IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,638,072
Granted Patent B2
US 12,638,072 · App. 18/285,357 · Granted May 26, 2026

Vehicle drive device

Inventors: Tomoyuki Suzuki (Kariya, JP); Nozomu Takahashi (Kariya, JP)
Assignee: AISIN CORPORATION
F16H57/027B60L15/007F16H57/037F16H57/0404F16H57/0417F16H57/0436F16H57/045F16H57/0476H02K7/116B60K2001/001B60K2001/003F16H2057/02026F16H2057/02034F16H2057/02052H02K2205/09
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,638,072
App. No.
18/285,357
Granted
May 26, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A case includes a rotary electric machine housing chamber that houses a rotary electric machine, and an oil storage space provided in a lower part of the rotary electric machine housing chamber. At least one of a pair of output members is disposed in a space that communicates with the rotary electric machine housing chamber. An oil pump is disposed in the oil storage space at a position on a lower side of a first axis that is a rotation axis of the rotary electric machine and a second axis that is a rotation axis of the pair of output members so as to overlap an output gear in an axial view along the second axis.

Claims (34)

1 . A vehicle drive device comprising:

a rotary electric machine;

a pair of output members drivingly connected to a pair of wheels;

a transmission mechanism configured to transmit a driving force between the rotary electric machine and the pair of output members;

an oil pump configured to supply cooling oil to the rotary electric machine; and

a case that houses the rotary electric machine, the transmission mechanism, and the oil pump, wherein:

the rotary electric machine and the pair of output members are disposed separately on two parallel axes;

the transmission mechanism includes a differential gear mechanism configured to distribute the driving force transmitted from the rotary electric machine side to the pair of output members, and an output gear drivingly connected to the pair of output members coaxially with the pair of output members;

the output gear is connected to a differential case of the differential gear mechanism so as to rotate integrally with the differential case,

the case includes a rotary electric machine housing chamber that houses the rotary electric machine, and an oil storage space provided in a lower part of the rotary electric machine housing chamber;

at least one of the pair of output members is disposed in a space that communicates with the rotary electric machine housing chamber;

the oil pump is disposed in the oil storage space at a position on a lower side of a first axis that is a rotation axis of the rotary electric machine and a second axis that is a rotation axis of the pair of output members so as to overlap the output gear in an axial view along the second axis, and

the oil storage space is a common space that includes both the oil pump and the rotary electric machine.

2 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein an entire disposition area of the oil pump in an up-down direction fits in a disposition area of the output gear in the up-down direction.

3 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the oil pump is an electric oil pump to be driven by a dedicated electric motor.

4 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 3 , wherein:

the electric motor includes a cover; and

the cover is disposed in the oil storage space.

5 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , further comprising an inverter device housed in the case and configured to control drive of the rotary electric machine, wherein:

the inverter device includes a portion disposed so as to overlap the output gear in the axial view; and

a disposition area of the oil pump in an up-down direction overlaps a disposition area of the inverter device in the up-down direction.

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

the oil discharged from the oil pump is supplied to the rotary electric machine through an oil cooler;

the second axis is located on the lower side of the first axis;

the case further includes a transmission mechanism housing chamber that houses the transmission mechanism; and

the oil cooler is disposed on an upper side of the output gear so as to overlap the transmission mechanism housing chamber in an up-down view.

7 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein:

the oil discharged from the oil pump is supplied to the rotary electric machine through an oil cooler; and

the oil cooler is disposed so as to overlap the oil pump in an up-down view.

8 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , further comprising a strainer configured to strain the oil sucked by the oil pump, wherein:

assuming that a width direction is a direction orthogonal to the first axis in an up-down view, a first widthwise side is one side in the width direction, and a second widthwise side is a side opposite to the first widthwise side,

the second axis and the oil pump are located on the first widthwise side with respect to the first axis; and

the strainer is disposed in the oil storage space at a position on the lower side of the rotary electric machine and on the second widthwise side of the oil pump so as to overlap the rotary electric machine in the up-down view.

9 . The vehicle drive device according to claim 1 , wherein the oil storage space that is the common space also includes the at least one of the pair of output members.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Oct 2, 2023
From: SUZUKI, TOMOYUKI; TAKAHASHI, NOZOMU
To: AISIN CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 065097/0144 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2021-109499 · Jun 30, 2021 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20250149953A1 · May 8, 2025
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