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US 12,584,549 B2Granted
Electric axle
AssigneeDana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
InventorsWilliam F. Waltz, Jeffrey M. David
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
Methods and systems are provided for an electric axle. The electric axle system includes, in one example, a first electric machine and a planetary reduction differential configured to receive mechanical power from the first electric machine. The planetary reduction differential includes a first planetary gear set directly rotationally coupled to a second planetary gear set. In the electric axle system, a sun gear in the first planetary gear set is directly coupled to an input shaft of the planetary reduction differential.
Claims15
An electric axle system, comprising:
- a first electric machine;
- a planetary reduction differential configured to receive mechanical power from the first electric machine;
- a Ravigneaux three-speed mode planetary gear set rotationally coupled and positioned coaxial to the planetary reduction differential;
- and
- a mode clutch configured to:
- ground a carrier or a ring gear in the Ravigneaux three-speed mode planetary gear set, in a first mode;
- ground a second sun gear in the Ravigneaux three-speed mode planetary gear set, in a second mode;
- and
- rotationally couple the carrier or the ring gear to the second sun gear in the Ravigneaux three-speed mode planetary gear set, in a third mode;
- wherein a first sun gear in the Ravigneaux three-speed mode planetary gear set is rotationally coupled to the first electric machine;
- wherein the planetary reduction differential includes a first planetary gear set directly rotationally coupled to a second planetary gear set;
- wherein a sun gear in the first planetary gear set is directly coupled to an input shaft of the planetary reduction differential;
- and
- wherein a carrier in the first planetary gear set is directly coupled to an output shaft.
11 more elements
A method for operation of an electric axle, comprising:
- operating a first electric machine to deliver mechanical power to a planetary reduction differential;
- and
- operating a mode clutch in a Ravigneaux three-speed mode planetary gear set that is rotationally coupled to the planetary reduction differential to shift the Ravigneaux three-speed mode planetary gear set between two operating modes included in a set of three operating modes;
- wherein the electric axle includes:
- the first electric machine;
- and
- the planetary reduction differential that is configured to receive mechanical power from the first electric machine;
- wherein the planetary reduction differential comprises a first planetary gear set directly rotationally coupled to a second planetary gear set;
- wherein a sun gear in the first planetary gear set is directly coupled to an input shaft of the planetary reduction differential;
- and
- wherein a carrier in the first planetary gear set is directly coupled to an output shaft.
8 more elements
An electric axle, comprising:
- an electric machine;
- a planetary reduction differential configured to receive mechanical power from the electric machine;
- a Ravigneaux three-speed mode planetary gear set rotationally coupled and positioned coaxial to the planetary reduction differential;
- and
- a mode clutch configured to selectively transition the Ravigneaux three-speed mode planetary gear set between two of three modes;
- wherein the mode clutch is configured to:
- in a first mode, ground a carrier or a ring gear in the Ravigneaux three-speed mode planetary gear set;
- in a second mode, ground a second sun gear in the Ravigneaux three-speed mode planetary gear set;
- and
- in a third mode, rotationally couple the carrier or the ring gear to the second sun gear in the Ravigneaux three-speed mode planetary gear set;
- wherein the planetary reduction differential includes a first planetary gear set directly rotationally coupled to a second planetary gear set;
- wherein a sun gear in the first planetary gear set is directly coupled to an input shaft of the planetary reduction differential;
- wherein a carrier in the first planetary gear set is directly coupled to an output shaft;
- wherein a ring gear in the second planetary gear set is directly coupled to an output shaft;
- wherein a ring gear in the first planetary gear set is directly rotationally coupled to a sun gear in the second planetary gear set;
- and
- wherein a carrier in the second planetary gear set is grounded.
14 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.