Abstract:
An object of the present invention is to provide an in-wheel motor driving device which has a deceased axial dimension and includes aluminum alloy housings having a minimum wall thickness for reduced weight while retaining good assemblability. An in-wheel motor driving device includes a wheel braking device. A back plate of a drum brake or a mounting member for calipers of a disc brake constituting the wheel braking device is formed integrally with an outboard-side end member which is fastened to a outboard-side end surface of a housing of a speed reducer section, for reduced number of parts and minimal axial dimension.

Description:
TECHNICAL FIELD 
       [0001]    The present invention relates to an in-wheel motor driving device connecting an electric motor&#39;s output shaft with a hub of a vehicle wheel coaxially via a speed reducer. 
       BACKGROUND ART 
       [0002]    A conventional in-wheel motor driving device  101  is disclosed in JP-A-2002-247713 (Patent Literature 1) for example. 
         [0003]    The in-wheel motor driving device  101  in  FIG. 10  includes a motor section  103  which rotatably drives an output shaft  106 ; a speed reducer section  105  which reduces rotation of the output shaft  106  and transmits the rotation to a wheel-side output shaft  108 ; a wheel hub bearing section  104  which has a wheel hub  109  connected to the wheel-side output shaft  108 ; and a drum brake  102  serving as braking equipment. 
         [0004]    As shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the drum brake  102  includes a back plate  110 , which is fastened to a housing  107  of the speed reducer section  105  with bolts  111 . 
         [0005]    Also, in the example shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the wheel hub bearing section  104  has a fixing ring  112  (fixing member), which is fastened to the housing  107  of the speed reducer section  105  by using bolts  113 . 
         [0006]    In the example shown in  FIG. 10  and  FIG. 11 , the back plate  110  and the fixing ring  112  are fastened individually to the housing  107  of the speed reducer section  105  by using the bolts  110 ,  113  respectively as described above. However, the back plate  110  and the fixing ring  112  may be fastened together to the housing  107  of the speed reducer section  105  with the bolts  113  as shown in  FIG. 12 . 
       CITATION LIST 
     Patent Literature 
       [0000]    
       
         Patent Literature 1: JP-A-2002-247713 
       
     
       SUMMARY OF INVENTION 
     Technical Problem 
       [0008]    In the in-wheel motor driving device  101 , the housing  114  of the motor section  103  and the housing  107  of the speed reducer section  105  are usually made of aluminum alloy for the sake of weight reduction. 
         [0009]    A problem, however, is that as long as the housing  107  of the speed reducer section  105  and the back plate  110  of the drum brake  102  are fastened together by bolts, bolt holes for bolting the two members must be made longer than in cases where the housing is made of steel, in order to ensure that sufficient strength will be provided by the aluminum alloy. 
         [0010]    In the example disclosed in Patent Literature 1, bolting areas are formed relatively longer, and given a greater thickness than other walls. 
         [0011]    If it is impossible to give an increased wall thickness only in the bolt fastening areas, the in-wheel motor unit has to be given an increased axial length, which results in a problem of overall increase in the weight. 
         [0012]    Any bolt holes which communicate with internal space are undesirable since they can be potential route for oil leakage. Thus, if all bolt holes are designed so as not to communicate with internal space, then the wall thickness may have to be further increased. 
         [0013]    Therefore, it is an object of the present invention to provide an in-wheel motor driving device which retains good assemblability, has a deceased axial dimension, includes aluminum alloy housings having a minimum wall thickness for reduced weight. 
       Solution to Problem 
       [0014]    In order to achieve the object stated above, the present invention provides an in-wheel motor driving device which includes a motor section; a wheel hub bearing section; a speed reducer section; and a wheel braking device. The motor section&#39;s output shaft is coaxially connected with the wheel hub bearing section via the speed reducer section. The wheel braking device is provided by a drum brake which includes a brake drum fastened to a hub ring in the wheel hub bearing section; and a back plate which is disposed on a fixing-ring side of the wheel hub bearing section, and the back plate of the drum brake is formed integrally with an outboard-side end member fastened to an outboard-side end surface of a housing of the speed reducer section. 
         [0015]    In cases where the wheel braking device is provided by a disc brake which includes a brake disc fastened to a hub ring in the wheel hub bearing section; and calipers disposed on a fixing-ring side of the wheel hub bearing section, the invention provides the following arrangement: The calipers have their mounting member formed integrally with an outboard-side end member fastened to an outboard-side end surface of a housing of the speed reducer section. 
