Vehicle transmission

Abstract

To provide a transmission for a vehicle capable of mounting a shift operation device on the transmission for the vehicle so as not to increase a dimension in a vehicle width direction and being arranged in a narrow space in the vehicle width direction.SOLUTION: An automatic transmission 2 includes a transmission case 4 which houses an input shaft 10, a counter shaft 11, and an output shaft 12 and supports a shift and select shaft, and a shift unit 31 which is arranged outside the transmission case 4 and shifts gears by operating the shift and select shaft, and the shift unit 31 has a reservoir tank 41 for storing hydraulic oil. The counter shaft 11 is disposed at a left end portion with respect to the input shaft 10, and the reservoir tank 41 is disposed at a right end portion with respect to the input shaft 10.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a vehicle transmission. [Background technology]

[0002] Generally, among vehicle transmissions mounted on vehicles, an AMT (Automated Manual Transmission) is known, which enables automatic gear shifting like an AT (Automatic Transmission) by automatically performing the gear shifting operation performed by a driver in an MT (Manual Transmission) using an actuator.

[0003] A known example of this type of conventional vehicle transmission is the automatic vehicle transmission described in Patent Document 1. The automatic vehicle transmission described in Patent Document 1 includes an input shaft to which engine power is transmitted, a counter shaft provided on one side of the input shaft in the vehicle width direction, and a shift unit provided on the opposite side of the counter shaft in the vehicle width direction from the input shaft, and having a reservoir tank. [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0004] [Patent Document 1] Patent No. 6635179 Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0005] However, in the automatic transmission for a vehicle described in Patent Document 1, a countershaft is provided on one side of the input shaft in the vehicle width direction, and a reservoir tank is provided on the opposite side of the countershaft in the vehicle width direction from the input shaft. In other words, the input shaft, countershaft, and shift unit are provided in this order in the vehicle width direction.

[0006] The input shaft is disposed coaxially with the crankshaft of the engine, and is therefore disposed at the center of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction.

[0007] Furthermore, since the reservoir tank stores a large amount of hydraulic oil, it is one of the larger components that make up the shift unit.

[0008] Therefore, if the shift unit is located on the same side of the input shaft as the counter shaft in the vehicle width direction, the counter shaft and shift unit are located on one side of the input shaft, which is located in the center of the vehicle in the vehicle width direction, and as a result, the counter shaft and shift unit are located offset to one side in the vehicle width direction, and as a result, the vehicle automatic transmission including the shift unit has a larger dimension in the vehicle width direction on one side.

[0009] Here, the vehicle has a floor tunnel in which the floor panel between the driver's seat and the passenger seat bulges into the passenger compartment in the fore-and-aft direction, and the vehicle automatic transmission including the shift unit needs to be placed inside this floor tunnel.

[0010] Expanding the floor tunnel reduces the interior space of the vehicle, resulting in a decrease in marketability. To avoid this, the automatic transmission must be placed in the narrow space inside the floor tunnel; however, it is difficult to accommodate an automatic transmission that is enlarged on one side due to the shift unit within the floor tunnel.

[0011] The present invention has been made in light of the above-mentioned circumstances, and aims to provide a vehicle transmission in which a shift operating device can be attached so that the vehicle width dimension does not increase, and which can be placed in a narrow space in the vehicle width direction. [Means for solving the problem]

[0012] The present invention provides a vehicle transmission comprising: an input shaft extending in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle and to which power is transmitted from an internal combustion engine; a countershaft extending parallel to the input shaft and spaced apart from the input shaft in the vehicle width direction, connected to the input shaft via a pair of transmission gears, and to which power is transmitted from the input shaft; an output shaft arranged coaxially with the input shaft behind the input shaft, connected to the countershaft via a pair of power transmission gears, and to which power is transmitted from the countershaft; a transmission case accommodating the input shaft, the countershaft, and the output shaft and supporting a shift and select shaft; and a speed change device arranged outside the transmission case and performing gear changes by operating the shift and select shaft, wherein the speed change device has a reservoir tank that stores hydraulic oil, and the countershaft is arranged on one side of the input shaft in the vehicle width direction, and the reservoir tank is arranged on the other side of the input shaft in the vehicle width direction. [Effects of the Invention]

[0013] As described above, according to the present invention, the gear shift operating device can be attached to the vehicle transmission so that the dimension in the vehicle width direction does not increase, and the vehicle transmission can be arranged in a narrow space in the vehicle width direction. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0014] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a right side view of a vehicle transmission according to an embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 2] FIG. 2 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a vehicle transmission according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 3] FIG. 3 is a rear view of a vehicle transmission according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a front view of a vehicle transmission according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 5] FIG. 5 is a right side view of a shift unit for a vehicle transmission according to one embodiment of the present invention. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a left side view of the shift unit for the vehicle transmission. [Figure 7]FIG. 7 is a vertical cross-sectional view of a vehicle transmission according to one embodiment of the present invention, 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 system configuration diagram of a shift unit for a vehicle transmission according to one embodiment of the present invention. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0015] a countershaft that is spaced apart from the input shaft in the vehicle width direction and extends parallel to the input shaft, and is connected to the input shaft via a pair of transmission gears, to which power is transmitted from the input shaft; an output shaft that is arranged coaxially with the input shaft behind the input shaft and is connected to the countershaft via a pair of power transmission gears, to which power is transmitted from the countershaft; a transmission case that accommodates the input shaft, countershaft, and output shaft and supports a shift and select shaft; and a speed change operation device that is arranged outside the transmission case and changes gears by operating the shift and select shaft, the speed change operation device having a reservoir tank that stores hydraulic oil, the countershaft being arranged on one side of the input shaft in the vehicle width direction, and the reservoir tank being arranged on the other side of the input shaft in the vehicle width direction.

