Vehicle drive device

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9261017-B2
Application number	US-201213659361-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Oct 24, 2012
Priority date	Nov 4, 2011
Publication date	Feb 16, 2016
Grant date	Feb 16, 2016

Abstract

A vehicle drive includes a speed change mechanism connected to a rotary electric machine; an output member connected to the speed change mechanism and wheels; an engagement device changes a state of engagement between an input member connected to an engine and the speed change mechanism; a hydraulic pump driven by the engine or the rotary electric machine; a first pressure control device that controls pressure supplied from the pump and supplies the pressure to the speed change mechanism; a second, separate hydraulic pressure control device that controls the pressure supplied from the pump and supplies the pressure to the engagement device; and a case that houses the rotary electric machine, speed change mechanism, engagement device, and pump. At least the engagement device is housed in a space formed by the case, and the second hydraulic pressure control device is provided at a part of the case forming the space.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle drive device comprising:
an input member drivingly connected to an internal combustion engine;
a rotary electric machine;
a speed change mechanism drivingly connected to the rotary electric machine;
an output member drivingly connected to the speed change mechanism and wheels;
an engagement device capable of changing a state of engagement between the input member and the speed change mechanism;
a hydraulic pump that discharges oil by being driven by the internal combustion engine or the rotary electric machine;
a first hydraulic pressure control device that controls hydraulic pressure supplied from the hydraulic pump and supplies the controlled hydraulic pressure to the speed change mechanism;
a second hydraulic pressure control device that is provided separately from the first hydraulic pressure control device, and that controls the hydraulic pressure supplied from the hydraulic pump and supplies the controlled hydraulic pressure to the engagement device;
a case that houses the rotary electric machine, the speed change mechanism, the engagement device, and the hydraulic pump; wherein
at least the engagement device is housed in a first housing space formed by the case,
the second hydraulic pressure control device is provided at a part of the case forming the first housing space, and
the speed change mechanism is housed in a speed change mechanism housing space formed by the case, and the case comprises:
a first case portion forming the first housing space and which provides the second hydraulic pressure control device; and
a second case portion forming the speed change mechanism housing space and which provides the first hydraulic pressure control device;

a first oil retaining portion capable of retaining oil in the second case portion;
a second oil retaining portion capable of retaining oil in the first case portion; and
a discharge oil passage that discharges oil from the second oil retaining portion to the first oil retaining portion, the oil retained in the second oil retaining portion being oil to be supplied to the engagement device.

2. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein
the rotary electric machine is housed in the first housing space; and
the second hydraulic pressure control device is arranged in a position having a portion overlapping with the rotary electric machine when viewed in a radial direction of the rotary electric machine.

3. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the second hydraulic pressure control device is arranged in a position having a portion overlapping with the engagement device when viewed in a radial direction of the engagement device.

4. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the second hydraulic pressure control device comprises a solenoid valve that controls at least the hydraulic pressure supplied to the engagement device and a valve body provided with an oil passage that communicates with the solenoid valve.

5. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the second hydraulic pressure control device is housed in a second housing space formed separately from the first housing space by the case,
the vehicle drive device further comprising a communicating oil passage through which the first housing space communicates with the second housing space.

6. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein
the rotary electric machine is housed in the first housing space and the speed change mechanism is housed in the speed change mechanism housing space formed by the case;
the rotary electric machine is supplied with oil from the hydraulic pump; and
the speed change mechanism housing space is provided therebelow with the first oil retaining portion that communicates with the speed change mechanism housing space and is capable of retaining oil, and the first housing space is provided therebelow with the second oil retaining portion that communicates with the first housing space and an oil discharge port of the second hydraulic pressure control device and is capable of retaining oil.

7. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein
the rotary electric machine is housed in the first housing space and the speed change mechanism is housed in the speed change mechanism housing space formed by the case, and the case is structured to be separable into the first case portion forming the first housing space and the second case portion forming the speed change mechanism housing space.

8. The vehicle drive device according to claim 7 , wherein the second hydraulic pressure control device is provided at a lower portion of the first case portion.

9. The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein
the rotary electric machine and the speed change mechanism are drivingly connected to each other via a fluid coupling provided with a coupling input side member drivingly connected to the rotary electric machine and a coupling output side member drivingly connected to the speed change mechanism;
the engagement device is capable of changing a state of engagement between the input member and the coupling input side member; and
the first hydraulic pressure control device controls the hydraulic pressure supplied from the hydraulic pump and supplies the controlled hydraulic pressure to the fluid coupling.

10. The vehicle drive device according to claim 9 , wherein
the rotary electric machine, the fluid coupling, and the engagement device are arranged on a first axial direction side, that is, on one side in an axial direction of the speed change mechanism, relative to the speed change mechanism, and arranged in the order of the rotary electric machine, the fluid coupling, and the speed change mechanism from the first axial direction side toward an opposite side thereof; and
the engagement device is arranged in a position having a portion overlapping with the rotary electric machine when viewed in the radial direction of the rotary electric machine.

11. The vehicle drive device according to claim 9 , wherein
the rotary electric machine is housed in the first housing space;
the fluid coupling is housed in a fluid coupling housing space formed by the case; and
the first housing space, the speed change mechanism housing space, and the fluid coupling housing space are formed as spaces independent from one another.

12. The vehicle drive device according to claim 2 , wherein the second hydraulic pressure control device is arranged in a position having a portion overlapping with the engagement device when viewed in a radial direction of the engagement device.

13. The vehicle drive device according to claim 12 , wherein the second hydraulic pressure control device comprises a solenoid valve that controls at least the hydraulic pressure supplied to the engagement device and a valve body provided with an oil passage that communicates with the solenoid valve.

14. The vehicle drive device according to claim 13 , wherein the second hydraulic pressure control device is housed in a second housing space formed separately from the first housing space by the case,
the vehicle drive device further comprising a communicating oil passage through which the first housing space communicates with the second housing space.

15. The vehicle drive device according to claim 14 , wherein
the rotary electric machine is housed in the first housing space and the speed change mechanism is housed in the speed change mechanism housing space formed by the case;
the rotary electric machine is supplied with oil from the hydraulic pump; and
the speed change mechanism housing space is provi

Assignees

• Iwase Mikio
• Suyama Daiki
• Jinnai Naoya
• Wada Kensuke
• Inoue Yuji
• Ideshio Yukihiko
• Aisin Aw Co
• Toyota Motor Co Ltd

Inventors

• Iwase Mikio
• Suyama Daiki
• Jinnai Naoya
• Wada Kensuke
• Inoue Yuji
• Ideshio Yukihiko

Classifications

• F16D48/02

  Control by fluid pressure · CPC title

• F16D2048/0209

  characterised by fluid valves having control pistons, e.g. spools · CPC title

• F16D33/02

  controlled by changing the flow of the liquid in the working circuit, while maintaining a completely filled working circuit · CPC title

• F16D2300/26

  Cover or bell housings; Details or arrangements thereof · CPC title

• B60W20/30

  Control strategies involving selection of transmission gear ratio {(control of change speed gearings, together with other vehicle sub-units B60W10/10; HEV transmission gearing B60K6/36; gearings and control thereof F16H)} · CPC title