Hydraulic circuit device and hybrid drive system using that hydraulic circuit device

• US 7,637,336 B2
• Filed: 03/17/2006
• Issued: 12/29/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 03/22/2005
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Aisin AW Company Limited (Aisin Corp.), Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha (Toyota Motor Corporation)
• Inventors: Enomoto, Kazuhito, Maruyama, Tomoyuki, Nagashima, Nobuyuki, Mirua, Kiyotomo, Fujikawa, Masato, Ozaki, Kazuhisa, Adachi, Masatoshi, Wakuta, Satoru
• Primary Examiner(s): Restifo; Jeffrey J
• Application Number:
  US11/377,342
• Publication Number:
  US 20060231339A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,383 Days
• Field of Search: 180/69.1, 180/339, 123/196.A, 123/196.CP, 123/196.AB, 123/196.R, 184/6.9
• US Class Current: 180/69.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• 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 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0404 Lubricant filters
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0452 Oil pans
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/0476 Electric machines and gearing, i.e. joint lubrication or cooling or heating thereof
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 61/0009 Hydraulic control units for transmission control, e.g. assembly of valve plates or valve units
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

Drain holes are arranged in positions offset from valve holes of a valve body. The drain holes have a long chimney-shaped space such that even if insulation material, that has peeled off of an electric motor, is suspended in oil, it is less likely to enter drain chambers through the drain holes.

Claims

1. A hydraulic circuit device, comprising:

an oil pan at a lower portion of a case; and

a valve body arranged in the oil pan and at the lower portion of the case, comprising;

a valve hole;

a drain port;

a drain chamber fluidly connected to the drain port; and

a drain hole fluidly connecting the drain chamber with an external portion outside the valve body and in the oil pan, wherein the drain hole is arranged offset from the valve hole in a direction alternating with an axial direction of the valve hole.

2. The hydraulic circuit device according to claim 1, wherein the drain hole has a long chimney-shaped space.

3. The hydraulic circuit device according to claim 2, wherein a drain chamber side of the drain hole extends to substantially a same level as that of an upper end of the valve hole of the drain chamber.

4. The hydraulic circuit device according to claim 3, wherein a strainer is arranged in the oil pan;

and a covered upper surface of the strainer is arranged near an opening of the drain hole.

5. The hydraulic circuit device according to claim 4, wherein ridge portions are formed to a front and rear of the opening of the drain hole;

and a communicating passage that opens left and right is formed between the front and rear ridge portions.

6. The hydraulic circuit device according to claim 5, wherein the drain port of a valve is open during normal operation.

7. A hybrid drive system, comprising:

an electric motor, a transmission, and the hydraulic circuit device according to claim 6, wherein

the electric motor and the transmission are housed in the case and the valve body is arranged in the oil pan at the lower portion of the case; and

lubrication oil, a pressure of which has been regulated by a pressure regulating valve in the valve body, is circulated back to the oil pan after being supplied to the electric motor.

8. A hybrid drive system including a control electric motor, a power distributing planetary gear, a drive electric motor, and a transmission, in which the power distributing planetary gear includes a first element to which output from an internal combustion engine is transmitted, a second element connected to the control electric motor, and a third element connected to an output shaft, and output from the drive electric motor is transmitted to the output shaft via the transmission, the hybrid drive system comprising:

the hydraulic circuit device according to claim 6, wherein

the control electric motor, the power distributing planetary gear, the drive electric motor, and the transmission are housed in the case, and the valve body is arranged in the oil pan at the lower portion of the case, and

lubrication oil, a pressure of which has been regulated by a pressure regulating valve in the valve body, is circulated back to the oil pan after being supplied to the control electric motor and the drive electric motor.

9. The hybrid drive system according to claim 8, wherein the control electric motor, the power distributing planetary gear, the drive electric motor, the transmission, and the output shaft are all arranged on a single axis;

and the oil pan and the valve body are arranged in a lower portion of a motor case portion which houses the drive electric motor.

10. The hydraulic circuit device according to claim 1, wherein a strainer is arranged in the oil pan;

and a cover upper surface of the strainer is arranged near an opening of the drain hole.

11. The hydraulic circuit device according to claim 1, wherein ridge portions are formed to a front and rear of the opening of the drain hole;

and a communicating passage that opens left and right is formed between the front and rear ridge portions.

12. The hydraulic circuit device according to claim 1, wherein the drain port of a valve is open during normal operation.

13. A hybrid drive system, comprising:

an electric motor, a transmission, and the hydraulic circuit device according to claim 1, wherein

the electric motor and the transmission are housed in the case and the valve body is arranged in the oil pan at the lower portion of the case; and

lubrication oil, a pressure of which has been regulated by a pressure regulating valve in the valve body, is circulated back to the oil pan after being supplied to the electric motor.

14. A hybrid drive system including a control electric motor, a power distributing planetary gear, a drive electric motor, and a transmission, in which the power distributing planetary gear includes a first element to which output from an internal combustion engine is transmitted, a second element connected to the control electric motor, and a third element connected to an output shaft, and output from the drive electric motor is transmitted to the output shaft via the transmission, the hybrid drive system comprising:

the hydraulic circuit device according to claim 1, wherein

the control electric motor, the power distributing planetary gear, the drive electric motor, and the transmission are housed in the case, and the valve body is arranged in the oil pan at the lower portion of the case, and

lubrication oil, the pressure of which has been regulated by a pressure regulating valve in the valve body, is circulated back to the oil pan after being supplied to the control electric motor and the drive electric motor and cooling these motors.

15. The hybrid drive system according to claim 14, wherein the control electric motor, the power distributing planetary gear, the drive electric motor, the transmission, and the output shaft are all arranged on a single axis;

and the oil pan and the valve body are arranged in a lower portion of a motor case portion which houses the drive electric motor.

16. A valve body arranged in an oil pan, as part of a hydraulic circuit device, and at a lower portion of a case, the valve body comprising:

at least one drain chamber fluidly connected to a drain port, each drain chamber associated with a valve hole to which a valve is attached; and

a drain hole fluidly connected with at least one drain chamber and with an external portion outside the valve body and in the oil pan, wherein the drain hole is arranged in a position offset from the valve hole in a direction alternating with an axial direction of the valve hole.

17. The valve body according to claim 16, wherein the drain hole has a long chimney-shaped space.

18. The valve body according to claim 17, wherein a drain chamber side of the drain hole extends to substantially a same level as that of an upper end of the valve hole of the drain chamber.

19. The valve body according to claim 18, wherein a strainer is arranged in the oil pan;

and an opening of the drain hole is arranged near a covered upper surface of the strainer.

20. The valve body according to claim 19, wherein ridge portions are formed to a front and rear of the opening of the drain hole;

and a communicating passage that opens to each side is formed between the front and rear ridge portions.