Multi-speed electric axle with coaxial architecture
AssigneeDana Automotive Systems Group, LLC
InventorsTrent Windom, Eric M. Engerman
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A system and method for a multi-speed electric axle. The multi-speed electric axle includes, in one example, an electric machine rotationally coupled to sun gear in a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set rotationally coupled to a carrier in the first planetary gear set, a third planetary gear set rotationally coupled to the second planetary gear set, and a differential rotationally coupled to the third planetary gear set. In the multi-speed electric axle, the electric machine, the first planetary gear set, the second planetary gear set, the third planetary gear set, and the differential are coaxially arranged.
Claims14
A multi-speed electric axle assembly comprising:
- an electric machine rotationally coupled to a sun gear in a first simple planetary gear set;
- a compound planetary gear set rotationally coupled to a carrier in the first simple planetary gear set;
- a second simple planetary gear set including a sun gear that is rotationally coupled to a ring gear in the compound planetary gear set;
- a differential rotationally coupled to the second simple planetary gear set;
- and
- a clutch configured to:
- selectively lock for rotation a sun gear and a carrier in the compound planetary gear set in a higher range position of a higher range mode, wherein in the higher range mode the sun gear and the carrier in the compound planetary gear set rotate;
- and
- ground the carrier in the compound planetary gear set in a lower range position of a lower range mode, wherein in the lower range mode the multi-speed electric axle assembly achieves a three stage gear reduction;
- wherein an input and an output of the compound planetary gear set have a similar rotational direction;
- wherein the electric machine, the first simple planetary gear set, the compound planetary gear set, the second simple planetary gear set, and the differential are coaxially arranged;
- wherein the compound planetary gear set includes:
- a first set of planet gears that mesh with a sun gear and does not mesh with a ring gear;
- and
- a second set of planet gears that mesh with the ring gear and does not mesh with the sun gear;
- and
- wherein the differential is a planetary differential with a ring gear that is coupled to a carrier in the second simple planetary gear set.
A multi-speed electric beam axle, comprising:
- a traction motor rotationally coupled to a sun gear in a first simple planetary gear set;
- a compound planetary gear set rotationally coupled to a carrier in the first planetary gear set;
- a second simple planetary gear set including a sun gear that is rotationally coupled to a ring gear in the compound planetary gear set;
- a differential rotationally coupled to the second simple planetary gear set;
- and
- a clutch configured to:
- selectively lock for rotation a sun gear and a carrier in the compound planetary gear set in a higher range position of a higher range mode, wherein in the higher range mode the sun gear and the carrier in the compound planetary gear set rotate;
- and
- ground the carrier in the compound planetary gear set in a lower range position of a lower range mode, wherein in the lower range mode the multi-speed electric axle assembly achieves a three stage gear reduction;
- wherein an input and an output of the compound planetary gear set have a similar rotational direction;
- wherein the traction motor, the first simple planetary gear set, the compound planetary gear set, the second simple planetary gear set, and the differential are coaxially arranged;
- wherein the compound planetary gear set includes:
- a first set of planet gears that mesh with a sun gear and does not mesh with a ring gear;
- and
- a second set of planet gears that mesh with the ring gear and does not mesh with the sun gear;
- and
- wherein the differential is a planetary differential with a ring gear that is coupled to a carrier in the second simple planetary gear set.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.