Rotary electric machine and drive device

Abstract

To provide a rotary electric machine that employs a structure capable of suppressing complication of the shape of a housing.SOLUTION: A rotary electric machine 10 according to an aspect of the present invention includes: a rotor 11 capable of rotating around a center axial line J1; a stator 12 that faces the rotor via a gap; a housing that has a housing portion in which the rotor and the stator are housed; electrically conducting portions that are at least partially housed in the housing portion; and a pressure adjusting portion 50 provided in the housing portion. The housing portion includes: a circumferential wall portion which surrounds the stator from the external side in the radial direction, and which is opened at one side in the axial direction; a lid wall portion 34 that blocks off the opening of the circumferential wall portion at the one side in the axial direction. At least a part of the lid wall portion is a protruding wall portion 40 that protrudes toward the one side in the axial direction. At least a part of the protruding wall portion faces the electrically conducting portions 14 and 16. The pressure adjusting portion is provided at the protruding wall portion.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 2

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a rotating electric machine and a drive device. [Background technology]

[0002] 2. Description of the Related Art Conventionally, a drive device including a breather device provided in a case has been known (for example, see Patent Document 1). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2012-82930 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] In the drive device as described above, there is a problem that the shape of the case tends to become complicated due to the provision of the breather device.

[0005] In view of the above circumstances, an object of the present invention is to provide a rotating electric machine and a drive unit having a structure that can prevent the shape of the housing from becoming complicated. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] One aspect of the rotating electric machine of the present invention includes a rotor rotatable about a central axis, a stator facing the rotor with a gap therebetween, a housing having an accommodating portion that accommodates the rotor and the stator therein, a conductive portion at least a portion of which is accommodated inside the accommodating portion, and a pressure adjusting portion provided in the accommodating portion. The accommodating portion has a peripheral wall portion that surrounds the stator from the radial outside and opens to one axial side, and a cover wall portion that covers the opening on one axial side of the peripheral wall portion. A portion of the cover wall portion is a protruding wall portion that protrudes to one axial side. At least a portion of the protruding wall portion faces the conductive portion in the axial direction. The pressure adjusting portion is provided on the protruding wall portion.

[0007] One aspect of a drive device of the present invention includes the rotating electric machine described above, and a gear mechanism connected to the rotating electric machine. Effect of the Invention

[0008] According to one aspect of the present invention, in a rotating electric machine and a drive device, it is possible to prevent the shape of the housing from becoming complicated. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram showing a drive device according to a first embodiment. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a view of the drive device of the first embodiment as viewed from one axial side. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a view of the housing of the first embodiment as viewed from one axial side. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view showing the protruding wall portion and the pressure adjusting portion of the first embodiment. [Diagram 5] 5 is a cross-sectional view showing the protruding wall portion and the pressure adjusting portion of the first embodiment, taken along line VV of FIG. 2. FIG. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a perspective view showing a part of the protruding wall portion of the first embodiment. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is a perspective view of a part of the protruding wall portion of the first embodiment, seen from an angle different from that in FIG. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a view of the drive device of the second embodiment as viewed from one axial side. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a view of the drive device of the third embodiment as viewed from one axial side. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a view of the drive device of the fourth embodiment as viewed from one axial side. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a view of the drive device of the fifth embodiment as viewed from one axial side. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view showing a part of the protruding wall portion and a pressure adjusting portion of the sixth embodiment. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a cross-sectional view showing a part of the protruding wall portion and the pressure adjusting portion of the sixth embodiment. [Figure 14] FIG. 14 is a perspective view showing a part of the protruding wall portion of the sixth embodiment. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] In the drawings, an XYZ coordinate system is appropriately shown as a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system. In the XYZ coordinate system, the Z axis direction is the up-down direction. The side where the Z axis arrow points (+Z side) is the upper side, and the opposite side to the side where the Z axis arrow points (-Z side) is the lower side. The X axis direction is a direction perpendicular to the Z axis direction, and is the front-rear direction of a vehicle in which a drive device in the following embodiments is mounted. In the following embodiments, the side where the X axis arrow points (+X side) is the front side of the vehicle, and the opposite side to the side where the X axis arrow points (-X side) is the rear side of the vehicle. The Y axis direction is a direction perpendicular to both the X axis direction and the Z axis direction, and is the left-right direction of the vehicle, that is, the vehicle width direction. In the following embodiments, the side where the Y axis arrow points (+Y side) is the right side of the vehicle, and the opposite side to the side where the Y axis arrow points (-Y side) is the left side of the vehicle.

[0011] The positional relationship in the front-rear direction is not limited to that in the following embodiment, and the +X side may be the rear side of the vehicle, and the -X side may be the front side of the vehicle. In this case, the +Y side is the left side of the vehicle, and the -Y side is the right side of the vehicle. In this specification, the "parallel direction" includes a substantially parallel direction, and the "orthogonal direction" includes a substantially orthogonal direction.

[0012] The central axis J1 shown in the drawings is a virtual axis extending in a direction intersecting the vertical direction. More specifically, the central axis J1 extends in the Y-axis direction perpendicular to the vertical direction, that is, in the left-right direction of the vehicle. In the following description, unless otherwise specified, the direction parallel to the central axis J1 is simply called the "axial direction", the radial direction centered on the central axis J1 is simply called the "radial direction", and the circumferential direction centered on the central axis J1, that is, around the axis of the central axis J1, is called the "circumferential direction". In the following description, the right side (+Y side) of the axial direction is called the "one axial side", and the left side (-Y side) of the axial direction is called the "other axial side". The vertical direction is, for example, a vertical direction, and the front-rear direction and the left-right direction (axial direction) are, for example, horizontal directions perpendicular to the vertical direction. In the following embodiments, the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) corresponds to a "crossing direction" that intersects with both the axial direction and the vertical direction.

[0013] First Embodiment A drive device 100 according to the present embodiment shown in Fig. 1 is a drive device mounted on a vehicle to rotate an axle. The vehicle on which the drive device 100 is mounted is a vehicle that uses a motor as a power source, such as a hybrid electric vehicle (HEV), a plug-in hybrid electric vehicle (PHV), or an electric vehicle (EV). As shown in Fig. 1, the drive device 100 includes a rotating electric machine 10, a gear mechanism 20 connected to the rotating electric machine 10, and a flow path 90.

[0014] In this embodiment, the rotating electric machine 10 is a motor. The rotating electric machine 10 includes a rotor 11 that is rotatable about a central axis J1, a stator 12 that faces the rotor 11 with a gap therebetween, a housing 30, a substrate 15, a busbar assembly 17, and a pressure adjusting unit 50. The housing 30 includes a motor housing 31 that houses the rotor 11 and the stator 12 therein, a gear housing 32 that houses the gear mechanism 20 therein, and a substrate housing 36 that houses the substrate 15 therein. In this embodiment, the motor housing 31 corresponds to the "housing unit."

[0015] The rotor 11 has a motor shaft 11a arranged along a central axis J1 and a rotor core 11b fixed to the motor shaft 11a. The motor shaft 11a is rotatable around the central axis J1. The motor shaft 11a extends in the axial direction. In this embodiment, the motor shaft 11a is a hollow shaft extending in the horizontal direction. The motor shaft 11a is supported by a pair of bearings 13a and 13b so as to be rotatable around the central axis J1. The pair of bearings 13a and 13b are, for example, rolling bearings such as ball bearings. The motor shaft 11a has a hole 11c connecting the inside of the motor shaft 11a to the outside of the motor shaft 11a. A plurality of the hole portions 11c are provided at intervals in the circumferential direction.

[0016] The stator 12 is located radially outside the rotor 11. The stator 12 is annular and surrounds the rotor 11. The stator 12 has a stator core 12a and a coil assembly 12b. The stator core 12a is located radially outside the rotor core 11b and is arranged facing the rotor core 11b with a gap therebetween. The stator core 12a is formed by, for example, laminating a plurality of plate members such as electromagnetic steel plates in the axial direction. The stator core 12a may be a spiral core formed of plate members extending in a spiral shape around the central axis J1.

[0017] The coil assembly 12b has a plurality of coils 12c attached to the stator core 12a. The plurality of coils 12c are electrically connected via a busbar assembly 17 to a board 15 accommodated inside a board housing 36. The coil assembly 12b has coil ends 12d, 12e that protrude in the axial direction beyond the stator core 12a. The coil end 12d protrudes toward one axial side (+Y side) beyond the stator core 12a. The coil end 12e protrudes toward the other axial side (-Y side) beyond the stator core 12a.

[0018] The gear mechanism 20 is connected to the rotor 11. More specifically, the gear mechanism 20 is connected to an end of the motor shaft 11a on the other axial side (-Y side). The gear mechanism 20 transmits the rotation of the rotor 11 to the axle of the vehicle. The gear mechanism 20 has a reduction gear 21 connected to the rotor 11, and a differential gear 22 connected to the reduction gear 21.

