Patent ID: 6896080

Claim:
A driving apparatus comprising: an electric motor; an electric motor shaft connected to the electric motor and supported by first and second shaft support means; a first counter drive gear comprising a helical gear provided on the electric motor shaft between the first and second shaft support means; a first counter driven gear to be meshed with the first counter drive gear, in which an output of the electric motor is transmitted to wheels through the first counter drive gear and the first counter driven gear, wherein the first counter drive gear is disposed at a position closer to one of the first and second shaft support means, and a helix angle of the first counter drive gear is set in a direction in which a thrust force acts toward the other shaft support means; an engine; an output shaft drivably connected to the engine and supported by third and fourth shaft support means; a second counter drive gear comprising a helical gear provided on the output shaft outside with respect to the third and fourth shaft support means; a second counter driven gear to be meshed with the second counter drive gear; a system for transmitting output of the engine to the wheels through the second counter drive gear and the second counter driven gear, wherein a helix angle of the second counter drive gear is set in a direction in which a thrust force acts toward the third and fourth shaft support means; and a planetary gear set which is disposed between the engine and the second counter drive gear in terms of power transmission and comprises a combination of helical gears, one element of the planetary gear set rotating integrally with the output shaft, wherein helix angles of the one element of the planetary gear set and the second counter drive gear are set in directions to cancel thrust forces with each other.