Power transmission apparatus for vehicle and vehicle-driving electric machinery system using the same

• US 20050143210A1
• Filed: 10/22/2004
• Published: 06/30/2005
• Est. Priority Date: 10/23/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Original Assignee: Hitachi, Ltd.
• Inventors: Tanaka, Yoshikazu, Sekiguchi, Hideki, Miyamoto, Shogo, Hamai, Kyugo
• Granted Patent: US 7,244,210 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/150
• CPC Class Codes: 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; electric transmission arrangements B60K17/12; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles per se B60L; current-collectors for power supply lines of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/04 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of gearing electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/16 of differential gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/36 characterised by the transmission gearings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/44 Series-parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/547 the transmission being a stepped gearing
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/10 one of the members being internally toothed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/082 characterised by the arrangement of output shafts
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/405 characterised by features of the bearing of the rotating case
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/423 characterised by bearing arrangement
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/08 comprising bevel gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/42 characterised by features of the input shafts, e.g. mounting of drive gears thereon
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

The invention provides a power transmission apparatus for vehicle which can realize a high torque transmission efficiency and a high reduction gear ratio of a reduction gear unit with a more compact structure, and a vehicle-driving electric machinery system using the power transmission apparatus for vehicle. The power transmission apparatus for vehicle comprises a motor, a reduction gear unit for decelerating power outputted from the motor, and a differential gear unit for distributing the power decelerated by the reduction gear unit to left and right wheels. The reduction gear unit is a reduction gear mechanism including a plurality of gears mounted over a shaft which is rotatably held by a housing in a fixed position. The reduction gear unit and the differential gear unit are arranged within an area in oppositely facing relation to an axial end surface of the motor.

Claims

1. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle comprising a motor, a reduction gear unit for decelerating power outputted from said motor, and a differential gear unit for distributing the torque power decelerated by said reduction gear unit to left and right wheels, wherein:

said reduction gear unit is a reduction gear mechanism including a rotary shaft which is rotatably held by a housing and over which a plurality of gears are mounted in parallel, and

said reduction gear unit and said differential gear unit are arranged within an area in oppositely facing relation to an axial end surface of said motor.

2. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said reduction gear unit comprises at least one gear shaft parallel to an axis of an output shaft of said motor, and gears mounted over said gear shaft and included in said differential gear unit, and

an axis of said differential gear unit is coaxially with the axis of the output shaft of said motor.

3. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle according to claim 2, further comprising an oil pump disposed in said reduction gear unit,

wherein said oil pump is driven by said gear shaft which is rotated by the decelerated torque power outputted from said motor.

4. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1, further comprising a parking mechanism made up of a parking gear, a parking pawl, a pawl shaft, a cam, a rod, and a manual shaft,

wherein said parking pawl, said pawl shaft, said cam, said rod, and said manual shaft are arranged within said reduction gear unit substantially along a circumference about an axis of said motor along which a shaft of said reduction gear unit is arranged.

5. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein an inverter for supplying voltage to said motor is mounted to said motor and said reduction gear unit, and

said inverter is cooled by a cooling system for said motor.

6. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein a ring gear of said differential gear unit is arranged between an axis of an output shaft of said motor and a gear shaft of said reduction gear unit in the radial direction of said motor.

7. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein bearings for supporting both ends of said differential gear unit are arranged inside an outer diameter of said motor.

8. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle according to claim 1, wherein,

an output shaft of said motor, and a first shaft and a second shaft of said reduction gear unit each has an axis of rotation,

when the vehicle runs forward, a tangential force is generated, in a direction perpendicular to a line connecting the output shaft axis and the first reduction gear shaft axis, at a mesh point between a gear mounted over the output shaft of said motor and a gear mounted over the first shaft of said reduction gear unit, and,

the axis of the second shaft of said reduction gear unit is arranged on a side of said line between the output shaft axis and the first reduction gear axis which is in the same direction as the direction of the tangential force.

9. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle for transmitting power outputted from a power supply source to axles of vehicle wheels, said power transmission apparatus for vehicle comprising:

a motor constituting said power supply source;

a reduction gear unit for receiving and decelerating the power outputted from said motor; and

a differential gear unit for receiving the torque power from said reduction gear unit and distributing the received torque power to at least two outputs, wherein;

said reduction gear unit is a gear mechanism mechanically connected to said motor and said differential gear unit,

said gear mechanism includes a rotary shaft over which a plurality of gears are mounted and which is arranged parallel to at least an output shaft of said motor, and

said reduction gear unit and said differential gear unit are arranged within an area in oppositely facing relation to an axial end surface of said motor.

10. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said motor, said reduction gear unit, and said differential gear unit are disposed within a housing, and

output shafts of said differential gear unit have ends extended externally of said housing such that said axles are mechanically connectable to said ends.

11. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle according to claim 9, wherein said gear mechanism includes at least two rotary shafts,

at least two gears are mounted over each of said rotary shafts,

said rotary shafts are arranged parallel to each other and are arranged parallel to at least an output shaft of said motor,

one of said gears mounted over one of said rotary shafts is mechanically connected to the output shaft of said motor,

one of said gears mounted over the other of said rotary shafts is mechanically connected to the input side of said differential gear unit, and

the other of said gears mounted over one of said rotary shafts is mechanically connected to the other of said gears mounted over the other of said rotary shafts.

12. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said rotary shafts are arranged parallel to output shafts of said differential gear unit,

the output shaft of said motor is a hollow shaft, and

one of output shafts of said differential gear unit is inserted through said hollow shaft.

13. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle according to claim 9, wherein at least two gears are mounted over said rotary shaft,

said rotary shaft is arranged perpendicularly to output shafts of said differential gear unit,

one of said gears is constituted by a spur gear and is mechanically connected to the output shaft of said motor, and

the other of said gears is constituted by a bevel gear and is mechanically connected to the input side of said differential gear unit.

14. A vehicle-driving electric machinery system for transmitting power to axles of vehicle wheels and driving a vehicle, said vehicle-driving electric machinery system comprising:

a motor driven by a vehicle-loaded electric power supply source serving as a driving source, and generating the torque power; and

a power transmission apparatus for vehicle for transmitting the power outputted from said motor to said axles,

said power transmission apparatus for vehicle comprising;

a reduction gear unit for receiving and decelerating the power outputted from said motor; and

a differential gear unit for receiving the power from said reduction gear unit and distributing the received power to at least two outputs, wherein;

said power transmission apparatus for vehicle is arranged within an area in oppositely facing relation to an axial end surface of said motor,

said power transmission apparatus for vehicle is disposed in a housing together with said motor to constitute one unit,

said axles are mechanically connected to ends of output shafts of said differential gear unit,

said reduction gear unit is a gear mechanism including a rotary shaft over which a plurality of gears are mounted and which is arranged parallel to at least an output shaft of said motor, and

said reduction gear unit mechanically connects said motor and said differential gear unit to each other.

15. A vehicle-driving electric machinery system according to claim 14, wherein said vehicle-loaded electric power supply source is a battery,

said motor is an AC motor, and

the torque power outputted from said motor is controlled in accordance with operation of an electric power converter for receiving DC power supplied from said battery and converting the DC power into AC power.

16. A vehicle-driving electric machinery system according to claim 15, wherein said electric power converter is mounted to said housing and is cooled by a coolant used for cooling said motor.

17. A vehicle-driving electric machinery system according to claim 15, wherein said motor constitutes a driving source for the vehicle together with an internal combustion engine mounted in the vehicle.

18. A vehicle-driving electric machinery system according to claim 17, wherein said motor drives ones of said vehicle wheels which differ from the others driven by said internal combustion engine for rotation.

19. A power transmission apparatus for vehicle comprising a motor, a reduction gear unit including at least two shafts parallel to an axis of said motor and decelerating power outputted from said motor, and a differential gear unit for distributing the power decelerated by said reduction gear unit to left and right wheels, wherein:

an output shaft of said motor, and a first shaft and a second shaft of said reduction gear unit each has an axis of rotation,

when the vehicle runs forward, a tangential force is generated, in a direction perpendicular to a line connecting the output shaft axis and the first reduction gear shaft axis, at a mesh point between a gear mounted over the output shaft of said motor and a gear mounted over the first shaft of said reduction gear unit, and,

the axis of the second shaft of said reduction gear unit is arranged on a side of said line between the output shaft axis and the first reduction gear axis which is in the same direction as the direction of the tangential force.

20. A vehicle-driving electric machinery system for transmitting power to axles of vehicle wheels and driving a vehicle, said vehicle-driving electric machinery system comprising:

a motor driven by a vehicle-loaded electric power supply source serving as a driving source, and generating the power; and

a power transmission apparatus for vehicle for transmitting the power outputted from said motor to said axles,

said power transmission apparatus for vehicle comprising;

said motor;

a reduction gear unit including at least two shafts parallel to an axis of said motor and decelerating the torque power outputted from said motor; and

a differential gear unit for distributing the power decelerated by said reduction gear unit to left and right wheels, wherein;

an output shaft of said motor, and of a first shaft and a second shaft of said reduction gear unit each has an axis of rotation,

when the vehicle runs forward, a tangential force is generated, in a direction perpendicular to a line connecting the output shaft axis and the first reduction gear shaft axis, at a mesh point between a gear mounted over the output shaft of said motor and a gear mounted over the first shaft of said reduction gear unit, and

the axis of the second shaft of said reduction gear unit is arranged on a side of said line between the output shaft axis and the first reduction gear axis which is in the same direction as the direction of the tangential force.