[0019] The reduction gear 21 has a first gear shaft 23a and a second gear shaft 23b extending in the axial direction, a first gear 24a, a second gear 24b, and a third gear 24c. The first gear shaft 23a is supported by a pair of bearings 25a, 25b so as to be rotatable around a central axis J1. The first gear shaft 23a is connected to an end of the motor shaft 11a on the other axial side (-Y side). The second gear shaft 23b is rotatable around a middle axis J2 extending in the axial direction. In this embodiment, the middle axis J2 is a virtual axis extending in parallel with the central axis J1. Although not shown in the figure, the middle axis J2 is, for example, located above the central axis J1 and located rearward (-X side) of the central axis J1. The second gear shaft 23b is supported by a pair of bearings 25c, 25d to be rotatable about the middle axis J2. The first gear 24a is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the first gear shaft 23a. The second gear 24b and the third gear 24c are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the second gear shaft 23b. The second gear 24b meshes with the first gear 24a.

[0020] The differential device 22 has a ring gear 22a that can rotate around a differential axis J3 that extends in the axial direction. In this embodiment, the differential axis J3 is a virtual axis that extends parallel to the central axis J1. As shown in FIG. 2, in this embodiment, the differential axis J3 is located at approximately the same position as the central axis J1 in the up-down direction. More specifically, the differential axis J3 is located slightly below the central axis J1. Although not shown, the differential axis J3 is located, for example, below the intermediate axis J2. In this embodiment, the differential axis J3 is located rearward (-X side) of the central axis J1 and the intermediate axis J2. As shown in FIG. 1, the ring gear 22a meshes with the third gear 24c. The lower end of the ring gear 22a is immersed in the oil O stored in the gear housing 32. When the ring gear 22a rotates, the oil O is scooped up. The oil O that has been scooped up is supplied to the reduction gear 21 and the differential gear 22, for example, as lubricating oil.

[0021] A pair of output shafts 22g are connected to the differential device 22. The pair of output shafts 22g extend in the axial direction. Wheels of a vehicle (not shown) are connected to the pair of output shafts 22g, respectively. Torque output from the rotating electric machine 10 is transmitted to the wheels of the vehicle via the reduction gear device 21 and the differential device 22.

[0022] In the housing 30 of this embodiment, the motor housing 31 and the gear housing 32 are arranged side by side in the axial direction. The gear housing 32 is located on the other axial side (-Y side) of the motor housing 31. The gear housing 32 is connected to the other axial side of the motor housing 31. The board housing 36 is located above the motor housing 31. The board 15 accommodated inside the board housing 36 is provided with an inverter circuit that supplies power to the stator 12.

[0023] In this embodiment, the housing 30 has a housing main body 30a, a motor cover 30b, a gear cover 30c, and a board cover 36b. In this embodiment, the housing main body 30a, the motor cover 30b, the gear cover 30c, and the board cover 36b are each made of metal. The materials constituting the housing main body 30a, the motor cover 30b, the gear cover 30c, and the board cover 36b are not particularly limited, and may be materials other than metal, such as resin. The housing main body 30a, the motor cover 30b, the gear cover 30c, and the board cover 36b are separate from each other. The housing main body 30a has a first peripheral wall portion 30d, a second peripheral wall portion 30e, a partition portion 33, and a board accommodating wall portion 36a. In this embodiment, the motor housing 31 is composed of the partition portion 33, the first peripheral wall portion 30d, and the motor cover 30b. That is, the motor housing 31 has a partition wall 33, a first peripheral wall 30d, and a motor cover 30b. In this embodiment, the gear housing 32 is composed of the partition wall 33, a second peripheral wall 30e, and a gear cover 30c. In this embodiment, the board housing 36 is composed of a board accommodating wall 36a and a board cover 36b.

[0024] The first peripheral wall portion 30d is a peripheral wall portion that surrounds the stator 12 from the radial outside. The first peripheral wall portion 30d is cylindrical and opens to one axial side (+Y side). A partition wall portion 33 is provided at the end of the other axial side (-Y side) of the first peripheral wall portion 30d. The opening on the one axial side of the first peripheral wall portion 30d is closed by a motor cover 30b fixed to the end of the one axial side of the first peripheral wall portion 30d. As shown in FIG. 3, the first peripheral wall portion 30d has a cylindrical peripheral wall main body portion 37 that surrounds the stator 12 from the radial outside, a wall portion 38 that spreads outward in the radial direction from the end of the one axial side (+Y side) of the peripheral wall main body portion 37, and a first frame portion 39 that protrudes from the radial outer edge portion of the wall portion 38 to the one axial side. A recessed portion 37a recessed radially outward is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the peripheral wall main body portion 37. In this embodiment, the recess 37a is provided in an upper portion of the inner circumferential surface of the peripheral wall main body portion 37. The recess 37a is recessed upward and rearward (−X side).

[0025] The wall portion 38 extends radially outward from the entire circumference at the end portion on one axial side (+Y side) of the peripheral wall main body portion 37. In this embodiment, a part of the wall portion 38 including the upper end portion constitutes a part of the wall portion located on one axial side of the wall portion constituting the board housing 36. A part of the wall portion 38 that is connected to the upper and rear side (-X side) part of the end portion on one axial side of the peripheral wall main body portion 37 is a protrusion portion 38a that protrudes rearward. An upper part of the protrusion portion 38a constitutes a part of the wall portion located on one axial side of the wall portion constituting the board housing 36. The first frame portion 39 is a frame-like shape that surrounds the central axis J1 along the radial outer edge portion of the wall portion 38. The wall portion 38 does not have to constitute a part of the wall portion located on one axial side of the wall portion constituting the board housing 36.

[0026] The wall 38 is provided with a hole 38b penetrating the wall 38 in the axial direction. The hole 38b is provided in a portion of the wall 38 that constitutes a wall on one axial side (+Y side) of the board housing 36. The hole 38b is provided in the protruding portion 38a. That is, the hole 38b is a through hole penetrating the protruding portion 38a in the axial direction. The hole 38b connects the inside of the motor housing 31 and the inside of the board housing 36. The hole 38b is located rearward (-X side) of the central axis J1. The hole 38b is located forward (+X side) of the differential axis J3. The hole 38b is located above the central axis J1 and the differential axis J3.

[0027] As shown in FIG. 2, the busbar assembly 17 is passed through the hole portion 38b in the axial direction. The busbar assembly 17 is disposed straddling the interior of the motor housing 31 and the interior of the board housing 36. The busbar assembly 17 has a busbar 14 and a holder 18 made of an insulating material (e.g., insulating resin) that holds the busbar 14. The busbar 14 extends in the axial direction. The busbar 14 is disposed straddling the interior of the motor housing 31 and the interior of the board housing 36. In this embodiment, the busbar 14 corresponds to a "conductive portion" at least a portion of which is accommodated in the motor housing 31. That is, the rotating electric machine 10 includes the busbar 14 as the conductive portion. In this embodiment, a portion of the busbar 14 is accommodated in the motor housing 31. A plurality of busbars 14 are provided.

[0028] A plurality of coil lead wires 16 extending from the coil assembly 12b of the stator 12 are electrically connected to the plurality of bus bars 14, respectively. The plurality of coil lead wires 16 extend rearward (-X side) and upward from the coil end 12d. The rearward and upper ends of the plurality of coil lead wires 16 are electrically connected to the plurality of bus bars 14, respectively. The plurality of coil lead wires 16 correspond to "conductive parts" at least a portion of which is housed inside the motor housing 31. In other words, the rotating electric machine 10 includes the coil lead wires 16 as conductive parts. In this embodiment, the entirety of the plurality of coil lead wires 16 is housed inside the motor housing 31.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 1, the motor cover 30b has a cover wall portion 34 that covers an opening on one axial side (+Y side) of the first peripheral wall portion 30d, and a second frame portion 35 that protrudes from a radial outer edge of the cover wall portion 34 to the other axial side (-Y side). That is, the motor housing 31 has the cover wall portion 34 and the second frame portion 35. As shown in FIG. 2, the second frame portion 35 is in a frame shape that surrounds the central axis J1 along the radial outer edge of the cover wall portion 34. The second frame portion 35 has a shape similar to that of the first frame portion 39 when viewed in the axial direction. The first frame portion 39 and the second frame portion 35 overlap each other when viewed in the axial direction. The end portion on the other axial side of the second frame portion 35 is in axial contact with the end portion on one axial side of the first frame portion 39. The second frame portion 35 is fixed to the first frame portion 39, for example, by a plurality of screw members or by another method.

