Vehicle drive device

Abstract

To realize an art which easily facilitates assembly work for assembling a support member to a case when the support member for supporting a rotary shaft included in a power transmission mechanism is used to form a catch tank.SOLUTION: A vehicle drive device 100 includes: a support member 7 which is disposed in housing chambers (R1, R2) and fixed to a case 9 and supports rotary shafts (41 to 44) included in a power transmission mechanism 3; and a catch tank for storing an oil scraped by at least any one of gears (51 to 56) included in the power transmission mechanism 3. The catch tank is formed by using the support member 7 without being assembled with the case 9.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle drive device that includes a rotating electric machine, a power transmission mechanism that transmits power between a rotor of the rotating electric machine and an output member that is drivingly connected to a wheel, and a case that houses the rotating electric machine and the power transmission mechanism. [Background technology]

[0002] An example of such a vehicle drive device is disclosed in Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-121733 (Patent Document 1). Hereinafter, in the description of the background art, reference numerals in parentheses refer to those in Patent Document 1. The vehicle drive device of Patent Document 1 includes an electric motor (11), a power transmission mechanism that transmits power between a rotor (11a) of the electric motor (11) and a rear axle (18) drivingly connected to the rear wheels (31), and a transaxle case (20) that houses the electric motor (11) and the power transmission mechanism. The transaxle case (20) includes a first separate case portion (20a), a second separate case portion (20b), and a partition member (20d) sandwiched between the two separate case portions (20a, 20b). The partition member (20d) includes a bearing portion (50) that supports a bearing of a gear included in the power transmission mechanism. A second catch tank (35) for storing lubricating oil scooped up by a final driven gear (26) of the power transmission mechanism is formed by a second separate case portion (20b) and a partition member (20d) joined together. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Laid-Open No. 2016-121733 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] As described above, in the vehicle drive device of Patent Document 1, the catch tank that stores oil scooped up by the gears of the power transmission mechanism is formed by a support member (a partition member in Patent Document 1) that supports the rotating shaft of the power transmission mechanism, and another member to which the support member is joined (a second separate case portion in Patent Document 1). Therefore, with the technology described in Patent Document 1, it is necessary to assemble the support member to the case so that oil does not leak from the joint between these two members, which can make the assembly of the support member complicated.

[0005] Therefore, when forming a catch tank using a support member that supports the rotating shaft of the power transmission mechanism, it is desirable to realize a technology that can easily facilitate the assembly work of the support member to the case. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] The vehicle drive device of the present disclosure comprises an output member drivingly connected to a wheel, a rotating electric machine having a rotor, a power transmission mechanism that transmits power between the rotor and the output member, and a case having a storage chamber that houses the rotating electric machine and the power transmission mechanism, wherein the power transmission mechanism is a vehicle drive device that comprises a plurality of rotating shafts and gears arranged on each of the rotating shafts, and comprises: a support member that is arranged in the storage chamber and fixed to the case and supports the plurality of rotating shafts of the power transmission mechanism; and a catch tank that stores oil scooped up by at least any of the gears of the power transmission mechanism, wherein the catch tank is formed using the support member without being combined with the case.

[0007] With this configuration, the catch tank can be formed using the support member so that the joint between the support member and the case is not present in the catch tank. Therefore, oil leakage from the joint between the support member and the case is less likely to be a problem, and the work of assembling the support member to the case is easier than when the catch tank is formed from the support member and the case.

[0008] Further features and advantages of the vehicle drive system will become apparent from the following description of the embodiments, which is given with reference to the drawings. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle drive device according to an embodiment taken along an axial direction; [Figure 2] 1 is a perspective view of a support member according to an embodiment; [Figure 3] 3 is a perspective view of the support member according to the embodiment, seen from a direction different from that of FIG. 2; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a catch tank according to an embodiment; [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view of the catch tank according to the embodiment, seen from a different direction from that of FIG. 4 . [Figure 6] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a vehicle drive device according to an embodiment, taken perpendicular to an axial direction; [Figure 7] 1 is a cross-sectional view of a portion of a vehicle drive device according to an embodiment, taken perpendicular to an axial direction; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0010] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a vehicle drive device will be described with reference to the drawings.

[0011] In this specification, the term "driving connection" refers to a state in which two rotating elements are connected so as to be able to transmit a driving force, and includes a state in which the two rotating elements are connected so as to rotate integrally, or a state in which the two rotating elements are connected so as to be able to transmit a driving force via one or more transmission members. Such transmission members include various members that transmit rotation at the same speed or at variable speeds, such as shafts, gear mechanisms, belts, and chains. Note that transmission members may also include engagement devices that selectively transmit rotation and driving force, such as friction engagement devices and meshing engagement devices.

[0012] In this specification, the term "rotating electric machine" is used as a concept that includes motors, generators, and motor-generators that function as both motors and generators as needed. Furthermore, in this specification, with regard to the arrangement of two elements, "overlapping when viewed from a specific direction" means that when an imaginary line parallel to the line of sight is moved in each direction perpendicular to the imaginary line, there is at least a partial area where the imaginary line intersects both of the two elements.

[0013] As shown in FIG. 1, the vehicle drive device 100 includes output members (21, 22) drivingly connected to wheels (W1, W2), a rotary electric machine 1 including a rotor 10, a power transmission mechanism 3 that transmits power between the rotor 10 and the output members (21, 22), and a case 9. In this embodiment, the vehicle drive device 100 includes, as output members, a first output member 21 drivingly connected to a first wheel W1 that is a first wheel, and a second output member 22 drivingly connected to a second wheel W2 that is a second wheel. The power transmission mechanism 3 transmits power between the rotor 10 and the pair of output members (the first output member 21 and the second output member 22). The first wheel W1 and the second wheel W2 are a pair of left and right wheels of a vehicle on which the vehicle drive device 100 is mounted.

[0014] The vehicle drive device 100 transmits the driving force of the rotating electric machine 1 to wheels (W1, W2) to drive the vehicle on which the vehicle drive device 100 is mounted. The rotating electric machine 1 is electrically connected to an electricity storage device such as a battery or a capacitor via an inverter 19 that drives the rotating electric machine 1. The rotating electric machine 1 generates driving force by powering using electric power stored in the electricity storage device. The rotating electric machine 1 also generates electricity using driving force transmitted from the wheels W to charge the electricity storage device. A vehicle on which the vehicle drive device 100 is mounted may also be configured to be provided with a driving force source (for example, an internal combustion engine) separate from the rotating electric machine 1, and the vehicle drive device 100 transmits driving forces from the rotating electric machine 1 and the separate driving force source to the wheels (W1, W2).