         [0016]    The outboard-side end member is bolted to the housing of the speed reducer section. 
         [0017]    The outboard-side end member is made of an iron or steel material whereas the housing of the speed reducer section is made of a light-metal material. 
         [0018]    The fixing ring of the wheel hub bearing section and the outboard-side end member may be formed integrally with each other. 
         [0019]    The outboard-side end member may have a knuckle integrally therewith, with the knuckle being connected only with a lower arm extending from a car body. 
         [0020]    The outboard-side end member may have a knuckle integrally therewith, with the knuckle being connected with an upper arm and a lower arm extending from a car body. 
         [0021]    Also, the outboard-side end member may have a knuckle integrally therewith, with the knuckle having its upper side connected with a buffering device. 
         [0022]    It is desirable that a sealing member is disposed between the outboard-side end member and the housing of the speed reducer section for prevention of oil leakage from inside. 
         [0023]    The sealing member is provided by an O ring. 
       Advantageous Effects of Invention 
       [0024]    The present invention provides, as has been described, an in-wheel motor driving device which includes a wheel braking device having its components, i.e. a back plate of a drum brake or a mounting member for calipers of a disc brake, formed integrally with an outboard-side end member which is a member fastened to an outboard-side end surface of a housing of the speed reducer section. The invention enables to decrease the number of parts and to minimize the axial dimension. 
         [0025]    Also, the wheel hub bearing section&#39;s fixing ring is formed integrally with the outboard-side end member, whereby it becomes possible to decrease the number of fastening bolts and to minimize the thickness of the aluminum-alloy housing, leading to weight reduction. 
         [0026]    Further, the outboard-side end member has a knuckle formed integrally therewith. This enables further decrease in the number of parts, contributing to weight reduction. 
         [0027]    Still further, the outboard-side end member is disposed on an outboard-side end surface of the speed reducer section. This ensures conventional procedures of assembling the motor section and the speed reducer section from the axial direction, so the invention does not affect assemblability. 
     
    
     
       BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS 
         [0028]      FIG. 1  is a schematic sectional view of an in-wheel motor driving device according to an embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0029]      FIG. 2  is an exploded view of the in-wheel motor driving devices in  FIG. 1 , showing a state before assembly. 
           [0030]      FIG. 3  is a schematic sectional view of an in-wheel motor driving device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0031]      FIG. 4  is a schematic sectional view of an in-wheel motor driving device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0032]      FIG. 5  is a schematic sectional view of an in-wheel motor driving device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0033]      FIG. 6  is a schematic sectional view of an in-wheel motor driving device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0034]      FIG. 7  is a schematic sectional view of an in-wheel motor driving device according to another embodiment of the present invention. 
           [0035]      FIG. 8  is a schematic plan view of an electric vehicle which includes in-wheel motor driving devices. 
           [0036]      FIG. 9  is a vertical sectional view of a speed reducer section of an in-wheel motor driving device according to the present invention. 
           [0037]      FIG. 10  is a schematic sectional view of a conventional in-wheel motor driving device. 
           [0038]      FIG. 11  is an enlarged partial view, showing a conventional example of fastening a back plate of the in-wheel motor driving device. 
           [0039]      FIG. 12  is an enlarged partial view, showing another conventional example of fastening a back plate of the in-wheel motor driving device. 
       
    
    
     DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS 
       [0040]    Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described based on the attached drawings. 
         [0041]    As shown in  FIG. 8 , an electric vehicle  11  equipped with in-wheel motor driving devices according to an embodiment of the present invention includes a chassis  12 , front wheels  13  as steering wheels, rear wheels  14  as driving wheels, and in-wheel motor driving devices  21  which transmit driving forces to the left and the right rear wheels  14  respectively. 
         [0042]    As shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the in-wheel motor driving device  21  includes a motor section A which generates a driving force; a speed reducer section B which reduces rotating speed of the motor section A and outputs the rotating force; and a wheel hub bearing section C which transmits the output from the speed reducer section B to a driving wheel  14 . 
         [0043]    The motor section A has a housing  22   a  whereas the speed reducer section B has a housing  22   b , and these two housings are fastened to each other with bolts  61 . The housing  22   a  of the motor section A and the housing  22   b  of the speed reducer section B are made of light metal such as an aluminum alloy. 
         [0044]    The housing  22   a  of the motor section A has an inboard-side end surface, which is closed by an inboard-side end member  22   c.    