[0030] The cover wall portion 34 is located on one axial side (+Y side) of the rotor 11 and the stator 12. The cover wall portion 34 faces the rotor 11 and the stator 12 in the axial direction. As shown in Fig. 1, a bearing holding portion 34c that holds the bearing 13a is provided on a surface of the cover wall portion 34 that faces the inside of the motor housing 31, i.e., on the other axial side (-Y side).

[0031] As shown in Fig. 2, the cover wall portion 34 has a first portion 34a and a second portion 34b. The first portion 34a overlaps with the rotor 11 and the stator 12 in the axial direction. The second portion 34b protrudes rearward (-X side) from an upper portion of the first portion 34a. The second portion 34b overlaps with a protruding portion 38a of the first circumferential wall portion 30d in the axial direction. The second portion 34b is disposed opposite the protruding portion 38a with a gap therebetween in the axial direction.

[0032] 4 and 5, a part of the cover wall portion 34 is a protruding wall portion 40 that protrudes to one axial side (+Y side). The protruding wall portion 40 is located on one axial side of a peripheral edge portion of the cover wall portion 34 that surrounds the protruding wall portion 40 when viewed in the axial direction. In this embodiment, the protruding wall portion 40 is a hollow portion whose interior is open to the other axial side (-Y side). The interior of the protruding wall portion 40 constitutes a part of the interior of the motor housing 31.

[0033] As shown in FIG. 2, the protruding wall portion 40 is a part of the portion of the cover wall portion 34 located on the rear side (-X side). The protruding wall portion 40 includes a part of the first portion 34a and a part of the second portion 34b. In this embodiment, the protruding wall portion 40 extends in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. More specifically, the protruding wall portion 40 extends in a direction that is inclined obliquely with respect to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) among the directions perpendicular to the axial direction. The protruding wall portion 40 is positioned higher toward the rear side.

[0034] At least a part of the protruding wall portion 40 faces the busbar 14 and the coil lead wires 16, which are conductive parts, in the axial direction. In this embodiment, a part of the protruding wall portion 40 faces the busbar 14 and the coil lead wires 16 in the axial direction. In this embodiment, the entirety of the multiple busbars 14 and the entirety of the multiple coil lead wires 16 overlap the protruding wall portion 40 in the axial direction. The protruding wall portion 40 covers the hole portion 38b, the busbar assembly 17, and the multiple coil lead wires 16 from one axial side (+Y side). The multiple coil lead wires 16 are located axially between the protruding wall portion 40 and the protrusion portion 38a. The protruding wall portion 40 faces the multiple busbars 14 and the multiple coil lead wires 16, which are conductive parts of the cover wall portion 34, in the axial direction, and protrudes to one axial side. Therefore, the axial distance between the multiple busbars 14 and the multiple coil lead wires 16, through which current flows, and the cover wall portion 34 can be increased. This makes it possible to ensure an insulation distance between the housing 30 and the plurality of bus bars 14 and the plurality of coil lead wires 16 which are conductive parts.

[0035] As shown in FIG. 4, the protruding wall portion 40 has an opposing wall portion 41 and a side wall portion 42. The opposing wall portion 41 is a wall that extends in a direction perpendicular to the axial direction. The opposing wall portion 41 is located on one axial side (+Y side) of the bus bars 14 and the coil lead wires 16, which are conductive portions. The opposing wall portion 41 extends in a direction that is inclined with respect to both the up-down direction and the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) among the directions perpendicular to the axial direction. The opposing wall portion 41 is located on the upper side toward the rear side (-X side). The opposing wall portion 41 is provided with a protruding portion 43b that protrudes toward one axial side (+Y side). The protruding portion 43b is a portion of the opposing wall portion 41 that protrudes toward one axial side beyond the portion other than the protruding portion 43b. In this embodiment, the protruding portion 43b is substantially rectangular parallelepiped-shaped.

[0036] The side wall portion 42 is connected to the outer peripheral edge of the opposing wall portion 41. The side wall portion 42 protrudes from the outer peripheral edge of the opposing wall portion 41 to the other axial side (-Y side) and is connected to the peripheral edge of the protruding wall portion 40 of the cover wall portion 34. The side wall portion 42 is annular and extends along the outer peripheral edge of the opposing wall portion 41. The side wall portion 42 has a first upper wall portion 43a, a second upper wall portion 45, and a third upper wall portion 46. The first upper wall portion 43a, the second upper wall portion 45, and the third upper wall portion 46 are portions of the side wall portion 42 that have a surface that faces upward outside the motor housing 31. The portion of the side wall portion 42 that has a surface that faces upward outside the motor housing 31 may be a portion of the outer surface of the side wall portion 42 that faces the outside of the motor housing 31 that has a surface that includes an upward component. In other words, the portion of the side wall portion 42 having a surface facing upward outside the motor housing 31 is simply the portion of the side wall portion 42 having a surface that is visible when the side wall portion 42 is viewed from directly above.

[0037] In this embodiment, the first upper wall portion 43a is an upper end portion of the side wall portion 42. The first upper wall portion 43a is a portion located at the uppermost side of the side wall portion 42. As shown in FIG. 6, the first upper wall portion 43a has a first upper surface 43c facing upward. The first upper surface 43c is a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The first upper surface 43c is, for example, a processed surface made by cutting. The first upper surface 43c may be a surface made when manufacturing the motor cover 30b by a molding method using a mold such as die casting. The first upper wall portion 43a protrudes toward one axial side (+Y side) more than other portions of the side wall portion 42 that are connected to the first upper wall portion 43a. The first upper wall portion 43a protrudes toward one axial side more than the second upper wall portion 45 and the third upper wall portion 46. The first upper wall portion 43a is connected to the raised portion 43b.

[0038] As shown in FIG. 4, the second upper wall portion 45 extends from the first upper wall portion 43a to the front side (+X side) and downward. The second upper wall portion 45 has a second upper surface 45a facing upward. The second upper surface 45a is an inclined surface that is inclined with respect to a plane perpendicular to the up-down direction. The second upper surface 45a faces upward and to the front side. The second upper surface 45a is located lower toward the front side. In this embodiment, the second upper surface 45a is a surface that extends in a straight line. The second upper surface 45a is located lower than the first upper surface 43c. Between the rear (-X side) and upper end of the second upper surface 45a and the front end of the first upper surface 43c, a step portion 42b having a step surface facing the front side is provided.

[0039] The third upper wall portion 46 is connected to a front (+X side) and lower end of the second upper wall portion 45. The third upper wall portion 46 has a third upper surface 46a facing upward. The third upper surface 46a is a curved surface that is positioned lower toward the front. The third upper surface 46a is an arc-shaped surface that is convex toward the front and upper sides when viewed in the axial direction.

[0040] The protruding wall portion 40 has a holding portion 43 that holds the pressure adjusting portion 50. In this embodiment, the holding portion 43 is composed of a first upper wall portion 43a and a protruding portion 43b. As shown in Fig. 2, the holding portion 43 has a portion that axially overlaps with the hole portion 38b and the busbar assembly 17. The holding portion 43 has a portion that is positioned in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) at the same position as the hole portion 38b and the busbar assembly 17.

[0041] As shown in Fig. 6, the holding portion 43 is provided with a first through hole 44. That is, the protruding wall portion 40 has the first through hole 44. The first through hole 44 penetrates the protruding wall portion 40 and connects the outside of the motor housing 31 to the inside of the motor housing 31. The first through hole 44 is formed, for example, by drilling a hole downward from the first upper surface 43c of the first upper wall portion 43a in the protruding wall portion 40. In this embodiment, the first through hole 44 is circular when viewed in the up-down direction.

[0042] As shown in Fig. 5, in this embodiment, the first through hole 44 is provided across the side wall portion 42 and the opposing wall portion 41. More specifically, the first through hole 44 is provided across the first upper wall portion 43a and the raised portion 43b. A threaded portion 44e is provided on the inner peripheral surface of the first through hole 44. A bottom portion 43d is provided below the first through hole 44. The bottom portion 43d is a part of the raised portion 43b.

[0043] The first through hole 44 has an outer opening 44a and an inner opening 44b. The outer opening 44a is an opening that opens to the outside of the motor housing 31. The outer opening 44a opens to the first upper surface 43c. The outer opening 44a opens to the upper side.

