Hybrid vehicle driving device

Abstract

To provide a hybrid vehicle driving device in which cooling oil at a flow rate corresponding to the driving state of a power generation motor and a driving motor can be appropriately distributed to the power generation motor and the driving motor.SOLUTION: A driving device 1 comprises: an oil pump 21 to be driven by a power generation motor 10, and for supplying cooling oil to an oil tank 33 by a first oil passage part 24; an oil pump 22 to be driven by a driving motor 11, and for supplying the cooling oil to an oil tank 34 by a second oil passage part 25; and a branch oil passage part 5i branched from an oil passage 5d of the first oil passage part 24 at a branch part 5e, and connected to a pipe part 34b of the oil tank 34 at a connection hole 5j. The connection hole 5j is located at a higher position than the branch part 5e, and located at a higher position than the first oil passage part 24.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 5

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive system for a hybrid vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, Patent Document 1 proposes a technology that includes a first oil pump connected to the wheels and driven when the vehicle is running, a second oil pump connected to the engine and driven when the engine is running, a first lubrication and cooling oil passage that guides oil discharged by the first oil pump to an electric motor, and a second lubrication and cooling oil passage that guides oil discharged by the second oil pump to an electric motor and a generator, and that starts the engine and cools the electric motor with oil discharged from the second oil pump when lubrication and cooling by the first oil pump is not possible. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2012-106599 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] However, in the motor cooling device for a hybrid vehicle described in Patent Document 1, although the electric motor can be cooled with oil discharged from the second oil pump, the oil discharged from the second oil pump is guided to the electric motor and generator via a common second lubrication / cooling oil passage, so there is a risk that the oil may not be distributed appropriately to the electric motor and generator at a flow rate that corresponds to the driving state of the electric motor and generator.

[0005] The present invention has been made in light of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a hybrid vehicle drive device that can appropriately distribute cooling oil to the generator motor and the drive motor at a flow rate that corresponds to the driving state of the generator motor and the drive motor. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The present invention provides a hybrid vehicle drive device comprising: a generator motor that is connected to an engine and generates electricity using the driving force of the engine; a first oil tank that supplies cooling oil to the generator motor; a drive motor that generates driving force to run the vehicle; a second oil tank that supplies cooling oil to the drive motor; a first oil pump that is driven by the generator motor and supplies cooling oil to the first oil tank through a first oil line section; and a second oil pump that is driven by the drive motor and supplies cooling oil to the second oil tank through a second oil line section, wherein the drive device has a branch oil line section that branches from the first oil line section at a branch section and is connected to the second oil tank at a connection section, and the connection section is located at a higher position than the branch oil line section and is also located at a higher position than the first oil line section. [Effects of the Invention]

[0007] As described above, according to the present invention, cooling oil can be appropriately distributed to the generator motor and the drive motor at a flow rate that corresponds to the driving states of the generator motor and the drive motor. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0008] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a front view of a hybrid vehicle driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a view of the right case seen from the left side in a state where the left case of the hybrid vehicle driving device according to the embodiment of the present invention has been removed. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a view of the hybrid vehicle driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention, with the right case removed and the left case viewed from the right side. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a view of the left case of the hybrid vehicle driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention, with the side cover removed, as viewed from the left side. [Figure 5]FIG. 5 is a left side view of a hybrid vehicle driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention, showing a state in which the pump cover has been removed. [Figure 6] 6 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VI-VI in FIG. [Figure 7] 7 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VII-VII in FIG. [Figure 8] 8 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line VIII-VIII in FIG. [Figure 9] 9 is a cross-sectional view taken along the line IX-IX in FIG. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a perspective view of a first oil tank, a second oil tank, and a side cover of a hybrid vehicle driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a perspective view of a generator motor and a first oil tank of a hybrid vehicle driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 12] FIG. 12 is a perspective view of the left case around the oil strainer of the hybrid vehicle driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 13] FIG. 13 is a perspective view of a second oil tank of a hybrid vehicle driving device according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0009] A hybrid vehicle drive device according to one embodiment of the present invention includes a generator motor that is connected to the engine and generates electricity using the engine's driving force, a first oil tank that supplies cooling oil to the generator motor, a drive motor that generates driving force for running the vehicle, a second oil tank that supplies cooling oil to the drive motor, a first oil pump that is driven by the generator motor and supplies cooling oil to the first oil tank through a first oil line section, and a second oil pump that is driven by the drive motor and supplies cooling oil to the second oil tank through a second oil line section, and has a branched oil line section that branches from the first oil line section at a branching section and is connected to the second oil tank at a connecting section, and the connecting section is located at a higher position than the branching section and also at a higher position than the first oil line section.

[0010] As a result, the hybrid vehicle drive system according to one embodiment of the present invention can appropriately distribute cooling oil to the generator motor and the drive motor at a flow rate that corresponds to the drive states of the generator motor and the drive motor. [Example]

[0011] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A hybrid vehicle drive system according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the accompanying drawings.

[0012] 1 to 13 are diagrams showing a hybrid vehicle drive system according to one embodiment of the present invention. In Figures 1 to 13, the up, down, front, back, left and right directions are based on the hybrid vehicle drive device when placed in the vehicle, and the front and back direction of the vehicle is the front-to-rear direction, the left and right direction of the vehicle (vehicle width direction) is the left and right direction, and the up and down direction of the vehicle (vehicle height direction) is the up and down direction.

[0013] In Figure 1, a hybrid vehicle drive unit (hereinafter referred to as the drive unit) 1 has a drive case 2, which is composed of a right case 3, a left case 4, and a side cover 5, from right to left, and each case is connected to each other with bolts.