         [0045]    The housing  22   b  of the speed reducer section B has an outboard-side end-surface, to which an outboard-side end member  22   d  is fastened by using bolts  62 . A fixing ring  33  of the wheel hub bearing section C is fastened to the outboard-side end member  22   d  by using bolts  63 . 
         [0046]    The speed reducer section B is assemblable to the motor section A from the outboard side as shown in  FIG. 2 , once the outboard-side end member  22   d  is removed from the housing  22   b  of the speed reducer section B. Specifically, an input shaft  25  of the speed reducer section B is inserted into an output shaft  24   a  of the motor section A from the outboard side, to assemble the speed reducer section B and the motor section A with each other. 
         [0047]    The outboard-side end member  22   d  is made of an iron material or a steel material. In the embodiment shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2 , the outboard-side end member  22   d  has an outer circumference where there is integrally formed a back plate  71   b  as a part of a drum brake  71  which serves as a braking system component for the wheel. The outboard-side end member  22   d  is formed with bolt holes  64  for the bolts  63  to fasten the fixing ring  33  of the wheel hub bearing section C. 
         [0048]    The outboard-side end member  22   d  and the housing  22   b  of the speed reducer section B are fitted to each other with an O-ring disposed therebetween to serve as a sealing member  65  for preventing oil leakage from inside. 
         [0049]    The wheel hub bearing section C includes a hub ring  32  for receiving an output shaft  28  of the speed reducer section B; and the fixing ring  33  which is connected and fixed to the outboard-side end member  22   d  of the speed reducer section B using the fastening bolts  63  via a double-row rolling bearing. 
         [0050]    The hub ring  32  has a cylindrical hollow section  32   a  and a flange section  32   b . The flange section  32   b  is fixed and connected with a wheel  14 , using bolts  32   c . Also, the output shaft  28  of the speed reducer section B has its outer diameter surface formed with a spline and a male thread. The hollow section  32   a  of the hub ring  32  has its inner diameter surface formed with a spline hole. With the above-described arrangement, the output shaft  28  of the speed reducer section B is inserted into the inner diameter surface of the hub ring  32 , and a nut  32   d  is threaded to the shaft tip to connect the two members with each other. 
         [0051]    The hollow section  32   a  of the hub ring  32  has its outer surface formed integrally with a wheel mounting flange  32   b . The hollow section  32   a  has an outer diameter surface on the vehicle&#39;s outer-side, where a double-row roller bearing&#39;s outer-side inner track surface is formed integrally therewith. The hollow section  32   a  has an outer diameter surface on the vehicle&#39;s inner-side, around which there is fitted an inner ring  32   e  having an inner track surface on its outer surface. 
         [0052]    The fixing ring  33  has: an inner circumferential surface, which is formed with an outer-side outer track surface and an inner-side outer track surface corresponding to the outer-side inner track surface and an inboard-side inner track surface respectively of the hub ring  32 ; and an outer circumferential surface formed with an anchoring flange  33   a.    
         [0053]    The hub ring  32  and the fixing ring  33  are opposed to each other with their respective outboard-side track surfaces and inboard-side track surfaces, and two rows of balls  34  are placed between these two surfaces. 
         [0054]    The wheel hub bearing section C which is shown in  FIG. 1  and  FIG. 2  is a so-called third-generation wheel hub unit, characterized by, as has been described thus far: that the hub ring  32  has an outer circumferential surface formed integrally with a wheel mounting flange  32   b  and one of two inner track surfaces of a double-row rolling bearing; that the fixing ring  33  has an inner circumferential surface formed integrally with outer track surfaces of the double-row rolling bearing; and that the fixing ring  33  has an outer circumferential surface formed integrally with an anchoring flange  33   a.    
         [0055]    The wheel mounting flange  32   b  is a place where a brake drum  71   a  of the drum brake  71  is mounted. 
         [0056]    Next,  FIG. 3  shows another embodiment, where the back plate  71   b  of the drum brake  71  is formed integrally on the outboard-side end member  22   d , which is also formed integrally with a knuckle  72  for mounting to the car body. 
         [0057]    The knuckle  72  used in the embodiment in  FIG. 3  is a trailing arm type in which connection is made only with a lower arm. 
         [0058]    On the other hand,  FIG. 4  shows an embodiment which uses a knuckle  72  of a double wishbone type in which connections are made to an upper arm and a lower arm extending from the car body. 