[0044] The inner opening 44b is an opening that opens into the inside of the motor housing 31. As shown in FIG. 7, in this embodiment, the inner opening 44b is provided across the side wall portion 42 and the opposing wall portion 41. More specifically, the inner opening 44b is provided across the first upper wall portion 43a and the raised portion 43b. The inner opening 44b has a first opening 44c that opens into the inner surface 41a of the opposing wall portion 41 and a second opening 44d that opens into the inner surface 42a of the side wall portion 42. The first opening 44c opens into the inner surface of the raised portion 43b of the inner surface 41a. The first opening 44c opens to the other axial side (-Y side). The second opening 44d opens into the inner surface of the first upper wall portion 43a of the inner surface 42a. The inner surface of the first upper wall portion 43a is the lower surface of the first upper wall portion 43a. The second opening 44d opens downward.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 1, the second peripheral wall portion 30e of the housing main body 30a is cylindrical and opens to the other axial side (-Y side). A partition wall portion 33 is provided at an end portion of the second peripheral wall portion 30e on one axial side (+Y side). The opening on the other axial side of the second peripheral wall portion 30e is closed by a gear cover 30c fixed to the end portion of the second peripheral wall portion 30e on the other axial side. The gear cover 30c has a lid portion 30f that covers the gear mechanism 20 from one axial side, and a third peripheral wall portion 30g that protrudes from the radial outer edge portion of the lid portion 30f to one axial side. The end portion of the third peripheral wall portion 30g on one axial side is connected to the end portion of the second peripheral wall portion 30e on the other axial side. The lid portion 30f is provided with a bearing holding portion 35a that holds the bearing 25a and a bearing holding portion 35c that holds the bearing 25c.

[0046] The partition wall portion 33 separates the interior of the motor housing 31 from the interior of the gear housing 32. The partition wall portion 33 is a wall portion that axially separates the interior of the motor housing 31 from the interior of the gear housing 32. The partition wall portion 33 has a partition wall opening 33a that connects the interior of the motor housing 31 to the interior of the gear housing 32. The partition wall portion 33 holds bearings 13b, 25b, and 25d.

[0047] In this embodiment, the housing 30 has a storage portion P in which oil O as a fluid is stored. The oil O is used as a refrigerant for cooling the rotating electric machine 10. The oil O is also used as a lubricant for the reduction gear 21 and the differential gear 22. For example, it is preferable to use an oil equivalent to an automatic transmission lubricant (ATF: Automatic Transmission Fluid) having a relatively low viscosity as the oil O in order to perform the functions of a refrigerant and a lubricant. The storage portion P is formed by a lower portion of the housing 30. The storage portion P has a first storage portion P1 provided in the motor housing 31 and a second storage portion P2 provided in the gear housing 32. The inside of the first storage portion P1 is formed by a lower region in the inside of the motor housing 31. The inside of the second storage portion P2 is formed by a lower region in the inside of the gear housing 32. The inside of the first storage portion P1 and the inside of the second storage portion P2 are connected to each other via the partition opening 33a.

[0048] As shown in Fig. 1, the flow path 90 is a flow path through which oil O flows as a fluid. The flow path 90 is a path that supplies the oil O in the second storage portion P2 to the rotor 11, the stator 12, and the gear mechanism 20. A pump 81 and a cooler 82 are provided in the middle of the flow path 90. The pump 81 and the cooler 82 are attached to the outer surface of the housing 30. The flow path 90 has an intake flow path portion 91, a first connection flow path portion 92, a second connection flow path portion 93, a first fluid supply portion 94, a second fluid supply portion 95, a third connection flow path portion 96, a fourth connection flow path portion 97, and a discharge flow path portion 99.

[0049] The suction flow passage portion 91 connects the inside of the second storage portion P2 and the pump 81. The first connection flow passage portion 92 connects the pump 81 and the cooler 82. The second connection flow passage portion 93 connects the cooler 82 and the first fluid supply portion 94. The second connection flow passage portion 93 is provided in the motor cover 30b. The second connection flow passage portion 93 connects to the inside of the motor shaft 11a via the inside of the bearing holding portion 34c.

[0050] The first fluid supply unit 94 is a fluid supply unit provided in the rotating electric machine 10. In this embodiment, the first fluid supply unit 94 supplies oil O as a fluid to the stator 12. The first fluid supply unit 94 is located inside the motor housing 31. In this embodiment, the first fluid supply unit 94 is configured by a tubular member extending in the axial direction. The first fluid supply unit 94 is, for example, a substantially cylindrical pipe extending in the axial direction. As shown in FIG. 3, the first fluid supply unit 94 is located inside the recess 37a. The first fluid supply unit 94 is located on the rear side (-X side) of the central axis J1. The first fluid supply unit 94 is located above the rear part of the stator 12. Note that the first fluid supply unit 94 is not limited to a substantially cylindrical pipe. The first fluid supply unit 94 may be, for example, a gutter shape opening upward, or a hole provided inside the wall of the motor housing 31.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, the first fluid supply unit 94 has a supply port 94a that opens toward the stator 12 inside the motor housing 31. The supply port 94a includes a first supply port 94b and a second supply port 94c. The first supply port 94b opens toward the rear side (-X side) and toward the lower side. The second supply port 94c opens toward the front side (+X side) and toward the lower side. The first supply port 94b and the second supply port 94c are provided in a plurality of ports spaced apart from each other in the axial direction. The plurality of first supply ports 94b includes, for example, the first supply port 94b that opens toward the stator core 12a and the first supply port 94b that opens toward the coil ends 12d and 12e. The plurality of second supply ports 94c includes, for example, the second supply port 94c that opens toward the stator core 12a and the second supply port 94c that opens toward the coil ends 12d and 12e. As shown in FIG. 1, the end portion on the other axial side (-Y side) of the first fluid supply section 94 is connected to the end portion on one axial side (+Y side) of the second fluid supply section 95 via a hole provided in the partition section 33.

[0052] The second fluid supply unit 95 is located inside the gear housing 32. In this embodiment, the second fluid supply unit 95 is configured by a tubular member extending in the axial direction. The second fluid supply unit 95 is, for example, a substantially cylindrical pipe extending in the axial direction. The second fluid supply unit 95 has a supply port 95a that opens toward the gear mechanism 20. A plurality of supply ports 95a are provided at intervals in the axial direction.

[0053] The third connection flow path portion 96 connects the second fluid supply portion 95 and the interior of the bearing holder 35c. The fourth connection flow path portion 97 connects the interior of the bearing holder 35c and the interior of the bearing holder 35a. The discharge flow path portion 99 connects the interior of the bearing holder 35a and the interior of the second storage portion P2.

[0054] When the pump 81 is driven, the oil O stored in the second reservoir P2 is sucked into the intake passage 91 and flows into the cooler 82 through the first connection passage 92. The oil O that flows into the cooler 82 flows into the second connection passage 93 after being cooled in the cooler 82. A part of the oil O that flows into the second connection passage 93 flows into the motor shaft 11a through the inside of the bearing holder 34c. The oil O that flows into the motor shaft 11a is supplied to the stator 12 through the inside of the rotor core 11b from the hole 11c. The rest of the oil O that flows into the second connection passage 93 flows into the first fluid supply 94. The oil O that flows into the first fluid supply 94 flows inside the first fluid supply 94 to the other axial side (-Y side). A part of the oil O that flows into the first fluid supply 94 is supplied from the supply port 94a toward the stator 12. The oil O supplied to the stator 12 from inside the motor shaft 11a and the oil O supplied to the stator 12 from the supply port 94a drop downward and accumulate inside the first reservoir P1. A part of the oil O accumulated inside the first reservoir P1 returns to the inside of the second reservoir P2 through the partition opening 33a provided in the partition portion 33.

[0055] The remainder of the oil O that has flowed into the first fluid supply portion 94 flows into the second fluid supply portion 95 from the end of the second fluid supply portion 95 on one axial side (+Y side). The oil O that has flowed into the second fluid supply portion 95 flows through the second fluid supply portion 95 to the other axial side (-Y side). A part of the oil O that has flowed into the second fluid supply portion 95 is supplied to the gear mechanism 20 from the supply port 95a. This allows the oil O to be suitably supplied to the gear mechanism 20. The remainder of the oil O that has flowed into the second fluid supply portion 95 flows into the third connection flow path portion 96. The oil O that has flowed into the third connection flow path portion 96 flows into the inside of the bearing holding portion 35c. This allows the oil O to be supplied to the bearing 25c. At least a part of the oil O that has flowed into the bearing holding portion 35c flows into the bearing holding portion 35a through the fourth connection flow path portion 97. This allows the oil O to be supplied to the bearing 25a. At least a portion of the oil O that has flowed into the bearing holder 35a passes through the discharge passage 99 and returns to the inside of the second reservoir P2.

[0056] As shown in FIG. 4, the pressure adjustment unit 50 is provided in the motor housing 31. The pressure adjustment unit 50 is capable of adjusting the pressure inside the motor housing 31. In this embodiment, the pressure adjustment unit 50 is a breather valve. When the pressure inside the motor housing 31 becomes equal to or higher than a threshold value, the pressure adjustment unit 50 connects the inside of the motor housing 31 to the outside of the motor housing 31, and is capable of releasing a portion of the air inside the motor housing 31 to the outside of the motor housing 31. This makes it possible to reduce the pressure inside the motor housing 31 when the pressure inside the motor housing 31 becomes equal to or higher than a threshold value.

