Motor case breather device

Abstract

To provide a breather device which makes water less likely to enter a breather of a motor case.SOLUTION: A breather device 132 of a motor case 102 of an electric motor 84 connected to a gear case 82 includes: a breather chamber 120 defined between an end wall 102D of the motor case 102, through which an output shaft 86 extending in a substantially horizontal direction of the electric motor 84 penetrates, and an end wall 82B of the gear case 82 which faces the end wall 102D; a motor communication hole 122 provided on the end wall 102D of the motor case 102 so as to allow the breather chamber 120 and an internal chamber 103 of the motor case 102 to communicate with each other; an external communication hole 124 formed in the gear case 84 and the motor case 102 below the motor communication hole 122 so as to allow the breather chamber 120 to communicate with the outside; and a partition part 128 which protrudes from the end wall 82B of the gear case 82 toward the end wall 102D of the motor case 102 so as to extend in a direction such that the partition part 128 traverses an area between the motor communication hole 122 and the external communication hole 124.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 3

Description

[Technical Field]

[0001] The present invention relates to a motor case breather device. [Background technology]

[0002] In recent years, efforts to provide access to sustainable transportation systems that take into consideration vulnerable transport participants have become more active. To achieve this, we are focusing on research and development into snow removal machines to further improve road safety, mobility, and the convenience of daily life.

[0003] Known snow removal machines include those that can electrically adjust the height of the snow removal tool (auger) above the ground (for example, Patent Document 1). In snow removal machines that electrically adjust the height of the snow removal tool above the ground, an electric motor is provided in the snow removal machine as a drive source for adjusting the height of the snow removal tool above the ground.

[0004] A known breather device for a vehicle power transmission device has an electric motor and a planetary gear reducer housed in a motor chamber and a gear chamber of a gear case separated by a partition wall, a recess formed in the contact surface of a carrier fixed in close contact with the partition wall, a breather chamber defined by the recess and the partition wall, an air breathing hole and an external breathing hole formed in the partition wall, the breather chamber connected to the motor chamber by the air breathing hole and open to the atmosphere by the external breathing hole (for example, Patent Document 2). [Prior art documents] [Patent documents]

[0005] [Patent Document 1] Japanese Patent Application Publication No. 2017-115305 [Patent Document 2] Patent Publication No. 2021-95941 Summary of the Invention

[0006] An electric motor for adjusting the height of a snow removal tool above the ground preferably has a breather device including an air breathing hole formed in the motor case to prevent changes in internal pressure due to temperature changes, etc., in the internal chamber of the motor case that houses the rotor, etc. However, if the motor case has an air breathing hole, there is a problem in that water may seep into the internal chamber of the motor case through the air breathing hole during snow removal work.

[0007] In view of the above background, an object of the present invention is to provide a breather device that makes it difficult for water to enter the internal chamber of a motor case through an air breathing hole, thereby contributing to the development of a sustainable transportation system. [Means for solving the problem]

[0008] In order to solve the above-mentioned problems, one aspect of the present invention is a breather device (132) for a motor case (102) of an electric motor (84) connected to a gear case (82), the breather device having: a breather chamber (120) defined between an end wall (102D) of the motor case through which an output shaft (86) extending substantially horizontally of the electric motor passes and an end wall (82B) of the gear case opposite the end wall; a motor communication hole (122) provided in the end wall of the motor case to communicate the breather chamber with an internal chamber (103) of the motor case; an external communication hole (124) formed in the gear case and / or the motor case below the motor communication hole to communicate the breather chamber with the outside; and a partition portion (128) protruding from one end wall of the motor case and the gear case toward the other end wall so as to extend in a direction crossing between the motor communication hole and the external communication hole.

[0009] According to this aspect, water is less likely to enter the interior chamber of the motor case through the motor communication hole.

[0010] In the above aspect, the partition portion may be provided below the output shaft.

[0011] According to this aspect, water is less likely to enter the motor case through the portion of the motor case through which the output shaft passes.

[0012] In the above embodiment, the partition may be inclined downward from both side portions (128A) to the central portion (128B).