[0015] The rotating electric machine 1 includes a rotor 10 and a stator 11. The stator 11 is fixed to a case 9 (specifically, a first case portion 91, which will be described later). In this embodiment, the rotating electric machine 1 is an inner rotor type rotating electric machine, and the rotor 10 is disposed radially inward of the stator 11 (a direction perpendicular to a first axis A1, which will be described later). In the radial direction perpendicular to the axis, "inner" refers to the side approaching the axis, and "outer" refers to the opposite side (i.e., the side away from the axis). In this embodiment, the rotating electric machine 1 is a rotating field type rotating electric machine, and a permanent magnet is provided in the rotor 10, and a coil is wound around the stator 11.

[0016] Here, the rotational axis of the rotor 10 is defined as a "first axis A1," the direction along the first axis A1 is defined as an "axial direction L," one side of the axial direction L is defined as an "axial first side L1," and the other side of the axial direction L is defined as an "axial second side L2." Furthermore, in a vehicle-mounted state in which the vehicle drive device 100 is mounted on a vehicle, a direction along the vertical direction is defined as an "upper-lower direction V," the upper vertical side is defined as an "upper side V1," and the lower vertical side is defined as a "lower side V2." Furthermore, a direction perpendicular to the axial direction L and the up-down direction V is defined as a "width direction X," one side of the width direction X is defined as a "width first side X1," and the other side of the width direction X is defined as a "width second side X2." In this embodiment, the vehicle drive device 100 is mounted on a vehicle with the axial direction L oriented along the left-right direction of the vehicle. Therefore, in a vehicle-mounted state, the width direction X is a direction along the vehicle front-rear direction.

[0017] The rotor 10 of the rotating electric machine 1 is coupled to the third rotating shaft 43 so as to rotate integrally therewith. The third rotating shaft 43 is a rotating shaft that rotates around the first axis A1. The third rotating shaft 43 is provided with a fifth gear 55 that rotates integrally with the third rotating shaft 43. The fifth gear 55 is disposed between the rotor 10 and a differential gear mechanism 33 (described later) in the axial direction L. In this embodiment, the fifth gear 55 is a separate member from the third rotating shaft 43 and is coupled (spline-coupled) to the third rotating shaft 43 so as to rotate integrally therewith. Note that in this specification, a member that rotates around a rotation axis is referred to as a "rotating shaft," and the "rotating shaft" is not limited to a particular shape. Therefore, not only a cylindrical member such as the third rotating shaft 43 and a columnar member such as the first rotating shaft 41 and the second rotating shaft 42 (described later) but also a hollow case-like member such as the fourth rotating shaft 44 (described later) are included in the "rotating shaft."

[0018] In this embodiment, the power transmission mechanism 3 includes a differential gear mechanism 33. The differential gear mechanism 33 is disposed on a first axial side L1 with respect to the rotating electric machine 1. The differential gear mechanism 33 includes a differential input member 34. In this embodiment, the differential input member 34 is provided with a sixth gear 56 that rotates integrally with the differential input member 34. The sixth gear 56 is disposed on the first axial side L1 with respect to a pinion shaft 38 (described later). The differential gear mechanism 33 distributes the rotation transmitted to the differential input member 34 to the first output member 21 and the second output member 22. In this embodiment, the differential gear mechanism 33 is a bevel gear type differential gear mechanism and includes a fourth rotating shaft 44, a first side gear 35, a second side gear 36, a pinion gear 37, and a pinion shaft 38. The fourth rotating shaft 44 rotates about a first axis A1. The fourth rotating shaft 44 is disposed on the first axial side L1 relative to the third rotating shaft 43. The differential input member 34 is coupled to the fourth rotating shaft 44 so as to rotate integrally with the fourth rotating shaft 44.

[0019] The fourth rotating shaft 44 forms a differential case and accommodates the first side gear 35, the second side gear 36, and the pinion gear 37. The pinion gear 37 is supported by a pinion shaft 38 that rotates integrally with the fourth rotating shaft 44, and rotates (spins) about the pinion shaft 38 as a rotation axis and also rotates (revolves) about a first axis A1 as a rotation axis. The first side gear 35 and the second side gear 36 mesh with the pinion gear 37 and rotate about the first axis A1 as a rotation axis. The first side gear 35 is disposed on a first axial side L1 relative to the pinion shaft 38, and the second side gear 36 is disposed on a second axial side L2 relative to the pinion shaft 38.

[0020] The first side gear 35 is connected to the first output member 21 so as to rotate integrally therewith, and the second side gear 36 is connected to the second output member 22 so as to rotate integrally therewith. The differential gear mechanism 33 distributes the rotation transmitted to the differential input member 34 to the first side gear 35 and the second side gear 36, thereby distributing the rotation transmitted to the differential input member 34 to the first output member 21 and the second output member 22. In this embodiment, the first output member 21 is a member formed integrally with the first side gear 35 (here, a cylindrical member extending in the axial direction L), and the second output member 22 is a member formed integrally with the second side gear 36 (here, a cylindrical member extending in the axial direction L).

[0021] The vehicle on which the vehicle drive device 100 is mounted is provided with a first drive shaft 23 drivingly connected to a first wheel W1 and a second drive shaft 24 drivingly connected to a second wheel W2. The drive shafts (23, 24) are connected to the wheels (W1, W2) via, for example, constant velocity joints. The first output member 21 is connected to the first drive shaft 23 so as to rotate integrally therewith, and the second output member 22 is connected to the second drive shaft 24 so as to rotate integrally therewith. In the example shown in FIG. 1 , the second output member 22 is connected to the second drive shaft 24 via a transmission shaft 25 extending along the axial direction L radially inward of the third rotating shaft 43 (a direction perpendicular to the first axis A1).

[0022] In this embodiment, the power transmission mechanism 3 includes a first counter gear mechanism 31 and a second counter gear mechanism 32. The first counter gear mechanism 31 and the second counter gear mechanism 32 are arranged on a first axial side L1 with respect to the rotating electric machine 1. The first counter gear mechanism 31 and the second counter gear mechanism 32 are arranged in a power transmission path between the rotor 10 and the differential gear mechanism 33. In this embodiment, the first counter gear mechanism 31 is arranged in a power transmission path between the second counter gear mechanism 32 and the differential gear mechanism 33. In other words, of the two counter gear mechanisms (31, 32) arranged in the power transmission path between the rotor 10 and the differential gear mechanism 33, the one arranged closer to the differential gear mechanism 33 in the power transmission path is the first counter gear mechanism 31. In this embodiment, the first counter gear mechanism 31 corresponds to the "counter gear mechanism."

