# US 11,993,166 B2 · Inverter module integratably mountable with drive unit of vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,993,166 B2 - Document ID: US11993166B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/244,288 - Filed: 2021-04-29 - Published: 2022-11-03 - Granted: 2024-05-28 - Earliest claimed: 2021-04-29 - Assignees: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC - Applicants: Rivian IP Holdings, LLC - Inventors: Young Doo; Silva Hiti; Juan Lopez - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11993166B2 ## CPC - B60K 1/00: Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) - B60L 53/20: characterised by converters located in the vehicle - B60K 1/02: comprising more than one electric motor - B60K 1/04: of the electric storage means for propulsion - F16H 57/029: characterised by means for sealing the gearboxes, e.g. to improve airtightness - B60K 17/354: having separate mechanical assemblies for transmitting drive to the front or to the rear wheels or set of wheels - B60K 17/356: having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels - B60K 2001/001: {one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle} - B60K 2001/0438: {Arrangement under the floor} - B60Y 2200/141: Light trucks - B60Y 2400/61: Arrangements of controllers for electric machines, e.g. inverters - B60Y 2410/10: Housings - F16H 2057/02034: {Gearboxes combined or connected with electric machines} - F16H 2057/02052: {Axle units; Transfer casings for four wheel drive} - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - F16H: GEARING - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative inverter modules that are integratably mountable with a drive unit of a vehicle, illustrative drive units with an inverter module integratably mounted therewith, and illustrative vehicles with at least one drive unit with an inverter module integratably mounted therewith. Given by way of non-limiting example, an illustrative module for a drive unit of a vehicle includes a housing having an open face defined therein. Inverter circuitry is disposed in the housing. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A drive unit for a vehicle, the drive unit comprising: a frame; a first drive member configured to rotate a first propulsion device; a first plurality of gears disposed within the frame and configured to rotatably engage the first drive member; a first electric motor configured to rotatably engage the first plurality of gears; and an inverter module integratably mountable with the frame, the inverter module including: a housing having an open face defined therein and mounted with the frame by a plurality of fasteners, wherein the open face is the top face of the housing and the top face is mounted to the frame with the housing inverted; and inverter circuitry disposed in and mounted to the housing through the open face, wherein the inverter circuitry is mounted with the frame via the housing and the housing utilizes no lid or cover when inverted and mounted to the frame. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The drive unit of claim 1, further comprising: a second drive member configured to rotate a second propulsion device; a second plurality of gears disposed within the frame and configured to rotatably engage the second drive member; and a second electric motor configured to rotatably engage the second plurality of gears. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The drive unit of claim 1, wherein: the frame defines a first sealing surface; and the housing defines a second sealing surface configured to sealably engage the first sealing surface. ### Claim 4 (depends on 3) The drive unit of claim 3, wherein the first and second sealing surfaces each include a gasket. ### Claim 5 (depends on 3) The drive unit of claim 3, wherein the open face is defined interior the first sealing surface. ### Claim 6 (depends on 3) The drive unit of claim 3, wherein: the first sealing surface defines a first plurality of holes therein; and the second sealing surface defines a second plurality of holes therein that are alignable with the first plurality of holes.