Vehicle Drive Support Member With Integrated Oil Catch Tank
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Solution Overview
Problem
The assembly of the support member in vehicle drive devices is complicated due to the need to prevent oil leakage at the joint between the support member and the case, which forms the catch tank for lubricant storage.
Innovation Solution
The catch tank is integrated into the support member without requiring additional assembly with the case, allowing the support member to support multiple rotation shafts and store oil scraped by gears, simplifying the assembly process.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Quantity of substance
If the catch tank is formed by combining the support member and the case, then the oil storage capacity is improved, but the assembly complexity increases due to the need for joint sealing
Solution Approach 1:
The support member is designed to include an integrated catch tank structure, merging the support function and oil storage function into a single component. This eliminates the need for separate case components and joint assemblies, thereby reducing assembly complexity while maintaining adequate oil storage capacity for the power transmission mechanism
2Stability of the object's composition
If the support member is assembled to the case to form the catch tank, then the structural stability is improved, but the manufacturing precision requirements increase due to joint sealing needs
Solution Approach 1:
The support member incorporates the catch tank as an integrated structure, eliminating joints between the support member and case for the catch tank formation. This removes the sealing precision requirements entirely while maintaining structural stability through the integrated design of the support member that holds both the rotation shafts and contains the oil
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle drive device includes an output member drivingly coupled to a wheel, a rotary electric machine including a rotor, a power transmission mechanism that transmits power between the rotor and the output member, and a case including an accommodation chamber that accommodates the rotary electric machine and the power transmission mechanism, the power transmission mechanism including a plurality of rotation shafts and gears disposed on the respective rotation shafts, wherein the vehicle drive device includes a support member that is disposed in the accommodation chamber, is fixed to the case, and supports the plurality of rotation shafts included in the power transmission mechanism, and a catch tank that stores oil scraped up by at least any of the gears included in the power transmission mechanism, wherein the catch tank is formed including the support member without being combined with the case.