Propulsion arrangement for self-powered dolly vehicle units
AssigneeVolvo Truck Corporation
InventorsJesper Blomstrand, Leo Laine
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A propulsion arrangement for a self-powered dolly vehicle unit, the propulsion arrangement comprising a first electric machine, a second electric machine, a gearbox, and an open differential for driving first and second wheels of a driven axle, wherein the first and second electric machines are arranged in parallel and connected to the open differential via the gearbox at respective gear ratios.
Claims13
A propulsion arrangement for a self-powered dolly vehicle unit, the propulsion arrangement comprising a first electric machine, a second electric machine, a gearbox, and an open differential for driving first and second wheels of a driven axle, wherein the first and second electric machines are arranged in parallel and connected to the open differential via the gearbox at respective gear ratios, wherein the first electric machine is associated with a fixed gear ratio, and the second electric machine is associated with a configurable gear ratio, wherein
- the propulsion arrangement further comprises a control unit arranged to determine if the dolly vehicle unit is in a low speed range of operation or in a high speed range of operation, configured to set the configurable gear ratio of the second electric machine in dependence of the low or high speed range of operation and configured to driving the wheels of the self-powered dolly vehicle unit by the motors, wherein a low speed range of operation entails a wheel rotational speed of less than 1000 rpm and a high speed range of operation entails a wheel rotational speed of more than 1000 rpm.
A method for operating a self-powered dolly vehicle unit, the method comprising configuring a propulsion arrangement for the self-powered dolly vehicle unit comprising a first electric machine, a second electric machine, a gearbox, and an open differential for driving first and second wheels of a driven axle, wherein the first and second electric machines are arranged in parallel and connected to the open differential via the gearbox at respective gear ratios, wherein the first electric machine is associated with a fixed gear ratio and wherein the second electric machine is associated with a configurable gear ratio, the method further comprising determining if the dolly vehicle unit is in a low speed range of operation or in a high speed range of operation, and setting the configurable gear ratio of the second electric machine in dependence of the low or high speed range of operation, driving the wheels of the self-powered dolly vehicle unit by the motors, wherein a low speed range of operation entails a wheel rotational speed of less than 1000 rpm and a high speed range of operation entails a wheel rotational speed of more than 1000 rpm.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.