Multi-speed electric axle and electric axle shifting strategy
AssigneeDana Belgium N.V.
InventorsKurt Cattoor, Filip D. Schacht, Filip Van Raepenbusch
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Systems and methods for a multi-speed electric axle. The multi-speed electric axle includes an electric motor that is rotationally coupled to an input shaft. The multi-speed electric axle also includes a planetary gearset connected to the input shaft via an input gear reduction, a lower-speed clutch that selectively grounds a ring gear in the planetary gearset to a housing, and a higher-speed clutch that selectively connects a sun gear to a carrier.
Claims20
A multi-speed electric axle comprising:
- an electric motor rotationally coupled to an input shaft;
- a planetary gearset connected to the input shaft via an input gear reduction;
- a lower-speed clutch configured to selectively ground a gear in the planetary gearset;
- a higher-speed clutch configured to selectively connect a sun gear to a case of a differential;
- a housing enclosing the planetary gearset, the higher-speed clutch, and the lower-speed clutch;
- and
- a first actuation assembly configured to actuate the higher-speed clutch and positioned axially between a carrier in the planetary gearset and a first plate carrier that is included in the higher-speed clutch;
- wherein the first plate carrier is coupled directly to the case.
A method for operation of a multi-speed electric axle, comprising:
- powershifting between a higher gear and a lower gear via operation of a higher-speed clutch and a lower-speed clutch in the multi-speed electric axle;
- wherein the multi-speed electric axle comprises:
- an electric motor rotationally coupled to an input shaft;
- a planetary gearset connected to the input shaft via an input gear reduction;
- the lower-speed clutch configured to selectively ground a ring gear in the planetary gearset;
- the higher-speed clutch configured to selectively connect a sun gear to a case of a differential;
- a housing enclosing the planetary gearset, the higher-speed clutch, and the lower-speed clutch;
- and
- a first actuation assembly configured to actuate the higher-speed clutch and positioned axially between a carrier in the planetary gearset and a first plate carrier that is included in the higher-speed clutch;
- wherein the higher-speed clutch includes a plate carrier directly coupled to the case.
A multi-speed electric axle comprising:
- an electric motor rotationally coupled to an input shaft;
- a planetary gearset connected to the input shaft via an input gear reduction;
- a lower-speed friction clutch configured to selectively ground a gear in the planetary gearset to a housing;
- a higher-speed friction clutch configured to selectively connect a sun gear to a case of a differential;
- the housing which encloses the planetary gearset, the higher-speed friction clutch, and the lower-speed friction clutch;
- and
- a first actuation assembly configured to actuate the higher-speed friction clutch and positioned axially between a carrier in the planetary gearset and a first plate carrier that is included in the higher-speed friction clutch;
- wherein the higher-speed friction clutch includes:
- an outer plate carrier coupled directly to the case;
- and
- an inner plate carrier directly coupled to the sun gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.