Drive device and vehicle

Abstract

To provide a pump arrangement for realizing downsizing of a driving device.SOLUTION: According to a driving device, a housing 5 comprises a motor storage part for storing a motor, and an inverter storage part 63 for storing an inverter unit. The motor storage part comprises a cylindrical cylinder part 511 extending in a first direction. The inverter storage part comprises a peripheral wall part 514 that surrounds the inverter storage part as viewed from a second direction perpendicular to a first direction; and a plate part 513 that expands from the cylinder part along one of directions perpendicular to the first direction and crossing with the second direction, and is continuous to the peripheral wall part. At least one of a pump 4A and an oil cooler 8A is fixed to the plate part.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 9

Description

[Technical field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a drive device and a vehicle. [Background technology]

[0002] Conventionally, electric motors mounted on vehicles and the like are cooled by supplying a refrigerant such as cooled oil. For example, the refrigerant is supplied from a pump disposed outside the electric motor (see JP 2016-073163 A). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0003] [Patent Document 1] JP 2016-073163 A Summary of the Invention [Problem to be solved by the invention]

[0004] For example, in the conventional technology, the arrangement of the pump may result in the drive unit becoming larger, which may make it difficult to arrange the drive unit inside the vehicle.

[0005] The present invention aims to provide a pump arrangement which allows a compact drive unit. [Means for solving the problem]

[0006] An exemplary drive device of the present invention includes a motor having a rotor having a motor shaft rotatable around a rotation axis extending along a first direction and a stator located radially outward from the rotor, an inverter unit supplying drive power to the motor, a housing accommodating the motor and the inverter unit, a pump supplying oil contained in the housing to the motor, and an oil cooler cooling the oil, wherein the housing has a motor accommodating section that accommodates the motor and an inverter accommodating section that accommodates the inverter unit, the motor accommodating section having a cylindrical tube portion extending in the first direction, the inverter accommodating section having a peripheral wall portion surrounding the inverter unit when viewed from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction, and a plate portion that is perpendicular to the first direction and extends from the tube portion along one of the directions intersecting the second direction and is continuous with the peripheral wall portion, and at least one of the pump and the oil cooler is fixed to the plate portion.

[0007] An exemplary vehicle of the present invention includes the drive device described above. Effect of the Invention

[0008] An object of the present invention is to provide a pump arrangement which allows for a compact drive unit. [Brief description of the drawings]

[0009] [Figure 1] FIG. 1 is a schematic diagram of the drive device as viewed from the vertical direction. [Diagram 2] FIG. 2 is a schematic configuration diagram of the drive device as viewed from the X-axis direction. [Diagram 3] FIG. 3 is a schematic configuration diagram of the drive device as viewed from the Y-axis direction. [Figure 4] FIG. 4 is a perspective view of the drive unit. [Diagram 5] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of a rotor core. [Figure 6] FIG. 6 is a top view of the inverter accommodating section as viewed vertically downward from above. [Figure 7] FIG. 7 is an exploded perspective view of the housing. [Figure 8] FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a vehicle having a drive device. [Figure 9] FIG. 9 is a top view of the inverter accommodating section of the first modification according to one embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the Z-axis direction. [Figure 10] FIG. 10 is a schematic configuration diagram of a drive device of Modification 1 according to an embodiment of the present invention, as viewed from the Y-axis direction. [Figure 11] FIG. 11 is a top view of the inverter accommodating section of the second modification according to an embodiment of the present invention as viewed from the Z-axis direction. DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS

[0010] Exemplary embodiments are described below with reference to the drawings.

[0011] In the following description, the direction of gravity is defined based on the positional relationship when the drive unit 1 is mounted on a vehicle positioned on a horizontal road surface. In addition, in the drawings, an XYZ coordinate system is appropriately shown as a three-dimensional orthogonal coordinate system. In the XYZ coordinate system, the Z axis direction indicates the vertical direction (i.e., the up-down direction), the +Z direction is upward (vertical upward in the opposite direction to the direction of gravity), and the -Z direction is downward (vertical downward in the same direction as the direction of gravity). In each component, the end portion at the upper side is called the "upper end portion," and the position of the upper end portion in the axial direction is called the "upper end." Furthermore, the end portion at the lower side is called the "lower end portion," and the position of the lower end portion in the axial direction is called the "lower end." In addition, in the surface of each component, the surface facing upward is called the "upper surface," and the surface facing downward is called the "lower surface."

[0012] The X-axis direction is perpendicular to the Z-axis direction and indicates the front-rear direction of the vehicle on which the drive unit 1 is mounted, with the +X direction being the front of the vehicle and the -X direction being the rear of the vehicle. However, the +X direction may be the rear of the vehicle and the -X direction may be the front of the vehicle.

[0013] The Y-axis direction is a direction perpendicular to both the X-axis direction and the Z-axis direction, and indicates the width direction (left-right direction) of the vehicle, with the +Y direction being the left side of the vehicle and the -Y direction being the right side of the vehicle. However, when the +X direction is the rear of the vehicle, the +Y direction may be the right side of the vehicle and the -Y direction may be the left side of the vehicle. That is, regardless of the X-axis direction, the +Y direction is simply one side of the left-right direction of the vehicle, and the -Y direction is the other side of the left-right direction of the vehicle. Also, depending on the method of mounting the drive unit 1 on the vehicle, the X-axis direction may be the width direction (left-right direction) of the vehicle, and the Y-axis direction may be the front-rear direction of the vehicle. In the following embodiment, the Y-axis direction is, for example, parallel to the rotation axis J2 of the motor 2. Therefore, the Y-axis direction may be simply referred to as the "axial direction".

[0014] In the following description, unless otherwise specified, a direction parallel to a specific axis such as the rotation axis J2 of the motor 2 (Y-axis direction) may be simply referred to as the "axial direction". A direction perpendicular to the specific axis is simply referred to as the "radial direction", and a circumferential direction centered on the specific axis is referred to as the "circumferential direction". Within the radial direction, a direction approaching the axis is referred to as the "radial inner direction", and a direction away from the axis is referred to as the "radial outer direction". The end portion on the radial inner side of each component is referred to as the "radial inner end portion". Furthermore, the end portion on the outer side is referred to as the "radial outer end portion". Furthermore, among the side surfaces of each component, a side surface facing radially inward is referred to as the "radial inner surface", and a side surface facing radially outward is referred to as the "radial outer surface".

[0015] For each component, the end in the circumferential direction is referred to as the "circumferential end", and the position of the circumferential end in the circumferential direction is referred to as the "circumferential end". The end in one circumferential direction is referred to as the "one circumferential end". Furthermore, the end in the other circumferential direction is referred to as the "other circumferential end". For the side surfaces of each component, the side surface facing the circumferential direction is referred to as the "circumferential side surface". Furthermore, the side surface facing one circumferential direction is referred to as the "one circumferential side surface", and the side surface facing the other circumferential direction is referred to as the "other circumferential side surface".