[0014] 6 and 7, the light case 3 has a side wall 3A, a peripheral wall 3B, and a peripheral wall 3C. The peripheral wall 3B protrudes rightward from the side wall 3A and is formed biased toward the front side of the side wall 3A.

[0015] A cylinder block of an internal combustion engine (not shown) is fastened to the right end of peripheral wall 3B with bolts (not shown), and part of a crankshaft is housed inside peripheral wall 3B. Peripheral wall 3C protrudes from the outer peripheral edge of side wall 3A toward left case 4.

[0016] The left case 4 has a partition wall 4A and peripheral walls 4B and 4C. The partition wall 4A faces the side wall 3A in the rotor axial direction, and the peripheral wall 4B protrudes from the outer peripheral edge of the partition wall 4A toward the right case 3.

[0017] The left end of the peripheral wall 3C of the right case 3 is fastened to the right end of the peripheral wall 4B of the left case 4 with a bolt 30A. In this embodiment, the right case 3 and the left case 4 form a case part. The peripheral wall 4C protrudes from the outer peripheral edge of the partition wall 4A toward the side away from the right case 3.

[0018] As shown in FIG. 4, the peripheral wall 4C has an upper wall 4a and a lower wall 4b, and the upper wall 4a and the lower wall 4b are inclined downward from the rear end to the front end so that the front end is positioned lower than the rear end.

[0019] As shown in FIG. 5, the side cover 5 is formed into an outer peripheral shape that follows the shape of the peripheral wall 4C, and is fastened to the left end of the peripheral wall 4C by a bolt 30B.

[0020] 6 and 9, a motor chamber 6 and a gear chamber 7 are formed in the drive case 2. The motor chamber 6 is formed of a space surrounded by the partition wall 4A, the peripheral wall 4C, and the side cover 5, and the gear chamber 7 is formed of a space surrounded by the side wall 3A, the peripheral wall 3C, the peripheral wall 4B, and the partition wall 4A.

[0021] The partition wall 4A divides the interior of the drive case 2 into a motor chamber 6 and a gear chamber 7, and the motor chamber 6 and the gear chamber 7 face each other in the rotor axial direction with the partition wall 4A in between.

[0022] The rotor axial direction is the direction of the rotation axes of a generator motor 10 and a drive motor 11, which will be described later, and is the left-right direction.

[0023] As shown in Figure 4, the motor chamber 6 houses a generator motor 10 and a drive motor 11. The drive motor 11 is located above and behind the generator motor 10, with the front end of the drive motor 11 and the rear end of the generator motor 10 overlapping when viewed from the top-bottom direction, and the bottom end of the drive motor 11 and the top end of the generator motor 10 overlapping when viewed from the front-to-back direction.

[0024] The upper wall 4a and lower wall 4b of the peripheral wall 4C are inclined from the rear end to the front end so that the front end is positioned lower than the rear end, so the generator motor 10 and the drive motor 11 are arranged diagonally side by side along the upper wall 4a and lower wall 4b. The generator motor 10 and the drive motor 11 are omitted from Figures 6, 7, and 8.

[0025] As shown in Figures 4 and 11, the power generation motor 10 includes an annular stator 10A, an annular rotor 10B disposed radially inward of the stator 10A, and a rotor shaft 10C attached to the inner periphery of the rotor 10B and rotating integrally with the rotor 10B. The stator 10A has a stator core 10D and coil ends 10E and 10F protruding outward to the left and right from the stator core 10D.

[0026] An adapter 12 is attached to the generator motor 10, and the generator motor 10 is attached to the side wall 3A by the adapter 12.

[0027] The generator motor 10 is provided so as to be interlocked with the crankshaft of the engine, and both are connected to a battery via an inverter and a boost converter (not shown).

[0028] The generator motor 10 has the function of an electric motor that starts the engine by supplying power from the battery to the stator 10A, causing the rotor shaft 10C to rotate integrally with the rotor 10B, and the function of a generator that converts the driving force generated by the engine into electricity.

[0029] As shown in FIG. 11, the adapter 12 has a cylindrical portion 12A that covers the right end surface and outer periphery of the right end of the stator 10A, and a semicircular support portion 12B that protrudes from the cylindrical portion 12A toward the side cover 5 and supports the stator 10A.

[0030] As shown in Fig. 12, a through-hole 4y is formed in the partition wall 4A. As shown in Fig. 3, the cylindrical portion 12A side of the adapter 12 is positioned so as to enter the gear chamber 7 through the through-hole 4y and is fixed to the side wall 3A with bolts (not shown). In this way, the generator motor 10 is attached to the side wall 3A via the adapter 12.

[0031] As shown in FIG. 2, the support portion 12B side of the adapter 12 is positioned in the motor chamber 6 through the through hole 4y, and extends in the motor chamber 6 in the rotor axial direction.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 11, a plurality of bosses 10a are provided on the stator core 10D, and the bosses 10a are spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the stator core 10D and extend from the left end to the right end of the stator core 10D.

[0033] A notch 12a is formed in the support portion 12B, and the boss 10a is positioned in the notch 12a. That is, the notch 12a is formed at a position corresponding to the boss 10a in the circumferential direction of the support portion 12B.

[0034] Between the cylindrical portion 12A and the support portion 12B, a curved portion 12C is provided, which has a circumferential length shorter than that of the cylindrical portion 12A and a circumferential length longer than that of the support portion 12B.

[0035] A boss 12b is provided on the curved portion 12C, and the boss 12b is spaced apart in the circumferential direction of the curved portion 12C and faces the boss 10a in the rotor axial direction. The rotational axes of the generator motor 10 and the drive motor 11 are aligned in the same direction as the axial directions of the rotor shafts 10C and 11C.

