Pinion lubrication structure of planetary gear mechanism

A pinion lubrication structure of a planetary gear mechanism that includes a pinion, a pinion shaft that rotatably supports the pinion, and a carrier that rotates around an axis, the pinion lubrication structure comprising:

• a hollow portion provided in the pinion shaft;
• an annular oil catcher supported by the carrier to collect oil so that the oil flows into the hollow portion, the oil being supplied outward in a radial direction from a central portion of the planetary gear mechanism;
• an oil gallery through which the oil is supplied to an inner peripheral surface of the pinion, the oil gallery extending from an inside of the hollow portion through the pinion shaft in the radial direction;
• and
• an aperture provided at an axial end of the pinion shaft to be connected to the hollow portion, a distance from the axis to an outer end of the aperture in the radial direction being smaller than a distance from the axis to an outer end of the hollow portion in the radial direction,
• wherein the annular oil catcher includes a tubular oil guide portion that is inserted into an opening provided at an axial end of the pinion shaft, and
• wherein the aperture is provided by a through-hole extending through an end wall of the pinion shaft in which the opening is provided.

A pinion lubrication structure of a planetary gear mechanism that includes a pinion, a pinion shaft that rotatably supports the pinion, and a carrier that rotates around an axis, the pinion lubrication structure comprising:

• a hollow portion provided in the pinion shaft;
• an annular oil catcher supported by the carrier to collect oil so that the oil flows into the hollow portion, the oil being supplied outward in a radial direction from a central portion of the planetary gear mechanism;
• an oil gallery through which the oil is supplied to an inner peripheral surface of the pinion, the oil gallery extending from an inside of the hollow portion through the pinion shaft in the radial direction;
• and
• an aperture provided at an axial end of the pinion shaft to be connected to the hollow portion, a distance from the axis to an outer end of the aperture in the radial direction being smaller than a distance from the axis to an outer end of the hollow portion in the radial direction,
• wherein the annular oil catcher includes a tubular oil guide portion that is inserted into an opening provided at an axial end of the pinion shaft, and
• wherein the aperture which connects the hollow portion in the pinion shaft and an outside of the pinion shaft is located more outward than the tubular oil guide portion in the radial direction.