Patent ID: 8561775
Filing Date: 2013-10-22
Classification: B60K,B60L,F16D,Y02T

Abstract:
1. A vehicle drive device comprising: an engine having an output shaft; a transmission to which a driving power of the output shaft of the engine is transmitted and which has an input shaft with an axis and is connected to a wheel; a clutch device provided between the output shaft of the engine and the input shaft of the transmission, having a first clutch section provided on the output shaft side of the engine and a second clutch section provided on the input shaft side of the transmission, and being switchable to a connection state that the first and second clutch sections are engaged to transmit the driving power of the engine to the transmission, and a cutoff state that the engagement between the first and second clutch sections is released to cut off the transmission of the driving power; and a clutch operating mechanism for switching the connection state and the cutoff state of the clutch device through the supply and discharge of a liquid; wherein: the clutch operating mechanism comprises a clutch drum secured to the input shaft, supporting the second clutch section and having a drum chamber; a fixed plate surrounded by the clutch drum and secured to the clutch drum to close an opening of the drum chamber; a piston surrounded by the clutch drum, partitioning the drum chamber into a hydraulic chamber for generating a hydraulic pressure that switches the clutch device from the connection state to the cutoff state, and a spring chamber, the piston being movable along the axis; and an urging element provided inside the spring chamber and urging the piston to switch the clutch device from the cutoff state to the connection state, wherein the spring chamber is surrounded by the clutch drum; the clutch drum comprises a cylindrical fixed portion fixed to an outer circumferential portion of the input shaft; a first extended portion extended radially outward from the fixed portion; an inner cylindrical portion formed from the first extended portion along the axis of the input shaft; a second extended portion extended radially outward from the inner cylindrical portion; and an outer cylindrical portion formed from the second extended portion along the axis of the input shaft and holding the second clutch section; the outer cylindrical portion, the inner cylindrical portion and the second extended portion partition the drum chamber, wherein the drum chamber has a ring shape; and the fixed portion, the inner cylindrical portion and the first extended portion partition a ring-shaped bearing chamber in which a bearing rotatably supporting the clutch drum is arranged, wherein the drum chamber and the bearing chamber are juxtaposed in a radial direction of the input shaft with the bearing chamber arranged on the inner circumferential side of the drum chamber in the radial direction of the input shaft.