IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,516,727
Granted Patent B2
US 12,516,727 · App. 18/842,147 · Granted Jan 6, 2026

Vehicle drive device

Inventors: Naoya Usami (Kariya, JP); Daichi Yukitoki (Kariya, JP); Tsukasa Osafune (Kariya, JP); Masato Hirano (Kariya, JP)
Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
F16H57/0476F16H57/0409F16H57/0424H02K5/20H02K7/006H02K7/116H02K9/19F16H57/0453
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,516,727
App. No.
18/842,147
Granted
Jan 6, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A first oil receiving portion disposed on a downward side of a rotary electric machine, an oil supply passage configured to supply oil accumulated in the first oil receiving portion from a flow port to a lubrication target part, and a discharge port configured to discharge the oil in the first oil receiving portion are provided. The discharge port is provided on an upper side relative to a reference oil level, which is set on a lower side relative to a rotor and on an upper side relative to the flow port, and the discharge port is provided to include a portion positioned on a lower side relative to a limitation-target oil level, which is formed by a tilt due to an attitude change and acceleration or deceleration of a vehicle.

Claims (42)

1 . A vehicle drive device comprising:

an input member drivingly coupled to an internal combustion engine and disposed on a first axis;

an output member drivingly coupled to a wheel;

a rotary electric machine disposed on a second axis and including a rotor, the second axis being an axis different from the first axis and being parallel to the first axis; and

a power transmission mechanism configured to transmit power among the input member, the output member, and the rotary electric machine,

the vehicle drive device further comprising:

an oil receiving portion disposed below the rotary electric machine to receive oil for cooling supplied to the rotary electric machine and falling from the rotary electric machine;

an oil supply passage configured to supply oil accumulated in the oil receiving portion, from a flow port to a lubrication target part, the flow port being formed to face the oil receiving portion; and

a discharge port formed to face the oil receiving portion, the discharge port being configured to discharge oil in the oil receiving portion,

wherein

the discharge port is provided above a reference oil level and is provided to include a portion positioned below a limitation-target oil level, the reference oil level being set below the rotor and above the flow port, in the oil receiving portion, the limitation-target oil level being an oil level brought into a state of contacting with the rotor by being tilted due to an attitude change and acceleration or deceleration of a vehicle.

2 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the flow port is provided to be positioned below an oil level that is parallel to the limitation-target oil level and that passes through a lower end of the discharge port.

3 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein

the limitation-target oil level includes a first target oil level that is an oil level brought into the state of contacting with the rotor by the vehicle being tilted in a front-rear direction, and a second target oil level that is an oil level brought into the state of contacting with the rotor by the vehicle being tilted in a left-right direction, and

the discharge port is provided to include a portion positioned below both the first target oil level and the second target oil level.

4 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein

the limitation-target oil level includes a first target oil level that is an oil level brought into the state of contacting with the rotor by the vehicle being tilted in a front-rear direction, and a second target oil level that is an oil level brought into the state of contacting with the rotor by the vehicle being tilted in a left-right direction,

the discharge port includes a first discharge port and a second discharge port,

the first discharge port is provided to include a portion positioned below the first target oil level, and

the second discharge port is provided to include a portion positioned below the second target oil level.

5 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein

the second axis is arranged on an upward side relative to the first axis, and

the oil supply passage is configured to supply oil accumulated in the oil receiving portion, from the flow port to at least one of a first bearing supporting the input member or an input gear configured to rotate together with the input member.

6 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , further comprising:

a case including a first chamber housing the rotary electric machine, a second chamber housing the power transmission mechanism, and a partition wall separating the first chamber and the second chamber,

wherein

the oil supply passage penetrates through the partition wall to allow communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, and is configured to supply oil from the oil receiving portion disposed in the first chamber to the second chamber.

7 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 2 , wherein

the limitation-target oil level includes a first target oil level that is an oil level brought into the state of contacting with the rotor by the vehicle being tilted in a front-rear direction, and a second target oil level that is an oil level brought into the state of contacting with the rotor by the vehicle being tilted in a left-right direction, and

the discharge port is provided to include a portion positioned below both the first target oil level and the second target oil level.

8 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 2 , wherein

the limitation-target oil level includes a first target oil level that is an oil level brought into the state of contacting with the rotor by the vehicle being tilted in a front-rear direction, and a second target oil level that is an oil level brought into the state of contacting with the rotor by the vehicle being tilted in a left-right direction,

the discharge port includes a first discharge port and a second discharge port,

the first discharge port is provided to include a portion positioned below the first target oil level, and

the second discharge port is provided to include a portion positioned below the second target oil level.

9 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 2 , wherein

the second axis is arranged on an upward side relative to the first axis, and

the oil supply passage is configured to supply oil accumulated in the oil receiving portion, from the flow port to at least one of a first bearing supporting the input member or an input gear configured to rotate together with the input member.

10 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 2 , further comprising:

a case including a first chamber housing the rotary electric machine, a second chamber housing the power transmission mechanism, and a partition wall separating the first chamber and the second chamber,

wherein

the oil supply passage penetrates through the partition wall to allow communication between the first chamber and the second chamber, and is configured to supply oil from the oil receiving portion disposed in the first chamber to the second chamber.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Aug 28, 2024
From: USAMI, NAOYA; YUKITOKI, DAICHI; OSAFUNE, TSUKASA; HIRANO, MASATO
To: AISIN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 068423/0734 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2022-090114 · Jun 2, 2022 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250180107A1 · Jun 5, 2025
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