[0013] According to this aspect, water that has seeped into the upper side of the partition collects in the center of the partition, and the water that has seeped into the upper side of the partition can be smoothly discharged.

[0014] In the above aspect, an opening (124A) of the external communication hole to the breather chamber may be provided directly below the output shaft.

[0015] According to this aspect, water that has entered the breather chamber is smoothly discharged through the external communication hole.

[0016] In the above aspect, the external communication hole may be provided so as to communicate with a lowermost part of the breather chamber.

[0017] According to this aspect, water that has entered the breather chamber is smoothly discharged through the external communication hole.

[0018] In the above aspect, the external communication hole may include an inner opening (124A) that opens to the breather chamber, an outer opening (124B) that opens to the outside, and a connecting flow path (124C) that extends in a direction bent relative to the inner opening and the outer opening and connects the inner opening and the outer opening.

[0019] According to this aspect, water is less likely to enter the breather chamber from the outside through the external communication hole.

[0020] In the above aspect, the external communication hole has a larger passage cross-sectional area at the opening (124B) that opens to the outside than at the opening (124A) on the breather chamber side.

[0021] According to this aspect, water that has entered the external communication hole can be easily discharged to the outside through the external communication hole.

[0022] In the above aspect, the end wall of the motor case protrudes toward the gear case and complementarily fits into a corresponding recess (82F) defined in the gear case, and the external communication hole includes a recess groove (126) formed in the end wall of the motor case.

[0023] According to this aspect, the coaxiality between the output shaft of the electric motor and the rear shaft of the gear train provided in the gear case can be easily and reliably established, and it is also easy to define an external communication hole with a complex flow path shape. [Effects of the Invention]

[0024] According to the above aspect, water is less likely to enter the interior chamber of the motor case through the motor communication hole. [Brief explanation of the drawings]

[0025] [Figure 1] 1 is a side view of a snowplow to which the motor case breather device according to the present invention is applied; [Figure 2] FIG. 1 is a perspective view showing a running device and a rotating device of a snow removal machine; [Figure 3] 1 is a cross-sectional view showing a main part of a motor case breather device according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 4] FIG. 1 is a partial cross-sectional perspective view of a connection portion between a motor case and a gear case according to an embodiment of the present invention; [Figure 5] 1 is a perspective view of a gear case according to the present embodiment; [Figure 6] 1 is a perspective view of an electric motor with a gear case according to the present embodiment; [Figure 7] 1 is an enlarged perspective view of an external communication hole according to the present embodiment; [Figure 8] FIG. 1 is a front view of an electric motor according to an embodiment of the present invention; DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0026] Hereinafter, an embodiment of the present invention will be described in detail with reference to the drawings. In the following embodiment, the present invention is applied to a snow blower 10. Hereinafter, terms indicating directions such as front / rear, left / right, and up / down are used based on the directions as seen by an operator operating the snow blower 10.

[0027] First, the overall configuration of a snow blower 10 will be described with reference to Figures 1 and 2. The snow blower 10 is a walk-behind snow blower in which an operator performs snow removal work while walking behind the snow blower.

[0028] The snow blower 10 has a lower body (traveling frame) 12 and an upper body (main frame) 14 rotatably attached to a front shaft 24 (described later) provided on the lower body 12. A traveling device 16 and a handle device 18 are attached to the lower body 12. An auger device 20 and a blower device 22 for removing snow are attached to the upper body 14.

[0029] The traveling device 16 includes a front axle 24 and a rear axle 26 rotatably mounted on the lower body 12 so as to extend horizontally in the left-right direction, drive wheels 28 attached to both left and right ends of the front axle 24, driven wheels 30 attached to both left and right ends of the rear axle 26, left and right crawlers (endless traveling belts) 32 stretched between the left and right drive wheels 28 and driven wheels 30, and a traveling drive device 34 attached to the lower body 12 and including an electric motor that rotates and drives the drive wheels 28 via the front axle 24. Note that Fig. 2 shows a state in which the left crawler 32 is detached from the drive wheel 28 and driven wheel 30.