[0023] The counter gear mechanisms (31, 32) are disposed on axes different from both the rotational axis of the rotor 10 and the rotational axis of the differential input member 34. In this embodiment, the differential input member 34 is disposed on the first axis A1, just like the rotor 10, and both the rotational axis of the rotor 10 and the rotational axis of the differential input member 34 are the first axis A1. The first counter gear mechanism 31 is disposed on a second axis A2 different from the first axis A1, and the second counter gear mechanism 32 is disposed on a third axis A3 different from both the first axis A1 and the second axis A2. The first axis A1, the second axis A2, and the third axis A3 are parallel to one another. In this embodiment, the second axis A2 corresponds to "an axis different from both the rotational axis of the rotor and the rotational axis of the differential input member."

[0024] In this embodiment, the three central axes (A1 to A3) are arranged as shown in Fig. 6. That is, the second central axis A2 and the third central axis A3 are arranged on the first widthwise side X1 relative to the first central axis A1. Furthermore, the second central axis A2 is arranged on a lower side V2 than the third central axis A3. Here, the second central axis A2 is arranged on the lower side V2 than the first central axis A1, and the third central axis A3 is arranged on an upper side V1 than the first central axis A1.

[0025] The first counter gear mechanism 31 includes a pair of gears, a first gear 51 and a third gear 53, and a first rotating shaft 41 that connects the pair of gears (51, 53). In this embodiment, the first gear 51 is a separate member from the first rotating shaft 41, and the third gear 53 is formed integrally with the first rotating shaft 41. The first gear 51 is connected (spline-connected here) to the first rotating shaft 41 so as to rotate integrally with the first rotating shaft 41. In this embodiment, the third gear 53 has a smaller diameter than the first gear 51. In addition, in this embodiment, the third gear 53 is disposed on a first axial side L1 relative to the first gear 51. In this embodiment, the first gear 51 and the third gear 53 correspond to the "pair of gears," and the first rotating shaft 41 corresponds to the "connecting shaft that serves as a rotating shaft that connects the pair of gears."

[0026] The second counter gear mechanism 32 includes a pair of gears, a second gear 52 and a fourth gear 54, and a second rotating shaft 42 that connects the pair of gears (52, 54). In this embodiment, the second gear 52 is formed integrally with the second rotating shaft 42, and the fourth gear 54 is a separate member from the second rotating shaft 42. The fourth gear 54 is connected (spline-connected here) to the second rotating shaft 42 so as to rotate integrally with the second rotating shaft 42. In this embodiment, the fourth gear 54 has a larger diameter than the second gear 52. In addition, in this embodiment, the fourth gear 54 is disposed on the second axial side L2 relative to the second gear 52.

[0027] The first gear 51 meshes with the second gear 52, the third gear 53 meshes with the sixth gear 56, and the fourth gear 54 meshes with the fifth gear 55. Therefore, the rotation of the rotor 10 (rotation of the third rotating shaft 43) is transmitted to the second rotating shaft 42 via the gear pair of the fifth gear 55 and the fourth gear 54, the rotation of the second rotating shaft 42 is transmitted to the first rotating shaft 41 via the gear pair of the second gear 52 and the first gear 51, and the rotation of the first rotating shaft 41 is transmitted to the differential input member 34 via the gear pair of the third gear 53 and the sixth gear 56. In this embodiment, the fifth gear 55 has a smaller diameter than the fourth gear 54, the second gear 52 has a smaller diameter than the first gear 51, and the third gear 53 has a smaller diameter than the sixth gear 56. Therefore, the rotation of the rotor 10 (rotation of the third rotating shaft 43) is decelerated and transmitted to the second rotating shaft 42, the rotation of the second rotating shaft 42 is decelerated and transmitted to the first rotating shaft 41, and the rotation of the first rotating shaft 41 is decelerated and transmitted to the differential input member 34.

[0028] The case 9 has accommodation chambers (R1, R2) that accommodate the rotating electric machine 1 and the power transmission mechanism 3. In this embodiment, the case 9 has a first case portion 91, a second case portion 92, and a third case portion 93. The first case portion 91 is formed in a cylindrical shape with openings on both sides in the axial direction L. The second case portion 92 is fixed to the first case portion 91 so as to close the opening on the first axial side L1 of the first case portion 91, and the third case portion 93 is fixed to the first case portion 91 so as to close the opening on the second axial side L2 of the first case portion 91. The accommodation chambers (R1, R2) are formed by being surrounded by the first case portion 91, the second case portion 92, and the third case portion 93.

[0029] In this embodiment, the housing chambers (R1, R2) are divided by a partition wall 95 provided in the case 9 into a first housing chamber R1 that houses the power transmission mechanism 3 and a second housing chamber R2 that houses the rotating electric machine 1. The first housing chamber R1 is disposed on a first axial side L1 relative to the second housing chamber R2. The partition wall 95 is provided in a middle portion of the first case portion 91 in the axial direction L. The partition wall 95 is formed integrally with the first case portion 91 so as to extend inward from the inner wall (inner surface) of the first case portion 91. A through hole is formed in the partition wall 95, through which the third rotating shaft 43 (and in this embodiment, the transmission shaft 25) is inserted. The fifth gear 55 is disposed on the first axial side L1 relative to the partition wall 95.

[0030] In this embodiment, the case 9 further includes a third housing chamber R3 that houses the inverter 19. The case 9 includes a fourth case portion 94 that is fixed to the outer wall (outer surface) of the first case portion 91, and the third housing chamber R3 is formed by being surrounded by the first case portion 91 and the fourth case portion 94. Specifically, a tank-shaped space that opens to the outside (e.g., the upper side V1) is formed in the outer wall of the first case portion 91, and the fourth case portion 94 is fixed to the first case portion 91 so as to close the opening of the tank-shaped space. As described above, in this embodiment, the housing chambers (R1, R2) that house the rotating electric machine 1 and the power transmission mechanism 3 and the housing chamber (R3) that houses the inverter 19 are integrally formed in one case 9. Here, the housing chambers (R1, R2) and the housing chamber (R3) are partitioned by a single wall. This single wall is formed in a first case portion 91 that is a single member (for example, a single member made of a common material that is manufactured using an integral molding technique by casting).

[0031] The case 9 contains oil. The oil is used to cool and lubricate the rotating electrical machine 1 and the power transmission mechanism 3. The oil supplied to heat-generating parts such as the stator 11 cools the heat-generating parts, and the oil supplied to parts to be lubricated such as gears and bearings lubricates the parts to be lubricated. The oil is stored in a reservoir P (see FIGS. 6 and 7) formed in the lower part (the lower side V2) of the case 9. The oil stored in the reservoir P is supplied to the parts to be lubricated, such as the heat-generating parts and parts to be lubricated, and then returned to the reservoir P. This oil circulation is achieved by at least one of (in this embodiment, both) driving an oil pump (not shown) and scooping up the oil by rotating members such as gears. The oil discharged from the oil pump is cooled, for example, in an oil cooler that exchanges heat between the oil and a refrigerant (e.g., cooling water), and then supplied to the parts to be lubricated.