[0016] In addition, in the positional relationship between any one of a direction, a line, and a plane and any other, "parallel" includes not only a state in which the two do not intersect at all no matter how far they are extended, but also a state in which they are substantially parallel. Furthermore, "perpendicular" and "orthogonal" each include not only a state in which the two intersect at 90 degrees, but also a state in which they are substantially perpendicular and a state in which they are substantially orthogonal, respectively. In other words, "parallel," "perpendicular," and "orthogonal" each include a state in which there is an angle deviation in the positional relationship between the two to an extent that does not deviate from the gist of the present invention.

[0017] Note that these are names used merely for the purpose of explanation, and are not intended to limit the actual positional relationships, directions, names, and the like.

[0018] <1. Drive unit 1> Hereinafter, a driving device 1 according to an exemplary embodiment of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. Figs. 1 to 3 are conceptual diagrams of the driving device 1 according to the embodiment. Fig. 1 is a schematic diagram of the driving device 1 as viewed from the vertical direction. Fig. 2 is a schematic diagram of the driving device 1 as viewed from the X-axis direction. Fig. 3 is a schematic diagram of the driving device 1 as viewed from the Y-axis direction. Fig. 4 is a perspective view of the driving device 1. Note that Figs. 1 to 3 are merely conceptual diagrams, and the arrangement and dimensions of each part are not necessarily the same as those of the actual driving device 1.

[0019] The drive unit 1 is mounted on a vehicle that uses at least a motor as a power source, such as a hybrid vehicle (HV), a plug-in hybrid vehicle (PHV), an electric vehicle (EV), etc. The drive unit 1 is used as a power source for the above vehicles.

[0020] As shown in FIG. 1, the drive device 1 includes a motor 2, a gear unit 3, a pump 4, a housing 5, and an oil cooler 8. As shown in FIG. 1, the motor 2 includes a motor shaft 22. The motor shaft 22 is rotatable about a rotation axis J2 extending along a horizontal direction. The gear unit 3 is connected to one axial end (the end on the +Y side) of the motor shaft 22. The housing 5 accommodates the motor 2, the gear unit 3, and the inverter unit 7. The pump 4 supplies the oil CL accommodated in the housing 5 to the motor 2. The oil cooler 8 cools the oil CL. In this embodiment, the oil cooler 8 cools the oil CL supplied from the pump 4 to the motor 2. The drive device 1 further includes an inverter unit 7. The inverter unit 7 supplies driving power to the motor 2.

[0021] An accommodating space is provided inside the housing 5 to accommodate the motor 2, the gear unit 3, and the inverter unit 7. As described below, this accommodating space is partitioned into a motor accommodating section 61 that accommodates the motor 2, a gear accommodating section 62 that accommodates the gear unit 3, an inverter accommodating section 63 that accommodates the inverter unit 7, and a pump accommodating section 64 that accommodates the pump 4. The inverter unit 7 is attached integrally to a fourth housing member 54 that will be described below.

[0022] <1-1.Motor 2> The motor 2 is accommodated in the motor accommodating portion 61 of the housing 5. The motor 2 has a rotor 21 and a stator 25. The rotor 21 is fixed to a radially outer surface of the motor shaft 22. The stator 25 drives the rotor 21 to rotate.

[0023] <1-1-1.Rotor 21> The rotor 21 rotates about a rotation axis J2 extending in the horizontal direction as a result of power being supplied from a battery (not shown) to the stator 25. The rotor 21 has a motor shaft 22, a rotor core 23, and a rotor magnet 24. The rotor core 23 is fixed to the radially outer surface of the motor shaft 22.

[0024] The motor shaft 22 extends about a rotation axis J2 that extends in the Y-axis direction. The motor shaft 22 rotates about the rotation axis J2. The motor shaft 22 is rotatably supported by a first motor bearing 281 and a second motor bearing 282. The first motor bearing 281 is held by a third housing member 53 of the housing 5, which will be described later. The second motor bearing 282 is held by a side plate portion 512 of the housing 5, which will be described later.

[0025] The motor shaft 22 is a cylindrical hollow shaft. The motor shaft 22 has a hollow portion 220, a shaft tube portion 221 extending in the axial direction, and a shaft hole portion 222. The hollow portion 220 is disposed inside the shaft tube portion 221. The shaft hole portion 222 penetrates the shaft tube portion 221 in the radial direction. The motor shaft 22 further has a recess 223. The recess 223 is disposed on the inner circumferential surface of the shaft tube portion 221 in the center of the rotation axis J2, recessed radially outward from the inner circumferential surface, and extending in the circumferential direction. The shaft hole portion 222 is disposed on the bottom surface of the recess 223, and penetrates the shaft tube portion 221 radially outward from the bottom surface of the recess 223.

[0026] A hollow transmission shaft 310 (described later) of the gear unit 3 is inserted and connected to one end (+Y side) of the motor shaft 22. A screw coupling using male and female threads can be used to connect the two. Alternatively, the two may be joined by a fixing method such as welding. The hollow portion 220 of the motor shaft 22 communicates with a hollow portion 310a (described later) of the transmission shaft 310 and a first motor bearing holder 531 that houses the first motor bearing 281.

[0027] The rotor core 23 is a cylindrical body extending along the axial direction. The rotor core 23 is disposed on the radially outer surface of the motor shaft 22. As described above, the rotor 21 has the rotor core 23. In addition, a plurality of rotor magnets 24 are fixed to the rotor core 23. The plurality of rotor magnets 24 are arranged along the circumferential direction with their magnetic poles alternating.

[0028] The rotor core 23 also has a rotor through hole 230 and a rotor space 2334. The rotor through hole 230 penetrates the rotor core 23 in the axial direction (i.e., the Y-axis direction). The rotor space 2334 connects the rotor through hole 230 and the shaft hole portion 222 of the motor shaft 22. The rotor through hole 230 is used as a flow path for oil CL that cools the rotor 21 from the inside. The oil CL flowing through the hollow portion 220 of the motor shaft 22 can flow into the rotor through hole 230 via the shaft hole portion 222 and the rotor space 2334, as described below.

[0029] FIG. 5 is a perspective view showing a configuration example of the rotor core 23. The rotor core 23 has a first rotor core 231, a second rotor core 232, and an intermediate core 233. The first rotor core 231 has a first rotor through hole 2310 extending in the axial direction. The second rotor core 232 has a second rotor through hole 2320 extending in the axial direction. The intermediate core 233 is disposed between the first rotor core 231 and the second rotor core 232 in the axial direction. The first rotor core 231 and the second rotor core 232 are laminated bodies formed by laminating silicon steel plates. The intermediate core 233 is a silicon steel plate laminated between the first rotor core 231 and the second rotor core 232.

[0030] The intermediate core 233 has a first annular portion 2331, a second annular portion 2332, and a core opening 2333. The first annular portion 2331 is disposed radially outward from the motor shaft 22. The second annular portion 2332 extends radially outward from a radially outer end portion of the first annular portion 2331. The core opening 2333 penetrates the first annular portion 2331 in the axial direction. In this embodiment, a plurality of core openings 2333 are disposed in the circumferential direction along a radially inner end portion of the first annular portion 2331.