[0016] As a result, the vehicle transmission according to one embodiment of the present invention can have a shift operating device attached to the vehicle transmission so that the vehicle width dimension does not increase, and the vehicle transmission can be placed in a narrow space in the vehicle width direction. [Example]

[0017] DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS A vehicle transmission according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described with reference to the drawings. 1 to 10 are diagrams showing a vehicle transmission according to one embodiment of the present invention.

[0018] First, the configuration will be described. In Figures 1 to 10, the up, down, front, back, left and right directions are based on the vehicle transmission when installed 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.

[0019] As shown in Fig. 1, a vehicle 1 is equipped with an automatic transmission 2 as a vehicle transmission, and the automatic transmission 2 is connected to an engine 3 as an internal combustion engine and disposed longitudinally below a floor tunnel 1A of the vehicle 1 (see Fig. 3). In detail, the automatic transmission 2 is mounted on the vehicle along the floor tunnel 1A so that at least the input shaft 10 is located in the interior space of the floor tunnel 1A.

[0020] The automatic transmission 2 has a transmission case 4, which includes a torque converter housing (hereinafter simply referred to as "torcon housing") 5, a front case 6, a center case 7, and a rear case 8.

[0021] The transmission case 4 includes, from the front, a torque converter housing 5, a front case 6, a center case 7, and a rear case 8.

[0022] The front end of the torque converter housing 5 is connected to the engine 3 by bolts (not shown), and the rear end of the torque converter housing 5 is connected to the front end of the front case 6 by bolts (not shown).

[0023] The rear end of the front case 6 is connected to the front end of the center case 7 by bolts (not shown), and the rear end of the center case 7 is connected to the front end of the rear case 8 by bolts (not shown).

[0024] A torque converter (not shown) is housed in the torque converter housing 5. The torque converter is connected to a crankshaft (not shown) of the engine 3, and amplifies the power transmitted from the engine 3 by a torque amplifying function and outputs the amplified power.

[0025] As shown in Fig. 2, an input shaft 10 is disposed in the transmission case 4. The input shaft 10 extends in the front-to-rear direction, and a front portion of the input shaft 10 is rotatably supported by a partition wall 6A of the front case 6 via a bearing 20A. In other words, the input shaft 10 is disposed coaxially with the crankshaft, and the input shaft 10 and the crankshaft are disposed side by side on their respective rotational central axes 10a.

[0026] A cylindrical portion 6B is formed in the partition wall 6A and extends forward from the partition wall 6A. The front portion of the input shaft 10 is inserted into the cylindrical portion 6B, and the front end of the input shaft 10 protrudes forward from the cylindrical portion 6B. A clutch device is attached to the protruding portion of the input shaft 10.

[0027] A torque converter is provided between the crankshaft and the clutch device, and the clutch device connects and disconnects the power transmitted from the torque converter to the input shaft 10.

[0028] The rear end of the input shaft 10 is rotatably supported on the tip end of the output shaft 12 via a bearing (not shown).

[0029] An output shaft 12 is inserted into the rear end of the input shaft 10 so as to be relatively rotatable, and the output shaft 12 is provided coaxially with the input shaft 10 behind the input shaft 10. In other words, the input shaft 10 and the output shaft 12 are arranged side by side on a rotation center axis 10a.

[0030] The front end of output shaft 12 is inserted into an insertion hole (not shown) formed in the rear end of input shaft 10 and is rotatably supported therein, and the front portion of output shaft 12 is rotatably supported by partition wall 7A of center case 7 via bearing 20B. In addition, output shaft 12 is rotatably supported by rear case 8 via bearing 20C behind bearing 20B.

[0031] The input shaft 10 is provided with, in order from the engine 3 side, a first-speed input gear 10A, a second-speed input gear 10B, a fourth-speed input gear 10C, and a third-speed input gear 10D.

[0032] The first-speed input gear 10A and the second-speed input gear 10B are fixed to the input shaft 10, and the fourth-speed input gear 10C and the third-speed input gear 10D are rotatably attached to the input shaft 10.

[0033] A countershaft 11 is rotatably mounted on the partition wall 6A of the front case 6 and the rear case 8 via bearings (not shown), and extends parallel to and spaced apart from the input shaft 10 in the vehicle width direction. Specifically, the countershaft 11 is located below and to the left of the input shaft 10 (see FIG. 3).

[0034] The counter shaft 11 is provided with, in order from the engine 3 side, a first-speed counter gear 11A, a second-speed counter gear 11B, a fourth-speed counter gear 11C, a third-speed counter gear 11D, and a counter drive gear 11E.

[0035] The first-speed counter gear 11A meshes with the first-speed input gear 10A, the second-speed counter gear 11B meshes with the second-speed input gear 10B, the fourth-speed counter gear 11C meshes with the fourth-speed input gear 10C, and the third-speed counter gear 11D meshes with the third-speed input gear 10D.

[0036] The first-speed counter gear 11A and the second-speed counter gear 11B are rotatably mounted on the counter shaft 11. The fourth-speed counter gear 11C and the third-speed counter gear 11D are fixed to the counter shaft 11.

[0037] The counter drive gear 11E is engaged with a counter driven gear 12A, and the counter driven gear 12A is attached to the output shaft 12 so as to rotate integrally with the output shaft 12.

[0038] A third-fourth speed change mechanism (not shown) is provided in the center case 7. For example, when the gear is shifted to third speed, the third-fourth speed change mechanism connects a third-speed input gear 10D to the input shaft 10 and transmits the power of the engine 3 from the input shaft 10 to the counter shaft 11 via the third-speed input gear 10D and the third-speed counter gear 11D.