[0032] As shown in FIG. 7 , in this embodiment, the vehicle drive device 100 includes a strainer ST that filters oil sucked by the oil pump. The strainer ST is accommodated in a housing hole 9a in a case 9 (specifically, a first case portion 91). A support member 7 (described later) is disposed on the outer side of the opening of the housing hole 9a so as to face the strainer ST. Here, the housing hole 9a is formed to open on a first axial side L1, and the support member 7 is disposed on the first axial side L1 with respect to the opening. This allows the support member 7 to restrict movement of the strainer ST outward from the housing hole 9a. By providing the support member 7 with a function to prevent the strainer ST from coming loose in this way, bolts, brackets, and the like for holding the strainer ST are not required, thereby reducing the number of parts.

[0033] The power transmission mechanism 3 includes a plurality of rotating shafts, including the first rotating shaft 41, the second rotating shaft 42, the third rotating shaft 43, and the fourth rotating shaft 44. The power transmission mechanism 3 includes gears arranged on each of the rotating shafts. Specifically, as shown in FIG. 1 , the power transmission mechanism 3 includes a first gear 51 and a third gear 53 arranged on the first rotating shaft 41, a second gear 52 and a fourth gear 54 arranged on the second rotating shaft 42, a fifth gear 55 arranged on the third rotating shaft 43, and a sixth gear 56 arranged on the fourth rotating shaft 44. The gears arranged on the rotating shafts are supported by the rotating shafts. Each of the gears (51 to 56) is supported on the rotating shaft so as to rotate integrally with the rotating shaft on which it is arranged. The power transmission mechanism 3 may include engaging elements such as clutches and brakes in addition to the rotating shafts and gears. In this embodiment, the first rotating shaft 41, the second rotating shaft 42, the third rotating shaft 43, and the fourth rotating shaft 44 each correspond to a "rotating shaft," and the first gear 51, the second gear 52, the third gear 53, the fourth gear 54, the fifth gear 55, and the sixth gear 56 each correspond to a "gear."

[0034] The vehicle drive device 100 includes a plurality of bearings for rotatably supporting each of a plurality of rotating shafts. Specifically, the vehicle drive device 100 includes a first bearing 61 and a third bearing 63 as bearings for supporting the first rotating shaft 41, a second bearing 62 and a fourth bearing 64 as bearings for supporting the second rotating shaft 42, a fifth bearing 65, a sixth bearing 66, and a seventh bearing 67 as bearings for supporting the third rotating shaft 43, and an eighth bearing 68 and a ninth bearing 69 as bearings for supporting the fourth rotating shaft 44. The third bearing 63 is disposed on a first axial side L1 relative to the first bearing 61. The fourth bearing 64 is disposed on a second axial side L2 relative to the second bearing 62. The seventh bearing 67 is disposed on the first axial side L1 relative to the fifth bearing 65, and the sixth bearing 66 is disposed between the fifth bearing 65 and the seventh bearing 67 in the axial direction L. The ninth bearing 69 is disposed on the first axial side L1 with respect to the eighth bearing 68. In this embodiment, each of the first bearing 61, the second bearing 62, the seventh bearing 67, and the eighth bearing 68 corresponds to a "bearing."

[0035] Two gears, a first gear 51 and a third gear 53, are connected to the first rotating shaft 41 in a portion between the first bearing 61 and the third bearing 63 in the axial direction L. Here, "connected" includes both an inseparable connection, such as by being integrally formed from the same member or joined by welding, and a separable connection, such as by a spline connection. Two gears, a second gear 52 and a fourth gear 54, are connected to the second rotating shaft 42 in a portion between the second bearing 62 and the fourth bearing 64 in the axial direction L. A rotor 10 is fixed to the third rotating shaft 43 in a portion between the fifth bearing 65 and the sixth bearing 66 in the axial direction L, and a fifth gear 55 is connected to the third rotating shaft 43 in a portion between the sixth bearing 66 and the seventh bearing 67 in the axial direction L. A sixth gear 56 is connected to the fourth rotating shaft 44 in a portion between the eighth bearing 68 and the ninth bearing 69 in the axial direction L.

[0036] The vehicle drive device 100 includes a support member 7 that supports a plurality of rotating shafts included in the power transmission mechanism 3. In this embodiment, the support member 7 supports the first rotating shaft 41, the second rotating shaft 42, the third rotating shaft 43, and the fourth rotating shaft 44. Therefore, the support member 7 includes a first support portion 71 that supports the first rotating shaft 41, a second support portion 72 that supports the second rotating shaft 42, a third support portion 73 that supports the third rotating shaft 43, and a fourth support portion (which also serves as the third support portion 73 in this embodiment) that supports the fourth rotating shaft 44. In this embodiment, a recess formed in the support member 7 that is recessed toward the second axial side L2 constitutes the first support portion 71, a recess formed in the support member 7 that is recessed toward the first axial side L1 constitutes the second support portion 72, and a through hole formed in the support member 7 (through hole through which the transmission shaft 25 is inserted) constitutes the third support portion 73. In this embodiment, the first support portion 71 corresponds to the "support portion for the first rotating shaft," and the second support portion 72 corresponds to the "support portion for the second rotating shaft."

[0037] The support member 7 supports the rotating shaft by itself, or supports the rotating shaft in cooperation with the case 9. In this embodiment, the first support portion 71 supports the first rotating shaft 41 in cooperation with the case 9 (specifically, the second case portion 92). The second support portion 72 supports the second rotating shaft 42 in cooperation with the case 9 (specifically, the partition wall 95). The third support portion 73 supports the third rotating shaft 43 in cooperation with the case 9 (specifically, the third case portion 93 and the partition wall 95), and supports the fourth rotating shaft 44 in cooperation with the case 9 (specifically, the second case portion 92).

[0038] The support member 7 holds a plurality of bearings. In this embodiment, a first bearing 61, a second bearing 62, a seventh bearing 67, and an eighth bearing 68 are held by the support member 7. Specifically, the first bearing 61 is held by a first support portion 71, the second bearing 62 is held by a second support portion 72, and the seventh bearing 67 and the eighth bearing 68 are held by a third support portion 73. The seventh bearing 67 is held by a portion of the third support portion 73 on the second axial side L2, and the eighth bearing 68 is held by a portion of the third support portion 73 on the first axial side L1. Meanwhile, the third bearing 63, the fourth bearing 64, the fifth bearing 65, the sixth bearing 66, and the ninth bearing 69 are held by the case 9. Specifically, the third bearing 63 and the ninth bearing 69 are held in the second case part 92, the fifth bearing 65 is held in the third case part 93, and the fourth bearing 64 and the sixth bearing 66 are held in the partition wall 95.