[0031] In the axial direction, the thickness of the second annular portion 2332 is thicker than the thickness of the first annular portion 2331. Therefore, in this embodiment, the rotor space 2334 is disposed between the first annular portion 2331 and the first rotor core 231. However, without being limited to this example, the rotor space 2334 may be disposed between the first annular portion 2331 and the second rotor core 232, or may be disposed both between the first annular portion 2331 and the first rotor core 231 and between the first annular portion 2331 and the second rotor core 232. In other words, the rotor space 2334 can be disposed between the first annular portion 2331 and at least one of the first rotor core 231 and the second rotor core 232.

[0032] The rotor through hole 230 includes a first rotor through hole 2310, a second rotor through hole 2320, and a core opening 2333. When viewed from the axial direction, the core opening 2333 overlaps with at least a portion of the first rotor through hole 2310 and at least a portion of the second rotor through hole 2320. In this way, by appropriately adjusting the overlapping area of ​​the core opening 2333 and the first rotor through hole 2310 when viewed from the axial direction and the overlapping area of ​​the core opening 2333 and the second rotor through hole 2320 when viewed from the axial direction, it is possible to adjust the supply amount of oil CL (see FIG. 1) supplied from the axial end of the rotor through hole 230 to the axial end of the stator 25 when the rotor 21 rotates. For example, by preventing an excessive amount of oil CL from being supplied to the axial end of the stator 25, it is possible to make it difficult for the oil CL to enter between the radial outer surface of the rotor 21 and the radial inner surface of the stator 25 from between the axial ends of the rotor 21 and the stator 25. Therefore, it is possible to suppress or prevent a decrease in the rotation efficiency of the rotor 21 due to the friction resistance of the oil CL that has entered between them.

[0033] <1-1-2. Stator 25> The stator 25 is disposed radially outward from the rotor 21 and surrounds the rotor 21 from the radially outward direction. In other words, the motor 2 is an inner rotor type motor in which the rotor 21 is rotatably disposed inside the stator 25. The stator 25 has a stator core 26, a coil 27, and an insulator (not shown) interposed between the stator core 26 and the coil 27. The stator 25 is held in the housing 5. The stator core 26 has a plurality of magnetic pole teeth (reference numerals omitted) extending radially inward from the inner circumferential surface of the annular yoke.

[0034] A coil wire is wound between the magnetic pole teeth. The coil wire wound around the magnetic pole teeth 261 constitutes the coil 27. The coil wire is connected to the inverter unit 7 via a bus bar (not shown). The coil 27 has a coil end 271 that protrudes from the axial end face of the stator core 26. The coil end 271 protrudes in the axial direction beyond the end of the rotor core 23 of the rotor 21.

[0035] <1-2. Gear section 3> Next, the gear unit 3 transmits the driving force of the motor 2 to a drive shaft Ds that drives the wheels of the vehicle. The drive device 1 mounted on the vehicle includes the drive shaft Ds of the vehicle. Details of the gear unit 3 will be described with reference to the drawings. As shown in FIG. 1 etc., the gear unit 3 is accommodated in a gear accommodating portion 62 of the housing 5. The gear unit 3 has a reduction gear 31 and a differential gear 32.

[0036] <1-2-1. Reduction device 31> The reduction gear 31 is connected to the motor shaft 22. The reduction gear 31 reduces the rotational speed of the motor 2, increases the torque output from the motor 2 in accordance with a reduction ratio, and transmits the increased torque to the differential gear 32.

[0037] The reduction gear 31 has a transmission shaft 310, a first gear (intermediate drive gear) 311, a second gear (intermediate gear) 312, a third gear (primary drive gear) 313, and an intermediate shaft 314. The torque output from the motor 2 is transmitted to a fourth gear 321 of the differential gear 32 via the motor shaft 22, the transmission shaft 310, the first gear 311, the second gear 312, the intermediate shaft 314, and the third gear 313. The gear ratio of each gear and the number of gears can be changed according to the required reduction ratio. The reduction gear 31 is a parallel shaft gear type reducer in which the axes of the gears are arranged in parallel. The motor shaft 22 and the transmission shaft 310 are spline-fitted.

[0038] The transmission shaft 310 extends in the Y-axis direction around the rotation axis J2, and rotates together with the motor shaft 22 around the rotation axis J2. The motor shaft 22 is rotatably supported by a first gear bearing 341 and a second gear bearing 342. The first gear bearing 341 is held by a side plate portion 512 of the housing 5, as described below. The second gear bearing 342 is held by a second housing member 52, which will be described below.

[0039] The transmission shaft 310 is a hollow shaft provided with a hollow portion 310a having an inner circumferential surface extending along the rotation axis J2. As described above, the end of the transmission shaft 310 on the -Y direction side is connected to the end of the motor shaft 22 on the +Y direction side. It should be noted that the present embodiment is not limited to the example, and the transmission shaft 310 may be the same member as the motor shaft 22, that is, may be integral with the motor shaft 22. In other words, the motor shaft 22 may be a hollow shaft extending across the motor accommodating portion 61 and the gear accommodating portion 62 of the housing 5. In this case, the end of the motor shaft 22 on the +Y direction side protrudes toward the gear accommodating portion 62 side and is rotatably supported by the second gear bearing 342. The hollow portion 220 of the motor shaft 22 communicates with the first motor bearing holding portion 531 that houses the first motor bearing 281 and the second gear bearing holding portion 521 that houses the second gear bearing 342.

[0040] The first gear 311 is provided on the outer circumferential surface of the transmission shaft 310. The first gear 311 may be the same member as the transmission shaft 310, or may be a different member. When the first gear 311 and the transmission shaft 310 are different members, the first gear 311 and the transmission shaft 310 are firmly fixed to each other by shrink fitting or the like. The first gear 311 is rotatable together with the transmission shaft 310 about the rotation axis J2.

[0041] The intermediate shaft 314 extends along an intermediate axis J4 parallel to the rotation axis J2, and is supported by the housing 5 to be rotatable about the intermediate axis J4. Both ends of the intermediate shaft 314 are rotatably supported by a third gear bearing 343 and a fourth gear bearing 344. The third gear bearing 343 is held by a side plate portion 512 of the housing 5. The fourth gear bearing 344 is held by the second housing member 52.

[0042] The second gear 312 and the third gear 313 are provided on the outer circumferential surface of the intermediate shaft 314. The second gear 312 and the third gear 313 may be the same member as the intermediate shaft 314, or may be different members. When the second gear 312 and the intermediate shaft 314 are different members, the two are firmly fixed to each other by shrink fitting or the like. When the third gear 313 and the intermediate shaft 314 are different members, the two are firmly fixed to each other by shrink fitting or the like. The third gear 313 is disposed closer to the side plate portion 512 than the second gear 312 (i.e., in the -Y direction).

[0043] The second gear 312 and the third gear 313 are connected via an intermediate shaft 314. The second gear 312 and the third gear 313 are rotatable about an intermediate shaft J4. The second gear 312 meshes with the first gear 311. The third gear 313 meshes with a fourth gear 321 of the differential device 32.

[0044] The torque of the transmission shaft 310 is transmitted from the first gear 311 to the second gear 312. Then, the torque transmitted to the second gear 312 is transmitted to the third gear 313 via the intermediate shaft 314. Furthermore, the torque transmitted to the third gear 313 is transmitted to the fourth gear 321 of the differential device 32. In this manner, the reduction gear 31 transmits the torque output from the motor 2 to the differential device 32.

