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US 10,703,201 B2Granted
Modular motor gearbox unit and drive system
AssigneeNIO USA, Inc.
InventorDimitri Bassis
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular gearbox unit and drive system are provided. The modular gearbox unit and drive system may be part of a vehicle platform having multiple drivetrain mount areas including identical mount features disposed at each mount area. Each drivetrain mount area can receive a modular single-motor drive unit or a modular multiple-motor drive unit using the same mount or bolt pattern and features. These modular single-motor and multiple-motor drive units have a common bolt pattern and mating features that correspond to the mount features of the vehicle platform and/or vehicle frame. The modular gearbox unit and drive system allows a vehicle powertrain to be reconfigured, during or after assembly, quickly and easily using the same mount points.
Claims20
A modular drivetrain platform for an electric vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle frame having a first end portion and a second end portion arranged opposite the first end portion, the vehicle frame comprising:
- at least one mount surface extending from the first end portion of the vehicle frame to the second end portion of the vehicle frame;
- a first modular drive unit mount set including first mount features spaced apart from one another in a first mount pattern having a first size and shape, the first modular drive unit mount set disposed in the at least one mount surface offset a first distance from the first end portion of the vehicle frame;
- and
- a second modular drive unit mount set including second mount features spaced apart from one another in a second mount pattern having the first size and shape, such that the first mount pattern and first mount features match the second mount pattern and second mount features, respectively, the second modular drive unit mount set being disposed in the at least one mount surface offset a second distance from the second end portion of the vehicle frame;
- wherein the first mount features and the second mount features are each configured to interchangeably engage with and retain a single-motor drive unit and a multiple-motor drive unit in a mounted position to the at least one mount surface via drive unit mount features formed from a portion of a motor of the single-motor drive unit and drive unit mount features formed from a portion of at least one motor of the multiple-motor drive unit, both drive unit mount features having a drive unit mount pattern having the first size and shape and matching the first mount pattern, and wherein, in the mounted position, at least one of the single-motor drive unit and the multiple-motor drive unit is disposed between the first end portion of the vehicle frame and the second end portion of the vehicle frame.
3 more elements
A vehicle frame for an electric vehicle having a front portion and a rear portion opposite the front portion, the vehicle frame comprising:
- at least one mount surface extending from the front portion of the vehicle frame to the rear portion of the vehicle frame;
- a front-wheel drive unit mount disposed in the at least one mount surface offset a first distance from the front portion of the vehicle frame, wherein the front-wheel drive unit mount includes first frame bolt features arranged in a frame bolt pattern that align with first motor bolt features arranged in a drive unit bolt pattern and formed in a portion of at least one motor of a front-wheel drive unit;
- and
- a rear-wheel drive unit mount disposed in the at least one mount surface offset a second distance from the rear portion of the vehicle frame, wherein the rear-wheel drive unit mount includes second frame bolt features arranged in the frame bolt pattern that align with second bolt features arranged in the drive unit bolt pattern and formed in a portion of at least one motor of a rear-wheel drive unit;
- wherein the first motor bolt features are identical to the second motor bolt features, wherein the drive unit bolt pattern is identical for both a selected type of drive unit comprising a single-motor drive unit and a multiple-motor drive unit for each of the front-wheel drive unit and the rear-wheel drive unit, wherein the portion of the at least on motor of the front-wheel drive unit mounts to the vehicle frame by bolts engaged in the first frame bolt features and corresponding aligned first motor bolt features, wherein the portion of the at least one motor of the rear-wheel drive unit mounts to the vehicle frame by bolts engaged in the second frame bolt features and corresponding aligned second motor bolt features regardless of the selected type of drive unit, and wherein, in the mounted position, at least one of the single-motor drive unit and the multiple-motor drive unit is disposed between the front portion of the vehicle frame and the rear portion of the vehicle frame.
2 more elements
A vehicle frame for an electric vehicle having a front portion and a rear portion opposite the front portion, the vehicle frame comprising:
- a front-wheel drive unit mount disposed adjacent to the front portion of the vehicle frame, wherein the front-wheel drive unit mount includes a frame bolt pattern configured to engage with a drive unit bolt pattern of a front-wheel drive unit;
- and
- a rear-wheel drive unit mount disposed adjacent to the rear portion of the vehicle frame, wherein the rear-wheel drive unit mount includes the frame bolt pattern configured to engage with a drive unit bolt pattern of a rear-wheel drive unit;
- wherein the frame bolt pattern disposed adjacent to the front portion of the vehicle frame is the same as the frame bolt pattern disposed adjacent to the rear portion of the vehicle frame, and wherein each frame bolt pattern is configured to interchangeably engage with and retain a selected single-motor drive unit and a multiple-motor drive unit by utilizing all receiving features in the frame bolt pattern regardless of the selected drive unit, wherein the single-motor drive unit and the multiple-motor drive unit each include a drive unit bolt pattern that matches the frame bolt pattern, wherein the frame bolt pattern and the drive unit bolt pattern each include four bolt location features, and wherein two of the four bolt location features are disposed on one side of a vehicle drive shaft axis and another two of the four bolt location features are symmetrically disposed on an opposite side of the vehicle drive shaft axis.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.