[0039] As described above, in this embodiment, the power transmission mechanism 3 includes the first rotating shaft 41, the second rotating shaft 42, the first gear 51 supported by the first rotating shaft 41, and the second gear 52 supported by the second rotating shaft 42 and meshing with the first gear 51. As shown in FIG. 1 , the first gear 51 is disposed on the first axial side L1 relative to the first support portion 71, and the second gear 52 is disposed on the second axial side L2 relative to the second support portion 72. In this embodiment, the end of the first rotating shaft 41 on the second axial side L2 is supported by the first support portion 71 via the first bearing 61, and the end of the second rotating shaft 42 on the first axial side L1 is supported by the second support portion 72 via the second bearing 62.

[0040] As shown in FIGS. 1, 2, and 6, the support member 7 has an opening 74 formed therein for meshing the first gear 51 and the second gear 52. The first gear 51 and the second gear 52 mesh with each other through the opening 74. By configuring the first gear 51 and the second gear 52 to mesh with each other through the opening 74 in this manner, the support member 7 can be formed as a single component, and the first gear 51 and the second gear 52 can be assembled to the support member 7 from opposite sides in the axial direction L. That is, the first gear 51 and the first rotating shaft 41 supporting the first gear 51 are assembled to the support member 7 from the first axial side L1, and the second gear 52 and the second rotating shaft 42 supporting the second gear 52 are assembled to the support member 7 from the second axial side L2.

[0041] As shown in FIG. 1 , the second support portion 72 is disposed closer to the first axial side L1 than the first support portion 71, and the opening 74 is formed to penetrate a portion of the support member 7 connecting the first support portion 71 and the second support portion 72 in the axial direction L in a direction connecting the second axis A2 and the third axis A3 (in the present embodiment, the vertical direction V). In the present embodiment, the support member 7 includes a peripheral wall portion disposed in a position surrounding the outer periphery of at least one of the first gear 51 and the second gear 52 (in the present embodiment, both gears) and extending in the axial direction L. Here, "disposed in a position surrounding the outer periphery" means that the peripheral wall portion is disposed in at least a portion of the entire outer periphery (entire circumference). As shown in FIGS. 2 and 6 , in the present embodiment, the peripheral wall portion includes a first wall portion 75 disposed in a position surrounding the outer periphery of the first gear 51 and a third wall portion 78 disposed in a position surrounding the outer periphery of the second gear 52. An opening 74 is formed in the peripheral wall portion so as to penetrate the portion where the first gear 51 and the second gear 52 face each other in a direction connecting the second axis A2 and the third axis A3.

[0042] The support member 7 is disposed in the accommodation chambers (R1, R2) and fixed to the case 9. Here, with regard to the support member 7, "disposed in the accommodation chambers (R1, R2)" means that at least a portion of the support member 7 is disposed inside the accommodation chambers (R1, R2). In this embodiment, the entire support member 7 is disposed inside the accommodation chambers (R1, R2). The support member 7 is fixed inside the case 9. Here, the support member 7 (specifically, the entire support member 7) is disposed in the first accommodation chamber R1. The support member 7 is fixed to the partition wall 95. Specifically, the support member 7 is fixed to the partition wall 95 by bolts 79 while being disposed on a first axial side L1 with respect to the partition wall 95. The first counter gear mechanism 31 and the differential gear mechanism 33 are disposed between the support member 7 and the second case portion 92 in the axial direction L, and the second counter gear mechanism 32 and the fifth gear 55 are disposed between the support member 7 and the partition wall 95 in the axial direction L.

[0043] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5, the vehicle drive device 100 includes a catch tank 70 that stores oil scooped up by at least one of the gears included in the power transmission mechanism 3. The catch tank 70 temporarily stores the oil, and the oil stored in the catch tank 70 is supplied to oil supply destinations, such as lubrication destinations. In FIGS. 4 and 5, the case 9 is partially cut away to show the interior of the case 9 so that the catch tank 70 can be seen. In this embodiment, the catch tank 70 is configured to store oil scooped up by the sixth gear 56 included in the power transmission mechanism 3. In FIGS. 4 and 5, thick solid arrows indicate an outline of the flow of oil scooped up from the storage section P by the sixth gear 56 when the sixth gear 56 rotates in the rotational direction of the vehicle moving forward. The catch tank 70 is provided above the oil storage section P, which is formed in the lower part of the case 9. By providing the catch tank 70, the oil level in the reservoir P can be lowered, and the agitation resistance of the oil caused by rotating members such as gears can be reduced.

[0044] The catch tank 70 is formed using the support member 7 without being combined with the case 9. That is, the catch tank 70 is formed only by the support member 7 (in other words, by the support member 7 alone), or is formed by the support member 7 and a member other than the case 9 (for example, a member attached to the support member 7). In this embodiment, the catch tank 70 is formed only by the support member 7. As shown in FIG. 6 , in this embodiment, the catch tank 70 is formed on the first widthwise side X1 with respect to the first axis A1. The catch tank 70 is also formed to overlap with at least one of the second axis A2 and the third axis A3 (here, both) when viewed in the up-down direction along the vertical direction V. The catch tank 70 is also formed to open to the upper side V1 at a position above the first axis A1, the second axis A2, and the third axis A3.

[0045] As shown in Figures 3 to 6, catch tank 70 is formed in a box shape (tank shape) that opens to the upper side V1. Catch tank 70 formed in this manner serves as a rib (box-shaped rib), which makes it easier to ensure the rigidity of support member 7 that supports rotating shafts (41 to 44). Note that, although catch tank 70 is composed of one tank in the example shown in Figures 4 and 5, catch tank 70 may also be composed of a collection of multiple tanks that are partitioned from one another.

[0046] As shown in FIGS. 4 and 5 , in this embodiment, the catch tank 70 is disposed at a position offset in the axial direction L with respect to the sixth gear 56 (here, a position offset to the second axial side L2). The vehicle drive device 100 has an oil guide structure that guides the oil scooped up by the sixth gear 56 to the catch tank 70. Specifically, the case 9 (specifically, the second case portion 92) has a supply surface 96 to which the oil scooped up by the sixth gear 56 is supplied. The supply surface 96 is formed to face the upper side V1. A damming portion 96a (here, a damming rib) that restricts the oil from flowing toward the first width direction side X1 is provided at an end of the supply surface 96 on the first width direction side X1, which is opposite to the side to which the oil is supplied.