[0045] <1-2-2. Differential device 32> The differential gear 32 is attached to the drive shaft Ds. The differential gear 32 transmits the output torque of the motor 2 to the drive shaft Ds. The drive shafts Ds are attached to the left and right sides of the differential gear 32, respectively. The differential gear 32 has a function of transmitting the same torque to the left and right drive shafts Ds while absorbing the speed difference between the left and right wheels (drive shafts Ds) when the vehicle turns, for example. The differential gear 32 has, for example, a fourth gear (ring gear) 321, a gear housing (not shown), a pair of pinion gears (not shown), a pinion shaft (not shown), and a pair of side gears (not shown).

[0046] The fourth gear 321 extends along a differential shaft J5 parallel to the rotation shaft J2, and is rotatable about the differential shaft J5. Torque output from the motor 2 is transmitted to the fourth gear 321 via the reduction gear 31.

[0047] <1-3. Pump 4 and oil cooler 8> Next, the pump 4 is an electric pump that is driven by electricity, and is connected to the inverter unit 7 via a harness cable (not shown). That is, the pump 4 is driven by the inverter unit 7. A trochoidal pump, a centrifugal pump, or the like can be adopted as the pump 4. The pump 4 is provided in a pump accommodating portion 64 formed in the housing 5. For example, the pump 4 is fixed to the housing 5 with bolts (not shown).

[0048] The suction port 41 of the pump 4 is inserted into the first oil passage 551 so as to block the first oil passage 551. The suction port 41 of the pump 4 is connected to the strainer 42 via the first oil passage 551 described later. The strainer 42 is disposed in the gear accommodating portion 62 of the housing 5. The strainer 42 is located in an oil reservoir P (see FIG. 1B and the like) described later in the gear accommodating portion 62. The strainer 42 sucks oil CL from an inlet (not shown) disposed on its lower surface by the driving of the pump 4, and supplies the oil to the suction port 41 of the pump 4. A filtering structure (not shown) such as a filter is attached to the strainer 42. The attachment of the filtering structure can suppress the intrusion of foreign matter into the pump 4 and the motor 2.

[0049] The discharge port 43 of the pump 4 opens into the pump housing portion 64. That is, the oil CL protruded from the pump 4 fills the pump housing portion 64. A second oil passage 552, which will be described later, is connected to the pump housing portion 64. The pump 4 discharges the oil CL sucked from the suction port 41 from the discharge port 43, and sends it to the oil cooler 8 via the second oil passage 552.

[0050] The oil cooler 8 exchanges heat between the oil CL delivered from the pump 4 via the second oil passage 552 and the refrigerant RE supplied via a system separate from the oil passage 55 described below, which includes the second oil passage 552. In this way, the oil cooler 8 cools the oil CL produced from the pump 4. The oil CL cooled by the oil cooler 8 is supplied to the motor 2 via a third oil passage 553 and a fourth oil passage 554 described below. The refrigerant RE is supplied to the oil cooler 8 after cooling the IGBTs and SIC elements (not shown) of the inverter unit 7.

[0051] The pump accommodating portion 64 is formed in a peripheral wall portion 514 that surrounds an inverter accommodating portion 63 (described later) (see FIG. 6). For example, the pump accommodating portion 64 can be arranged by utilizing dead space in the inverter accommodating portion 63 other than the space occupied by the inverter unit 7. In this way, the pump 4 can be arranged compactly, which contributes to the miniaturization of the drive device 1.

[0052] Also, preferably, in the vertical direction, the pump 4 is disposed vertically below the fourth housing member 54 described below and vertically above the drive shaft Ds. This allows the pump 4 to be disposed in the space between the drive shaft Ds and the fourth housing member 54 in the vertical direction. This contributes to the miniaturization of the drive unit 1 in the vertical direction. Furthermore, there is no interference with the mounting portion 510 for mounting to the vehicle provided on the first housing member 51.

[0053] In addition, in the front-rear direction (i.e., the X-axis direction) perpendicular to the axial direction and the vertical direction, the pump 4 and the oil cooler 8 are disposed at one end of the housing 5 in the front-rear direction. The motor housing 61 is disposed at the other part of the housing 5 in the front-rear direction. For example, in this embodiment, the pump 4 and the oil cooler 8 are disposed at the rear end of the housing 5 (i.e., the end on the -X direction side), and the motor housing 61 is disposed at the front part of the housing 5 (i.e., the +X direction side). In this way, since the pump 4 and the oil cooler 8 are disposed at the end in the front-rear direction, it is possible to suppress an increase in the size of the drive device 1 in the axial direction. Furthermore, since the pump 4 and the oil cooler 8 are provided on the opposite side of the motor housing 61 of the housing 5 in the front-rear direction, the pump 4 and the oil cooler 8 can be disposed away from the motor housing 61. Therefore, the pump 4 and the oil cooler 8 can be disposed without increasing the size of the drive device 1 in the front-rear direction too much. Furthermore, oil passages and the like can be disposed relatively freely between the pump 4 and the oil cooler 8 and the motor housing 61.

[0054] <1-4. Housing 5> Next, the configuration of the housing will be described. FIG. 7 is an exploded view of the housing 5. As shown in FIG. 7, the housing 5 has a first housing member 51, a second housing member 52, and a third housing member 53. The first housing member 51 has a cylindrical tube portion 511 extending in an axial direction parallel to the rotation axis J2, and a side plate portion 512 covering one axial end of the tube portion 511. The second housing member 52 is attached to one axial end (dark portion on the +Y direction side) of the side plate portion 512. The third housing member 53 closes the other axial end (end on the -Y direction side) of the tube portion 511. In other words, the third housing member 53 is disposed on the other axial side (-Y direction side) of the first housing member 51. That is, the third housing member 53 closes the opening of the cylindrical first housing member 51. The housing 5 further has a fourth housing member 54. The fourth housing member 54 is disposed vertically above the cylindrical portion 511.

[0055] The housing 5 further includes a fourth housing member 54. The fourth housing member 54 is located vertically above the first housing member 51. The fourth housing member 54 is attached to an upper end portion of the peripheral wall portion 554.

[0056] The housing 5 further has a motor accommodating portion 61 and a gear accommodating portion 62. The motor accommodating portion 61 is a space surrounded by the cylindrical portion 511, the side plate portion 512, and the third housing member 53, and accommodates the motor 2. The gear accommodating portion 62 is a space surrounded by the side plate portion 512 and the second housing member 52, and accommodates the gear portion 3. The motor accommodating portion 61 and the gear accommodating portion 62 are partitioned by the side plate portion 512.

[0057] The housing 5 further has an inverter accommodating portion 63 that accommodates the inverter unit 7. The inverter accommodating portion 63 is a space surrounded by the cylindrical portion 511, the plate portion 513, the peripheral wall portion 514, and the fourth housing member 54. The inverter unit 7 is fixed integrally to the fourth housing member 54. That is, the inverter unit 7 is fixed downward to the inverter accommodating portion 63 by being fixed integrally to the lower side of the fourth housing member 54. The fourth housing member 54 may be provided with an inverter cooling passage (not shown).