[0036] When attaching the generator motor 10 to the drive case 2, the stator core 10D is positioned on the support portion 12B of the adapter 12, which is attached to the side wall 3A in advance, and the bosses 10a and 12b are fastened together with the bolts 30C. This connects the generator motor 10 to the side wall 3A via the adapter 12 and allows it to be housed in the motor chamber 6 while passing through the partition wall 4A.

[0037] As shown in Fig. 6, a bearing support portion 3a is formed on the side wall 3A. The right end portion of the rotor shaft 10C is rotatably supported by the bearing support portion 3a via a bearing (not shown).

[0038] A bearing support portion 5a is formed on the side cover 5. The left end portion of the rotor shaft 10C is rotatably supported by the bearing support portion 5a via a bearing (not shown).

[0039] As shown in Figure 9, the drive motor 11 includes an annular stator 11A, an annular rotor 11B arranged radially inward of the stator 11A, and a rotor shaft 11C attached to the inner periphery of the rotor 11B and rotating integrally with the rotor 11B. The stator 11A has a stator core 11D and coil ends 11E and 11F protruding outward to the left and right from the stator core 11D.

[0040] A bearing support portion 4c is formed in the partition wall 4A, and the right end portion of the rotor shaft 11C is rotatably supported by the bearing support portion 4c via a bearing 14A.

[0041] A bearing support portion 5b is formed on the side cover 5, and the left end portion of the rotor shaft 11C is rotatably supported by the bearing support portion 5b via a bearing 14B.

[0042] As shown in FIGS. 2 and 9, the gear chamber 7 accommodates a reduction mechanism 15 and a differential device 16.

[0043] The reduction mechanism 15 includes an input shaft 15A and a drive gear 15B that rotates integrally with the input shaft 15A.

[0044] The left end of the input shaft 15A is spline-fitted to the right end of the rotor shaft 11C, and rotates integrally with the input shaft 15A.

[0045] As shown in FIG. 9, a bearing support portion 4e is formed in the partition wall 4A, and the left end portion of the input shaft 15A is rotatably supported by the bearing support portion 4e via a bearing 14C.

[0046] A bearing support portion 3b is formed on the side wall 3A, and the right end portion of the input shaft 15A is rotatably supported by the bearing support portion 3b via a bearing 14D.

[0047] The reduction mechanism 15 has an output shaft 15C, and a driven gear 15D and a drive gear 15E that rotate integrally with the output shaft 15C.

[0048] A bearing support portion 4f is formed in the partition wall 4A, and the left end portion of the output shaft 15C is rotatably supported by the bearing support portion 4f via a bearing 14E.

[0049] A bearing support portion 3c is formed on the side wall 3A, and the right end portion of the output shaft 15C is rotatably supported by the bearing support portion 3c via a bearing 14F.

[0050] The driven gear 15D has a larger diameter than the drive gear 15B and is meshed with the drive gear 15B. The drive gear 15E has a smaller diameter than the driven gear 15D and is meshed with the final driven gear 16A of the differential device 16.

[0051] As shown in FIG. 2, the differential device 16 has a final driven gear 16A and a differential case 16B to the outer periphery of which the final driven gear 16A is attached.

[0052] A differential mechanism (not shown) is housed inside the differential case 16B, and the differential mechanism is connected to left and right drive wheels (not shown) via left and right drive shafts (not shown).

[0053] The drive motor 11 is connected to a battery via an inverter and a boost converter, and receives power from the battery and the power generation motor 10 to rotate the rotor shaft 11C.

[0054] As a result, the driving force of the drive motor 11 is transmitted to the reduction gear mechanism 15 and the differential device 16, and then transmitted from the differential device 16 to the drive wheels via the left and right drive shafts, causing the vehicle to move.

[0055] Specifically, the driving force of the drive motor 11 is transmitted from the rotor shaft 11C to the output shaft 15C via the input shaft 15A, the drive gear 15B, and the driven gear 15D by the rotation of the rotor shaft 11C, and then transmitted from the drive gear 15E to the final driven gear 16A.

[0056] When the final driven gear 16A rotates, the differential case 16B rotates integrally with the final driven gear 16A. At this time, the differential mechanism inside the differential case 16B distributes the driving force of the drive motor 11 to the left and right drive wheels via the left and right drive shafts. In this embodiment, the drive gear 15B, the driven gear 15D, and the drive gear 15E constitute a gear.

[0057] As shown in Figure 9, a parking gear 15F is attached to the input shaft 15A so as to be rotatable integrally therewith, and the parking gear 15F engages with a parking pole (not shown) to restrict the rotation of the input shaft 15A and maintain the vehicle in a stopped state.

[0058] As shown in FIG. 5, the side cover 5 is provided with trochoid oil pumps 21 and 22, respectively.

[0059] The oil pump 21 is driven in conjunction with the rotation of the generator motor 10 , and the oil pump 22 is driven by the drive motor 11 .

[0060] The oil pump 21 is rotatably supported by the side cover 5, and has an inner rotor 21A and an outer rotor 21B.

[0061] The inner rotor 21A is connected to the rotor shaft 10C via a pump shaft (not shown) and rotates in conjunction with the rotor shaft 10C. The outer rotor 21B is provided radially outward of the inner rotor 21A and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the inner rotor 21A.

[0062] The oil pump 22 has an inner rotor 22A and an outer rotor 22B that are rotatably supported by the side cover 5.

[0063] The inner rotor 22A is connected to the rotor shaft 11C via a pump shaft 22P (see FIG. 9) and rotates in conjunction with the rotor shaft 11C. The outer rotor 22B is provided radially outward of the inner rotor 22A and rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the inner rotor 22A.