         [0059]    Further,  FIG. 5  shows an embodiment which uses a knuckle  72  of a strut type in which a shock absorber is connected above. 
         [0060]    Next,  FIG. 6  shows still another embodiment where the anchoring flange  33   a  of the fixing ring  33  is used as an outboard-side end member  22   d . In other words, this embodiment is an example in which the anchoring flange  33   a  of the fixing ring  33  and the outboard-side end member  22   d  which constitutes the back plate  71   b  are integrated with each other. Such an arrangement enables to decrease the number of parts while contributing to weight reduction as well. 
         [0061]    Next,  FIG. 7  shows still another embodiment in which the wheel braking equipment is provided by a disc brake  72 . The disc brake  72  has its brake disc  72   a  mounted on the wheel mounting flange  32   b  whereas brake calipers  72  for squeezing the brake disc  72   a  are mounted on a mounting member  72   c  which is integrated with the outboard-side end member  22   d.    
         [0062]    In each of these embodiments described thus far, the motor section A constitutes a radial-gap motor which includes a stator  23 ; a rotor  24  disposed inside the stator  23  and opposed thereto with a radial gap in between; and a hollow output shaft  24   a  fixedly connected inside the rotor  24  for integral rotation with the rotor  24 . 
         [0063]    The hollow output shaft  24   a  is disposed through the motor section A to the speed reducer section B for transmission of driving force from the motor section A to the input shaft  25  of the speed reducer section B. 
         [0064]    The input shaft  25  of the speed reducer section B has eccentric sections  25   a ,  25   b  within the speed reducer section B. The input shaft  25  is fitted into and fastened with the hollow output shaft  24   a  of the rotor  24  for integral rotation with the rotor  24 . The two eccentric sections  25   a ,  25   b  are disposed at a 180-degree phase difference so that their centrifugal forces due to their eccentric movement are cancelled each other. 
         [0065]    The speed reducer section B includes cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b  which serve as revolving members and are rotatably held by the eccentric sections  25   a ,  25   b ; a plurality of outer pins  27  which serve as outer circumferential engager for engagement with outer circumferential portions of the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b ; and a motion conversion mechanism which transmits rotational movement of the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b  to the output shaft  28 ; and counterweights  29  disposed adjacently to the eccentric sections  25   a ,  25   b . The speed reducer section B includes a speed reducer section lubrication mechanism which supplies lubrication oil to the speed reducer section B. 
         [0066]    The output shaft  28  includes a flange section  28   a  and a shaft section  28   b . The flange section  28   a  has its end surface formed with holes at an equidistant interval on a circle centered around a rotational center of the output shaft  28 , for fixing inner pins  31 . The shaft section  28   b  is fitted into and fixed to the hub ring  32 , and transmits the output from the speed reducer section B to the wheel  14 . 
         [0067]    As shown in  FIG. 9 , the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b  have a plurality of waveforms composed of trochoid curves such as epitrochoid curve, on their outer circumferences, and a plurality of through-holes  30   a  penetrating from one end surface to the other end surface. The through-holes  30   a  are made equidistantly on a circle centering on the rotational center of the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b , and accommodate inner pins  31  which will be described later. Also, a through-hole  30   b  penetrates the center of the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b , and fits around the eccentric sections  25   a ,  25   b.    
         [0068]    The cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b  are supported by rolling bearings  41  rotatably with respect to the eccentric sections  25   a ,  25   b . Each of the rolling bearings  41  is provided by a cylindrical roller bearing which includes an inner ring member fitted around an outer diameter surface of the eccentric section  25   a ,  25   b  and having an inner track surface on its outer diameter surface; an outer track surface formed directly on an inner diameter surface of the through-hole  30   b  of the cycloid disc  26   a ,  26   b ; a plurality of cylindrical rollers  44  disposed between the inner track surface and the outer track surface; and a retainer (not illustrated) which keeps the distance between the cylindrical rollers  44 . 
         [0069]    The outer pins  27  are disposed equidistantly on a circular track which centers around the rotational center of the motor-side rotation member  25 . As the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b  make their revolutions, the wavy curves and the outer pins  27  engage with each other and generate rotational movement of the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b.    
         [0070]    The counterweights  29  are disc-like, have a through-hole at a place away from its center for fitting around the motor-side rotation member  25 , and are disposed adjacently to the eccentric sections  25   a ,  25   b  respectively, at a 180-degree phase difference therefrom in order to cancel unbalanced inertia couple caused by the rotation of the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b.    