[0057] The pressure adjusting unit 50 is provided on the protruding wall 40. Therefore, there is no need to provide a portion for mounting the pressure adjusting unit 50 on the motor housing 31 other than the protruding wall 40. Therefore, the shape of the portion of the motor housing 31 other than the protruding wall 40 can be prevented from becoming complicated. Moreover, the protruding wall 40 protrudes on one axial side (+Y side). This not only ensures an insulation distance between the motor housing 31 and the bus bars 14 and the coil lead wires 16, which are conductive portions, but also makes it easy to mount the pressure adjusting unit 50 on the protruding wall 40. Therefore, the pressure adjusting unit 50 can be mounted on the protruding wall 40 while keeping the protruding wall 40 in a simple shape without making it complicated. Therefore, by providing the pressure adjusting unit 50 by utilizing the protruding wall 40, the shape of the motor housing 31 can be prevented from becoming complicated, and the shape of the housing 30 can be prevented from becoming complicated.

[0058] Furthermore, by providing the pressure adjustment unit 50 on the protruding wall portion 40 that protrudes toward one axial side (+Y side), the pressure adjustment unit 50 can be more easily separated from the stator 12 in the axial direction than when the pressure adjustment unit 50 is provided in a portion of the cover wall portion 34 other than the protruding wall portion 40. Therefore, when a first fluid supply unit 94 having a supply port 94a that opens toward the stator 12 is provided as in this embodiment, the oil O supplied from the supply port 94a toward the stator 12 can be made less likely to reach the pressure adjustment unit 50. This makes it possible to suppress leakage of the oil O to the outside of the motor housing 31 via the pressure adjustment unit 50.

[0059] In this embodiment, the pressure adjusting unit 50 is provided on the side wall portion 42. Therefore, compared to a case where the pressure adjusting unit 50 is provided on the opposing wall portion 41, it is possible to prevent the pressure adjusting unit 50 from protruding in the axial direction from the protruding wall portion 40. This makes it possible to prevent the rotating electric machine 10 from becoming large in size in the axial direction.

[0060] In this embodiment, the pressure adjusting unit 50 is provided on the first upper wall portion 43a of the side wall portion 42. That is, the pressure adjusting unit 50 is provided on a portion of the side wall portion 42 having a surface facing upward outside the motor housing 31. Therefore, when the inside of the motor housing 31 and the outside of the motor housing 31 are connected via the pressure adjusting unit 50, it is easy to open a part of the air in the motor housing 31 to the upper side. As a result, when the air in the motor housing 31 is heated and the pressure in the motor housing 31 increases, the heated air in the motor housing 31 flows upward through the pressure adjusting unit 50 and is easy to escape to the outside of the motor housing 31. Therefore, it is easy to preferably reduce the pressure in the motor housing 31. In addition, even if foreign matter such as metal powder is generated from the rotor 11, the stator 12, etc. in the motor housing 31, the foreign matter falls to the lower side due to gravity, so that it is difficult for the foreign matter to pass through the pressure adjusting unit 50. This can prevent foreign matter generated in the motor housing 31 from leaking to the outside of the motor housing 31 through the pressure adjustment unit 50. In addition, when the oil O is accommodated in the motor housing 31 as in this embodiment, the oil O in the motor housing 31 is less likely to pass through the pressure adjustment unit 50 due to gravity. Therefore, the oil O can be prevented from leaking to the outside of the motor housing 31 through the pressure adjustment unit 50. In particular, when the oil O is supplied from the supply port 94a opening in the motor housing 31 toward the stator 12, and when the oil O in the motor shaft 11a is supplied to the coil ends 12d and 12e through the rotor core 11b, the oil O is likely to scatter in the motor housing 31. Even in such a case, the pressure adjustment unit 50 opens the interior of the motor housing 31 toward the upper side, so that the oil O in the motor housing 31 can be prevented from leaking to the outside through the pressure adjustment unit 50.

[0061] As described above, in this embodiment, the first upper wall portion 43a is the upper end portion of the side wall portion 42 of the protruding wall portion 40. That is, in this embodiment, the pressure adjustment portion 50 is provided at the upper end portion of the side wall portion 42. Therefore, the pressure adjustment portion 50 can be disposed at the upper side compared to the case where the pressure adjustment portion 50 is provided at another portion of the side wall portion 42. This allows air to be more suitably released to the outside of the motor housing 31 via the pressure adjustment portion 50 when the pressure in the motor housing 31 increases. Therefore, the pressure in the motor housing 31 can be more suitably reduced. In addition, the oil O in the motor housing 31 can be more suitably prevented from leaking to the outside of the motor housing 31 via the pressure adjustment portion 50.

[0062] As shown in FIG. 5, at least a part of the pressure adjusting portion 50 is located inside the first through hole 44. In this embodiment, a part of the pressure adjusting portion 50 is located inside the first through hole 44. The pressure adjusting portion 50 is attached to the protruding wall portion 40 with a part of the pressure adjusting portion 50 inserted into the first through hole 44. The pressure adjusting portion 50 has a fixing portion 51, a cap portion 52, a blocking portion 53, and an elastic portion 54. The fixing portion 51 has an extending portion 55 extending in the vertical direction and a flange portion 56 protruding from the outer peripheral surface of the extending portion 55. The extending portion 55 extends in the vertical direction. The extending portion 55 is substantially cylindrical. A portion of the extending portion 55 located below the flange portion 56 is located inside the first through hole 44. A threaded portion 55a that meshes with a threaded portion 44e provided on the inner peripheral surface of the first through hole 44 is provided on the outer peripheral surface of the extension portion 55 at a portion located below the flange portion 56. The pressure adjustment portion 50 is fixed to the protruding wall portion 40 by fastening the portion of the extension portion 55 located below the flange portion 56 into the first through hole 44. The lower end of the extension portion 55 is disposed above the bottom portion 43d with a gap therebetween. A part of the portion of the extension portion 55 located below the flange portion 56 is located inside the protruding wall portion 40 via the inner opening 44b.

[0063] An annular protrusion 57 is provided on the outer peripheral surface at the upper end of the extension portion 55. The annular protrusion 57 is annular and surrounds the extension portion 55. The extension portion 55 is provided with a third through hole 58 that passes through the extension portion 55 in the up-down direction. The lower end of the third through hole 58 is connected to the inside of the protruding wall portion 40 via the inside of the first through hole 44. As a result, the third through hole 58 is connected to the inside of the motor housing 31.

[0064] The flange portion 56 is annular and surrounds the extension portion 55. The flange portion 56 is located lower than the upper end of the extension portion 55 and higher than the lower end of the extension portion 55. The lower surface of the flange portion 56 contacts the peripheral portion of the first through hole 44 in the first upper surface 43c. A part of the extension portion 55 is fastened in the first through hole 44, and the lower surface of the flange portion 56 contacts the peripheral portion of the first through hole 44 in the first upper surface 43c, thereby blocking the upper opening of the first through hole 44, i.e., the outer opening 44a. A sealant may be provided between the lower surface of the flange portion 56 and the first upper surface 43c.

[0065] The cap portion 52 is tubular and opens downward. In this embodiment, the cap portion 52 is substantially cylindrical. A part of the portion of the extension portion 55 located above the flange portion 56 is inserted inside the cap portion 52. The lower end portion of the cap portion 52 is disposed above the flange portion 56 with a gap therebetween. Although not shown in the figure, the cap portion 52 has a protrusion that hooks onto the annular protrusion portion 57 from below. This prevents the cap portion 52 from coming off the fixed portion 51 upward.

[0066] In this embodiment, the blocking portion 53 is a plate-shaped member whose plate surface faces the vertical direction. The blocking portion 53 is located inside the cap portion 52. The blocking portion 53 is located above the extension portion 55. The blocking portion 53 contacts the upper end of the extension portion 55 and closes the upper opening of the third through hole 58 in an openable manner. An elastic portion 54 is provided between the blocking portion 53 and the upper wall portion of the wall portions constituting the cap portion 52. The elastic portion 54 applies a downward elastic force to the blocking portion 53. The blocking portion 53 is pressed against the upper end of the extension portion 55 by the elastic portion 54. In this embodiment, the elastic portion 54 is a coil spring extending in the vertical direction.