[0064] In the trochoid oil pumps 21 and 22, multiple internal teeth formed on the outer rotors 21B and 22B come into contact with multiple external teeth formed on the inner rotors 21A and 22A, thereby forming multiple working chambers that store oil between the external teeth and the internal teeth.

[0065] The side cover 5 is formed with suction holes 21a and 22a that communicate with the working chambers, and discharge holes 21b and 22b that communicate with the working chambers.

[0066] Although pump covers 5A and 5B (see FIG. 6) are omitted in FIG. 5, oil pumps 21 and 22 and the oil passages inside oil pumps 21 and 22 are closed by pump covers 5A and 5B.

[0067] In the oil pump 21, when the rotation of the generator motor 10 is transmitted from the rotor shaft 10C to the inner rotor 21A, the inner rotor 21A and the outer rotor 21B rotate in one direction, causing the volume of the working chamber to increase and decrease continuously, thereby drawing oil into the working chamber through the suction hole 21a and discharging oil from the working chamber to the discharge hole 21b.

[0068] In the oil pump 22, when the driving force of the drive motor 11 is transmitted from the rotor shaft 11C to the inner rotor 22A, the inner rotor 22A and the outer rotor 22B rotate in one direction, causing the volume of the working chamber to increase and decrease continuously, thereby drawing oil into the working chamber through the suction hole 22a and discharging oil from the working chamber to the discharge hole 22b.

[0069] The oil is a lubricating oil used to lubricate the reduction gear mechanism 15 and to cool the generator motor 10 and the drive motor 11, and also serves as a cooling oil.

[0070] In other words, the oil pumps 21 and 22 are driven by the generator motor 10 and the drive motor 11, respectively, and supply oil (cooling oil) to the generator motor 10 and the drive motor 11 to cool them.

[0071] An oil supply structure for supplying oil to the generator motor 10 and the drive motor 11 will now be described.

[0072] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 8, an oil reservoir 31 is provided at the bottom of the right case 3 and the left case 4, that is, at the bottom of the peripheral walls 3C and 4B, and oil is stored in the oil reservoir 31.

[0073] 3, an oil strainer 32 is provided in an oil reservoir 31 at the bottom of the gear chamber 7, and the oil strainer 32 is located below the generator motor 10 (more specifically, below the cylindrical portion 12A of the adapter 12), and is fixed to the bottom of the partition wall 4A on the gear chamber 7 side. The oil strainer 32 has a suction port (not shown) that is immersed in oil, and when the oil pumps 21, 22 are driven, it sucks oil from the suction port and filters the sucked oil.

[0074] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, an oil passage 4g is formed in the lower part of the left case 4, and the oil passage 4g extends from the right end to the left end of the left case 4 in the rotor axial direction.

[0075] An oil passage 5c is formed in the side cover 5, and the lower end of the oil passage 5c is connected to the oil passage 4g. The oil passage 5c extends obliquely upward and rearward from the connecting portion with the oil passage 4g and is connected to a suction hole 21a of the oil pump 21.

[0076] 5 and 7, an oil passage 5d is formed in the side cover 5. The oil passage 5d communicates with the discharge hole 21b of the oil pump 21, and extends obliquely upward and rearward from the discharge hole 21b.

[0077] A branched portion 5e is formed at the upper end of the oil passage 5d, and the left end of an oil pipe 37 that communicates with the oil tank 33 is connected to the branched portion 5e (see FIG. 10). As shown in FIGS. 7 and 10, the right end of the oil pipe 37 is connected to the oil tank 33, so that the oil discharged from the oil pump 21 flows into the oil tank 33.

[0078] As shown in FIG. 4, the oil tank 33 is disposed above the generator motor 10, and as shown in FIG. 7, it is disposed away from the side cover 5 on the partition wall 4A side and attached to the partition wall 4A.

[0079] 4, the bottom wall 33B of the oil tank 33 is curved along the outer periphery of the stator 10A, and the generator motor 10 is arranged so that the stator 10A fits within the curved bottom surface of the oil tank 33. This allows the generator motor 10 and the oil tank 33 to be arranged close to each other in the vertical direction.

[0080] The oil tank 33 is inclined in the front-to-rear direction so that the rear end (one end) is positioned higher than the front end (the other end), and the oil pipe 37 is connected to the rear end of the oil tank 33. In other words, the oil pipe 37 is connected to the oil tank 33 at a relatively high position.

[0081] The oil tank 33 of this embodiment constitutes a first oil tank, and the oil passages 4g, 5c, 5d, the branch portion 5e, and the oil pipe 37 constitute a first oil passage portion 24.

[0082] In this embodiment, the first oil passage section 24 is composed of an oil pipe 37 whose branch section 5e branches off from the middle of the first oil passage section 24, and the right end of the oil pipe 37 is connected to the highest position in the oil tank 33.

[0083] 10, mounting pieces 33g and 33h are provided on both front and rear ends of the oil tank 33, and the mounting pieces 33g and 33h are fastened to the bulkhead 4A with fasteners such as bolts, thereby attaching the oil tank 33 to the bulkhead 4A.

[0084] 10 and 11, a plurality of shower pipes 33A are provided in the oil tank 33. The shower pipes 33A extend from the bottom of the oil tank 33 toward the side cover 5, and in the rotor axial direction from the right end position to the left end position of the stator 10A.

[0085] As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of discharge holes 33a, 33b are formed at the left and right ends of the shower pipe 33A, respectively, and the discharge holes 33a, 33b are located above the coil ends 10E, 10F of the stator 10A.

[0086] A plurality of discharge holes 33c are formed in the bottom wall 33B of the oil tank 33, and the discharge holes 33c are positioned between the shower pipes 33A.

[0087] When the oil pump 21 is driven by the rotation of the generator motor 10, oil sucked into the oil strainer 32 is introduced into the working chamber of the oil pump 21 through the oil passages 4g and 5c.