[0039] The counter shaft 11 transmits the power of the engine 3 from a counter drive gear 11E to an output shaft 12 via a counter driven gear 12A.

[0040] The output shaft 12 is connected to a differential device (not shown) via a propeller shaft (not shown), and the power of the engine 3 is transmitted to the differential device via the propeller shaft.

[0041] The differential device is connected to left and right drive wheels via left and right drive shafts (not shown), and the power of the engine 3 is distributed to the left and right drive shafts by the differential device and transmitted to the drive wheels.

[0042] A first-second speed change mechanism (not shown) is provided in the center case 7. For example, when the gear is shifted to first speed, the first-second speed change mechanism connects a first-speed counter gear 11A to the counter shaft 11 and transmits the power of the engine 3 from the input shaft 10 to the counter shaft 11 via the first-speed input gear 10A and the first-speed counter gear 11A.

[0043] The counter shaft 11 transmits the power of the engine 3 from a counter drive gear 11E to an output shaft 12 via a counter driven gear 12A.

[0044] In this embodiment, the first-speed input gear 10A and the first-speed counter gear 11A, the second-speed input gear 10B and the second-speed counter gear 11B, the fourth-speed input gear 10C and the fourth-speed counter gear 11C, and the third-speed input gear 10D and the third-speed counter gear 11D each constitute a speed change gear pair, and the counter drive gear 11E and the counter driven gear 12A constitute a power transmission gear pair.

[0045] That is, the input shaft 10 is connected to the counter shaft 11 via a plurality of pairs of speed change gears, and the counter shaft 11 is connected to the output shaft 12 via a pair of power transmission gears.

[0046] As shown in Figure 7, a shift and select shaft 21 is housed in the center case 7. The shift and select shaft 21 extends in the vertical direction, with a lower portion of the shift and select shaft 21 inserted into and supported by a shift case 22 (described later), and a lower end portion of the shift and select shaft 21 protruding from the shift case 22 and connected to a gearshift operating member 32.

[0047] An opening 7a is formed in the bottom wall 7B of the center case 7. A shift case 22 is attached to the opening 7a, and the opening 7a is closed by the shift case 22.

[0048] Specifically, the shift case 22 has an annular mounting flange 22A and a rising portion 22B that rises upward from the mounting flange 22A.

[0049] A seal member (not shown) is provided between the mounting flange 22A and the opening 7a, and the opening 7a is sealed by the seal member. In other words, the opening 7a is closed by the flange 22A of the mounting shift case 22. The bottom wall 7B of this embodiment forms the bottom wall of the transmission case.

[0050] The mounting flange 22A rotatably supports the shift and select shaft 21 at approximately the center in the vertical direction, and the shift and select shaft 21 is supported by the mounting flange 22A so that it can move freely in the axial direction (vertical direction) of the shift and select shaft 21 and rotate freely around the axis of the shift and select shaft 21.

[0051] The center case 7 is provided with a holding portion 7b, which supports the upper end of the shift and select shaft 21 so that it can move axially and rotate about its axis.

[0052] The shift and select shaft 21 is provided with a cam member 51, which moves integrally with the shift and select shaft 21.

[0053] A guide pin 52 is provided on the rising portion 22B, and the guide pin 52 is inserted into a groove of the cam member 51 to restrict the movement of the shift and select shaft 21 in the axial direction and the rotation about the axis O.

[0054] The cam member 51 is provided with a finger portion (not shown), which selectively engages with a 1-2 speed change mechanism and a 3-4 speed change mechanism (not shown).

[0055] A detent member 53 is provided on rising portion 22B. Detent member 53 has a coil spring 53A that expands and contracts in accordance with the movement of cam member 51, and when cam member 51 moves in the shift direction, a pressing force is applied to cam surface 51a of cam member 51 by coil spring 53A, thereby applying an operating force when shift and select shaft 21 moves in the shift direction.

[0056] As shown in FIGS. 1 and 3, the transmission case 4 is provided with a shift unit 31 as a gearshift operating device, and the shift unit 31 has a gearshift operating member 32.

[0057] The gear shift operation member 32 has a housing-like valve body 33. The valve body 33 is provided with a shift operation solenoid 34 (see FIG. 10), which adjusts the hydraulic pressure supplied to a shift actuator 35.

[0058] That is, an oil passage (not shown) for operating the shift actuator 35 is formed in the valve body 33 .

[0059] When hydraulic pressure is supplied to an oil passage formed inside the shift actuator 35, the shift operation solenoid 34 rotates the shift and select shaft 21 in the shift direction (around the axis O in FIG. 7).

[0060] The valve body 33 is provided with a select actuator 36 (see FIG. 10), and the select actuator 36 is provided on the axis of the shift and select shaft 21.

[0061] The valve body 33 is provided with a select operation solenoid 37 (see FIG. 10), which adjusts the magnitude of the hydraulic pressure supplied to the select actuator .

[0062] That is, an oil passage (not shown) for operating the select actuator 36 is formed in the valve body 33, and the select operation solenoid 37 adjusts the magnitude of the oil pressure supplied to the select actuator 36 through the oil passage.

[0063] As a result, the shift and select shaft 21 moves in the direction of the axis O (see FIG. 7). The shift and select shaft 21 is driven by the shift actuator 35 and the select actuator 36, so that it can move in the direction of the axis O and rotate around the axis O.

[0064] Specifically, the shift and select shaft 21 is biased downward by a coil spring 54, and the select actuator 36 biases the shift and select shaft 21 upward against the biasing force of the coil spring 54, moving the shift and select shaft 21 in the direction of axis O and selectively engaging the finger portion with the 1-2 speed change mechanism and the 3-4 speed change mechanism.