[0067] When the pressure inside the motor housing 31 increases, the pressure inside the third through hole 58 connected to the inside of the motor housing 31 also increases, and the upward pressure applied to the blocking portion 53 from the air inside the third through hole 58 increases. When the upward pressure exceeds a threshold value, the elastic portion 54 is pushed upward by the blocking portion 53 and elastically deformed, and the blocking portion 53 moves upward. This opens the upper opening of the third through hole 58. When the upper opening of the third through hole 58 is opened, the inside of the third through hole 58 and the outside of the motor housing 31 are connected through the inside of the cap portion 52 and the lower opening of the cap portion 52. As a result, the inside of the motor housing 31 and the outside of the motor housing 31 are connected to each other through the third through hole 58, and part of the air inside the motor housing 31 is released to the outside of the motor housing 31. When part of the air inside the motor housing 31 is released to the outside of the motor housing 31 and the pressure inside the motor housing 31 becomes lower than the threshold value, the blocking portion 53 is pushed by the elastic portion 54 and moves downward, and the upper opening of the third through-hole 58 is again blocked by the blocking portion 53. In this way, the pressure adjusting portion 50 can adjust the pressure inside the motor housing 31.

[0068] In this embodiment, the inner opening 44b of the first through hole 44, in which a part of the pressure adjustment unit 50 is located, is provided across the side wall 42 and the opposing wall 41. Therefore, the axial position of the first through hole 44 can be located on one axial side (+Y side) compared to a case in which the inner opening 44b of the first through hole 44 is provided only in the side wall 42. This makes it easy to arrange the pressure adjustment unit 50 at a suitable distance in the axial direction from the part of the motor housing 31 in which the rotor 11 and the stator 12 are housed. Therefore, it is possible to more suitably prevent foreign matter generated in the motor housing 31 and the oil O supplied to the stator 12 and the like in the motor housing 31 from leaking to the outside of the motor housing 31 via the pressure adjustment unit 50.

[0069] 2, the pressure adjusting unit 50 and the first fluid supply unit 94 are disposed at different positions in a direction intersecting both the axial direction and the vertical direction, i.e., in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). In this embodiment, the pressure adjusting unit 50 and the first fluid supply unit 94 are disposed apart from each other in the front-rear direction. This makes it difficult for the oil O supplied from the first fluid supply unit 94 to the stator 12 to reach the pressure adjusting unit 50. This makes it possible to further suppress the oil O from leaking to the outside of the motor housing 31 via the pressure adjusting unit 50.

[0070] In this specification, "a certain object and another object are disposed apart from each other in a certain direction" means that there is a position between the position of the certain object in a certain direction and the position of the other object in a certain direction, and that is not included in either the position of the certain object in a certain direction or the position of the other object in a certain direction. In this embodiment, there is a position in the front-rear direction between the position of the pressure adjustment unit 50 and the position of the first fluid supply unit 94 in the front-rear direction, and that is not included in either the position of the pressure adjustment unit 50 in the front-rear direction or the position of the first fluid supply unit 94 in the front-rear direction.

[0071] The pressure adjustment unit 50 is located rearward (-X side) away from the first fluid supply unit 94. The pressure adjustment unit 50 is located rearward of the central axis J1. The pressure adjustment unit 50 is located forward (+X side) of the differential axis J3. The pressure adjustment unit 50 is located above the central axis J1 and the differential axis J3.

[0072] In this embodiment, the pressure adjusting unit 50 has a portion whose vertical position is the same as that of the first fluid supply unit 94. The pressure adjusting unit 50 and the first fluid supply unit 94 are located at approximately the same position in the vertical direction. The upper end of the pressure adjusting unit 50 is located above the first fluid supply unit 94. That is, the upper end of the pressure adjusting unit 50 is located above the supply port 94a. Therefore, it is possible to make it more difficult for the oil O supplied from the supply port 94a to the stator 12 to reach the pressure adjusting unit 50. More specifically, it is possible to make it more difficult for the oil O supplied from the supply port 94a to reach the upper end of the third through hole 58. Therefore, it is possible to more effectively prevent the oil O from leaking to the outside of the motor housing 31 through the pressure adjusting unit 50. In this embodiment, the upper end of the third through hole 58 is located above the supply port 94a. Therefore, it is possible to make it more difficult for the oil O supplied from the supply port 94a to the stator 12 to reach the upper end of the third through hole 58.

[0073] In this embodiment, the radial distance between the pressure adjusting unit 50 and the central axis J1 is longer than the radial distance between the first fluid supply unit 94 and the central axis J1. That is, in this embodiment, the radial distance between the pressure adjusting unit 50 and the central axis J1 is longer than the radial distance between the supply port 94a and the central axis J1. Therefore, the pressure adjusting unit 50 can be disposed at a suitable distance from the stator 12, and the oil O supplied from the supply port 94a to the stator 12 can be more suitably prevented from leaking to the outside of the motor housing 31 via the pressure adjusting unit 50.

[0074] Hereinafter, embodiments different from the above-described embodiments will be described. In the following description of each embodiment, the description of the same configuration as that described above in the description of each embodiment may be omitted by appropriately assigning the same reference numerals. In addition, the parts corresponding to the respective parts of the configuration described above in the description of each embodiment may be assigned the same names and different reference numerals to describe the differences from the above-described configuration, and the description of the similarities to the above-described configuration may be omitted. Note that, as the configuration whose description is omitted in each of the following embodiments, the same configuration as that described above in the description of each embodiment may be adopted within a range that does not contradict.

[0075] <Second embodiment> As shown in Fig. 8, in the rotating electric machine 210 of the drive device 200 of this embodiment, the second upper surface 45a of the second upper wall portion 45 in the protruding wall portion 240 corresponds to a "mounting surface" facing the side where the first fluid supply unit 94 is located with respect to the pressure adjustment unit 250 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction), i.e., the front side (+X side). In other words, the side wall portion 42 has the second upper surface 45a as the mounting surface. The second upper surface 45a as the mounting surface is a surface that constitutes a part of the outer surface of the motor housing 231. The motor housing 231 corresponds to the "accommodating section."

[0076] The protruding wall portion 240 is provided with a holding portion 243 that holds the pressure adjusting portion 250. The holding portion 243 is similar to the holding portion 43 of the first embodiment, except that the holding portion 243 is configured by a part of the opposing wall portion 41 and a part of the second upper wall portion 45. The holding portion 243 is provided with a first through hole 244, similar to the holding portion 43 of the first embodiment. The first through hole 244 connects the inside of the motor housing 231 to the outside of the motor housing 231. The first through hole 244 is similar to the first through hole 44 of the first embodiment, except that the first through hole 244 opens to the second upper surface 45a of the second upper wall portion 45.

[0077] In this embodiment, the pressure adjusting unit 250 is provided on a portion of the side wall 42 having the second upper surface 45a as a mounting surface, that is, the second upper wall 45. Therefore, the end of the third through hole 58 of the pressure adjusting unit 250 that connects the inside of the motor housing 231 to the outside of the motor housing 231 tends to face the opposite side (-X side) from the side where the first fluid supply unit 94 is located in the front-rear direction. This makes it difficult for the oil O supplied from the first fluid supply unit 94 to reach the end of the third through hole 58 on the inside side of the motor housing 231. Therefore, it is possible to further suppress the oil O from leaking to the outside of the motor housing 231 through the pressure adjusting unit 250.

[0078] The pressure adjusting unit 250 has a portion that protrudes upward and forward (+X side) from the second upper surface 45a of the second upper wall portion 45. In this embodiment, the upper end portion of the pressure adjusting unit 250 is located lower than the upper end portion of the first fluid supply unit 94. At least a portion of the pressure adjusting unit 250 is located inside the first through hole 244. The pressure adjusting unit 250 is attached to the first through hole 244 in the same manner as the pressure adjusting unit 50 of the first embodiment is attached to the first through hole 44.

[0079] Other configurations of the protruding wall portion 240 are similar to other configurations of the protruding wall portion 40 in the first embodiment. Other configurations of the pressure adjustment portion 250 are similar to other configurations of the pressure adjustment portion 50 in the first embodiment. Other configurations of the rotating electric machine 210 are similar to other configurations of the rotating electric machine 10 in the first embodiment. Other configurations of the drive device 200 are similar to other configurations of the drive device 100 in the first embodiment.

[0080] In the above description, the mounting surface to which the pressure adjusting unit 250 is attached is the second upper surface 45a facing forward and upward, but the configuration of the mounting surface facing forward is not limited to this. As long as the mounting surface faces forward, it may be a surface that faces forward perpendicular to the front-to-rear direction, or a surface that faces forward and downward.

[0081] <Third embodiment> As shown in FIG. 9, in the rotating electric machine 310 of the drive device 300 of this embodiment, the first fluid supply unit 394 is located forward (+X side) of the central axis J1. The first fluid supply unit 394 is located above the front portion of the stator 12. The first fluid supply unit 394 has a plurality of supply ports 394a. The plurality of supply ports 394a have a first supply port 394b and a second supply port 394c. The first supply port 394b opens to the rear side (-X side) and the upper side. The second supply port 394c opens to the lower side and the front side (+X side).

