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US 12,276,335 B2Granted
Lubrication for an electric drive arrangement for a vehicle
AssigneeGKN Automotive AG
InventorsTheodor Gassmann, John Foulsham, Daniel Beeby
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An electric drive arrangement for a vehicle includes a housing. The electric drive arrangement includes an electric machine with a stator connected to the housing and a rotor with a rotor shaft rotatably supported in the housing. The electric drive arrangement includes a transmission to transmit a rotary movement from the rotor shaft to drive a driveline of the vehicle. The electric drive arrangement includes a hydraulic circuit for circulating a fluid to cool and lubricate the electric machine and the transmission.
Claims16
An electric drive arrangement for a vehicle, the electric drive arrangement comprising:
- a housing;
- an electric machine with a stator connected to the housing and a rotor with a rotor shaft rotatably supported in the housing;
- a transmission to transmit a rotary movement from the rotor shaft to drive a driveline of the vehicle;
- and
- a hydraulic circuit for circulating a fluid to cool and lubricate the electric machine and the transmission, the hydraulic circuit comprising a bi-directional pump which on a suction side is hydraulically connected to an oil sump of the housing, a pump-actuated switch valve hydraulically connected to the bi-directional pump, a first hydraulic path connecting the switch valve with cooling nozzles of the electric machine, a second hydraulic path connecting the switch valve with a portion of the transmission, and a heat exchanger for cooling the fluid pumped by the bi-directional pump through the switch valve;
- wherein, operation of the bi-directional pump in a first direction of rotation transfers the switch valve into a first position in which fluid is pumped through the heat exchanger to the first hydraulic path for cooling the electric machine, and, operation of the bi-directional pump in a second direction of rotation transfers the switch valve into a second position in which fluid is pumped through the heat exchanger to the second hydraulic path for cooling and/or lubricating the transmission.
3 more elements
An electric drive arrangement for a vehicle, the electric drive arrangement comprising:
- a housing;
- an electric machine with a stator connected to the housing and a rotor with a rotor shaft rotatably supported in the housing;
- a transmission to transmit a rotary movement from the rotor shaft to drive a driveline of the vehicle;
- and
- a hydraulic circuit for circulating a fluid to cool and lubricate the electric machine and the transmission, the hydraulic circuit comprising a bi-directional pump which on a suction side is hydraulically connected to an oil sump of the housing, a pump-actuated switch valve hydraulically connected to the bi-directional pump, a first hydraulic path connecting the switch valve with cooling nozzles of the electric machine, a second hydraulic path connecting the switch valve with a portion of the transmission, and a heat exchanger for cooling the fluid pumped by the bi-directional pump through the switch valve;
- wherein, operation of the bi-directional pump in a first direction of rotation transfers the switch valve into a first position in which fluid is pumped through the heat exchanger to the first hydraulic path for cooling the electric machine, and operation of the bi-directional pump in a second direction of rotation transfers the switch valve into a second position in which fluid is pumped through the heat exchanger to the second hydraulic path for cooling and/or lubricating the transmission;
- and
- wherein the switch valve has a first inlet connected to a first pressure side of the bi-directional pump and a second inlet connected to a second pressure side of the bi-directional pump.
5 more elements
An electric drive arrangement for a vehicle, the electric drive arrangement comprising:
- a housing;
- an electric machine with a stator connected to the housing and a rotor with a rotor shaft rotatably supported in the housing;
- a transmission to transmit a rotary movement from the rotor shaft to drive a driveline of the vehicle;
- and
- a hydraulic circuit for circulating a fluid to cool and lubricate the electric machine and the transmission, the hydraulic circuit comprising a bi-directional pump which on a suction side is hydraulically connected to an oil sump of the housing, a pump-actuated switch valve hydraulically connected to the bi-directional pump, a first hydraulic path connecting the switch valve with cooling nozzles of the electric machine, a second hydraulic path connecting the switch valve with a portion of the transmission, and a heat exchanger for cooling the fluid pumped by the bi-directional pump through the switch valve;
- wherein, operation of the bi-directional pump in a first direction of rotation transfers the switch valve into a first position in which fluid is pumped through the heat exchanger to the first hydraulic path for cooling the electric machine, and, when the bi-directional pump is operated in a second direction of rotation, the switch valve is transferred into a second position in which fluid is pumped through the heat exchanger to the second hydraulic path for cooling and/or lubricating the transmission;
- and
- wherein the second hydraulic path comprises a branch conduit connected to an inner diameter of the driveshaft.
5 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.