[0065] The shift and select shaft 21 is rotated around the axis O by the shift actuator 35, and connects the input gear 10A to the input gear 10D or the counter gear 11A to the counter gear 11D to the input shaft 10 or the output shaft 12 according to the gear selected in the 1-2 speed change mechanism or the 3-4 speed change mechanism.

[0066] In this way, the shift and select shaft 21 establishes a desired gear position by means of the gear change operating member 32.

[0067] As shown in FIG. 7, an insertion hole 33 a is formed in the valve body 33 , and the lower part of the shift and select shaft 21 fits into the insertion hole 33 a and engages with the operating shaft of the gearshift operating member 32 .

[0068] In other words, the upper end, the approximate center portion in the vertical direction, and the lower portion of the shift and select shaft 21 are supported by the retaining portion 7b and the shift case 22, respectively, and the shift and select shaft 21 moves in the direction of the axis O and rotates around the axis O by the gear shift operating member 32 engaged with the lower end.

[0069] As shown in Figures 5 and 6, the shift unit 31 is configured to include a gearshift operation member 32, a reservoir tank 41, an accumulator 42, an oil pump 43, a drive motor 44, and a control device 45, and the reservoir tank 41, the accumulator 42, the oil pump 43, and the drive motor 44 are attached to the valve body 33 of the gearshift operation member 32 and are integrated with the valve body 33.

[0070] The valve body 33 has a drive motor mounting portion 33A and an accumulator attachment portion 33B. The drive motor mounting portion 33A protrudes horizontally to the right from the rear of the valve body 33, and a drive motor 44 is mounted and fixed on the upper surface of the drive motor mounting portion 33A.

[0071] An oil pump 43 is attached to the underside of the drive motor mounting portion 33A, and the oil pump 43 and the drive motor 44 are vertically aligned so as to sandwich the drive motor mounting portion 33A from above and below and are attached to the drive motor mounting portion 33A. In this embodiment, the drive motor mounting portion 33A constitutes a mounting portion.

[0072] Hydraulic oil is stored in a reservoir tank 41. An oil pump 43 is driven by a drive motor 44 to supply the hydraulic oil stored in the reservoir tank 41 to an accumulator 42 via an oil passage (not shown) formed in the valve body 33 (see FIG. 10).

[0073] The accumulator 42 stores hydraulic oil pressure and supplies hydraulic pressure to the shift actuator 35 and the select actuator 36 through an oil passage (not shown) formed in the valve body 33 and via the shift operation solenoid 34 and the select operation solenoid 37 (see FIG. 10). In this embodiment, the oil pump 43 and the drive motor 44 constitute a hydraulic pressure generating section, and the accumulator 42 constitutes a pressure accumulating section.

[0074] The control device 45 is composed of a microcomputer including a CPU (Central Processing Unit), ROM (Read Only Memory), RAM (Random Access Memory), etc., and outputs a drive signal to the drive motor 44 via a wire harness (not shown) to drive the drive motor 44.

[0075] 8, the drive motor 44 is provided with a drive shaft 44A that extends in the vertical direction, and the drive shaft 44A passes through the through-hole 33b of the drive motor mounting portion 33A and is connected to the oil pump 43. The oil pump 43 is driven by the drive motor 44 via the drive shaft 44A.

[0076] Specifically, the through-hole 33b penetrates the center of the drive motor mounting portion 33A in the vertical direction, with its upper end opening toward the drive motor 44 and its lower end opening toward the oil pump 43. The drive shaft 44A extends from the drive motor 44 toward the oil pump 43 through the through-hole 33b.

[0077] The accumulator mounting portion 33B is cylindrical and protrudes rightward from the front of the valve body 33, and a cylindrical accumulator 42 is mounted on the accumulator mounting portion 33B with its axis aligned in the front-rear direction.

[0078] As shown in FIGS. 5 and 6, the reservoir tank 41 is disposed and attached above the right rear part of the valve body 33, and has a tank main body 41A in which hydraulic oil is stored.

[0079] A hydraulic oil discharge section 41B for discharging hydraulic oil from the tank body 41A is provided at the bottom of the tank body 41A, and the reservoir tank 41 supplies the hydraulic oil stored in the tank body 41A from the hydraulic oil discharge section 41B to the oil pump 43 via the oil passage of the valve body 33.

[0080] The control device 45 determines whether or not a gear change is necessary based on, for example, detection information from a shift position sensor (not shown) that detects the shift operation of a shift lever (not shown) provided at the driver's seat, detection information from a vehicle speed sensor (not shown) that detects the vehicle speed, and detection information from an accelerator sensor (not shown) that detects the amount of depression of the accelerator pedal.

[0081] When the control device 45 determines that a gear change is necessary, it disengages the clutch device and controls the shift operation solenoid 34 and the select operation solenoid 37 to drive the shift actuator 35 and the select actuator 36, thereby operating the shift and select shaft 21 in the direction of and around the axis O to change gears.

[0082] At least a portion of the reservoir tank 41 is disposed above the drive motor 44, and as shown in Fig. 6, a bracket 46 is attached to the reservoir tank 41. The upper end of the bracket 46 is connected to the top of the reservoir tank 41 by a bolt 18A, and the lower end of a bracket 47 is connected to the top of the drive motor 44 by a bolt 18B.

[0083] In other words, the bracket 46 is made up of a long member that extends in the vertical direction from the top of the reservoir tank 41 to the top of the drive motor 44, and connects the reservoir tank 41 and the drive motor 44 together.