[0082] The pressure adjustment unit 50 and the supply port 394a are located on opposite sides of the central axis J1 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). Therefore, the pressure adjustment unit 50 can be disposed at a suitable distance from the supply port 394a in the front-rear direction. This makes it possible to more suitably prevent the oil O supplied to the stator 12 from the supply port 394a from reaching the pressure adjustment unit 50. Therefore, it is possible to more suitably prevent the oil O from leaking to the outside of the motor housing 31 via the pressure adjustment unit 50.

[0083] Other configurations of the rotating electric machine 310 are similar to other configurations of the rotating electric machine 10 in the first embodiment. Other configurations of the drive device 200 are similar to other configurations of the drive device 100 in the first embodiment.

[0084] <Fourth embodiment> As shown in FIG. 10, the protruding wall portion 440 of the motor housing 431 in the rotating electric machine 410 of this embodiment has a portion located at the same position as the stator 12 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) that intersects both the axial direction and the up-down direction. The front end (+X side) of the protruding wall portion 440 is located rearward (-X side) of the front end of the stator 12. The rear end of the protruding wall portion 440 is located forward of the rear end of the stator 12. The protruding wall portion 440 has a portion located at the same position as the central axis J1 in the front-rear direction. The protruding wall portion 440 is located above the central axis J1. The protruding wall portion 440 is located forward of the first fluid supply portion 94. In this embodiment, the protruding wall portion 440 has a substantially rectangular shape that is long in the front-rear direction when viewed in the axial direction. The protruding wall portion 440 faces a plurality of coil lead wires 416, which are conductive portions, in the axial direction. The coil lead wires 416 extend upward from the coil end 12d. The motor housing 431 corresponds to the "accommodating portion."

[0085] The pressure adjusting section 450 is provided on a wall section located on the upper side of the side wall section 442 of the protruding wall section 440. The pressure adjusting section 450 has a portion located at the same position as the stator 12 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction). The front end (+X side) of the pressure adjusting section 450 is located rearward (-X side) of the front end of the stator 12. The rear end of the pressure adjusting section 450 is located forward of the rear end of the stator 12. The pressure adjusting section 450 has a portion located at the same position as the central axis J1 in the front-rear direction. The pressure adjusting section 450 is located above the central axis J1. The pressure adjusting section 450 is located forward of the first fluid supply section 94.

[0086] In this embodiment, the protruding wall portion 440, the pressure adjusting portion 450, and the first fluid supplying portion 94 each have a portion located at the same position as the stator 12 in the front-rear direction (X-axis direction) that intersects both the axial direction and the up-down direction. Therefore, the rotating electric machine 410 can be easily downsized in the front-rear direction compared to a case where at least one of the protruding wall portion 440, the pressure adjusting portion 450, and the first fluid supplying portion 94 is located at a different front-rear direction position from the stator 12. In addition, when the board housing 36 is provided on the upper side of the motor housing 431 as in this embodiment, the coil lead wire 416 electrically connected to the board 15 in the board housing 36 can be easily shortened, and the stator 12 and the board 15 can be easily electrically connected. In addition, the oil O can be easily supplied from the first fluid supplying portion 94 to the stator 12.

[0087] Other configurations of the protruding wall portion 440 are similar to other configurations of the protruding wall portion 40 in the first embodiment. Other configurations of the pressure adjustment portion 450 are similar to other configurations of the pressure adjustment portion 50 in the first embodiment. Other configurations of the rotating electric machine 410 are similar to other configurations of the rotating electric machine 10 in the first embodiment. Other configurations of the drive device 400 are similar to other configurations of the drive device 100 in the first embodiment.

[0088] <Fifth embodiment> 11, a rotating electric machine 510 of a drive device 500 of this embodiment includes the protruding wall portion 40 and the pressure adjusting portion 50 of the first embodiment, and the protruding wall portion 440 and the pressure adjusting portion 450 of the fourth embodiment. By providing the two pressure adjusting portions 50, 450, the pressure inside the motor housing 531 can be suitably adjusted. In this embodiment, either the coil lead wire 16 or the coil lead wire 416 may be, for example, a wiring extending from a sensor such as a temperature sensor. The motor housing 531 corresponds to the "accommodating portion."

[0089] Other configurations of the rotating electric machine 510 are similar to other configurations of the rotating electric machine 10 in the first embodiment. Other configurations of the drive device 500 are similar to other configurations of the drive device 100 in the first embodiment.

[0090] Sixth embodiment As shown in FIG. 12, in the rotating electric machine 610 of this embodiment, the protruding wall portion 640 has an extending wall portion 647 that extends rearward beyond the holding portion 43. As shown in FIG. 13 and FIG. 14, a convex portion 648 is provided on a portion of the side wall portion 642 that faces the inside of the motor housing 631. The convex portion 648 protrudes downward from a portion located on the upper side of the inner surface 642a of the side wall portion 642. The convex portion 648 is connected to the inner surface 641a of the opposing wall portion 641. In this embodiment, the convex portion 648 is substantially semicircular and convex downward when viewed in the axial direction. The motor housing 631 corresponds to the "accommodation portion."

[0091] As shown in FIG. 13, the protruding wall portion 640 has a hole portion 644a in which at least a part of the pressure adjusting portion 50 is located. The hole portion 644a is a hole that is recessed downward from the first upper surface 43c and has a bottom on the lower side. The lower end of the hole portion 644a is provided in the convex portion 648. The upper end of the hole portion 644a opens to the first upper surface 43c and opens to the outside of the motor housing 631. The upper opening of the hole portion 644a is closed by the fixing portion 51 as in the first embodiment. The lower part of the extension portion 55 of the pressure adjusting portion 50 is located in the hole portion 644a. The inner peripheral surface of the hole portion 644a is provided with a screw portion 644c into which the screw portion 55a provided on the outer peripheral surface of the extension portion 55 is fastened. The hole portion 644a is circular when viewed in the up-down direction.

[0092] The protrusion 648 is provided with a second through hole 644b that connects the inside of the hole 644a and the inside of the motor housing 631. The second through hole 644b extends from the bottom of the hole 644a to the lower end of the protrusion 648 and penetrates the protrusion 648 in the up-down direction. The lower end of the second through hole 644b opens into the inside of the motor housing 631. The second through hole 644b is circular when viewed in the up-down direction. The inner diameter of the second through hole 644b is smaller than the inner diameter of the hole 644a. When viewed in the up-down direction, the center of the second through hole 644b and the center of the hole 644a overlap each other.

[0093] The opening area of ​​the portion of the second through-hole 644b that opens into the inside of the motor housing 631, i.e., the lower end, is smaller than the opening area of ​​the portion of the hole 644a that opens to the outside of the motor housing 631, i.e., the upper end. This makes it difficult for foreign matter generated inside the motor housing 631 and the oil O contained in the motor housing 631 to enter the second through-hole 644b. This makes it possible to further prevent the oil O from leaking to the outside of the motor housing 631 via the pressure adjustment unit 50.

[0094] Other configurations of the protruding wall portion 640 are similar to other configurations of the protruding wall portion 40 in the first embodiment. Other configurations of the rotating electric machine 610 are similar to other configurations of the rotating electric machine 10 in the first embodiment.

[0095] The present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiment, and other configurations and methods may be adopted within the scope of the technical concept of the present invention. The pressure adjusting section may have any structure as long as it can adjust the pressure inside the accommodation section (motor housing). The pressure adjusting section may be, for example, a vent filter. The pressure adjusting section may be provided in any part of the protruding wall section as long as it is provided in the protruding wall section. The pressure adjusting section may be provided in an opposing wall section located on one axial side of the conductive section of the protruding wall section. The pressure adjusting section may be provided in a part of the side wall section of the protruding wall section having a surface facing downward, or in a part of the side wall section having a surface facing the opposite side to the side where the fluid supply section is located. A plurality of pressure adjusting sections may be provided on one protruding wall section.

[0096] The protruding wall portion is a portion of the cover wall portion of the housing portion that protrudes to one side in the axial direction, and may be of any shape and provided at any position as long as at least a portion of the protruding wall portion faces the conductive portion in the axial direction. The number of protruding wall portions is not particularly limited as long as it is one or more. The protruding wall portion may be provided on a detachable portion of the cover wall portion. A rib may be provided on the wall portion facing the protruding wall portion.

[0097] The conductive portion facing the protruding wall portion in the axial direction may be any member as long as it is conductive and at least a part of it is housed inside the housing portion. The conductive portion may be wiring such as a temperature sensor and a rotation sensor. The number of conductive portions is not particularly limited as long as it is one or more.