[0088] The oil introduced into the working chamber is introduced from the oil passage 5d through the branched portion 5e to the oil pipe 37 by the rotation of the inner rotor 21A and the outer rotor 21B, and is supplied from the oil pipe 37 to the oil tank 33 where it is stored.

[0089] The oil stored in oil tank 33 flows down from discharge holes 33a and 33c onto coil end 10E. The oil poured onto coil end 10E flows into the space between coil end 10E and curved portion 12C (see FIG. 11).

[0090] Because curved portion 12C is curved along coil end 10E, oil that has entered between coil end 10E and curved portion 12C flows in the circumferential direction of coil end 10E along curved portion 12C, thereby cooling coil end 10E by the oil.

[0091] Meanwhile, the oil stored in the oil tank 33 flows down from the discharge hole 33b onto the coil end 10F and flows along the circumferential direction of the coil end 10F, thereby cooling the coil end 10F by the oil.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 11, a discharge hole 33d is formed in a front wall 33D of the oil tank 33, and the discharge hole 33d is located above the curved portion 12C.

[0093] Ribs 12d and 12e are formed on both the left and right ends of curved portion 12C, and ribs 12d and 12e protrude radially outward from curved portion 12C of rotor shaft 10C. A notched hole 12g is formed in curved portion 12C between ribs 12d and 12e, and notched hole 12g connects the inside and outside of curved portion 12C.

[0094] The oil discharged from discharge hole 33d of oil tank 33 flows along ribs 12d and 12e along the outer peripheral surface of curved portion 12C, enters between coil end 10E and curved portion 12C through cutout hole 12g, and flows in the circumferential direction of coil end 10E along curved portion 12C, thereby further cooling coil end 10E with the oil.

[0095] A drain hole 33e is formed in the upper wall 33C of the oil tank 33, and when the oil tank 33 is full, the oil that does not fit into the oil tank 33 overflows and is discharged from the drain hole 33e.

[0096] Around the discharge hole 33e, the upper wall 33C is formed with a rib 33f that protrudes upward from the upper wall 33C, and oil that overflows from the oil tank 33 is guided by the rib 33f to the curved portion 12C and enters between the coil end 10E and the curved portion 12C through the cutout hole 12g.

[0097] In this way, the coil end 10E is cooled by the oil discharged from the discharge holes 33a and 33c and the oil discharged from the discharge holes 33d and 33e.

[0098] Furthermore, the number of discharge holes 33b is greater than the number of discharge holes 33a, and the coil end 10F is cooled by the oil discharged from the discharge holes 33b in the same manner as the coil end 10E.

[0099] As shown in Figure 11, a discharge hole 12f is formed in the lower part of the cylindrical part 12A, and the oil flowing inside the adapter 12 cools the generator motor 10, then is discharged from the discharge hole 12f into the gear chamber 7 and is stored in an oil reservoir 31 at the bottom of the peripheral walls 3C and 4B. After cooling the generator motor 10, the oil flows to the bottom wall 4D of the left case 4 (see Figure 12), passes through communication holes 4k, 4m, and 4n formed in the lower part of the partition wall 4A (described later), and flows into the oil reservoir 31, where it is stored.

[0100] On the other hand, as shown in Figures 5 and 8, an oil passage 4h is formed in the lower part of the left case 4, and is located behind and slightly above the oil passage 4g (see Figure 5), and extends in the rotor axial direction from the right end to the left end of the left case 4.

[0101] An oil passage 5f is formed in the side cover 5. The lower end of the oil passage 5f communicates with the oil passage 4h. The oil passage 5f extends obliquely upward and rearward from the communicating portion with the oil passage 4h and communicates with the suction hole 22a of the oil pump 22.

[0102] 5, an oil passage 5g is formed in the side cover 5. The oil passage 5g communicates with the discharge hole 22b of the oil pump 22 and extends upward from the discharge hole 22b.

[0103] A communication hole 5h is formed at the upper end of the oil passage 5g, and the communication hole 5h is connected to a pipe portion 34a of the oil tank 34. In other words, the oil passage 5g and the oil tank 34 are in communication with each other.

[0104] As shown in Fig. 4, the oil tank 34 is disposed above the drive motor 11 and extends from the attached side cover 5 to the vicinity of the partition wall 4A (see Fig. 6). In detail, as shown in Fig. 9, the right end of the oil tank 34 is positioned above a support portion 4i that protrudes from the partition wall 4A toward the side cover 5, and is disposed close to a communication hole 4j formed in the partition wall 4A, which will be described later.

[0105] 4, the bottom wall 34A of the oil tank 34 is curved along the outer periphery of the stator 11A, and the drive motor 11 is arranged so that the stator 11A fits within the curved bottom surface of the oil tank 34. This allows the drive motor 11 and the oil tank 34 to be arranged close to each other in the vertical direction.

[0106] The oil tank 34 of this embodiment constitutes a second oil tank, and the oil passages 4h, 5f, 5g and communication hole 5h constitute a second oil passage portion 25.

[0107] As shown in Fig. 13, a pair of pipes 34a, 34b are provided on the left side wall 34B of the oil tank 34. The pipe 34a is provided diagonally upward and rearward of the pipe 34b (see Figs. 4 and 5) and is connected to a communication hole 5h (see Fig. 5). The pipe 34b is connected to a connection hole 5j, which will be described later.

[0108] As shown in FIG. 4, mounting pieces 34c and 34d are provided at both ends of the oil tank 34 in the front-to-rear direction, and the oil tank 33 is attached to the side cover 5 by fastening the mounting pieces 34c and 34d to the side cover 5 with fasteners such as bolts.