[0084] As shown in Figure 8, the input shaft 10 is arranged coaxially with the crankshaft of the engine 3, and is therefore arranged in the center of the vehicle width direction of the transmission case 4 (more specifically, the torque converter housing 5, which is the part of the transmission case 4 connected to the engine 3).

[0085] 9, the center case 7 has a left side wall 7C and a right side wall 7D, and the right side wall 7D has a front right side wall 7c and a rear right side wall 7d. The rear right side wall 7d is located closer to the left side wall 7C than the front right side wall 7c, and the rear end of the front right side wall 7c and the front end of the rear right side wall 7d are connected by a connecting wall 7e extending in the vehicle width direction.

[0086] That is, the distance (separation) in the vehicle width direction between the rear right side wall 7d and the left side wall 7C is shorter than the distance (separation) in the vehicle width direction between the front right side wall 7c and the left side wall 7C.

[0087] The shift and select shaft 21 is disposed in the space inside the center case 7 forward of the connecting wall 7e. In other words, the shift and select shaft 21 is disposed in the space between the front right side wall 7c and the left side wall 7C, forward of the connecting wall 7e. In the transmission case 4 of this embodiment, there is no need to dispose the shift and select shaft 21 in the space behind the connecting wall 7e inside the center case 7, so the distance between the rear right side wall 7d and the left side wall 7C can be shortened, and the drive motor 44 and reservoir tank 41 can be disposed in the space to the right of the rear right side wall 7d (see FIG. 8).

[0088] As shown in Figures 3 and 8, the counter shaft 11 is arranged on the left side (one side in the vehicle width direction) of the input shaft 10, and the reservoir tank 41 is arranged on the right side (the other side in the vehicle width direction) of the input shaft 10.

[0089] 1 and 3, the shift unit 31 is attached to the transmission case 4 so that the reservoir tank 41 faces the rear right side wall 7d in the vehicle width direction, and is disposed alongside the output shaft 12 in the vehicle width direction. The shift unit 31 has a valve body 33 fixed to the center case 7.

[0090] As shown in FIG. 3, a bracket 47 is fastened to the rear wall 8A of the rear case 8, the valve body 33, and the reservoir tank 41 by bolts 18C, 18D, 18E, and 18F.

[0091] Bracket 47 is made up of a triangular member when viewed from the rear, with its longer vertical side positioned on the right side, its lower end fixed to the rear end of drive motor mounting portion 33A, and its upper end fixed to reservoir tank 41. This fixed point to reservoir tank 41 is located higher than the fixed point at the lower end of bracket 46 (fixed point by bolt 18B). The corner of bracket 47 located on the left side is connected to rear wall 8A of rear case 8.

[0092] As shown in FIG. 8, the oil pump 43 and the drive motor 44 are disposed below the tank body 41A of the reservoir tank 41, and are recessed below the tank body 41A.

[0093] As shown in FIG. 1, the gearshift operating member 32 is disposed forward of the oil pump 43 and the drive motor 44 , and the accumulator 42 is disposed forward of the gearshift operating member 32 .

[0094] As shown in FIG. 3, the left end of the gear shift operating member 32 is located below (outside) the center case 7 and below the input shaft 10, and overlaps with the input shaft 10 in the vehicle width direction.

[0095] The control device 45 is attached to the left end of the gear shift operating member 32. The control device 45 is located below the counter shaft 11 and overlaps with the counter shaft 11 in the vehicle width direction.

[0096] In other words, in the shift unit 31 of this embodiment, when viewed from the rear, the reservoir tank 41, accumulator 42, oil pump 43, drive motor 44, gear shift operation member 32 and control device 45 are arranged to surround the right and below of the input shaft 10.

[0097] The vehicle 1 is provided with a cross member 23. The cross member 23 connects a left side member and a right side member (not shown) that extend in the front-rear direction of the vehicle 1 outside the automatic transmission 2 in the vehicle width direction, and crosses below the automatic transmission 2 in the vehicle width direction.

[0098] The left end 23a of the cross member 23 is connected to the left side member, and the right end 23b is connected to the right side member. The straight portion 23A of the cross member 23, which connects the left end 23a and the right end 23b, is located lower than the left end 23a and the right end 23b.

[0099] As shown in Figures 4 and 7, the accumulator 42 is disposed behind the cross member 23. The cross member 23 crosses in the left-right direction in front of the accumulator 42, and the lower end of the straight portion 23A is located at a height position lower than the accumulator 42. The upper side of the straight portion 23A is located at the same height position as the accumulator 42. In other words, the accumulator 42 is disposed behind the cross member 23, and the straight portion 23A facing the accumulator 42 in at least the front-to-rear direction is located at the same height position as the accumulator 42. The straight portion 23A in this embodiment forms the portion of the cross member facing the pressure accumulator in the front-to-rear direction.

[0100] As shown in Figure 7, the shift and select shaft 21 is inserted into the center case 7 from the side of the gear change operating member 32 through the opening 7a of the center case 7, and when the shift and select shaft 21 is inserted into the center case 7, the shift case 22 closes the opening 7a.

[0101] 9, the drive motor 44 and the oil pump 43 (the oil pump 43 is located directly below the drive motor 44) face the shift and select shaft 21 across a connecting wall 7e in the front-to-rear direction, and the oil pump 43 and the drive motor 44 are disposed to the left of the front right wall 7c in the vehicle width direction. The connecting wall 7e in this embodiment forms a wall portion.

[0102] As shown in FIG. 7, an upstream drain passage 33c is formed in the drive motor mounting portion 33A, and the upstream drain passage 33c extends in the front-to-rear direction so as to communicate with the through hole 33b and pass through the through hole 33b, with its front portion communicating with the intermediate drain passage 33d.