[0030] The handle device 18 has left and right arms 36 extending rearward and upward from the rear of the lower body 12, left and right grips 38 attached to the upper ends of the arms 36, and an input device 40. The grips 38 are held by the operator.

[0031] The input device 40 is a device that accepts input operations by the operator, and includes, for example, a travel lever 42 that accepts travel operations for the snow blower 10, a snow removal switch 44 that accepts operations for snow removal work using the auger device 20 and blower device 22, a height adjustment switch 46 that accepts rotation operations (height adjustment operations) for the upper body 14 described below, and a clutch lever 48 that accepts operation of the deadman clutch 72 described below.

[0032] The auger device 20 has an auger housing 50 attached to the upper body 14 via a blower housing 58 (described below), a screw gear case 52 attached to the auger housing 50, an auger rotation shaft 54 ​​extending horizontally in the left-right direction from the screw gear case 52 within the auger housing 50, and an auger claw 56 attached to the auger rotation shaft 54.

[0033] The blower device 22 includes a blower housing 58 attached to the upper fuselage 14, a blower 60 rotatably mounted within the blower housing 58, and a chute 62 attached to the top of the blower housing 58.

[0034] Snow removal is achieved by the rotation of the auger claws 56 as the snow blower 10 moves, crushing the snow in front of the snow blower 10 and collecting it in the auger housing 50. The snow collected in the auger housing 50 is guided into the blower housing 58 by the rotation of the blower 60 and then discharged outward from the chute 62.

[0035] A rotary shaft 64 extending horizontally rearward from the screw gear case 52 is provided inside the auger housing 50 and the blower housing 58. The rotary shaft 64 rotates the auger claws 56 via a screw gear (not shown) inside the screw gear case 52 and the auger rotary shaft 54. The rotary shaft 64 supports the blower 60 and rotates the blower 60.

[0036] The rear end of the rotary shaft 64 extends into the upper body 14. A large-diameter driven pulley 66 is attached to the rear end of the rotary shaft 64. An internal combustion engine 68 is attached to the top of the upper body 14. A small-diameter drive pulley 74 is attached to an output shaft 70 of the internal combustion engine 68 via a deadman clutch 72. An endless belt 76 is stretched between the drive pulley 74 and the driven pulley 66.

[0037] As a result, the rotation of the output shaft 70 of the internal combustion engine 68 is transmitted to the rotating shaft 64 via the deadman clutch 72, the drive pulley 74, the endless belt 76 and the driven pulley 66, and the auger claws 56 and the blower 60 are driven synchronously.

[0038] Next, the rotational operation of the upper body 14 relative to the lower body 12, in other words, the adjustment of the height of the auger claws 56 above ground, will be described. The height of the auger claws 56 above ground is adjusted by rotating the upper body 14 relative to the lower body 12 about the central axis of the front shaft 24 using the rotation device 80.

[0039] The rotation device 80 has a gear case 82 fixed to the upper body 14 and an electric motor 84 fixed to the rear of the gear case 82 by a flange connection.

[0040] The gear case 82 defines a gear chamber 83 (see FIG. 3). The gear case 82 rotatably supports, within the gear chamber 83, a worm 88 that extends substantially in the front-to-rear direction and is connected to an output shaft 86 of the electric motor 84. The gear case 82 rotatably supports an intermediate shaft 90 and an output shaft 92 that extend horizontally in the left-to-right direction through the gear chamber 83. A wheel gear 94 and a pinion (not shown) that mesh with the worm 88 are fixed to the intermediate shaft 90. A sector gear 96 that meshes with the pinion (not shown) is fixed to the output shaft 92. The rotation of the output shaft 86 of the electric motor 84 is reduced by this gear train 97 and transmitted to the output shaft 92 of the gear case 82.

[0041] The output shaft 92 has an end that extends outside the gear case 82. One end of a link (arm) 98 is fixed to the end of the output shaft 92. The link 98 has another end that is pivotally connected to one end of another link 100 by a pivot 101. A bracket 104 is fixed to the rear of the lower body 12. The other end of the link 100 is pivotally connected to the bracket 104 by a pivot 105.

