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US 12,485,748 B2Granted
Electric drive unit with parking gear assembly and operating method
AssigneeDana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
InventorsGowrisankar Devaraj, Cody Ott
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Systems and methods for an electric drive unit. The electric drive unit includes, in one example, a first electric machine rotationally coupled to a first drive wheel via a first gear train and a second electric machine rotationally coupled to a second drive wheel via a second gear train. The electric drive unit further includes a disconnect clutch that is configured to selectively rotationally couple the first electric machine and the second electric machine and a park lock assembly that is coupled to one of the first gear train and the second gear train and is configured to inhibit rotation of the corresponding gear train.
Claims20
An electric drive unit, comprising:
- a first electric machine rotationally coupled to a first drive wheel via a first single speed gear train;
- a second electric machine rotationally coupled to a second drive wheel via a second single speed gear train;
- a disconnect clutch configured to:
- in an engaged configuration, rotationally couple the first electric machine and the second electric machine;
- and
- in a disengaged configuration, rotationally decouple the first electric machine and the second electric machine;
- and
- a park lock assembly coupled to one of the first single speed gear train and the second single speed gear train and configured to inhibit rotation of the corresponding single speed gear train;
- wherein the park lock assembly include a park gear that is coupled to a rotor shaft extension of the first electric machine;
- wherein the disconnect clutch is positioned on inboard axial sides of the first and second electric machines;
- and
- wherein the first and second single speed gear trains are positioned on outboard axial sides of the first electric machine and the second electric machine, respectively.
9 more elements
A method for operation of an electric drive unit, comprising:
- engaging a disconnect clutch and a park lock assembly at an overlapping time interval;
- wherein the electric drive unit comprises:
- a first electric machine rotationally coupled to a first drive wheel via a first single speed gear train;
- a second electric machine rotationally coupled to a second drive wheel via a second single speed gear train;
- the disconnect clutch that is configured to in the engaged configuration, rotationally couple the first electric machine and the second electric machine;
- and
- the park lock assembly coupled to one of the first single speed gear train and the second single speed gear train and configured to inhibit rotation of the corresponding single speed gear train;
- wherein the park lock assembly include a park gear that is coupled to a rotor shaft extension of the first electric machine;
- wherein the disconnect clutch is positioned on inboard axial sides of the first and second electric machines;
- and
- wherein the first and second single speed gear trains are positioned on outboard axial sides of the first electric machine and the second electric machine, respectively.
8 more elements
An electric axle, comprising:
- a first traction motor rotationally coupled to a first drive wheel via a first single speed gear train;
- a second traction motor rotationally coupled to a second drive wheel via a second single speed gear train;
- a disconnect clutch configured to:
- in an engaged configuration, rotationally couple the first traction motor and the second traction motor;
- and
- in a disengaged configuration, rotationally decouple the first traction motor and the second traction motor;
- a park lock assembly including parking gear that is included in one of the first single speed gear train and the second single speed gear train and configured to inhibit rotation of the corresponding single speed gear train;
- and
- a controller including instructions that when executed, during a null speed condition, cause the controller to:
- engage the disconnect clutch;
- and
- engage the park lock assembly;
- wherein the park lock assembly include a park gear that is coupled to a rotor shaft extension of the first electric machine;
- wherein the disconnect clutch is positioned on inboard axial sides of the first and second electric machines;
- and
- wherein the first and second single speed gear trains are positioned on outboard axial sides of the first electric machine and the second electric machine, respectively.
13 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.