[0103] An intermediate drain passage 33d is formed in the valve body 33. An upper part of the intermediate drain passage 33d communicates with the downstream end of the upstream drain passage 33c and extends in the vertical direction, and a lower part of the intermediate drain passage 33d communicates with the downstream drain passage 33e.

[0104] A downstream drain passage 33e is formed in the valve body 33. The rear portion of the downstream drain passage 33e communicates with the downstream end of the intermediate drain passage 33d and extends in the front-rear direction, and the front portion of the downstream drain passage 33e communicates with the insertion hole 33a.

[0105] A drain passage 33g is formed in the right wall 33f of the valve body 33 so as to extend in the left-right direction. The lower part of the insertion hole 33a is connected to the drain passage 33g so as to be open to the atmosphere. As shown in Figure 5, a plug 48 is attached to the right wall 33f to close the open end of the drain passage 33g.

[0106] When hydraulic oil leaks from the oil pump 43 toward the drive motor 44, the hydraulic oil flows from the through hole 33b to the upstream drain passage 33c and is discharged before reaching the drive motor 44 above.

[0107] The hydraulic oil discharged into the upstream drain passage 33c is discharged from the intermediate drain passage 33d through the downstream drain passage 33e into the insertion hole 33a and is stored in the insertion hole 33a.

[0108] When the plug 48 is removed from the drain passage during maintenance of the shift unit 31, the hydraulic oil stored in the insertion hole 33a is discharged through the drain passage 33g to the outside of the valve body 33. In this embodiment, the upstream drain passage 33c constitutes a drain passage.

[0109] The upstream and downstream refer to the direction in which the hydraulic oil is discharged. The downstream drain passage 33e is located downstream of the upstream drain passage 33c, and the upstream drain passage 33c is located upstream of the downstream drain passage 33e.

[0110] Next, the effects of the automatic transmission 2 of this embodiment will be described. The automatic transmission 2 of this embodiment includes an input shaft 10 that extends in the longitudinal direction of the vehicle 1 and to which power is transmitted from the engine 3, a counter shaft 11 that is arranged parallel to the input shaft 10 and spaced apart from the input shaft 10 in the vehicle width direction, and is connected to the input shaft 10 via a pair of transmission gears to which power is transmitted from the input shaft 10, and an output shaft 12 that is arranged coaxially with the input shaft 10, is connected to the counter shaft 11 via a pair of power transmission gears, and receives power from the counter shaft 11.

[0111] The automatic transmission 2 also includes a transmission case 4 that houses the input shaft 10, counter shaft 11, and output shaft 12 and supports a shift and select shaft 21, and a shift unit 31 that is arranged outside the transmission case 4 and performs gear changes by operating the shift and select shaft 21, and the shift unit 31 has a reservoir tank 41 that stores hydraulic oil.

[0112] In addition, in the automatic transmission 2, the countershaft 11 is disposed on the left side of the input shaft 10, and the reservoir tank 41 is disposed on the right side of the input shaft 10.

[0113] This allows the counter shaft 11 and the reservoir tank 41 to be arranged on either side of the input shaft 10, and the shift unit 31 can be attached to the automatic transmission 2 so that the dimensions in the vehicle width direction do not become large.

[0114] That is, since the input shaft 10 is connected to the engine 3, the input shaft 10 is disposed in the center of the automatic transmission 2 in the vehicle width direction.

[0115] Furthermore, since a large amount of hydraulic oil is stored in the reservoir tank 41, the reservoir tank 41 is the largest component among the components that make up the shift unit 31.

[0116] Therefore, by distributing the counter shaft 11 and the reservoir tank 41 to the left and right of the input shaft 10, the counter shaft 11 and the reservoir tank 41 can be disposed closer to the input shaft 10 in the vehicle width direction, and the shift unit 31 can be attached to the automatic transmission 2 without increasing the dimension of the automatic transmission 2 in the vehicle width direction.

[0117] As a result, the automatic transmission 2 equipped with the shift unit 31 can be arranged in a narrow space in the vehicle width direction, and can be easily arranged in the floor tunnel 1A which is narrow in the vehicle width direction.

[0118] Furthermore, since the shift unit 31 can be attached to the automatic transmission 2 without increasing the dimension of the automatic transmission 2 in the vehicle width direction, when a high-temperature muffler is arranged to the right of the shift unit 31 in the vehicle width direction, a gap in the vehicle width direction can be secured between the shift unit 31 and the muffler by the amount that the dimension of the automatic transmission 2 in the vehicle width direction can be reduced, and the shift unit 31 can be protected from the heat of the muffler.

[0119] Furthermore, according to the automatic transmission 2 of this embodiment, the shift unit 31 is arranged alongside the output shaft 12 in the vehicle width direction, and has a gearshift operation member 32 that operates the shift and select shaft 21 by hydraulic pressure, an accumulator 42 that accumulates hydraulic oil and supplies it to the gearshift operation member 32, and an oil pump 43 and drive motor 44 that pressurize the hydraulic oil in the reservoir tank 41 and supply it to the accumulator 42.

[0120] The reservoir tank 41 is configured to include a tank body 41A in which hydraulic oil is stored and a hydraulic oil discharge section 41B that discharges hydraulic oil from the tank body 41A, and is arranged on the rear right side wall 7d of the center case 7.

[0121] The oil pump 43 and the drive motor 44 are disposed below the tank body 41A of the reservoir tank 41, and the gearshift operating member 32 is disposed forward of the oil pump 43 and the drive motor 44. In addition, the accumulator 42 is disposed forward of the gearshift operating member 32.