[0098] The relative positional relationship between the pressure adjusting unit and the fluid supply unit is not particularly limited. The fluid supplied from the supply port of the fluid supply unit is not particularly limited and may be a fluid other than oil. The rotating electric machine does not need to be provided with a fluid supply unit.

[0099] The use of the drive device to which the present invention is applied is not particularly limited. The drive device may be mounted on a vehicle for an application other than rotating an axle, for example, or may be mounted on equipment other than a vehicle. The rotating electric machine to which the present invention is applied is not limited to a motor, and may be a generator. The use of the rotating electric machine is not particularly limited. The rotating electric machine may be mounted on equipment other than a vehicle. The attitude of the rotating electric machine when used is not particularly limited. The central axis of the rotating electric machine may extend in any direction.

[0100] The present technology can be configured as follows. (1) A rotating electric machine comprising: a rotor rotatable about a central axis; a stator facing the rotor with a gap therebetween; a housing having an accommodating portion for accommodating the rotor and the stator; a conductive portion at least a portion of which is accommodated inside the accommodating portion; and a pressure adjusting portion provided in the accommodating portion, wherein the accommodating portion has a peripheral wall portion surrounding the stator from the radial outside and opening to one axial side, and a cover wall portion covering the opening on one axial side of the peripheral wall portion, a portion of the cover wall portion being a protruding wall portion protruding to one axial side, at least a portion of the protruding wall portion axially facing the conductive portion, and the pressure adjusting portion being provided on the protruding wall portion. (2) A rotating electric machine as described in (1), wherein the protruding wall portion has an opposing wall portion located on one axial side of the conductive portion and a side wall portion connected to an outer circumferential edge portion of the opposing wall portion, and the pressure adjustment portion is provided on the side wall portion. (3) The rotating electric machine according to (2), wherein the pressure adjusting portion is provided on a portion of the side wall portion having a surface facing upward outside the housing portion. (4) The rotating electric machine according to (3), wherein the pressure adjusting portion is provided at an upper end portion of the side wall portion. (5) A rotating electric machine described in any one of (2) to (4), wherein the protruding wall portion has a first through hole in which at least a portion of the pressure adjustment portion is located, the first through hole has an opening that opens into the interior of the accommodating portion, and the opening is provided across the side wall portion and the opposing wall portion. (6) A rotating electric machine described in any one of (2) to (5), wherein the protruding wall portion has a hole portion into which at least a portion of the pressure adjustment portion is located, a convex portion is provided on a portion of the side wall portion facing the interior of the accommodating portion, and a second through hole is provided in the convex portion connecting the interior of the hole portion and the interior of the accommodating portion, and an opening area of ​​a portion of the second through hole that opens into the interior of the accommodating portion is smaller than an opening area of ​​a portion of the hole portion that opens to the outside of the accommodating portion. (7) A rotating electric machine as described in any one of (2) to (6), further comprising a fluid supply unit having a supply port inside the accommodating unit that opens toward the stator, the pressure adjusting unit and the fluid supply unit being arranged at different positions from each other in a transverse direction that intersects both the axial direction and the vertical direction, the side wall unit having a mounting surface facing a side in the transverse direction where the fluid supply unit is located relative to the pressure adjusting unit, the mounting surface constituting a part of an outer surface of the accommodating unit, and the pressure adjusting unit being provided on a portion of the side wall unit having the mounting surface. (8) The rotating electric machine according to any one of (1) to (7), further comprising a fluid supply unit having a supply port inside the accommodation unit that opens toward the stator. (9) The rotating electric machine according to (8), in which a radial distance between the pressure adjusting unit and the central axis is longer than a radial distance between the supply port and the central axis. (10) The rotating electric machine according to (8) or (9), wherein an upper end of the pressure adjusting portion is located above the supply port. (11) The rotating electric machine according to (10), wherein the protruding wall portion, the pressure adjusting portion and the fluid supply portion each have a portion that is positioned at the same position as the stator in a direction intersecting both the axial direction and the up-down direction. (12) The rotating electric machine according to any one of (8) to (11), wherein the pressure adjusting unit and the fluid supply unit are arranged apart from each other in a direction intersecting both the axial direction and the up-down direction. (13) The rotating electric machine according to (12), wherein the pressure adjusting portion and the supply port are located on opposite sides of the central axis in the intersecting direction. (14) A drive device comprising: a rotating electric machine according to any one of (1) to (13); and a gear mechanism connected to the rotating electric machine.

[0101] The configurations and methods described in this specification can be combined as appropriate within the scope of not being mutually inconsistent. [Explanation of symbols]

[0102] 10, 210, 310, 410, 510, 610... rotating electric machine, 11... rotor, 12... stator, 14... bus bar (conductive portion), 16... coil lead wire (conductive portion), 20... gear mechanism, 30... housing, 31, 231, 431, 531, 631... motor housing (accommodating portion), 34... cover wall portion, 40, 240, 440, 640... protruding wall portion, 41, 641... opposing wall portion, 4 2,442,642...side wall portion, 44,244...first through hole, 44b...inner opening (opening), 45a...second upper surface (mounting surface), 50,250,450...pressure adjusting portion, 94...first fluid supply portion (fluid supply portion), 94a,394a...supply port, 100,200,300,400,500...driving device, 644a...hole portion, 644b...second through hole, 648...projection portion, J1...center axis

Claims

1. A rotor rotatable about a central axis; a stator facing the rotor with a gap therebetween; a housing having an accommodating portion for accommodating the rotor and the stator therein; A conductive portion at least a portion of which is accommodated within the accommodation portion; A pressure adjusting unit provided in the housing unit; Equipped with The storage section includes: a peripheral wall portion surrounding the stator from a radially outer side and opening to one axially outer side; a cover wall portion covering an opening on one axial side of the peripheral wall portion; having a part of the cover wall portion is a protruding wall portion protruding to one axial side, At least a portion of the protruding wall portion faces the conductive portion in the axial direction, The pressure adjusting portion is provided on the protruding wall portion.

2. The protruding wall portion is an opposing wall portion located on one axial side of the conductive portion; A side wall portion connected to an outer circumferential edge portion of the opposing wall portion; having The rotating electric machine according to claim 1 , wherein the pressure adjusting portion is provided on the side wall portion.

3. The rotating electric machine according to claim 2 , wherein the pressure adjusting portion is provided on a portion of the side wall portion having a surface facing upward outside the housing portion.

4. The rotating electric machine according to claim 3 , wherein the pressure adjusting portion is provided at an upper end portion of the side wall portion.

5. the protruding wall portion has a first through hole into which at least a portion of the pressure adjusting portion is positioned, The first through hole has an opening that opens into the inside of the storage portion, The rotating electric machine according to claim 2 , wherein the opening is provided across the side wall portion and the opposing wall portion.

6. the protruding wall portion has a hole into which at least a portion of the pressure adjusting portion is positioned, A protrusion is provided on a portion of the side wall portion facing the inside of the storage portion, The protrusion has a second through hole connecting an inside of the hole and an inside of the accommodation portion, The rotating electric machine according to claim 2 , wherein an opening area of ​​the second through hole that opens into the housing portion is smaller than an opening area of ​​the hole that opens to the outside of the housing portion.

7. a fluid supply unit having a supply port inside the accommodation unit and opening toward the stator, the pressure adjusting section and the fluid supplying section are disposed at different positions from each other in a cross direction that crosses both an axial direction and a vertical direction, the side wall portion has an attachment surface facing a side where the fluid supply portion is located with respect to the pressure adjustment portion in the intersecting direction, The mounting surface constitutes a part of an outer surface of the housing portion, The rotating electric machine according to claim 2 , wherein the pressure adjusting portion is provided on a portion of the side wall portion that has the mounting surface.

8. The rotating electric machine according to claim 1 , further comprising a fluid supply section having a supply port inside the housing section that opens toward the stator.

9. The rotating electric machine according to claim 8 , wherein a radial distance between the pressure adjusting portion and the central axis is longer than a radial distance between the supply port and the central axis.

10. The rotating electric machine according to claim 8 , wherein an upper end of the pressure adjusting portion is located above the supply port.

11. The rotating electric machine according to claim 10 , wherein the protruding wall portion, the pressure adjusting portion and the fluid supply portion each have a portion that is located at the same position as the stator in a direction intersecting both the axial direction and the up-down direction.

12. The rotating electric machine according to claim 8 , wherein the pressure adjusting portion and the fluid supplying portion are disposed apart from each other in a direction intersecting both the axial direction and the up-down direction.

13. The rotating electric machine according to claim 12 , wherein the pressure adjusting portion and the supply port are located on opposite sides of the central axis in the intersecting direction.

14. A rotating electric machine according to any one of claims 1 to 13, a gear mechanism connected to the rotating electric machine; A drive device comprising:

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