[0042] That is, the output shaft 92 of the gear case 82 on the upper body 14 side is connected to the lower body 12 by a link mechanism consisting of a link 98 and a link 100 .

[0043] Rotation of the output shaft 92 by the electric motor 84 changes the angle at which the links 98 and 100 bend in a mountain shape, causing the upper body 14 to tilt approximately vertically relative to the lower body 12 with the front shaft 24 as the rotation center, thereby adjusting the height of the auger claws 56 above the ground.

[0044] A motor case 102 accommodating a rotor (not shown) of the electric motor 84 and the like is connected to the rear of the gear case 82 .

[0045] Next, the breather device of the motor case 102 (hereinafter referred to as the motor case breather device 132) will be described with reference to Figures 3 to 8. As shown in Figure 2, the output shaft 86 of the electric motor 84 tilts forward when the snow blower 10 is in a horizontal position (see Figure 2), but the output shaft 86 extending in an angle range including this tilt angle and the horizontal extends in a substantially horizontal direction.

[0046] The motor case 102 has a cylindrical main portion 102A and a flange portion 102B formed at the front end of the main portion 102A. The main portion 102A defines an internal chamber 103 (see FIG. 3) that houses a stator, a rotor (not shown), and the like. The flange portion 102B has bolt holes 102C (see FIGS. 6 and 8) formed in three locations. The gear case 82 has a box-shaped main portion 82A that houses the aforementioned gear train 97, an end wall 82B provided at the rear of the main portion 82A, a cylindrical portion 82C extending rearward from the end wall 82B, and a flange portion 82D formed at the rear end of the cylindrical portion 82C. The flange portion 82D has screw holes 82E (see FIGS. 4 and 5) formed at three locations.

[0047] As shown in FIGS. 6 to 8, a metal collar member 113 is inserted into each bolt-through hole 102C. A bolt 107 (see FIG. 4) is inserted into each collar member 113. Each bolt 107 is threadedly engaged with a corresponding threaded hole 82E. This connects the motor case 102 to the rear of the gear case 82.

[0048] The motor case 102 has a circular end wall 102D at the front. A motor shaft through-hole 102E, through which the output shaft 86 of the electric motor 84 passes, is formed in the center of the end wall 102D. As shown in Figure 4, the end wall 102D protrudes further toward the gear case 82 than the flange portion 102B, and its outer periphery fits complementarily into a corresponding recess 82F defined in the cylindrical portion 82C of the gear case 82.

[0049] 3, a through hole 82G is formed in the end wall 82B of the gear case 82, and the rear shaft 88A of the worm 88 passes through it. The gear case 82 rotatably supports the rear shaft 88A of the worm 88 in the through hole 82G by means of a rolling bearing 106. An O-ring 110 and an oil seal 112, which are held by an annular holder 108, are provided between the inner peripheral surface of the through hole 82G and the outer peripheral surface of the rear shaft 88A.

[0050] The rear shaft 88A is an input shaft of the gear train 97, and is disposed coaxially with the output shaft 86 of the electric motor 84. The output shaft 86 has, at its front end, a two-chamfered portion 86A that protrudes forward beyond the end wall 102D. The two-chamfered portion 86A has a rectangular parallelepiped shape and engages with an engagement groove 88B formed at the rear end of the rear shaft 88A. This engagement connects the output shaft 86 of the electric motor 84 and the rear shaft 88A, which forms the input shaft of the gear train 97, in a power transmission relationship, and the rotation of the output shaft 86 of the electric motor 84 is transmitted to the gear train 97.

[0051] Since the outer periphery of the end wall 102D of the motor case 102 is complementarily fitted into the corresponding recess 82F of the cylindrical portion 82C of the gear case 82, the coaxiality (concentricity) of the output shaft 86 of the electric motor 84 and the rear shaft 88A of the gear train 97 is easily and reliably established.

