# US 12,214,650 B2 · Systems for drive axle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,214,650 B2 - Document ID: US12214650B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/652,851 - Filed: 2022-02-28 - Published: 2022-09-08 - Granted: 2025-02-04 - Earliest claimed: 2021-03-05 - Assignees: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC - Applicants: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC - Inventors: Marcio Massari; Cassio Leme; Bruno Marocchio; Vinicius Ventura; Paula Nomura Watanabe - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12214650B2 ## 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) - B60K 17/046: {with planetary gearing having orbital motion} - B60K 17/16: of differential gearing - B60K 17/165: {provided between independent half axles (B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence)} - 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} - B60Y 2400/73: Planetary gearings - B60Y 2410/10: Housings - F16H 48/38: Constructional details (the outer casing comprising the differential and supporting input and output shafts F16H57/037) - 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 - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - F16H: GEARING ## Abstract Methods and systems are provided for an electric drive axle. In one example, a tube is pressed into a portion of a differential housing, wherein a mount, a reinforcement ring, a wheel hub assembly, and a brake housing are physically coupled to the tube. The tube defines an axle path of an electric drive axle from an electric motor to a wheel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A system, comprising: a first tube pressed into a first portion of a differential housing on a first side of an electric motor, wherein a mount, a first reinforcement ring, a wheel hub assembly, and a brake housing are physically coupled to the first tube, and wherein the first reinforcement ring is physically coupled to the first portion via a plurality of fasteners; and a second tube pressed into a second portion of the differential housing on a second side of the electric motor, the second side opposite the first side, wherein a second reinforcement ring is physically coupled to the second tube; wherein a first drive axle portion extends through the first tube and a second drive axle portion extends through the second tube, and wherein the second drive axle portion is different than the first drive axle portion; and wherein the first drive axle portion is coupled to a concentric axle adjacent to a first planetary gear set arranged in the first portion of the differential housing, and wherein the first reinforcement ring and the second reinforcement ring comprise respective dampeners. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the second drive axle portion is coupled to the concentric axle adjacent to a second planetary gear set arranged in the second portion of the differential housing. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The system of claim 2, wherein the electric motor is centrally located between a first wheel hub assembly and a second wheel hub assembly and coupled to the differential housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein the first tube and the second tube are different in length. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system of claim 1, wherein an electric drive axle comprising the first drive axle portion and the second drive axle portion is concentric with the first tube and the second tube about a central axis. ### Claim 6 A system for an electric drive axle, comprising: a differential housing comprising a first portion arranged on a first side of an electric motor and a second portion arranged on a second side of the electric motor, the second side opposite the first side; a first planetary gear set arranged in the first portion and a second planetary gear set arranged in the second portion; a first tube pressed into the first portion of the differential housing and supported by a first reinforcement ring physically coupled to the first portion, wherein the first reinforcement ring comprises a first section distal to the first portion of the differential housing having a first diameter and a second section proximal to the first portion of the differential housing having a second diameter, the second diameter equal to a diameter of the first portion of the differential housing and larger than the first diameter; and a second tube pressed into the second portion of the differential housing and supported by a second reinforcement ring physically coupled to the first portion; wherein the first tube and the second tube are concentric with the electric drive axle relative to a central axis and comprise a first drive axle portion extending through the first tube and coupled to a concentric axle at the first planetary gear set, and wherein a second drive axle portion extends through the second tube and is coupled to the concentric axle at the second planetary gear set. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the first tube is physically coupled to a first mount, a first reinforcement ring, a first wheel hub assembly, and a first brake housing, and wherein the second tube is physically coupled to a second mount, a second reinforcement ring, a second wheel hub assembly, and a second brake housing. ### Claim 8 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the first drive axle portion extends from the first planetary gear set to a first wheel rotor, the first drive axle portion being concentric with the first tube about the central axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 8) The system of claim 8, where the second drive axle portion extends from the second planetary gear set to a second wheel rotor, the second drive axle portion being concentric with the second tube about the central axis. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The system of claim 9, wherein the first drive axle portion and the second drive axle portion are linked directly to the first and second planetary gear sets and coupled to a concentric axle arranged in the electric motor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the differential housing is die cast. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the first portion of the differential housing is larger than the second portion of the differential housing. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the differential housing are separated by the electric motor and do not touch. ### Claim 14 (depends on 6) The system of claim 6, wherein the first tube and the second tube are fixed and do not rotate, and wherein the first tube and the second tube comprise mounts configured to physically couple to an underside of a vehicle. ### Claim 15 A system, comprising: a differential housing comprising a first portion arranged on a first side of an electric motor and a second portion arranged on a second side of the electric motor; a first planetary gear set arranged in the first portion and a second planetary gear set arranged in the second portion; a first tube pressed into the first portion of the differential housing and physically coupled to a first mount, a first reinforcement ring, a first wheel hub assembly, and a first brake housing, wherein the first reinforcement ring comprises a first section having a first diameter and a second section having a second diameter, the second diameter larger than the first diameter, wherein the second section of the first reinforcement ring is physically coupled to the first portion via a plurality of fasteners, and wherein the first section of the first reinforcement ring includes a bracket and a dampener; and a second tube pressed into the second portion of the differential housing and physically coupled to a second mount, a second reinforcement ring, a second wheel hub assembly, and a second brake housing, wherein the second reinforcement ring is physically coupled to the second portion via a bracket; wherein the first tube and the second tube are concentric with the electric drive axle relative to a central axis and comprise a first drive axle portion extending through the first tube and coupled to a concentric axle at the first planetary gear set, and wherein a second drive axle portion extends through the second tube and is coupled to the concentric axle at the second planetary gear set. ### Claim 16 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the first drive axle portion extends from the first planetary gear set to the first wheel hub assembly, the first drive axle portion being concentric with the first tube about the central axis. ### Claim 17 (depends on 16) The system of claim 16, wherein the second drive axle portion extends from the second planetary gear set to the second wheel hub assembly, the second drive axle portion being concentric with the second tube about the central axis. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The system of claim 17, wherein the first drive axle portion and the second drive axle portion are linked directly to the first and second planetary gear sets. ### Claim 19 (depends on 15) The system of claim 15, wherein the first tube and the second tube are different in length.