[0058] Moreover, the housing 5 further has a pump accommodating portion 64 that accommodates the pump 4. The pump accommodating portion 64 is formed in the first housing member 51. That is, the pump accommodating portion 64 has the first housing member 51.

[0059] The cylindrical portion 511 has a cylindrical shape extending in the axial direction. The motor 2 is accommodated inside the cylindrical portion 511. That is, the space inside the cylindrical portion 511 configures the motor accommodating portion 61. In this embodiment, the cylindrical portion 511 and the side plate portion 512 are the same member. However, this is not limiting, and the cylindrical portion 511 and the side plate portion 512 may be different members.

[0060] The first housing member 51 further has a plate portion 513 and a peripheral wall portion 514. The plate portion 513 spreads out from the tube portion 511 along one of the left-right directions (+Y direction). The left-right direction is perpendicular to the axial direction and intersects with the vertical direction. The peripheral wall portion 514 protrudes upward (+Z direction) from the upper end of the tube portion 511 and the plate portion 513, and surrounds an inverter accommodating portion 63 (described later) when viewed from above (+Z direction) (see FIG. 6).

[0061] The first housing member 51 further has an insertion hole 5120, a first drive shaft passing hole 515, a second motor bearing retaining portion 516, a first gear bearing retaining portion 517, a third gear bearing retaining portion 518, and a side plate opening 519.

[0062] The insertion hole 5120 and the first drive shaft passing hole 515 are disposed in the side plate portion 512 and penetrate the side plate portion 512 in the Y-axis direction. The center of the insertion hole 5120 coincides with the rotation axis J2. The second motor bearing holder 516 is disposed in the insertion hole 5120.

[0063] The drive shaft Ds rotatably passes through the first drive shaft passing hole 515. The second housing member 52 is provided with a second drive shaft passing hole 523. The second drive shaft passing hole 523 is a hole that passes through the second housing member 52 in the axial direction. The drive shaft Ds rotatably passes through the second drive shaft passing hole 523. The second drive shaft passing hole 523 overlaps with the first drive shaft passing hole 515 when viewed from the axial direction. As a result, the drive shafts Ds disposed at both ends of the differential device 32 in the axial direction (Y direction) rotate around the differential axis J5. Between the drive shaft Ds and the first drive shaft passing hole 515 and between the drive shaft Ds and the second drive shaft passing hole 523, oil seals (not shown) are provided to suppress leakage of oil CL. An axle (not shown) that rotates the wheels is connected to the tip of the drive shaft Ds.

[0064] The second motor bearing holder 516 extends in the -Y direction from the edge of the insertion hole 5120. The outer ring of the second motor bearing 282 is fixed to the second motor bearing holder 516. The end of the motor shaft 22 on the +Y direction side is fixed to the inner ring of the second motor bearing 282. The first motor bearing holder 531 is disposed on the +Y direction side of the third housing member 53. The central axes of the first motor bearing holder 531 and the second motor bearing holder 516 respectively coincide with the rotation axis J2. The outer ring of the first motor bearing 281 is fixed to the first motor bearing holder 531. The end of the motor shaft 22 on the -Y direction side is fixed to the inner ring of the first motor bearing 281. As a result, the motor 2 is rotatably supported by the housing 5 via the first motor bearing 281 and the second motor bearing 282 at both ends of the rotor 21 in the Y axis direction.

[0065] The first gear bearing holding portion 517 extends in the +Y direction from the edge of the insertion hole 5120. The outer ring of the first gear bearing 341 is fixed to the first gear bearing holding portion 517. The end of the transmission shaft 310 on the -Y direction side is fixed to the inner ring of the first gear bearing 341. The second gear bearing holding portion 521 is disposed on the -Y direction side of the second housing member 52. The central axes of the second gear bearing holding portion 521 and the first gear bearing holding portion 517 coincide with the rotation axis J2. The outer ring of the second gear bearing 342 is fixed to the second gear bearing holding portion 521. The transmission shaft 310 is fixed to the inner ring of the second gear bearing 342. As a result, the transmission shaft 310 is rotatably supported by the side plate portion 512 of the housing 5 and the second housing member 52 via the first gear bearing 341 and the second gear bearing 342.

[0066] Next, the third gear bearing holding portion 518 is cylindrical and extends in the +Y direction from the side plate portion 512. The third gear bearing holding portion 518 is disposed in the +X direction and the +Z direction from the first gear bearing holding portion 517. The outer ring of the third gear bearing 343 is fixed to the third gear bearing holding portion 518. The intermediate shaft 314 is fixed to the inner ring of the third gear bearing 343. The fourth gear bearing holding portion 522 is disposed on the +Y direction side of the second housing member 52. The fourth gear bearing holding portion 522 is cylindrical and extends in the -Y direction from the second housing member 52. The central axes of the third gear bearing holding portion 518 and the fourth gear bearing holding portion 522 coincide with the intermediate axis J4. The outer ring of the fourth gear bearing 344 is fixed to the fourth gear bearing holding portion 522. Further, an end portion of the intermediate shaft 314 on the +Y direction side is fixed to the inner ring of the fourth gear bearing 344. As a result, the intermediate shaft 314 is rotatably supported by the side plate portion 512 of the housing 5 and the second housing member 52 via the third gear bearing 343 and the fourth gear bearing 344.

[0067] The side plate opening 519 is disposed in the side plate portion 512 that separates the motor accommodating portion 61 and the gear accommodating portion 62. The housing includes the side plate opening 519. The side plate opening 519 axially penetrates the side plate portion 512 and connects the motor accommodating portion 61 and the gear accommodating portion 62. The side plate opening 519 in particular communicates between the lower portion of the motor accommodating portion 61 and the lower portion of the gear accommodating portion 62. The side plate opening 519 allows the oil CL accumulated in the lower portion of the motor accommodating portion 61 to move to the gear accommodating portion 62. The oil CL that has moved to the gear accommodating portion 62 can flow into the oil reservoir P.

[0068] Next, the configuration of the second housing member 52 will be described. The second housing member 52 is attached to the +Y direction side of the side plate portion 512 of the first housing member 51. The second housing member 52 has a concave shape that opens towards the side plate portion 512. The opening of the second housing member 52 is covered by the side plate portion 512. As shown in FIG. 1 etc., the second housing member 52 has a second gear bearing holding portion 521, a fourth gear bearing holding portion 522, and a second drive shaft passing hole 523. Note that these have been described above and will not be described here.

[0069] The second housing member 52 may have an oil reservoir (not shown) for storing oil CL. The oil CL is supplied to the second gear bearing holding portion 521 and the fourth gear bearing holding portion 522 from the oil reservoir (not shown), and the second gear bearing 342 held by the second gear bearing holding portion 521 and the fourth gear bearing 344 held by the fourth gear bearing holding portion 522 are lubricated with the oil CL.