[0122] This allows the shift unit 31 to be placed alongside the input shaft 10 and the output shaft 12 located behind the countershaft 11, thereby allowing the shift unit 31 to be placed in a location of the transmission case 4 (the rear right side wall 7d of the center case 7) where the vehicle width dimension can be shortened.

[0123] Therefore, the shift unit 31 can be attached to the automatic transmission 2 so that the dimension in the vehicle width direction does not increase, and the automatic transmission 2 can be arranged in a narrower space in the vehicle width direction.

[0124] Furthermore, since the reservoir tank 41 can be disposed on the rear right side wall 7d of the center case 7, which allows the vehicle width dimension to be shortened, a location for disposing the large reservoir tank 41 can be easily secured.

[0125] In addition, the reservoir tank 41 can be disposed higher than the gear shift operation member 32, the accumulator 42, the oil pump 43, and the drive motor 44, allowing for a larger vertical dimension of the reservoir tank 41. This not only increases the capacity of the reservoir tank 41, but also improves the workability of bleeding air by storing air above the reservoir tank 41.

[0126] Furthermore, according to the automatic transmission 2 of this embodiment, the left end of the gear shift operating member 32 is located below (outside) the center case 7 and below the input shaft 10, and overlaps with the input shaft 10 in the vehicle width direction.

[0127] This allows gearshift operating member 32 to be positioned even closer to input shaft 10 in the vehicle width direction, and allows shift unit 31 as a whole to be positioned even closer to input shaft 10 in the vehicle width direction.

[0128] As a result, the dimension of the automatic transmission 2 including the shift unit 31 in the vehicle width direction can be further reduced, and the automatic transmission 2 equipped with the shift unit 31 can be arranged in an even narrower space in the vehicle width direction.

[0129] In addition, the vehicle 1 of this embodiment has a cross member 23 that crosses below the automatic transmission 2 in the vehicle width direction, and the accumulator 42 is located behind the cross member 23, and the straight portion 23A that faces the accumulator 42 at least in the fore-and-aft direction is located at the same height as the accumulator 42.

[0130] As a result, the accumulator 42, which is located at the lowermost and most forward position in the shift unit 31, can be protected by the highly rigid cross member 23.

[0131] Specifically, an obstacle approaching the accumulator 42 from the front as the vehicle 1 travels can be brought into contact with the straight portion 23A before reaching the accumulator 42, thereby protecting the accumulator 42 from the obstacle. This improves the durability of the accumulator 42, and as a result, improves the durability of the shift unit 31.

[0132] Furthermore, in the automatic transmission 2 of this embodiment, an opening 7a is formed in the bottom wall 7B of the center case 7. The shift and select shaft 21 is attached to the gearshift operating member 32, and the shift and select shaft 21 is inserted into the center case 7 from the gearshift operating member 32 side through the opening 7a.

[0133] This allows the shift and select shaft 21 to be easily connected to the gear change operating member 32 disposed below the center case 7.

[0134] Furthermore, according to the automatic transmission 2 of this embodiment, the center case 7 has a connecting wall 7e extending in the vehicle width direction, and the oil pump 43 and the drive motor 44 face the shift and select shaft 21 in the front-to-rear direction, sandwiching the connecting wall 7e therebetween.

[0135] This allows the oil pump 43 and the drive motor 44 to be disposed behind the shift and select shaft 21, preventing the oil pump 43 and the drive motor 44 from being aligned with the shift and select shaft 21 in the vehicle width direction.

[0136] This allows the rear right wall 7d of the center case 7 to be closer to the left wall 7C than the front right wall 7c, thereby reducing the vehicle width dimension of the automatic transmission 2 on the rear right wall 7d side.

[0137] Therefore, shift unit 31 can be disposed laterally of rear right sidewall 7d in the vehicle width direction, and shift unit 31 can be attached to automatic transmission 2 so that the dimension in the vehicle width direction does not increase. As a result, automatic transmission 2 can be disposed in a narrower space in the vehicle width direction.

[0138] Furthermore, according to the automatic transmission 2 of this embodiment, the drive motor 44 has a drive shaft 44A that extends in the vertical direction and drives the oil pump, and the speed change operating member 32 has a valve body 33.

[0139] The valve body 33 has a drive motor mounting portion 33A on which the drive motor 44 and the oil pump 43 are mounted in a vertically aligned arrangement.

[0140] In addition, the drive motor mounting portion 33A has a through hole 33b through which the drive shaft 44A passes, and an upstream drain passage 33c that communicates with the through hole 33b and discharges hydraulic oil leaked from the oil pump 43 from the drive motor mounting portion 33A.

[0141] As a result, if hydraulic oil from the oil pump 43 leaks from the drive shaft 44A through the through-hole 33b toward the drive motor 44, the hydraulic oil can be discharged from the through-hole 33b through the upstream drain passage 33c. This prevents the hydraulic oil from flowing into the drive motor 44, and protects the drive motor 44 from the hydraulic oil.

[0142] In addition, the hydraulic oil discharged into the upstream drain passage 33c can be discharged from the intermediate drain passage 33d through the downstream drain passage 33e to the insertion hole 33a and stored in the insertion hole 33a, thereby preventing the hydraulic oil from leaking out of the valve body 33.

[0143] The shift and select shaft 21 is inserted into the insertion hole 33a and extends in the vertical direction, so that a sufficient amount of lubricating oil can be stored in the insertion hole 33a, which more effectively prevents hydraulic oil from leaking out of the valve body 33.

[0144] Furthermore, according to the automatic transmission 2 of this embodiment, the valve body 33 is provided with the drive motor mounting portion 33A and the accumulator mounting portion 33B, so that the oil pump 43, drive motor 44, and accumulator 42 can be integrated into the valve body 33.