[0052] A front end surface 102F of an end wall 102D of the motor case 102 and a rear end surface 82H of an end wall 82B of the gear case 82 face each other with a gap in the axial direction. A breather chamber 120 is defined between the front end surface 102F and the rear end surface 82H, which face each other, by a cylindrical space whose outer periphery is closed by the cylindrical portion 82C of the gear case 82.

[0053] A motor communication hole (air breathing hole) 122 that communicates between the breather chamber 120 and the internal chamber 103 of the motor case 102 is formed through the end wall 102D of the motor case 102. The motor communication hole 122 is provided at a position diagonally above a motor shaft through-hole 102E through which the output shaft 86 passes.

[0054] The end wall 82B and flange portion 82D of the gear case 82 and the end wall 102D and flange portion 102B of the motor case 102 cooperate with each other to define an external communication hole 124. More specifically, a groove 126 is formed in a portion of the end wall 102D of the motor case 102 that fits into the corresponding recess 82F of the gear case 82, and in a portion of the flange portion 102B of the motor case 102 that joins to the flange portion 82D of the gear case 82. The opening of the groove 126 that opens toward the flange portion 82D of the gear case 82 is closed by the flange portion 82D of the gear case 82, so that the external communication hole 124 defines a flow path with a closed cross-sectional shape. This makes it easy to define an external communication hole 124 with a complex flow path shape.

[0055] 6 to 8, the external communication hole 124 includes an inner opening 124A that opens from the end wall 102D of the motor case 102 toward the breather chamber 120, an outer opening 124B that opens downward and outward from the flange portion 102B at a position offset in the left-right direction from the inner opening 124A, and a connecting flow path 124C that extends in the left-right direction to connect the inner opening 124A and the outer opening 124B, and is curved three-dimensionally as a whole. The outer opening 124B includes a portion that is extended downward by a semi-cylindrical portion 102G that extends downward from the lower part of the flange portion 102B.

[0056] The external communication hole 124 has a larger passage cross-sectional area at the outer opening 124B than at the inner opening 124A. The connection flow path 124C becomes wider from the inner opening 124A toward the outer opening 124B, and the flow path cross-sectional area becomes larger from the inner opening 124A toward the outer opening 124B.

[0057] The inner opening 124A of the external communication hole 124 is located below the motor communication hole 122, directly below the output shaft 86, in other words, directly below the motor shaft through-hole 102E, so as to connect the lowest part of the breather chamber 120 to the outside.

[0058] 3 to 5, a partition portion 128 is formed on the end wall 82B of the gear case 82, protruding from the end wall 82B toward the end wall 102D of the motor case 102, in other words, toward the breather chamber 120. The partition portion 128 is a partition wall that extends across the motor shaft through-hole 102E and the external communication hole 124, with a gap 130 (see FIG. 3) that forms a throttle portion between it and the end wall 102D. The partition portion 128 is inclined downward from both left and right side portions 128A toward a center portion 128B, in other words, toward a position directly above the inner opening 124A of the external communication hole 124.

[0059] As shown in FIG. 3, the motor case breather device 132 of this embodiment includes a breather chamber 120, a motor communication hole 122, an external communication hole 124, and a partition portion 128.

[0060] As shown in Figure 5, the gear case 82 is provided with a gear case breather device 140. The gear case breather device 140 includes a breather chamber 146 formed in the upper part of the main section 82A. The side opening of the breather chamber 146 is closed by a cover plate 142 attached to the main section 82A with bolts 144.

[0061] The main portion 82A is formed with a breathing hole 152 that connects the upper portion of the breather chamber 146 to the outside, a front communication hole 148 and a rear communication hole 150 that connect the lower portion of the breather chamber 146 to the gear chamber 83 (see Figure 3), and a partition wall 154 that extends in a direction crossing between the breathing hole 152 and the front communication hole 148 and the rear communication hole 150.

[0062] Next, the operation of snow blower 10 will be described with reference to Figure 1. When the operator operates snow blower 10 to travel using travel lever 42 of input device 40, travel drive unit 34 is driven, and drive wheels 28 are rotated via front shaft 24. This causes crawler 32 to rotate, causing snow blower 10 to travel.

