Electric drive unit and method for drive unit operation
AssigneeDana Belgium N.V.
InventorsKurt Cattoor, Filip D. Schacht
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for an electric drive unit. The electric drive unit, in one example, includes a first motor and a second motor arranged parallel to each other and rotationally coupled to a first input gear that is fixedly coupled to a first transmission shaft and a first clutch arranged coaxial to a second clutch. The drive unit further includes a second transmission shaft with an output gear rotationally coupled thereto and including a first and second mechanical interface configured to rotationally couple to a first drive axle and a second drive axle, where the output gear meshes with a gear that is directly rotationally coupled to a carrier in a planetary gear set.
Claims15
A multi-speed electric drive unit, comprising:
- a first electric motor and a second electric motor arranged parallel to each other and rotationally coupled to a first input gear that is fixedly coupled to a first transmission shaft;
- a first clutch arranged coaxial to a second clutch;
- wherein the first clutch selectively rotationally couples a carrier of a planetary gear set to the first transmission shaft;
- wherein the second clutch selectively brakes a ring gear of the planetary gear set;
- and
- a second transmission shaft with an output gear rotationally coupled thereto and including a first mechanical interface and a second mechanical interface that are configured to rotationally couple to a first drive axle assembly and a second drive axle assembly;
- and
- a third electric motor rotationally coupled to a second input gear that is fixedly coupled to the first transmission shaft;
- wherein the output gear meshes with a gear that is directly rotationally coupled to the carrier.
A method for operation of an electric drive unit, comprising:
- powershifting between a lower speed mode and a higher speed mode via engagement of a first friction clutch and disengagement of a second friction clutch or vice versa;
- wherein the electric drive unit includes:
- a first traction motor and a second traction motor arranged parallel to each other and rotationally coupled to a first input gear that is fixedly coupled to a first transmission shaft;
- the first friction clutch which is arranged coaxial to the second friction clutch;
- and
- a second transmission shaft with an output gear rotationally coupled thereto and including a first mechanical interface and second mechanical interface configured to rotationally couple to a first drive axle assembly and a second drive axle assembly;
- and
- includes a third traction motor rotationally coupled to a second input gear that is fixedly coupled to the first transmission shaft;
- wherein the output gear meshes with a gear that is directly rotationally coupled to a carrier of a planetary gear set;
- and
- concurrently operating the first, second, and third traction motors during the powershift between the lower speed mode and the higher speed mode.
A two-speed electric drive unit, comprising:
- a first traction motor and a second traction motor arranged parallel to each other and each rotationally coupled to a first input gear fixedly coupled to a first transmission shaft;
- and
- an electric transmission including:
- a first friction clutch arranged coaxial to a second friction clutch;
- wherein the first friction clutch selectively rotationally couples a carrier of a planetary gear set to the first transmission shaft;
- wherein the second friction clutch selectively brakes a ring gear of the planetary gear set;
- and
- a second transmission shaft with an output gear rotationally coupled thereto and including a first and second mechanical interface configured to rotationally couple to a first drive axle assembly and a second drive axle assembly, respectively;
- and
- a third traction motor rotationally coupled to a second input gear that is fixedly coupled to the first transmission shaft;
- wherein the output gear is positioned axially between the first input gear and the first and second friction clutches;
- wherein the first input gear and the second input gear are positioned on opposing ends of the first transmission shaft;
- and
- wherein the output gear meshes with a gear that is directly rotationally coupled to the carrier.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.