         [0071]    The motion conversion mechanism is constituted by a plurality of inner pins  31  held by the output shaft  28  and the through-holes  30   a  formed in the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b . The inner pins  31  are disposed equidistantly on a circular track centering around the rotational center of the wheel-side rotation member  28 , and has one of its axial end fixed to the wheel-side rotation member  28 . Also, in order to reduce frictional resistance with the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b , needle roller bearings are provided to make contact with inner wall surfaces of the through-holes  30   a  of the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b.    
         [0072]    The through-holes  30   a  are formed at locations corresponding to the respective inner pins  31 . Each of the through-holes  30   a  has an inner diameter which is larger, by a predetermined difference, than an outer diameter (a “maximum outer diameter including the needle bearing”, hereinafter the same will apply) of the inner pins  31 . 
         [0073]    The speed reducer section lubrication mechanism supplies lubrication oil to the speed reducer section B, and includes a lubrication oil path  25   c , a lubrication oil inlets  25   d , a lubrication oil exit  25   e , a lubrication oil reservoir  25   f , a rotary pump  51  and a circulation oil path  25   g.    
         [0074]    The lubrication oil path  25   c  extends axially inside the input shaft  25  of the speed reducer section B. The lubrication oil inlets  25   d  extend from the lubrication oil path  25   c  toward an outer diameter surface of the input shaft  25 . In the present embodiment, the lubrication oil supply inlet  25   d  is provided in each of the eccentric sections  25   a ,  25   b.    
         [0075]    Also, the lubrication oil exit  25   e  and the lubrication oil path  25   c  are connected with each other by the circulation oil path  25   g  inside the housing  22   a  of the motor section housing  22   a . The lubrication oil discharged from the lubrication oil exit  25   e  flows through the circulation oil path  25   g  and returns to the lubrication oil path  25   c.    
         [0076]    In the embodiments described above, a seal member  66  is disposed on an inner-diameter side along the circumferentially arranged fastening bolts for improved sealing between the anchoring flange  33   a  of the fixing ring  33  and the outboard-side end member  22   d  to prevent oil leakage from inside. 
         [0077]    The seal member  66  can be provided by an O-ring. 
         [0078]    Hereinafter, a working principle of the in-wheel motor driving device  21  will be described. 
         [0079]    In the motor section A, coils in the stator  23  is supplied with AC current for example, to generate an electromagnetic force, which in turn rotates the rotor  24  which is provided by a permanent magnet or a magnetic member. As the rotor  24  rotates, the input shaft  25  of the speed reducer section B connected thereto rotates, which then causes the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b  to make their revolution around the rotation center of the input shaft  25 . In this process, the outer pins  27  come into engagement with the curvy wave patterns of the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b  to cause the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b  to rotate in the opposite direction to the rotating direction of the input shaft  25 . 
         [0080]    As the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b  make their rotational movement, the inner pins  31  which are inserted into the through-holes  30   a  make contact with inner wall surfaces of the through-holes  30   a . In this movement, the revolving movements of the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b  are not transmitted to the inner pins  31  and only the rotational movements of the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b  are transmitted to the wheel hub bearing section C via the output shaft  28  of the speed reducer section B. 
         [0081]    In this process, the speed reducer section B reduces the speed of rotation of the input shaft  25  when the movement is transmitted to the output shaft  28 . Therefore, the arrangement allows the use of a low-torque high-rotation motor section A since the arrangement can transmits necessary torque to the driving wheel  14  even from such a type of motor section. 
         [0082]    It should be noted here that the speed reducer section B of the configuration described above has a speed reduction ratio which can be calculated as (ZA−ZB)/ZB, where ZA represents the number of the outer pins  27  whereas ZB represents the number of wave patterns in the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b .  FIG. 9  shows an embodiment with ZA=12 and ZB=11, which gives a very large speed reduction ratio of 1/11. 
         [0083]    As understood, an in-wheel motor driving device  21  which is compact and has a high speed-reduction ratio can be achieved by utilizing a speed reducer section B which can provide a large speed reduction ratio without requiring a multi-stage configuration. Also, use of needle bearings in the outer pins  27  and the inner pins  31  reduces frictional resistance of these members with the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b . This improves transmission efficiency in the speed reducer section B. 
         [0084]    By utilizing the in-wheel motor driving devices  21  according to the above embodiments in the electric vehicle  11 , it becomes possible to reduce an unsprung weight. As a result, it becomes possible to obtain an electric vehicle  11  which provides superior driving stability. 