[0109] As shown in FIGS. 7 and 13, a guide portion 34G is provided on the right side wall 34D of the oil tank 34, and the guide portion 34G protrudes rightward from the right side wall 34D of the oil tank 34.

[0110] As shown in FIG. 9, a support portion 4i is provided on the upper portion of the partition wall 4A, and the support portion 4i protrudes from the partition wall 4A toward the side cover 5 side.

[0111] The guide portion 34G is placed on the support portion 4i, and the right end side of the oil tank 34 is supported by the partition wall 4A.

[0112] As a result, the oil tank 34 extends from the side cover 5 to the partition wall 4A and is supported by the side cover 5 and the partition wall 4A. Note that if the oil tank 34 can be firmly fixed to the side cover 5, there is no need to place the guide portion 34G on the support portion 4i, and the guide portion 34G can be disposed in the vicinity of the upper portion of the support portion 4i.

[0113] 4 and 11, a plurality of wires 35 connected to the generator motor 10 and the drive motor 11 are laid out around the oil tank 33. Accordingly, a plurality of shower pipes 33A are provided in the oil tank 33 so as not to interfere with the plurality of wires 35. In other words, the shower pipes 33A pass between the wires 35 and extend from the oil tank 33 toward the side cover 5, and the oil tank 33 is disposed on the partition wall 4A side with respect to the wires 35.

[0114] In contrast, the plurality of wires 35 are not laid out around the oil tank 34. This allows the oil tank 34 to be arranged from the side cover 5 to the partition wall 4A.

[0115] Therefore, the oil tank 34 does not need to use a shower pipe, and can be made larger than the oil tank 33 and can store more oil than the oil tank 33.

[0116] As shown in FIG. 10, a plurality of discharge holes 34e, 34f are formed at the left and right ends of the bottom wall 34A of the oil tank 34, and the discharge holes 34e, 34f are located above the coil ends 11E, 11F of the stator 11A.

[0117] As shown in FIG. 13, a drain hole 34g indicated by a dotted line is formed in the upper wall 34E of the oil tank 34, and when the oil tank 34 is full, oil that does not fit into the oil tank 34 overflows and is discharged from the drain hole 34g.

[0118] A shielding portion 34F is provided on an upper wall 34E of the oil tank 34. The shielding portion 34F covers the upper side of the discharge hole 34g, and a gap is formed in the vertical direction between the shielding portion 34F and the upper wall 34E.

[0119] A pair of ribs 34h, 34i are provided on the upper wall 34E, and the ribs 34h, 34i protrude upward from the upper surfaces of the upper wall 34E and the guide portion 34G and extend linearly in the rotor axial direction from the periphery of the discharge hole 34g to the tip edge of the guide portion 34G.

[0120] 9, a communication hole 4j is formed in the partition wall 4A and is located above the reduction gear mechanism 15, and the communication hole 4j communicates between the motor chamber 6 and the gear chamber 7. The guide portion 34G faces the communication hole 4j in the rotor axial direction, and the communication hole 4j is located below the upper surface of the guide portion 34G.

[0121] That is, the communication hole 4j opens at a position below an imaginary extension plane 50 obtained by extending the upper wall 34E between the ribs 34h and 34i toward the partition wall 4A.

[0122] When the oil pump 22 is driven by the drive motor 11, oil is sucked from the oil strainer 32 and introduced into the working chamber of the oil pump 22 through the oil passages 4h and 5f.

[0123] The oil introduced into the working chamber is supplied from the oil passage 5g through the communication hole 5h and the pipe portion 34a by the rotation of the inner rotor 22A and the outer rotor 22B to the oil tank 34 and is stored in the oil tank 34. The oil tank 34 in this embodiment constitutes a second oil tank.

[0124] The oil stored in the oil tank 34 is supplied to the coil ends 11E, 11F from the discharge holes 34e, 34f and flows circumferentially along the coil ends 11E, 11F, thereby cooling the coil ends 11E, 11F by the oil.

[0125] In addition, when oil overflowing from the oil tank 34 is discharged from the discharge hole 34g, the oil is directed toward the guide portion 34G by the shielding portion 34F located above the discharge hole 34g, and is guided by the ribs 34h and 34i to flow from the discharge hole 34g onto the guide portion 34G.

[0126] The oil that has flowed onto the guide portion 34G flows from the motor chamber 6 into the gear chamber 7 through the communication hole 4j.

[0127] Since the communication hole 4j is located above the drive gear 15B of the reduction mechanism 15, the oil discharged from the communication hole 4j into the gear chamber 7 is supplied to the meshing portion between the drive gear 15B and the driven gear 15D, and to the bearings 14C, 14D, 14E, and 14F.

[0128] As a result, the meshing portions of the drive gear 15B and the driven gear 15D and the bearings 14C, 14D, 14E, and 14F are lubricated with oil.

[0129] The oil tank 34 can be made larger than the oil tank 33, and therefore can store an ample amount of oil to be supplied to the gear chamber 7 and the drive motor 11.

[0130] The final driven gear 16A of the differential device is immersed in oil, and the meshing portion between the final driven gear 16A and the drive gear 15E is lubricated by the oil that rotates along with the final driven gear 16A.

[0131] Furthermore, the oil discharged from the discharge holes 34e, 34f of the oil tank 34 cools the drive motor 11 and then flows into the bottom wall 4D of the peripheral wall 4C of the left case 4. In addition, the oil in the left case 4 also flows into the bottom wall 4D after cooling the generator motor 10.

[0132] As shown in Figures 3 and 12, communication holes 4k, 4m, and 4n are formed in the lower part of the partition wall 4A. The communication holes 4k, 4m, and 4n connect the motor chamber 6 and the gear chamber 7 near the bottom wall 4D, allowing oil accumulated on the bottom wall 4D to flow into the oil reservoir 31.