[0047] The support member 7 has an introduction surface 77 for guiding oil supplied from the supply surface 96 to the catch tank 70. The introduction surface 77 is formed to face the upper side V1. The support member 7 is fixed to the case 9 so as to contact the second case portion 92 from the second axial side L2, and the introduction surface 77 is disposed so as to be continuous with the supply surface 96 on the second axial side L2. As a result, as shown by the thick solid arrow in FIG. 4 , at least a portion of the oil supplied to the supply surface 96 is supplied to the catch tank 70 through the introduction surface 77. In this way, the support member 7 cooperates with the case 9 (specifically, the second case portion 92) to form an oil guiding structure (here, a trough-shaped oil guiding structure formed by the supply surface 96 and the introduction surface 77) that guides the oil scooped up by the sixth gear 56 to the catch tank 70. Although details are omitted, the oil that is not blocked by the blocking portion 96a (see the thick solid arrow in FIG. 5) is supplied to the third bearing 63, for example.

[0048] The support member 7 has an oil passage for supplying oil from the catch tank 70 to at least one of the plurality of bearings held by the support member 7 and the gears supported on each of the plurality of rotating shafts supported by the support member 7. This gear may be a gear arranged in a position covered by the support member 7, or a gear arranged in a position not covered by the support member 7. Furthermore, this oil passage may be an oil passage formed only by the support member 7, or an oil passage formed across the support member 7 and the case 9.

[0049] In this embodiment, the first bearing 61, the second bearing 62, the seventh bearing 67, and the eighth bearing 68 are held by the support member 7, and the first rotating shaft 41, the second rotating shaft 42, the third rotating shaft 43, and the fourth rotating shaft 44 are supported by the support member 7. Therefore, the oil passage supplies oil from the catch tank 70 to at least one of the first bearing 61, the second bearing 62, the seventh bearing 67, the eighth bearing 68, the first gear 51 supported on the first rotating shaft 41, the third gear 53 supported on the first rotating shaft 41, the second gear 52 supported on the second rotating shaft 42, the fourth gear 54 supported on the second rotating shaft 42, the fifth gear 55 supported on the third rotating shaft 43, and the sixth gear 56 supported on the fourth rotating shaft 44.

[0050] In this embodiment, the support member 7 includes a first oil passage 81 and a second oil passage 82 as the oil passages. As shown in FIGS. 2, 3, and 6, the support member 7 includes a fourth wall portion 80 that is disposed at a position surrounding the outer periphery of a portion of the fourth rotating shaft 44 on the second axial side L2 and extends in the axial direction L. As shown in FIGS. 3 and 4, the first oil passage 81 is formed by a hole formed in the support member 7 that communicates between the catch tank 70 and the inner circumferential surface of the fourth wall portion 80. The first oil passage 81 supplies oil from the catch tank 70 to the seventh bearing 67 and the eighth bearing 68 held by the third support portion 73. As shown in FIG. 5, the second oil passage 82 is formed by a hole formed in the support member 7 that communicates between the catch tank 70 and the inner circumferential surface of the third wall portion 78. The second oil passage 82 supplies oil from the catch tank 70 to the second bearing 62 held by the second support portion 72. In this way, the second oil passage 82 supplies oil from the catch tank 70 to the bearing (second bearing 62) arranged on the third axis A3, which is the one arranged on the upper side V1 of the second axis A2 and the third axis A3. In this embodiment, each of the first oil passage 81 and the second oil passage 82 corresponds to an "oil passage."

[0051] In the present embodiment, the support member 7 has an oil guide structure that guides oil scooped up and splashed by at least one of the pair of gears (51, 53) included in the first counter gear mechanism 31 to the differential gear mechanism 33. As shown in FIG. 6 , a differential case formed by the fourth rotating shaft 44 has a case opening 39, which is a through-hole that penetrates the case. The oil guided to the differential gear mechanism 33 by this oil guide structure is supplied to the inside of the differential gear mechanism 33 from the case opening 39. The oil supplied to the inside of the differential gear mechanism 33 then lubricates the pinion gear 37 and the pair of side gears (35, 36). The provision of such an oil guide structure makes it easy to appropriately lubricate the differential gear mechanism 33, even when there is little space above the sixth gear 56 on the upper side V1, making it difficult to supply the oil scooped up by the sixth gear 56 to the differential gear mechanism 33.

[0052] In this embodiment, as shown in Fig. 6, this oil guide structure is configured to guide the oil scooped up by the first gear 51 to the differential gear mechanism 33. In Fig. 6, thick solid arrows indicate an outline of the flow of oil scooped up from the reservoir P by the first gear 51 when the first gear 51 rotates in the rotational direction when the vehicle moves forward. The support member 7 has a first wall portion 75 for guiding the oil scooped up by the first gear 51 to the differential gear mechanism 33 when the vehicle moves forward. In this embodiment, the support member 7 further has a second wall portion 76 for guiding the oil scooped up by the first gear 51 to the differential gear mechanism 33 when the vehicle moves backward. In this embodiment, each of the first wall portion 75 and the second wall portion 76 corresponds to an "oil guide structure."

[0053] As described above, the first wall portion 75 is disposed at a position surrounding the outer periphery of the first gear 51. As shown in Fig. 6, the first wall portion 75 is formed to have a portion disposed on the first widthwise side X1 with respect to a vertical plane passing through the second axis A2 (a plane extending in the up-down direction V through the second axis A2), and oil scooped up by the first gear 51 when the vehicle is moving forward is guided to this portion and scattered toward the second widthwise side X2. There is an area on the second widthwise side X2 with respect to the vertical plane where the first wall portion 75 is not disposed, and the oil scattered toward the second widthwise side X2 as described above is supplied to the differential gear mechanism 33 through this area. The second wall portion 76 is formed to have a portion that is located on the second widthwise side X2 with respect to the vertical plane and on the lower side V2 with respect to a horizontal plane (a plane that passes through the second axis A2 and extends in the width direction X) that passes through the second axis A2, and the oil scooped up by the first gear 51 when the vehicle is moving backward is guided to this portion and scattered diagonally upward (specifically, in a direction that slopes toward the second widthwise side X2 as it moves toward the upper side V1). An area where the second wall portion 76 is not located exists on the second widthwise side X2 with respect to the vertical plane and on the upper side V1 with respect to the horizontal plane, and the oil scattered diagonally upward as described above is supplied to the differential gear mechanism 33 through this area.