         [0085]    In the embodiments described above, the lubrication oil supply inlet  25   d  is formed at the eccentric sections  25   a ,  25   b.    
         [0086]    The invention is not limited to this, however, and oil supply inlet may be formed at any place in the input shaft  25 . It should be noted, however, that in view of stable supply of the lubrication oil, it is desirable that the lubrication oil supply inlets  25   d  are located at the eccentric sections  25   a ,  25   b.    
         [0087]    Also, in the embodiments described above, the speed reducer section B has two cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b  which have a 180-degree phase difference from each other. However, the number of the cycloid discs may be any. For example, three cycloid discs may be used at a 120-degree phase difference. 
         [0088]    Further in the embodiments described above, the motion conversion mechanism is constituted by the inner pins  31  fixed to the output shaft  28  and the through-holes  30   a  provided at the cycloid discs  26   a ,  26   b . However, the present invention is not limited by this, and a motion conversion mechanism of whatsoever configuration may be employed as far as it can transmit the rotation of the speed reducer section B to the wheel hub  32 . For example, the motion conversion mechanism may be constituted by the inner pins fixed to the cycloid discs and holes in the wheel-side rotation member. 
         [0089]    It should be noted here that in the embodiments described above, working of components are described with their rotation in focus. Actually, however, a force which includes a torque is transmitted from the motor section A to the driving wheel. Therefore, the driving force provided as a result of speed reduction described above has a high torque. 
         [0090]    Also, in the above description of the embodiments, electric power was supplied to the motor section A to drive the motor section A, and the driving force from the motor section A was transmitted to the driving wheel  14 . There may be an additional, inverse arrangement for situations where the vehicle is decelerating or running down on a slope, to pick a force from the driving wheel  14  and convert it by the speed reducer section B into a high-speed low-torque rotation and transmit this rotation to the motor section A, so that the motor section A can serve as a power generator. Further, there may be an arrangement to store the power generated in this way in a battery for later use to drive the motor section A for example, or operate other electric components on board. 
         [0091]    In the above-described embodiments, the motor section A was provided by a radial gap motor. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any suitable motor may be employed. For example, an axial gap motor which includes a stator fixed to a housing, and a rotor which is disposed inside the stator and opposed thereto with an axial gap may be utilized. 
         [0092]    Also, in each of the embodiments described above, the speed reducer section B in the in-wheel motor driving device  21  is implemented by a cycloid reduction gear system. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and any speed reducing mechanism may be employed. Examples include planetary gear speed reducing mechanism and parallel axis gear speed reducing mechanism. 
         [0093]    Further, the electric vehicle  11  shown in  FIG. 7  has the rear wheels  14  serving as driving wheels. However, the present invention is not limited to this, and the front wheels  13  may serve as driving wheels or the vehicle may be a four-wheel drive vehicle. It should be noted here that in the present description, the term “electric vehicle” means any type of vehicle which is driven by electricity. For example, therefore, hybrid cars and similar vehicles should also be included in this category. 
         [0094]    Thus far, embodiments of the present invention have been described with reference to the drawings. However, the present invention is not limited to these illustrated embodiments. Any of these embodiments illustrated thus far may be modified or changed in many ways within the scope or within the equivalence of the present invention. 
       REFERENCE SIGNS LIST 
       [0000]    
       
           21  in-wheel motor driving device 
         A motor section 
         B speed reducer section 
         C wheel hub bearing section 
           22   a  housing of motor section A 
           22   b  housing of speed reducer section B 
           22   c  inboard-side end member 
           22   d  outboard-side end member 
           23  stator 
           24  rotor 
           24   a  output shaft 
           25  input shaft 
           25   a ,  25   b  eccentric section 
           26   a ,  26   b  cycloid disc 
           27  outer pin 
           28  output shaft 
           28   a  flange section 
           28   b  shaft section 
           29  counterweight 
           32  hub ring 
           32   a  hollow section 
           32   b  wheel mounting flange 
           32   d  nut 
           32   e  inner ring 
           32   f  outer ring 
           33  fixing ring 
           33   a  anchoring flange 
           61 ,  62 ,  63  bolt 
           64  bolt hole 
           65 ,  66  sealing member 
           71  drum brake 
           71   a  brake drum 
           71   b  back plate 
           72  disc brake 
           72   a  brake disc 
           72   b  calipers 
           72   c  mounting member