to left and right wheels of a vehicle, and that are spaced apart from each other, and that are accommodated in the casing, wherein the reservoir is provided with a lower space formed in not a side portion but a center portion of the bottom face portion in an axial direction of the two rotating shafts, the lower space communicating in the axial direction, the center portion of the bottom face portion forms a straight cross section parallel to the two rotating shafts, the suction port is arranged at the lower space formed in the center portion and is positioned between the two gears and is arranged close to the two gears, each of the two gears is offset from the suction port in the axial direction, being in a state of being partially immersed in the oil stored in the reservoir, and a lower portion of each of the two gears is positioned in the lower space and the helical teeth of each of the two gears extend in the one rotation direction and in the axial direction that departs from the suction port. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The left-right wheel driving device according to claim 1, wherein the two gears serve as a first gear provided on a power transmission path of a first motor and a second gear provided on a power transmission path of a second motor, the first motor and the second motor driving the left and the right wheels. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The left-right wheel driving device according to claim 2, further comprising a gear mechanism that amplifies a torque difference between the first motor and the second motor and distributes torques having the amplified torque difference to the left and the right wheels, wherein the first gear and the second gear are arranged so as to sandwich the gear mechanism. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The left-right wheel driving device according claim 3, wherein the one rotation direction is a rotation direction that moves the vehicle forward. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The left-right wheel driving device according to claim 4, further comprising: an upstream gear that is provided on a first shaft into which power is input first; a first intermediate gear that is provided on a second shaft disposed in parallel to the first shaft and that meshes with the upstream gear; and a second intermediate gear that is provided on the second shaft and that has a diameter different from that of the first intermediate gear, wherein at least one of the two rotating shafts is disposed in parallel to the first shaft, at least one of the two gears is provided on a respective one of the two rotating shafts and meshes with the second intermediate gear, and each of the first intermediate gear and the second intermediate gear has helical teeth extending in an opposite direction to that of the helical teeth of a respective one of the two gears meshing with the second intermediate gear. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The left-right wheel driving device according to claim 3, further comprising: an upstream gear that is provided on a first shaft into which power is input first; a first intermediate gear that is provided on a second shaft disposed in parallel to the first shaft and that meshes with the upstream gear; and a second intermediate gear that is provided on the second shaft and that has a diameter different from that of the first intermediate gear, wherein at least one of the two rotating shafts is disposed in parallel to the first shaft, at least one of the two gears is provided on a respective one of the two rotating shafts and meshes with the second intermediate gear, and each of the first intermediate gear and the second intermediate gear has helical teeth extending in an opposite direction to that of the helical teeth of a respective one of the two gears meshing with the second intermediate gear. ### Claim 7 (depends on 2) The left-right wheel driving device according claim 2, wherein the one rotation direction is a rotation direction that moves the vehicle forward. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The left-right wheel driving device according to claim 7, further comprising: an upstream gear that is provided on a first shaft into which power is input first; a first intermediate gear that is provided on a second shaft disposed in parallel to the first shaft and that meshes with the upstream gear; and a second intermediate gear that is provided on the second shaft and that has a diameter different from that of the first intermediate gear, wherein at least one of the two rotating shafts is disposed in parallel to the first shaft, at least one of the two gears is provided on a respective one of the two rotating shafts and meshes with the second intermediate gear, and each of the first intermediate gear and the second intermediate gear has helical teeth extending in an opposite direction to that of the helical teeth of a respective one of the two gears meshing with the second intermediate gear. ### Claim 9 (depends on 2) The left-right wheel driving device according to claim 2, further comprising: an upstream gear that is provided on a first shaft into which power is input first; a first intermediate gear that is provided on a second shaft disposed in parallel to the first shaft and that meshes with the upstream gear; and a second intermediate gear that is provided on the second shaft and that has a diameter different from that of the first intermediate gear, wherein at least one of the two rotating shafts is disposed in parallel to the first shaft, at least one of the two gears is provided on a respective one of the two rotating shafts and meshes with the second intermediate gear, and each of the first intermediate gear and the second intermediate gear has helical teeth extending in an opposite direction to that of the helical teeth of a respective one of the two gears meshing with the second intermediate gear. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The left-right wheel driving device according to claim 1, wherein the one rotation direction is a rotation direction that moves the vehicle forward. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The left-right wheel driving device according to claim 10, further comprising: an upstream gear that is provided on a first shaft into which power is input first; a first intermediate gear that is provided on a second shaft disposed in parallel to the first shaft and that meshes with the upstream gear; and a second intermediate gear that is provided on the second shaft and that has a diameter different from that of the first intermediate gear, wherein at least one of the two rotating shafts is disposed in parallel to the first shaft, at least one of the two gears is provided on a respective one of the two rotating shafts and meshes with the second intermediate gear, and each of the first intermediate gear and the second intermediate gear has helical teeth extending in an opposite direction to that of the helical teeth of a respective one of the two gears meshing with the second intermediate gear. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The left-right wheel driving device according to claim 1, further comprising: an upstream gear that is provided on a first shaft into which power is input first; a first intermediate gear that is provided on a second shaft disposed in parallel to the first shaft and that meshes with the upstream gear; and a second intermediate gear that is provided on the second shaft and that has a diameter different from that of the first intermediate gear, wherein at least one of the two rotating shafts is disposed in parallel to the first shaft, at least one of the two gears is provided on a respective one of the two rotating shafts and meshes with the second intermediate gear, and each of the first intermediate gear and the second intermediate gear has helical teeth extending in an opposite direction to that of the helical teeth of a respective one of the two gears meshing with the second intermediate gear. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The left-right wheel driving device according to claim 1, wherein the reservoir is in a shape of a container and is recessed in the bottom face portion. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The left-right wheel driving device according to claim 1, further comprising an inlet that is disposed on the casing and injects the oil into the casing.