[0054] Other Embodiments (1) In the above embodiment, a configuration has been described as an example in which the entire support member 7 is disposed inside the accommodation chamber (R1, R2). However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration, and a configuration in which only a portion of the support member 7 is disposed inside the accommodation chamber (R1, R2) is also possible. For example, a configuration in which the support member 7 is fixed to the case 9 while being sandwiched between the first case portion 91 and the second case portion 92 in the axial direction L is possible. In this case, the portion of the support member 7 excluding the sandwiched portion sandwiched between the first case portion 91 and the second case portion 92 in the axial direction L is disposed inside the accommodation chamber (R1, R2).

[0055] (2) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the case 9 includes the third housing chamber R3 that houses the inverter 19. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration, and the case 9 may be configured not to include the third housing chamber R3. In this case, for example, the inverter 19 is housed in a case separate from the case 9 and attached to the outside of the case 9.

[0056] (3) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the catch tank 70 stores oil scooped up by the sixth gear 56 of the power transmission mechanism 3. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration, and the catch tank 70 may store oil scooped up by another gear (e.g., the first gear 51) of the power transmission mechanism 3 in addition to or instead of the oil scooped up by the sixth gear 56.

[0057] (4) In the above embodiment, the support member 7 is described as having an oil guide structure that guides oil scooped up and scattered by at least one of the pair of gears (51, 53) included in the first counter gear mechanism 31 to the differential gear mechanism 33. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. The support member 7 may also be configured as having an oil guide structure that guides oil scooped up and scattered by at least one of the pair of gears (52, 54) included in the second counter gear mechanism 32 to the differential gear mechanism 33. In this case, the second counter gear mechanism 32 corresponds to the "counter gear mechanism," the second gear 52 and the fourth gear 54 correspond to the "pair of gears," and the second rotating shaft 42 corresponds to the "connecting shaft that serves as a rotating shaft connecting the pair of gears." Furthermore, in cases where oil scooped up by the sixth gear 56 can be supplied to the differential gear mechanism 33, the support member 7 may also be configured without the above-described oil guide structure.

[0058] (5) In the above embodiment, the “first rotating shaft” supporting one of the two gears meshing with each other through the opening 74 is a connecting shaft connecting the pair of gears (51, 53) in the first counter gear mechanism 31, and the “second rotating shaft” supporting the other gear is a connecting shaft connecting the pair of gears (52, 54) in the second counter gear mechanism 32. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration, and any two rotating shafts supporting two meshing gears among the multiple rotating shafts included in the power transmission mechanism 3 may be the “first rotating shaft” and the “second rotating shaft.” For example, a rotating shaft that rotates integrally with the rotor 10 and a connecting shaft of the counter gear mechanism may be the “first rotating shaft” and the “second rotating shaft,” and a “first gear” supported on the rotating shaft that rotates integrally with the rotor 10 and a “second gear” supported on the connecting shaft of the counter gear mechanism may mesh with each other through the opening 74.

[0059] (6) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the support member 7 has an opening 74 formed therein for meshing the first gear 51 and the second gear 52. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration, and the support member 7 may be configured without such an opening 74, for example, in cases in which the support member 7 is formed of two parts, one part having the first support portion 71 formed therein and one part having the second support portion 72 formed therein.

[0060] (7) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the power transmission mechanism 3 includes the first counter gear mechanism 31 and the second counter gear mechanism 32. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration, and the power transmission mechanism 3 may be configured to include neither the first counter gear mechanism 31 nor the second counter gear mechanism 32. Furthermore, the power transmission mechanism 3 may be configured to include a planetary gear mechanism (e.g., a planetary gear type reduction mechanism) in the power transmission path between the rotor 10 and the differential gear mechanism 33, instead of or in addition to the counter gear mechanisms (31, 32).

[0061] (8) In the above embodiment, the differential gear mechanism 33 is a bevel gear type differential gear mechanism. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration. For example, the differential gear mechanism 33 may be a planetary gear type differential gear mechanism. In this case, for example, the member that rotates integrally with the ring gear is the fourth rotating shaft 44 to which the differential input member 34 is connected, the member that rotates integrally with the sun gear is the first output member 21, and the member that rotates integrally with the carrier is the second output member 22.

[0062] (9) In the above embodiment, an example has been described in which the power transmission mechanism 3 includes a differential gear mechanism 33. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration, and the power transmission mechanism 3 may also be configured not to include a differential gear mechanism 33. In this case, the power transmission mechanism 3 is configured to transmit power between the rotor 10 and one output member (for example, an output shaft connected to a wheel).

[0063] (10) In the above embodiment, the vehicle drive device 100 is described assuming a configuration in which it is used as a drive device for an electric vehicle. However, the present disclosure is not limited to such a configuration, and the technology of the present disclosure can also be applied to a drive device for a hybrid vehicle, for example.

[0064] (11) Note that the configurations disclosed in the above-described embodiments can be applied in combination with configurations disclosed in other embodiments (including combinations of embodiments described as other embodiments) as long as no contradictions arise. Regarding other configurations, the embodiments disclosed in this specification are merely examples in all respects. Therefore, various modifications can be made as appropriate within the scope of the present disclosure.

[0065] [Summary of this embodiment] The above-described embodiment of the vehicle drive device will be summarized below.

[0066] The vehicle drive device (100) includes: an output member (21, 22) drivingly connected to wheels (W1, W2); a rotating electric machine (1) including a rotor (10); a power transmission mechanism (3) for transmitting power between the rotor (10) and the output member (21, 22); and a case (9) including accommodation chambers (R1, R2) for accommodating the rotating electric machine (1) and the power transmission mechanism (3). The power transmission mechanism (3) includes a plurality of rotating shafts (41-44) and gears (51-56) arranged on the respective rotating shafts (41-44). The vehicle drive device (100) includes: a support member (7) that is arranged in the accommodation chamber (R1, R2) and fixed to the case (9) and that supports the plurality of rotating shafts (41-44) of the power transmission mechanism (3); and a catch tank (70) that stores oil scooped up by at least any of the gears (51-56) of the power transmission mechanism (3), and the catch tank (70) is formed using the support member (7) without being combined with the case (9).

[0067] According to this configuration, the catch tank (70) can be formed using the support member (7) so that the joint between the support member (7) and the case (9) is not present in the catch tank (70). Therefore, oil leakage from the joint between the support member (7) and the case (9) is less likely to be a problem, and the work of assembling the support member (7) to the case (9) can be made easier than when the catch tank (70) is formed using the support member (7) and the case (9).

[0068] Here, the support member (7) holds a plurality of bearings (61, 62, 67, 68) for rotatably supporting each of the plurality of rotating shafts (41-44), and it is preferable that the support member (7) includes oil passages (81, 82) for supplying oil from the catch tank (70) to at least one of the plurality of bearings (61, 62, 67, 68) and the gears (51-56) supported on each of the plurality of rotating shafts (41-44).