[0063] When the operator operates the snow removal switch 44 of the input device 40 to operate the blower 60 and auger claws 56, the output shaft 70 of the internal combustion engine 68 rotates. The rotation of the output shaft 70 is transmitted to the rotary shaft 64 via the deadman clutch 72, drive pulley 74, endless belt 76, and driven pulley 66, causing the blower 60 and auger claws 56 to rotate. The rotation of the auger claws 56 crushes snow in front of the snow blower 10 and collects it in the center of the auger housing 50 in the lateral direction. The collected snow is introduced into the blower housing 58 and, as the blower 60 rotates, is thrown in the desired direction from the chute 62.

[0064] During this snow removal operation, when the operator operates the height adjustment switch 46, the electric motor 84 is driven to rotate, and the rotation of the electric motor 84 is transmitted to the output shaft 92 via a gear train 97 inside the gear case 82. As a result, the upper body 14 rotates approximately vertically relative to the lower body 12 around the front shaft 24, adjusting the height of the auger claws 56 above the ground.

[0065] When the internal pressure of the internal chamber 103 of the motor case 102 increases due to heat generated by driving the electric motor 84, air in the internal chamber 103 flows from the motor communication hole 122 through the breather chamber 120 and the gap 130, and is released to the outside through the external communication hole 124. When the internal pressure of the internal chamber 103 of the motor case 102 decreases, air flows in the opposite direction to the above-mentioned increase in internal pressure. This maintains the internal pressure of the internal chamber 103 at a predetermined value.

[0066] When water splashes upward during snow removal work, the water may enter the breather chamber 120 through the external communication hole 124.

[0067] 6 to 8 , the external communication hole 124, including the inner opening 124A, the connecting flow path 124C, and the outer opening 124B, is three-dimensionally bent as a whole, making it more difficult for water to infiltrate the breather chamber 120 from the external communication hole 124 than if it were linear. Also, the external communication hole 124 has a larger passage cross-sectional area at the outer opening 124B than at the inner opening 124A, so that water that has infiltrated the external communication hole 124 can easily escape from the external communication hole 124.

[0068] 3 to 5, even if water enters the breather chamber 120, the partition 128 makes it difficult for water to reach the motor shaft through-hole 102E and the motor communication hole 122. This makes it difficult for water to enter the internal chamber 103 of the electric motor 84.

[0069] Even if water that has entered the breather chamber 120 passes through the gap 130 and enters the upper side of the partition 128, because the partition 128 is inclined downward from both side portions 128A to the center portion 128B, the water collects at the center portion 128B of the partition 128, passes from the center portion 128B through the gap 130, and reaches the inner opening 124A of the external communication hole 124 in a straight line. This allows the water that has entered the breather chamber 120 to be smoothly discharged to the outside without stagnating.

[0070] The present invention has been described above in terms of its preferred embodiments, but as can be easily understood by those skilled in the art, the present invention is not limited to such embodiments and can be modified as appropriate within the scope of the invention.

[0071] For example, the external communication hole 124 may be formed as a through-hole or the like in one of the gear case 82 or the motor case 102. The partition portion 128 may protrude from the end wall 102D of the motor case 102 toward the end wall 82B of the gear case 82.

[0072] The motor case breather device 132 of this embodiment is not limited to being applied to the snow blower 10, but can also be applied to various types of work machines that have an electric motor 84 connected to a gear case 82.

[0073] Furthermore, not all of the components shown in the above embodiments are necessarily essential, and they can be selected as appropriate without departing from the spirit of the present invention. [Explanation of symbols]