[0145] This makes it possible to mount the oil pump 43, drive motor 44, and accumulator 42 on one or more components separate from the valve body 33, thereby eliminating the need to assemble the one or more components to which the oil pump 43, drive motor 44, and accumulator 42 are mounted to the valve body 33.

[0146] Therefore, by assembling the valve body 33, in which the oil pump 43, the drive motor 44, and the accumulator 42 are integrated, to the transmission case 4, the shift unit 31 can be easily assembled to the transmission case 4. As a result, the workability of assembling the shift unit 31 to the transmission case 4 can be improved.

[0147] Furthermore, the automatic transmission 2 of this embodiment has a bracket 47 that connects the upper part of the reservoir tank 41 and the drive motor 44 .

[0148] As a result, even if the reservoir tank 41 is made longer in the vertical direction to increase the capacity of the reservoir tank 41, the reservoir tank 41 can be reinforced by the bracket 47 and vibrations and the like can be suppressed.

[0149] 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]

[0150] 1 vehicle 2 Automatic transmission (vehicle transmission) 3. Engine (internal combustion engine) 4 Transmission case 7a opening 7e Connecting wall (wall section) 7B Bottom wall (bottom wall of transmission case) 10 Input shaft 10A 1st gear input (speed gear pair) 10B 2nd speed input gear (speed change gear pair) 10C 4-speed input gear (variable gear pair) 10D 3-speed input gear (variable gear pair) 11 Counter shaft 11A 1st speed counter gear (variable gear pair) 11B 2-speed counter gear (variable gear pair) 11C 4-speed counter gear (variable gear pair) 11D 3-speed counter gear (variable gear pair) 11E Counter drive gear (power transmission gear pair) 12 Output shaft 12A Counter-driven gear (power transmission gear pair) 21 Shift and select axis 23 Cross member 23A Straight section (portion of cross member facing the pressure accumulator in the longitudinal direction) 31 Shift unit (gear change operation device) 32 Gear shift operating member 33 Valve body 33A Drive motor mounting part (mounting part) 33c Upstream drain passage (drain passage) 41 Reservoir tank 41A Tank body 41B Hydraulic oil discharge part 42 Accumulator (pressure storage section) 43 Oil pump (oil pressure generating part) 44 Drive motor (hydraulic pressure generating part) 44A drive shaft 47 Bracket

Claims

1. an input shaft extending in the front-rear direction of the vehicle and to which power is transmitted from the internal combustion engine; a counter shaft that extends parallel to the input shaft and is spaced apart from the input shaft in the vehicle width direction, and that is connected to the input shaft via a pair of speed change gears, to which power is transmitted from the input shaft; an output shaft that is arranged coaxially with the input shaft and rearward of the input shaft, and that is connected to the counter shaft via a pair of power transmission gears, and to which power is transmitted from the counter shaft; a transmission case that houses the input shaft, the counter shaft, and the output shaft and supports a shift and select shaft; a gear change operation device that is disposed outside the transmission case and that changes gears by operating the shift and select shaft, The speed change device has a reservoir tank that stores hydraulic oil, the counter shaft is disposed on one side of the input shaft in a vehicle width direction, The vehicle transmission, wherein the reservoir tank is disposed on the other side of the input shaft in the vehicle width direction.

2. the gear shift operation device is disposed alongside the output shaft in the vehicle width direction, a gear change operation member that operates the shift and select shaft by hydraulic pressure; a pressure accumulator that accumulates hydraulic oil under pressure and supplies it to the speed change operating member; a hydraulic pressure generating unit that pressurizes the hydraulic oil in the reservoir tank and supplies it to the pressure accumulator, The reservoir tank includes a tank body in which hydraulic oil is stored and a hydraulic oil discharge portion that discharges the hydraulic oil from the tank body, The reservoir tank is disposed on one side wall of the transmission case in a vehicle width direction, the hydraulic pressure generating unit is disposed below the tank body, the gear shift operating member is disposed forward of the hydraulic pressure generating unit, 2. The vehicle transmission according to claim 1, wherein the pressure accumulator is disposed forward of the gearshift operating member.

3. a portion of the speed change operating member is located outside the transmission case and below the input shaft, 3. The vehicle transmission according to claim 2, wherein the transmission overlaps with the input shaft in the vehicle width direction.

4. a cross member extending across the vehicle width direction below the vehicle transmission; the pressure accumulator is disposed rearward of the cross member, 4. The vehicle transmission according to claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the cross member facing the pressure accumulator in the longitudinal direction is positioned at the same height as the pressure accumulator.

5. An opening is formed in the bottom wall of the transmission case, The shift and select shaft is attached to the speed change operation member, 4. The vehicle transmission according to claim 2, wherein the shift and select shaft is inserted into the transmission case from the side of the gearshift operating member through the opening.

6. The transmission case has a wall portion extending in the vehicle width direction, the hydraulic pressure generating unit includes an oil pump and a drive motor disposed above the oil pump and configured to drive the oil pump; 4. The vehicle transmission according to claim 2, wherein the oil pump and the drive motor face the shift and select shaft across the wall in the front-rear direction of the vehicle.

7. the drive motor has a drive shaft that extends in a vertical direction and drives the oil pump, The gear shift operating member has a valve body, the valve body has a mounting portion to which the drive motor and the oil pump are mounted in a vertically aligned arrangement, 7. The vehicle transmission according to claim 6, wherein the mounting portion has a through hole through which the drive shaft passes, and a drain passage that communicates with the through hole and discharges hydraulic oil leaked from the oil pump from at least the mounting portion.

8. 7. The vehicle transmission according to claim 6, further comprising a bracket connecting an upper portion of the reservoir tank to the drive motor.

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