[0070] An oil sump P in which oil CL accumulates is disposed in the lower portion of the gear accommodating portion 62. A part of the differential gear 32 is immersed in the oil sump P. The oil CL accumulated in the oil sump P is scooped up by the operation of the differential gear 32 and supplied to the inside of the gear accommodating portion 62. For example, the oil CL is scooped up by the tooth surface of the fourth gear 321 when the fourth gear 321 of the differential gear 32 rotates. The oil CL diffused in the gear accommodating portion 62 is supplied to each gear of the reduction gear 31 and the differential gear 32 in the gear accommodating portion 62, and the oil CL is spread over the tooth surfaces of the gears, and is used for lubrication. In addition, a part of the oil CL diffused in the gear accommodating portion 62 is supplied to each of the first gear bearing 341 to the fourth gear bearing 344, and is used for lubrication.

[0071] <1-5.Oil route> 1 to 3, the housing 5 further includes an oil passage 55 through which the oil CL flows. The oil passage 55 is a flow path through which the oil CL, which has been sucked up from the oil reservoir P in the gear accommodating portion 62 by the pump 4 and cooled by the oil cooler 8, flows toward the motor 2.

[0072] The oil passage 55 includes a first oil passage 551, a second oil passage 552, a third oil passage 553, and a fourth oil passage 554. The first oil passage 551, the second oil passage 552, and the third oil passage 553 are formed in the first housing member 51. As described above, the first oil passage 551 connects the vertical lower portion of the gear accommodating portion 62 to the pump accommodating portion 64. That is, the first oil passage 551 connects the vertical lower portion of the gear accommodating portion 62 to the suction port 41 of the pump 4. The second oil passage 552 connects the pump accommodating portion 64 to the oil cooler 8. The third oil passage 553 connects the oil cooler 8 to the fourth oil passage 554. That is, the oil CL discharged from the pump 4 is supplied to the oil cooler 8. The fourth oil passage 554 is formed in the third housing member 53. The fourth oil passage 554 connects the third oil passage 553 and the motor accommodating portion 61 .

[0073] Preferably, the first oil passage 551, the second oil passage 552, and the third oil passage 553 are each formed in the first housing member 51. For example, in this embodiment, the first oil passage 551 is formed inside the side plate portion 512, that is, formed in a different position of the same member as the side plate portion 512. Also, the second oil passage 552 and the third oil passage 553 are each formed inside the peripheral wall portion 514, that is, formed in a different position of the same member as the peripheral wall portion 514. Also, preferably, the fourth oil passage 554 is formed in a different position of the same member as the third housing member 53. In this way, it is not necessary to arrange a pipe for flowing the oil CL outside the housing 5, so that the drive unit 1 can be prevented from becoming large. Therefore, it is possible to provide the drive unit 1 in which the oil passage 55 of the oil CL is compactly arranged. Note that the first oil passage 551 to the fourth oil passage 554 are each drilled with a drill or an end mill.

[0074] Incidentally, without being limited to the example of this embodiment, the second oil passage 552 and the third oil passage 553 may be formed inside the plate portion 513. In other words, the second oil passage 552 and the third oil passage 553 may each be the same member as either the plate portion 513 or the peripheral wall portion 514. In this way, since the second oil passage 552 and the third oil passage 553 are not separate members from the first housing member 51, the number of parts of the drive device 1 can be reduced. Therefore, the drive device 1 becomes easier to assemble. Furthermore, the manufacturing cost of the drive device 1 can be reduced, thereby improving its productivity.

[0075] Preferably, the oil passage 55 further includes a connecting pipe 5530. The connecting pipe 5530 is disposed on an inner surface of one of the third oil passage 553 and the fourth oil passage 554 at a connection portion between the third oil passage 553 and the fourth oil passage 554, and is fitted into the other oil passage. By fitting the connecting pipe 5530 at the connection portion, the third oil passage 553 and the fourth oil passage 554 can be easily positioned when the third housing member 53 is attached to the first housing member 51. Furthermore, the connecting pipe 5530 covers the inside of the connection portion between the two, so that leakage of oil CL at the connection portion can be more reliably prevented.

[0076] For example, in the present embodiment, in the above-mentioned connection portion, one end of the connecting pipe 5530 is disposed on the inner surface of the third oil passage 553. The other end of the connecting pipe 5530 is fitted into the inner surface of the fourth oil passage 554. Moreover, the connecting pipe 5530 is the same member as the third oil passage 553. Alternatively, one end of the connecting pipe 5530 may be disposed on the inner surface of the fourth oil passage 554, and the other end may be fitted into the inner surface of the third oil passage 553. Moreover, the connecting pipe 5530 may be the same member as the fourth oil passage 554. However, without being limited to these examples, the connecting pipe 5530 may be a member different from the third oil passage 553 and the fourth oil passage 554.

[0077] Next, the fourth oil passage 554 is connected to the oil supply unit 558 and the hollow portion 220 of the motor shaft 22. The oil supply unit 558 is connected to the fourth oil passage 554 and supplies oil CL to the radial outer surface of the stator 25. The drive device 1 further includes an oil supply unit 558. Specifically, the oil supply unit 558 is a cylindrical member extending in the axial direction. The oil supply unit 558 is accommodated in the motor accommodating unit 61 together with the motor 2 and is disposed above the stator 25. The oil supply unit 558 has a plurality of diffusion holes 5580 penetrating the inner wall. Each diffusion hole 5580 opens toward the stator 25 and diffuses the oil CL supplied from the fourth oil passage 554 toward the stator 25. Therefore, the stator 25 can be cooled from its radial outer surface by the oil CL supplied from the oil supply unit 558.

[0078] On the other hand, the hollow portion 220 of the motor shaft 22 is connected to the rotor through hole 230 of the rotor core 23. For example, the hollow portion 220 of the motor shaft 22 is connected to the rotor through hole 230 via the recess 223, the shaft hole portion 222, and the rotor space 2334 (see FIG. 5). That is, the rotor through hole 230 is connected to the fourth oil passage 554 via the hollow portion 220. Therefore, when the rotor 21 rotates, the oil CL is supplied from the axial end of the rotor through hole 230 to the axial end of the stator 25. Therefore, the oil CL supplied from the rotor through hole 230 can cool the axial end of the stator 25, and in particular the coil end of the stator 25.

[0079] The fourth oil passage 554 has a first supply passage 555, a cylindrical second supply passage 556, and a cylindrical third supply passage 557. The first supply passage 555 is connected to the third oil passage 553. The second supply passage 556 connects the first supply passage 555 and the oil supply section 558. The third supply passage 557 connects the first supply passage 555 and the hollow section 220 of the motor shaft 22. That is, one end of the fourth oil passage 554 is the first supply passage 555, and the other end of the fourth oil passage 554 branches into the second supply passage 556 and the third supply passage 557. Preferably, the inner diameter of the second supply passage 556 is larger than the inner diameter of the third supply passage 557. In particular, the minimum inner diameter of the second supply passage 556 is larger than the minimum inner diameter of the third supply passage 557. In this way, the amount of oil CL supplied to the oil supply part 558 can be made greater than the amount of oil CL supplied to the hollow part 220 of the motor shaft 22. Therefore, more oil CL can be supplied to the radially outer surface of the stator 25 than to the axial end part of the stator 25, such as the coil end 271. Therefore, the cooling efficiency of the stator 25 by the oil CL cooled by the oil cooler 8 can be improved. The oil CL that has cooled the motor 2 accumulates in the lower part of the motor accommodating part 61, and then flows through the side plate opening 519 to the oil pool P in the lower part of the gear accommodating part 62. In other words, the oil CL that has been supplied to the radially outer surface of the stator 25 from the second supply path 556 via the oil supply part 558 and has cooled the stator 25 accumulates in the lower part of the motor accommodating part 61, and then flows through the side plate opening 519 to the oil pool P in the lower part of the gear accommodating part 62. In addition, the oil CL supplied to the coil ends 271, etc. from the third supply passage 557 via the rotor core through hole 230 accumulates at the bottom of the motor accommodating portion 61 and then flows through the side plate opening 519 to the oil pool P at the bottom of the gear accommodating portion 62.