[0074] 10: Snowblower 12: Lower fuselage 14: Upper fuselage 16: Running gear 18: Handle device 20: Auger device 22: Blower device 24: Front shaft 26: Rear axle 28: Drive wheel 30: Driven wheel 32: Crawler 34: Traveling drive unit 36: Arm 38: Grip 40: Input device 42: Travel lever 44: Snow removal switch 46: Height adjustment switch 48: Clutch lever 50: Auger housing 52: Screw gear case 54: Auger rotation shaft 56: Ogre Claw 58: Blower housing 60: Blower 62: Shooter 64: Rotation axis 66: Driven pulley 68: Internal combustion engine 70: Output shaft 72: Dead Man's Clutch 74: Drive pulley 76: Endless belt 80: Rotating device 82: Gear case 82A: Main part 82B: End wall 82C: Cylindrical part 82D: Flange part 82E: Screw hole 82F: Corresponding recess 82G:Through hole 82H: Rear end surface 83: Gear room 84: Electric motor 86: Output shaft 86A: 2 chamfered sections 88: Warm 88A: Rear axle 88B: Engagement groove 90: Intermediate shaft 92: Output shaft 94: Wheel gear 96: Sector gear 97: Gear train 98: Link 100: Link 101: Axis 102: Motor case 102A: Main part 102B: Flange part 102C: Bolt hole 102D: End wall 102E: Motor shaft through hole 102F: Front end surface 102G: Semi-cylindrical part 103:Inner chamber 104: Bracket 105: Axis 106: Rolling bearings 107: Bolt 108: Holder 110: O-ring 112: Oil seal 113: Colored parts 120: Breather chamber 122: Motor connection hole 124:External communication hole 124A: Inner opening 124B :Outward opening 124C: Connecting channel 126: Groove 128: Partition 128A: Both left and right sides 128B: Central part 130: Gap 132: Motor case breather device 140: Gear case breather device 142: Cover plate 144: Bolt 146: Breather chamber 148: Front communication hole 150: Rear communication hole 152: Breathing hole 154: Partition wall

Claims

1. 1. A breather device for a motor case of an electric motor connected to a gear case, comprising: a breather chamber defined between an end wall of the motor case through which an output shaft of the electric motor extends in a substantially horizontal direction and an end wall of the gear case opposite to the end wall; a motor communication hole provided in the end wall of the motor case to communicate between the breather chamber and an internal chamber of the motor case; an external communication hole formed in the gear case and / or the motor case below the motor communication hole to communicate the breather chamber with the outside; a partition portion that protrudes from the end wall of the gear case toward the end wall of the motor case so as to extend in a direction crossing between the motor communication hole and the external communication hole, the external communication hole is provided to communicate with the lowest part of the breather chamber, the partition portion is provided below the output shaft and separates an upper portion of the breather chamber having the motor communication hole and the through hole of the output shaft from a lower portion of the breather chamber having the external communication hole, A motor case breather device having a gap between the partition and the end wall of the motor case.

2. 1. A breather device for a motor case of an electric motor connected to a gear case, comprising: a breather chamber defined between an end wall of the motor case through which an output shaft of the electric motor extends in a substantially horizontal direction and an end wall of the gear case opposite to the end wall; a motor communication hole provided in the end wall of the motor case to communicate between the breather chamber and an internal chamber of the motor case; an external communication hole formed in the gear case and / or the motor case below the motor communication hole to communicate the breather chamber with the outside; a partition portion that protrudes from the end wall of the gear case toward the end wall of the motor case so as to extend in a direction crossing between the motor communication hole and the external communication hole, A motor case breather device having a gap between the partition and the end wall of the motor case.

3. 3. The motor case breather device according to claim 1, wherein the partition portion is inclined downward from both side portions toward the center portion.

4. 3. The motor case breather device according to claim 1, wherein an opening of the external communication hole to the breather chamber is provided directly below the output shaft.

5. 3. The motor case breather device according to claim 1, wherein the external communication hole includes an inner opening that opens to the breather chamber, an outer opening that opens to the outside, and a connecting flow path that extends in a direction bent relative to the inner opening and the outer opening and connects the inner opening and the outer opening.

6. 3. The motor case breather device according to claim 1, wherein the external communication hole has a larger passage cross-sectional area at an opening that opens to the outside than at an opening on the breather chamber side.

7. the end wall of the motor case projects toward the gear case and complementarily fits into a corresponding recess defined in the gear case; 3. The motor case breather device according to claim 1, wherein the external communication hole includes a recessed groove formed in the end wall of the motor case.

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