[0133] After cooling the generator motor 10 and the drive motor 11, the oil that flows down to the bottom wall 4D is returned to the oil reservoir 31 from the motor chamber 6 through the communication holes 4k, 4m, and 4n, and is reused repeatedly as oil to lubricate the generator motor 10 and the drive motor 11.

[0134] The opening diameter of the communication hole 4k is larger than the opening diameters of the communication holes 4m and 4n. A rib 36 is provided on the gear chamber 7 side of the partition wall 4A.

[0135] The rib 36 separates the space around the final driven gear 16A from the oil reservoir 31, and is formed so as to provide a gap between it and the final driven gear 16A.

[0136] As a result, the final driven gear 16A can efficiently capture and scoop up forward the oil accumulated at the bottom of the gear chamber 7 during rotation. The oil scooped up by the final driven gear 16A lubricates the lubrication parts arranged in the gear chamber 7.

[0137] The rib 36 has a partition portion 36A and a receiving portion 36B at its upper portion. The partition portion 36A formed at the upper end of the rib 36 is at the same height as the communication hole 4k and is located closer to the final driven gear 16A (rearward) than the communication hole 4k, and extends in the vertical direction.

[0138] The receiving portion 36B is connected to the lower portion of the partition portion 36A, extends at a slight forward incline, and is located below the communication hole 4k. The oil returning from the motor chamber 6 to the oil reservoir 31 through the communication hole 4k is received by the partition portion 36A and the receiving portion 36B and guided to the oil reservoir 31.

[0139] As a result, the oil (oil flow indicated by oil O1 and O2) returned to the oil reservoir 31 from the communication hole 4k, which is closest to the final driven gear 16A among the communication holes 4k, 4m, and 4n, is prevented from being carried around by the final driven gear 16A by the rib 36, and the oil level stored in the oil reservoir 31 can be stabilized.

[0140] 5 and 7, a branched oil passage portion 5i is formed in the side cover 5. The branched oil passage portion 5i communicates with the oil passage 5d, branches off from the oil passage 5d at a branched portion 5e, and extends obliquely upward and rearward from the branched portion 5e.

[0141] A connection hole 5j is provided at the upper end of the branched oil passage portion 5i, and the pipe portion 34b of the oil tank 34 is connected to the connection hole 5j. The connection hole 5j is located at a higher position than the branched portion 5e and the first oil passage portion 24. The connection hole 5j is also formed at a higher position than the oil tank 33.

[0142] In the first oil passage portion 24, the branch portion 5e and the oil pipe 37 are located at the highest position, and the connection hole 5j is located at a higher position than the branch portion 5e and the oil pipe 37. The connection hole 5j in this embodiment forms a connection portion.

[0143] The front end of the oil tank 34 is located at the lowest position in the height direction of the oil tank 34, and the pipe portion 34b is provided at the front end of the oil tank 34. Therefore, the connection hole 5j is located at the lowest point in the height direction of the oil tank 34.

[0144] The pipe portion 34a is located at a higher position than the pipe portion 34b, and the communication hole 5h is located at a higher position than the connection hole 5j, so that the communication hole 5h (second oil passage portion 25) is connected to the oil tank 34 at a higher position than the connection hole 5j.

[0145] As such, the drive unit 1 of this embodiment has two independent oil passage systems, consisting of a first oil passage section 24 that supplies oil to the generator motor 10 by an oil pump 21 that rotates in conjunction with the rotation of the generator motor 10, and a second oil passage section 25 that supplies oil to the drive motor 11 by an oil pump 22 driven by the drive motor 11.

[0146] Next, the effects of the driving device 1 of this embodiment will be described. Since the drive unit 1 has two systems of the first oil passage section 24 and the second oil passage section 25, when the vehicle is stopped and the drive motor 11 is not rotating, the oil pump 22 is not driven by the drive motor 11. As a result, the drive motor 11 cannot be cooled by oil (however, for a short period of time, the amount of oil stored in the oil tank 34 can be used).

[0147] In this case, oil can be supplied to the drive motor 11 by driving the oil pump 21 using the generator motor 10, which can rotate even when the vehicle is stopped.

[0148] The drive unit 1 of this embodiment has a branched oil passage section 5i that branches off from the first oil passage section 24 at a branch section 5e and is connected to the oil tank 34 at a connection hole 5j, and the connection hole 5j is located at a higher position than the branch section 5e and also at a higher position than the first oil passage section 24.

[0149] As a result, when the oil pump 21 is driven by the generator motor 10, the oil sucked into the oil strainer 32 is supplied to the oil passages 4g, 5c, and 5d, and then introduced into the oil pipe 37 through the branch section 5e, and is supplied from the oil pipe 37 to the oil tank 33 and stored in the oil tank 33.

[0150] When the oil pump 21 is driven powerfully by the generator motor 10 or the internal combustion engine, the oil flowing through the oil passage 5d flows to the oil tank 34 through the branch oil passage portion 5i due to flow resistance in the branch oil passage portion 5i from the branch portion 5e to the oil tank 33.

[0151] As a result, even when the drive motor 11 is not driven, oil can be supplied from the oil tank 34 to the drive motor 11, allowing the drive motor 11 to be cooled by the oil.

[0152] In order to control the flow of oil from the oil pump 21 at the branch portion 5e, the inner diameter of the branch oil passage portion 5i may be changed, or a flow control valve may be provided in the branch oil passage portion 5i.

[0153] As described above, the drive device 1 of this embodiment includes a generator motor 10 that is connected to the engine and generates electricity using the driving force of the engine, an oil tank 33 that supplies oil to the generator motor 10, a drive motor 11 that generates driving force to run the vehicle, and an oil tank 34 that supplies oil to the drive motor 11.

