Drive apparatus for electric vehicle

Abstract

A drive apparatus for an electric vehicle comprises a motor (1), a gear section (9) for transmitting rotation of a rotor shaft (2) of the motor to a wheel, and a case (10, 90) for accommodating the motor and the gear section. The case has a partition (12) that separates a motor chamber (m) for accommodating the motor and a gear chamber (g) for accommodating the gear section, and the partition has an orifice (53) that connects a lower portion of the motor chamber and the gear chamber. Supplying means (5) is provided for supplying oil from the gear chamber into the motor chamber in accordance with rotation of the gear section. Through the operation of the orifice, oil gathers in a lower portion of the motor chamber and, thus, the motor chamber serves as a reservoir. Thus, while employing a light-weight and compact-size construction that does not comprise an oil reservoir, the drive apparatus secures a sufficient amount of lubricating oil during stop of the vehicle, and reduces the stirring loss of the gear section and cools the motor with oil during the running of the vehicle.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.