Vehicle drive device

• US 8,997,956 B2
• Filed: 11/18/2010
• Issued: 04/07/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/19/2009
• Status: Active Grant

• 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: Iwase, Mikio, Suzuki, Tomohide, Jinnai, Naoya, Okishima, Tatsuya, Kamiya, Toshihiko, Miyazaki, Terufumi, Ideshio, Yukihiko
• Primary Examiner(s): Crawford, Gene
• Assistant Examiner(s): DODD, RYAN P
• Application Number:
  US12/926,447
• Publication Number:
  US 20110240431A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,601 Days
• Field of Search: 192/85.25, 192/85.38
• US Class Current: 192/3.26
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/26 characterised by the motors or the generators
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/387 Actuated clutches, i.e. clutches engaged or disengaged by electric, hydraulic or mechanical actuating means
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/36 Temperature of vehicle components or parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/486 Operating parameters
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/0638 with more than two discs, e.g. multiple lamellae
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2045/0284 Multiple disk type lock-up clutch
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 45/02 with mechanical clutches for bridging a fluid gearing of the hydrokinetic type control of torque converter lock-up clutches F16H61/14
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A rotary electric drive device for a vehicle configured to couple a combustion engine to a wheel. The drive device includes an engagement device selectively drivingly connecting the input member with the rotary electric machine and a fluid coupling. The engagement device includes a differential pressure generating chamber that receives oil supply so as to apply hydraulic pressure to a side of the pressing member opposite to a side to which hydraulic pressure for operation is applied. A body portion housing chamber housing a body portion of the fluid coupling and the differential pressure generating chamber are structured as oil chambers independent of each other. The drive device includes a coupling supply oil passage supplying oil to the body portion housing chamber and a differential pressure supply oil passage supplying the oil to the differential pressure generating chamber.

Claims

1. A drive device for a vehicle, comprising:

an input member drivingly connected to an internal combustion engine;

a rotary electric machine;

an output member that is configured to transmit torque from one or both of the internal combustion engine and the rotary electric machine;

a fluid coupling;

an engagement device that selectively switches between a state where the input member is connected with the rotary electric machine and the fluid coupling and a state where the input member is not connected with the rotary electric machine and the fluid coupling; and

a case configured by assembling a plurality of housings in order to house at least the rotary electric machine, the engagement device, and the fluid coupling, wherein

the engagement device includes an engagement member, a pressing member and a differential pressure generating chamber that is formed so as to apply hydraulic pressure toward a direction in which the engagement member is disengaged when oil is supplied to the differential pressure generating chamber,

a body portion housing chamber housing a body portion of the fluid coupling, the body portion housing chamber and the differential pressure generating chamber are structured as oil chambers separated from each other,

the drive device includes a coupling supply oil passage supplying oil to the body portion housing chamber and a differential pressure supply oil passage supplying the oil to the differential pressure generating chamber,

pressurized oil that is regulated to a respective predetermined pressure level by a hydraulic pressure control device is supplied to each of the coupling supply oil passage and the differential pressure supply oil passage, and

the differential pressure generating chamber communicate with an oil passage for discharging oil from the differential pressure generating chamber and communicates with the differential pressure supply oil passage with the differential pressure generating chamber between the oil passage and the differential pressure supply oil passage.

2. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein

the case includes a support wall extending at least radially and a cylindrical projecting portion axially projecting from the support wall, and

the engagement device is arranged in a position having a portion overlapping with the cylindrical projecting portion when viewed radially, and the cylindrical projecting portion is formed with the differential pressure supply oil passage.

3. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the fluid coupling and an engagement output side member of the engagement device are connected so as to rotate as a unit with each other and arranged axially adjacent to each other,

the engagement device includes an operating oil pressure chamber to which engagement hydraulic pressure is supplied, and

the differential pressure generating chamber is arranged between the operating oil pressure chamber and the fluid coupling in the axial direction.

4. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

the fluid coupling includes a cover portion housing the body portion,

the engagement device further includes an engagement input side member and an engagement output side member paired with the engagement input side member,

the engagement output side member and the cover portion are connected so as to rotate as a unit with each other,

the engagement input side member is an annular plate-shaped member radially extending so as to support the engagement member from radially inside of the engagement member

the input member arranged so as to penetrate through the radially inside of the cylindrical projecting portion and the engagement input side member are connected so as to rotate as a unit with each other to structure an input transmission member,

the input member includes a flange portion extending radially outward, with the engagement input side member joined with the flange portion,

a first seal portion seals between the engagement output side member and the cover portion while a second seal portion seals between the input transmission member and the cylindrical projecting portion, and

the differential pressure generating chamber is defined by the engagement output side member, the cover portion, the input transmission member, and the cylindrical projecting portion, and formed as the sealed space by the first seal portion and the second seal portion.

5. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 4, wherein

the engagement output side member includes an axial extension portion extending along the axial direction and a radial extension portion extending radially outward from the axial extension portion,

the cover portion includes an axially extending portion extending along the axial direction and a radially extending portion extending radially outward from the axially extending portion,

the axial extension portion and the axially extending portion radially contact and fit against each other so as to constitute a radially fitting portion that determines mutual positioning in the radial direction, and the radial extension portion and the radially extending portion are fastened with each other by a bolt so as to constitute a fastening portion, and

the first seal portion is formed of the axial extension portion and the axially extending portion that constitute the radially fitting portion, and a seal member arranged therebetween.

6. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the cylindrical projecting portion is provided so as to project from the support wall arranged on the internal combustion engine side in the axial direction relative to the engagement device toward the side opposite to the internal combustion engine, and

the differential pressure supply oil passage has an axial oil passage axially extending in the cylindrical projecting portion to communicate with the differential pressure generating chamber via an end face opening portion formed in an end face of the cylindrical projecting portion on the side opposite to the internal combustion engine.

7. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein the cylindrical projecting portion is further formed with, separately from the differential pressure supply oil passage, the oil passage for discharging oil from the differential pressure generating chamber.

8. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein the cylindrical projecting portion is further formed with, separately from the differential pressure supply oil passage, the oil passage for discharging oil from the differential pressure generating chamber.

9. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 7, wherein

the engagement device further includes an engagement input side member and an engagement output side member paired with the engagement input side member,

the engagement input side member radially extends in the differential pressure generating chamber, and a radially inside end portion of the engagement input side member is connected to the input member arranged so as to penetrate through the radially inside of the cylindrical projecting portion,

the differential pressure supply oil passage communicates with a first space in the differential pressure generating chamber on the internal combustion engine side relative to the engagement input side member, and

the differential pressure discharge oil passage communicates, via a communication oil passage formed inside the input member, with a second space in the differential pressure generating chamber on the side opposite to the internal combustion engine relative to the engagement input side member.

10. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 8, wherein

the engagement device further includes an engagement input side member and an engagement output side member paired with the engagement input side member,

the engagement input side member radially extends in the differential pressure generating chamber, and a radially inside end portion of the engagement input side member is connected to the input member arranged so as to penetrate through the radially inside of the cylindrical projecting portion,

the differential pressure supply oil passage communicates with a first space in the differential pressure generating chamber on the internal combustion engine side relative to the engagement input side member, and

the differential pressure discharge oil passage communicates, via a communication oil passage formed inside the input member, with a second space in the differential pressure generating chamber on the side opposite to the internal combustion engine relative to the engagement input side member.

11. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 9, wherein

an input bearing radially supporting the input member is arranged between the cylindrical projecting portion and the input member, and

side faces on both axial sides of the input bearing communicate with the first space and the second space, respectively, either directly or via the communication oil passage.

12. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 10, wherein

an input bearing radially supporting the input member is arranged between the cylindrical projecting portion and the input member, and

side faces on both axial sides of the input bearing communicate with the first space and the second space, respectively, either directly or via the communication oil passage.

13. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the cylindrical projecting portion is further formed with an operating oil supply passage supplying oil for operation of the pressing member to an operating oil pressure chamber of the engagement device, and

the operating oil supply passage includes an axial oil passage axially extending in the cylindrical projecting portion, and a radial oil passage radially extending from the axial oil passage and communicating with the operating oil pressure chamber via an outer circumferential opening portion formed in an outer circumferential face of the cylindrical projecting portion.

14. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 3, wherein

the cylindrical projecting portion is further formed with an operating oil supply passage supplying oil for operation of the pressing member to operating oil pressure chamber of the engagement device, and

the operating oil supply passage includes an axial oil passage axially extending in the cylindrical projecting portion, and a radial oil passage radially extending from the axial oil passage and communicating with the operating oil pressure chamber via an outer circumferential opening portion formed in an outer circumferential face of the cylindrical projecting portion.

15. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 6, wherein

the cylindrical projecting portion is further formed with an operating oil supply passage supplying oil for operation of the pressing member to an operating oil pressure chamber of the engagement device, and

the operating oil supply passage includes an axial oil passage axially extending in the cylindrical projecting portion, and a radial oil passage radially extending from the axial oil passage and communicating with the operating oil pressure chamber via an outer circumferential opening portion formed in an outer circumferential face of the cylindrical projecting portion.

16. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 2, wherein

the rotary electric machine includes a rotor body and a rotor support member extending radially inward from the rotor body on the internal combustion engine side relative to the engagement device so as to support the rotor body,

the rotor support member is radially supported by the cylindrical projecting portion in a rotatable state via a support bearing,

a third seal portion seals between the rotor support member and the cylindrical projecting portion on the internal combustion engine side relative to the support bearing, and

the cylindrical projecting portion is further formed with a lubricating oil discharge passage that communicates with a bearing arrangement space defined by the cylindrical projecting portion, the rotor support member, and the third seal portion and discharges oil that has lubricated the support bearing from the bearing arrangement space.

17. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein:

oil passages for supplying oil to the differential pressure generating chamber are formed in the case, and

an oil passage for supplying oil to the fluid coupling is formed in a shaft member.

18. The drive device for a vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the body portion housing chamber houses the body portion of the fluid coupling and a lock-up clutch.