[0080] More preferably, the inner diameter of second supply passage 556 is greater than 1.6 times the inner diameter of third supply passage 557. For example, in this embodiment, the inner diameter of second supply passage 556 is φ7 mm, and the inner diameter of third supply passage 557 is φ5.5 mm.

[0081] It should be noted that the above example does not exclude a configuration in which the inner diameter of second supply passage 556 is equal to or smaller than the inner diameter of third supply passage 557.

[0082] <2-1. Variation 1> In the above-described embodiment, the pump accommodating portion 64 is molded in the peripheral wall portion 514. That is, the pump 4 is fixed to the peripheral wall portion 514. Similarly, the oil cooler 8 is fixed to the peripheral wall portion 514. However, the pump 4 and the oil cooler 8 may be fixed at different positions.

[0083] Figures 9 and 10 show a first modified example according to one embodiment of the present invention. The configurations of Figures 9 and 10 are the same as those of the above-described embodiment except for the pump and the oil cooler, and therefore descriptions thereof will be omitted as appropriate.

[0084] The housing 5 has a motor accommodating section 61 that accommodates the motor 2, and an inverter accommodating section 63 that accommodates the inverter unit 7. The motor accommodating section 61 has a cylindrical tube section 511 that extends in a first direction (Y-axis direction). The inverter accommodating section 63 has a peripheral wall section 514 that surrounds the inverter accommodating section 63 when viewed from a second direction (Z-axis direction) perpendicular to the first direction (Y-axis direction), and a plate section 513 that spreads from the tube section 511 along one of the directions (X-axis direction) that are perpendicular to the first direction (Y-axis direction) and intersect with the second direction (Z-axis direction) and is continuous with the peripheral wall section 514. At least one of the pump 4A and the oil cooler 8A is fixed to the plate section 513. More specifically, the pump 4A and the oil cooler 8A are fixed to the vertically lower side (-Z direction) of the plate section 513. The pump 4A sucks up the oil CL from the oil reservoir P, similar to the pump 4 described above. Similarly to the oil cooler 8 described above, the oil cooler 8A cools the oil CL.

[0085] When viewed from the second direction (Z-axis direction), the pump 4A and the oil cooler 8A are disposed at a position different from the drive shaft Ds. The pump 4A, the oil cooler 8A, and the drive shaft Ds are disposed side by side in a third direction (X-axis direction) perpendicular to the first direction (Y-axis direction) and the second direction (Z-axis direction). In other words, the pump 4A and the oil cooler 8A are disposed at a position that does not overlap with the drive shaft Ds in the vertical direction (Z-axis direction).

[0086] In the third direction (X-axis direction), the drive shaft Ds is disposed between the pump 4A and the oil cooler 8A, and the cylindrical portion 511. That is, the pump 4A and the oil cooler 8A, the drive shaft Ds, and the cylindrical portion 511 are disposed in this order along the third direction (X-axis direction).

[0087] As described above, the motor 2 is housed inside the cylinder portion 511. The plate portion 513 extends from the cylinder portion along a direction perpendicular to the first direction (Y-axis direction) and intersecting with the second direction (Z-axis direction), i.e., along one side of the X-axis direction, and is continuous with the peripheral wall portion 514. That is, the motor 2 is not located on the vertically lower side (-Z direction) of the plate portion 513, and a dead space is likely to occur. According to this modification 1, the pump 4A and the oil cooler 8A are arranged in the dead space on the vertically lower side (-Z direction) of the plate portion 513, so that the drive device 1 can be efficiently downsized. Note that it is not necessary that both the pump 4A and the oil cooler 8A are provided on the vertically lower side (-Z direction) of the plate portion 513. For example, the pump 4A may be fixed to the vertically lower side (-Z direction) of the plate portion 513, and the oil cooler 8A may be fixed to the peripheral wall portion 514. Alternatively, the pump 4A may be fixed to the peripheral wall portion 514, and the oil cooler 8A may be fixed to the vertically lower side (-Z direction) of the plate portion 513.

[0088] If the pump 4A and oil cooler 8A, which are provided vertically below (-Z direction) the plate portion 513, are positioned vertically above (+Z direction) the drive shaft Ds, it is necessary to place the plate portion 513 sufficiently away from the drive shaft Ds to avoid interference between the pump 4A and the oil cooler 8A and the drive shaft Ds, which may result in the drive unit 1 becoming larger. However, in the case of this modified example 1, the pump 4A and the oil cooler 8A are not positioned vertically above the drive shaft Ds (in the +Z direction), so that the plate portion 513 can be brought closer to the drive shaft Ds, thereby making it possible to reduce the size of the drive unit 1.

[0089] 1, the gear accommodating portion 62 accommodates at least a portion of the transmission shaft 310 and at least a portion of the drive shaft Ds. That is, if the transmission shaft 310 and the drive device Ds can be brought closer to each other in the third direction (X-axis direction), the gear accommodating portion 62 can be made smaller in size in the third direction (X-axis direction). As described above, the transmission shaft 310 is connected to the motor shaft 22 and extends in the Y-axis direction centered on the rotation axis J2. According to the present modified example 1, the drive shaft Ds and the cylindrical portion 511 that houses the motor shaft 22 therein can be brought closer to each other in the third direction (X-axis direction). In other words, the transmission shaft 310 and the drive shaft Ds can be brought closer to each other in the third direction (X-axis direction). That is, the gear housing portion 62 can be made smaller in size in the third direction (X-axis direction).

[0090] Furthermore, the oil cooler 8A may be connected to an inverter cooling path (not shown) provided in the fourth housing member 54 by a pipe (not shown) arranged outside the housing 5. In this case, the refrigerant RE flows from the inverter cooling path into the pipe, and then flows into the oil cooler 8A. In this case, even if the refrigerant RE leaks from a connection portion between the oil cooler 8A and the pipe, the refrigerant RE flows to the outside of the housing 5. That is, even if the refrigerant RE leaks from a connection portion between the oil cooler 8A and the pipe 56, the refrigerant RE can be prevented from entering the inside of the inverter accommodating portion 63. The flow of the refrigerant RE is not limited to the above, and may flow, for example, from the oil cooler 8A, through the pipe, and to the inverter cooling path.

[0091] <2-2. Variation 2> Fig. 11 shows a second modified example according to one embodiment of the present invention. The configuration of Fig. 11 is the same as that of the above-described embodiment except for the pump and the oil cooler, and therefore a description thereof will be omitted.

[0092] The pump 4B and the oil cooler 8B are fixed to the vertically lower side (-Z direction) of the plate portion 513. The pump 4B, like the above-mentioned pump 4, sucks up the oil CL from the oil reservoir P. The oil cooler 8B, like the above-mentioned oil cooler 8, cools the oil CL.