[0154] The drive unit 1 also includes an oil pump 21 driven by the power generation motor 10 and supplying oil to the oil tank 33 through a first oil passage section 24, and an oil pump 22 driven by the drive motor 11 and supplying oil to the oil tank 34 through a second oil passage section 25.

[0155] In addition, the drive unit 1 has a branched oil passage section 5i that branches off from the oil passage 5d of the first oil passage section 24 at a branching section 5e and is connected to the pipe section 34b of the oil tank 34 at a connection hole 5j, and the connection hole 5j is located at a higher position than the branching section 5e and also at a higher position than the first oil passage section 24.

[0156] This allows oil to be supplied from the first oil passage portion 24 to the oil tank 34 of the drive motor 11 through the branch oil passage portion 5i while ensuring the amount of oil supplied to the oil tank 33 of the generator motor 10.

[0157] As a result, oil can be appropriately distributed to the generator motor 10 and the drive motor 11 at a flow rate according to the driving states of the generator motor 10 and the drive motor 11 .

[0158] Furthermore, according to the drive unit 1 of this embodiment, the oil tank 33 is inclined so that the rear end is positioned higher than the front end.

[0159] The branch portion 5e is provided midway through the first oil passage portion 24, and the oil pipe 37 of the first oil passage portion 24 is connected to the rear end portion of the oil tank 33.

[0160] Here, when oil is supplied to the generator motor 10 from the first oil passage section 24, if oil is supplied to the oil tank 33 from a low position in the oil tank 33, a force is required to push the oil into the oil tank 33 against the weight of the oil stored in the oil tank 33, which increases the load on the oil pump 21 and may increase the power consumption of the generator motor 10.

[0161] In this embodiment, the oil pipe 37 of the first oil passage portion 24 is connected to the oil tank 33 at a high position, so that the oil supplied to the oil tank 33 can flow into the oil tank 33 by its own weight. Furthermore, even if the oil tank 33 is not filled with oil, oil can drip from the discharge holes 33a, 33b of the oil pipe 37, which is located at a high position, thereby improving cooling performance.

[0162] Therefore, an increase in the load on the oil pump 21 can be suppressed, and an increase in the power consumption of the generator motor 10 can be suppressed.

[0163] Furthermore, according to the drive unit 1 of this embodiment, the connection hole 5j is disposed at the lowest position in the height direction of the oil tank 34. Therefore, the oil stored in the oil tank 34 can flow out from the connection hole 5j to the branched oil passage portion 5i.

[0164] As a result, when oil is supplied from the second oil passage section 25 to the oil tank 34 during cooling of the drive motor 11, oil can also be smoothly supplied from the oil tank 34 to the oil tank 33 through the branch oil passage section 5i, allowing the power generation motor 10 to be cooled efficiently.

[0165] Furthermore, according to the drive unit 1 of this embodiment, the second oil passage portion 25 is connected to the oil tank 34 at a position higher than the connection hole 5j.

[0166] Here, when oil is supplied to the drive motor 11 from the second oil passage section 25, if oil is supplied to the oil tank 33 from a low position in the oil tank 34, it is necessary to push the oil into the oil tank 34 against the weight of the oil stored in the oil tank 34, which increases the load on the oil pump 22 and may increase the power consumption of the drive motor 11.

[0167] In this embodiment, the second oil passage portion 25 is connected to the oil tank 34 through the communication hole 5h, which is positioned higher than the connection hole 5j. Therefore, the second oil passage portion 25 can be connected to the oil tank 34 at a high position. Even if the oil tank 34 is not filled with oil, oil can drip from the discharge holes 34e and 34f, which are positioned higher, improving cooling performance. Furthermore, the oil supplied to the oil tank 34 can flow into the oil tank 34 by its own weight.

[0168] Therefore, an increase in the load on the oil pump 22 can be suppressed, and an increase in the power consumption of the drive motor 11 can be suppressed.

[0169] While an embodiment of the present invention has been disclosed, it will be apparent to one skilled in the art that modifications may be made thereto without departing from the scope of the present invention, and it is intended that all such modifications and equivalents be included in the following claims. [Explanation of symbols]

[0170] 1. Drive unit (drive unit for hybrid vehicles) 5e Branch 5i Branch oil passage 5j Connection hole (connection part) 10. Generator motor 11 Drive motor 21 Oil pump (first oil pump) 22 Oil pump (second oil pump) 24 First oil passage 25 Second oil passage

Claims

1. a power generating motor that is connected to the engine and generates electricity using the driving force of the engine; a first oil tank that supplies cooling oil to the power generation motor; a drive motor that generates a drive force for running the vehicle; a second oil tank for supplying cooling oil to the drive motor; a first oil pump driven by the generator motor and supplying cooling oil to the first oil tank through a first oil passage; a second oil pump driven by the drive motor and supplying cooling oil to the second oil tank through a second oil passage portion, a branched oil passage portion that branches off from the first oil passage portion at a branching portion and is connected to the second oil tank at a connecting portion; The hybrid vehicle drive device, wherein the connection portion is located at a higher position than the branch portion and is located at a higher position than the first oil passage portion.

2. the first oil tank is inclined so that one end is positioned higher than the other end, The branch portion is provided midway through the first oil passage portion, 2. The hybrid vehicle drive system according to claim 1, wherein the first oil passage portion is connected to the other end of the first oil tank.

3. 3. The hybrid vehicle drive device according to claim 1, wherein the connecting portion is disposed at a lowest point in the height direction of the second oil tank.

4. 4. The hybrid vehicle drive system according to claim 3, wherein the second oil passage portion is connected to the second oil tank at a position higher than the connecting portion.

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