[0069] According to this configuration, the oil stored in the catch tank (70) can be appropriately supplied to the parts that require lubrication.

[0070] The power transmission mechanism (3) includes a first rotating shaft (41) and a second rotating shaft (42) as the plurality of rotating shafts (41, 42), a first gear (51) supported by the first rotating shaft (41), and a second gear (52) supported by the second rotating shaft (42) and meshing with the first gear (51), and the direction along the rotation axis (A1) of the rotor (10) is defined as an axial direction (L), one side of the axial direction (L) is defined as an axial first side (L1), and the other side of the axial direction (L) is defined as an axial second side (L2). As the second side (L2), it is preferable that the first gear (51) is arranged on the first axial side (L1) relative to the support portion (71) of the first rotating shaft (41) on the support member (7), and the second gear (52) is arranged on the second axial side (L2) relative to the support portion (72) of the second rotating shaft (42) on the support member (7), and that an opening (74) is formed in the support member (7) for meshing the first gear (51) and the second gear (52).

[0071] According to this configuration, the two gears (51, 52) that mesh with each other can be appropriately supported by the support member (7) via the rotating shafts (41, 42) that support the gears (51, 52). Here, the first gear (51), which is one of the two gears (51, 52), is arranged on the first axial side (L1) with respect to the support portion (71) of the first rotating shaft (41) in the support member (7), and the other, the second gear (52), is arranged on the second axial side (L2) with respect to the support portion (72) of the second rotating shaft (42) in the support member (7). According to this configuration, the first gear (51) and the second gear (52) that are arranged in this manner can be appropriately meshed with each other via the opening (74).

[0072] The output members (21, 22) include a first output member (21) drivingly connected to the first wheel (W1) and a second output member (22) drivingly connected to the second wheel (W2). The power transmission mechanism (3) includes a differential gear mechanism (33) and a counter gear mechanism (31) arranged in a power transmission path between the rotor (10) and the differential gear mechanism (33). The differential gear mechanism (33) includes a differential input member (34) and distributes rotation transmitted to the differential input member (34) to the first output member (21) and the second output member (22). The counter gear mechanism (31) is preferably arranged on an axis (A2) different from both the rotation axis (A1) of the rotor (10) and the rotation axis (A1) of the differential input member (34), and includes a pair of gears (51, 53) and a connecting shaft (41) as the rotation axis (41) connecting the pair of gears (51, 53), and the support member (7) preferably includes an oil guide structure (75, 76) that guides oil scooped up and splashed by at least one of the pair of gears (51, 53) of the counter gear mechanism (31) to the differential gear mechanism (33).

[0073] According to this configuration, oil scattered as the counter gear mechanism (31) rotates can be supplied to the differential gear mechanism (33) by using the support member (7). Therefore, the amount of oil in the case (9) can be reduced while the differential gear mechanism (33) is appropriately lubricated.

[0074] It is sufficient for the vehicle drive device according to the present disclosure to achieve at least one of the above-described effects. [Explanation of symbols]

[0075] 1: rotating electric machine, 3: power transmission mechanism, 7: support member, 9: case, 10: rotor, 21: first output member (output member), 22: second output member (output member), 31: first counter gear mechanism (counter gear mechanism), 33: differential gear mechanism, 34: differential input member, 41: first rotating shaft (connecting shaft, rotating shaft), 42: second rotating shaft (rotating shaft), 43: third rotating shaft (rotating shaft), 44: fourth rotating shaft (rotating shaft), 51: first gear (pair of gears, gears), 52: second gear (gear), 53: third gear (pair of gears, gears), 54: fourth gear (gear), 55: fifth gear (gear), 56: sixth gear (gear), 61: first bearing (bearing), 62: second bearing (bearing), 67: seventh bearing (bearing), 68: eighth bearing (bearing), 70: catch tank, 71: first support portion (support portion for first rotating shaft), 72: second support portion (support portion for second rotating shaft), 74: opening, 75: first wall portion (oil guide structure), 76: second wall portion (oil guide structure), 81: first oil passage (oil passage), 82: second oil passage (oil passage), 100: vehicle drive device, A1: first axis (rotational axis of rotor, rotational axis of differential input member), A2: second axis (axis center different from both the rotational axis of rotor and the rotational axis of differential input member), L: axial direction, L1: first axial side, L2: second axial side, R1: first housing chamber (housing chamber), R2: second housing chamber (housing chamber), W1: first wheel (first wheel, wheel), W2: second wheel (second wheel, wheel)

Claims

1. A vehicle drive device comprising: an output member drivingly connected to a wheel; a rotating electric machine having a rotor; a power transmission mechanism for transmitting power between the rotor and the output member; and a case having a housing chamber for housing the rotating electric machine and the power transmission mechanism, wherein the power transmission mechanism comprises a plurality of rotary shafts and gears arranged on each of the rotary shafts, a support member that is disposed in the accommodation chamber and fixed to the case, and that supports the plurality of rotary shafts included in the power transmission mechanism; a catch tank that stores oil scooped up by at least one of the gears included in the power transmission mechanism, The vehicle drive device, wherein the catch tank is formed using the support member without being combined with the case.

2. the support member holds a plurality of bearings for rotatably supporting the plurality of rotary shafts, 2. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes an oil passage for supplying oil from the catch tank to at least one of the plurality of bearings and the gears supported by each of the plurality of rotating shafts.

3. the power transmission mechanism includes a first rotation shaft and a second rotation shaft as the plurality of rotation shafts, a first gear supported by the first rotation shaft, and a second gear supported by the second rotation shaft and meshing with the first gear, A direction along the rotation axis of the rotor is defined as an axial direction, one side of the axial direction is defined as an axial first side, and the other side of the axial direction is defined as an axial second side, the first gear is disposed on a first axial side with respect to a support portion of the support member for the first rotation shaft, the second gear is disposed on the second axial side with respect to a support portion of the support member for the second rotation shaft, 3. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1, wherein the support member has an opening formed therein for allowing the first gear and the second gear to mesh with each other.

4. the output members include a first output member drivingly connected to a first of the wheels, and a second output member drivingly connected to a second of the wheels, the power transmission mechanism includes a differential gear mechanism and a counter gear mechanism disposed in a power transmission path between the rotor and the differential gear mechanism; the differential gear mechanism includes a differential input member, and distributes rotation transmitted to the differential input member to the first output member and the second output member; the counter gear mechanism is disposed on an axis different from both a rotation axis of the rotor and a rotation axis of the differential input member, and includes a pair of gears and a connecting shaft as the rotation axis connecting the pair of gears, 3. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1, wherein the support member includes an oil guide structure that guides oil scooped up and splashed by at least one of the pair of gears included in the counter gear mechanism to the differential gear mechanism.

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