[0093] 11, in the third direction (X-axis direction), the pump 4B and the oil cooler 8B are disposed between the drive shaft Ds and the cylindrical portion 511. That is, the drive shaft Ds, the pump 4A and the oil cooler 8A, and the cylindrical portion 511 are disposed in this order along the third direction (X-axis direction).

[0094] In the case of the present modified example 2, the pump 4B and the oil cooler 8B are not disposed vertically above the drive shaft Ds (in the +Z direction), so that the plate portion 513 can be brought closer to the drive shaft Ds, and the drive unit 1 can be made more compact.

[0095] <3. Vehicle 200 having driving device 1> FIG. 8 is a schematic diagram showing an example of a vehicle 200 having a drive unit 1. Note that in FIG. 8, the drive unit 1 is conceptually illustrated. The vehicle 200 has the drive unit 1 and a battery 150. The battery 150 stores power to be supplied to the drive unit 1. In the example of the vehicle 200, the drive unit 1 drives the left and right front wheels. Note that the drive unit 1 only needs to drive at least one of the wheels. Such a vehicle 200 can be equipped with a drive unit 1 in which an oil passage 55 for oil CL is compactly arranged. This contributes to the miniaturization of the vehicle. Furthermore, since the drive unit 1 can be arranged in a space-saving manner, the interior space available to the vehicle passengers can be made larger.

[0096] <3.Other> The embodiments of the present invention have been described above. Note that the scope of the present invention is not limited to the above-described embodiments. The present invention can be implemented by adding various modifications to the above-described embodiments without departing from the spirit of the invention. Furthermore, the matters described in the above-described embodiments can be appropriately combined in any manner as long as no contradiction occurs. [Industrial Applicability]

[0097] The present invention is useful, for example, in drive motors for hybrid vehicles (HVs), plug-in hybrid vehicles (PHVs), and electric vehicles (EVs). [Explanation of symbols]

[0098] REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 1 Drive device, 2 Motor, 21 Rotor, 22 Motor shaft, 220 Hollow portion, 221 Shaft cylinder portion, 222 Shaft hole portion, 223 Recess, 23 Rotor core, 230 Rotor through hole, 231 First rotor core, 2310 First rotor through hole, 232 Second rotor core, 2320 Second rotor through hole, 233 Intermediate core, 2331 First annular portion, 2332 Second annular portion, 2333 Core opening, 2334 Rotor space, 24 Rotor magnet, 25 Steer motor, 26 stator core, 27 coil, 271 coil end, 281 first motor bearing, 282 second motor bearing, 3 gear portion, 31 reduction gear, 310 transmission shaft, 310a hollow portion, 311 first gear, 312 second gear, 313 third gear, 314 intermediate shaft, 32 differential device, 321 fourth gear, 33 parking mechanism, 331 parking gear, 332 rotation prevention portion, 333 parking motor, 341 first gear bearing, 342...second gear bearing, 343...third gear bearing, 344...fourth gear bearing, 4, 4A, 4B...pump, 41...suction port, 42...strainer, 43...discharge port, 5...housing, 51...first housing member, 510...mounting portion, 511...tubular portion, 512...side plate portion, 5120...through hole, 513...plate portion, 514...peripheral wall portion, 515...first drive shaft passing hole, 516...second motor bearing holding portion, 517...first gear bearing holding portion, 518...third gear bearing holding portion, 5 19... side plate opening, 52... second housing member, 521... second gear bearing retaining portion, 522... fourth gear bearing retaining portion, 523... second drive shaft passing hole, 524... first oil reservoir, 525... second oil reservoir, 526... first wall portion, 527... second wall portion, 528... wall portion, 53... third housing member, 531... first motor bearing retaining portion, 54... fourth housing member, 55... oil passage, 551... first oil passage, 552... second oil passage, 553... third oil passage, 5530... connecting pipe, 554... fourth oil passage,555...first supply passage, 556...second supply passage, 557...third supply passage, 558...oil supply section, 5580...spray hole, 61...motor housing section, 62...gear housing section, 63...inverter housing section, 64...pump housing section, 7...inverter unit, 8, 8A, 8B...oil cooler, CL...oil, Ds...drive shaft, J2...rotating shaft, J4...intermediate shaft, J5...differential shaft, P...oil reservoir, RE...refrigerant, 200...vehicle, 150...battery,

Claims

1. A motor having a rotor having a motor shaft rotatable about a rotation axis extending along a first direction, and a stator positioned radially outward from the rotor; an inverter unit for supplying driving power to the motor; a housing that accommodates the motor and the inverter unit; a pump that supplies oil contained in the housing to the motor; an oil cooler for cooling the oil; a gear portion connected to one end of the motor shaft in the first direction; Equipped with The gear portion has a drive shaft that drives a wheel, the housing has a motor accommodating portion that accommodates the motor, an inverter accommodating portion that accommodates the inverter unit, and a gear accommodating portion that accommodates the gear portion, The motor accommodating portion has a cylindrical portion extending in the first direction, The inverter accommodating section is a peripheral wall portion surrounding the inverter accommodating portion when viewed from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a plate portion extending from the cylindrical portion along one of the directions perpendicular to the first direction and intersecting with the second direction and continuing with the peripheral wall portion; At least one of the pump and the oil cooler is fixed to the plate portion, When viewed from the second direction, the pump and the oil cooler are disposed at a position different from that of the drive shaft, the pump, the oil cooler, and the drive shaft are arranged side by side in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; In the third direction, the drive shaft is located between the pump and the oil cooler, and between the cylindrical portion and the oil cooler. Drive unit.

2. The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the pump and the oil cooler are located between the drive shaft and the cylindrical portion in the third direction.

3. A motor having a rotor having a motor shaft rotatable about a rotation axis extending along a first direction, and a stator positioned radially outward from the rotor; an inverter unit for supplying driving power to the motor; a housing that accommodates the motor and the inverter unit; a pump that supplies oil contained in the housing to the motor; an oil cooler for cooling the oil; a gear portion connected to one end of the motor shaft in the first direction; Equipped with The gear portion has a drive shaft that drives a wheel, the housing has a motor accommodating portion that accommodates the motor, an inverter accommodating portion that accommodates the inverter unit, and a gear accommodating portion that accommodates the gear portion, The motor accommodating portion has a cylindrical portion extending in the first direction, The inverter accommodating section is a peripheral wall portion surrounding the inverter accommodating portion when viewed from a second direction perpendicular to the first direction; a plate portion extending from the cylindrical portion along one of the directions perpendicular to the first direction and intersecting with the second direction and continuing with the peripheral wall portion; At least one of the pump and the oil cooler is fixed to the plate portion, When viewed from the second direction, the pump and the oil cooler are disposed at a position different from that of the drive shaft, the pump, the oil cooler, and the drive shaft are arranged side by side in a third direction perpendicular to the first direction and the second direction; A drive device, wherein the pump and the oil cooler are positioned between the drive shaft and the cylindrical portion in the third direction.

4. A vehicle comprising the drive device according to any one of claims 1 to 3.

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