Electric drive axle gear train and method for manufacturing said gear train
AssigneeDana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
InventorEric M. Engerman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems for an electric drive axle of a vehicle are provided. A gear train in an electric drive axle system includes, in one example, an input shaft configured to rotationally couple to an electric motor-generator and including a first gear and an intermediate shaft including a second gear rotationally coupled to the first gear and a third gear and a fourth gear each configured to rotationally couple to a separate gear on an output shaft. In this example, the second gear, the third gear, and the fourth gear have different sizes, the third gear includes an axial extension having at outer surface, and an interior surface of the second gear circumferentially surrounds at least a portion of the outer surface of the axial extension.
Claims20
A multi-speed electric axle system, comprising:
- a second gear integrally formed with or mechanically attached to a portion of a body of a shaft and configured to mesh with a first gear;
- a third gear press-fit and/or in splined engagement with a section of the shaft in a different axial position from the second gear;
- and
- an inner surface of a fourth gear press-fit and/or in splined engagement with an axial extension of the third gear, wherein the fourth gear includes a toothed outer surface that is spaced away from the inner surface;
- wherein the third gear and the fourth gear mesh with a fifth gear and a sixth gear, respectively;
- and
- wherein at least one of the fifth gear and the sixth gear is coupled to a first clutch.
A multi-speed electric beam axle system comprising:
- a first shaft rotationally coupled to an electric motor and including a first gear that is integrally formed with or mechanically attached to a body of the first shaft;
- and
- a second shaft coaxially arranged with a second gear, a third gear, and a fourth gear;
- wherein the second gear meshes with the first gear;
- wherein one of the second gear, the third gear, and the fourth gear is integrally formed with the second shaft;
- wherein an inner surface in at least one of the second gear, the third gear, and the fourth gear is press-fit and/or in splined engagement with the second shaft;
- and
- wherein an inner surface in one of the second gear, the third gear, and the fourth gear is in splined engagement and/or press-fit with another one of the second gear, the third gear, and the fourth gear, and wherein the inner surface is spaced away from a toothed outer surface.
A multi-speed electric beam axle system comprising:
- a first shaft rotationally coupled to an electric motor and including a first gear that is integrally formed with or mechanically attached to a body of the first shaft;
- a second shaft coaxially arranged with a second gear, a third gear, and a fourth gear;
- and
- a pair of bearings coupled to axially opposing sides of the second shaft outboard from the second gear, the third gear, and the fourth gear;
- wherein the second gear meshes with the first gear;
- wherein one of the second gear, the third gear, and the fourth gear is integrally formed with the second shaft;
- wherein at least one of the second gear, the third gear, and the fourth gear is press-fit and/or in splined engagement with the second shaft;
- wherein one of the second gear, the third gear, and the fourth gear is in splined engagement and/or press-fit with another one of the second gear, the third gear, and the fourth gear;
- and
- wherein the second gear is positioned axially between the third gear and the fourth gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.