Planetary pinion input electric drive unit
AssigneeDana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
InventorsJeffrey M. David, William F. Waltz
Life of this patent
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Abstract
Methods and systems for an electric drive unit. The electric drive unit includes, in one example, a set of electric machines where each electric machine is coupled to a pinion gear in a set of pinion devices of a planetary assembly. The planetary assembly includes a carrier that is mechanically grounded, a ring device, and a sun device. In the planetary assembly, the ring device and/or the sun device function as an output and the set of pinion devices are rotationally coupled to the sun gear and/or the ring gear.
Claims18
An electric drive unit, comprising:
- a set of electric machines where each electric machine is coupled to a separate pinion device in a first set of pinion devices of a planetary assembly;
- and
- wherein the planetary assembly includes:
- a carrier that is mechanically grounded;
- a ring device;
- and
- a sun device;
- wherein the ring device and/or the sun device function as an output;
- wherein the first set of pinion devices is rotationally coupled to the ring device and/or the sun device;
- and
- wherein the planetary assembly includes a second set of pinion devices that are rotationally coupled to first set of pinion devices, and wherein the first set of pinion devices and the second set of pinion devices have asymmetric gear ratios.
A method for operation of an electric drive unit, comprising:
- transferring mechanical power from a set of electric machines to a first set of pinion gears;
- wherein the electric drive unit comprises:
- the set of electric machines;
- and
- a planetary gear set including:
- the first set of pinion gears;
- a carrier that is mechanically grounded;
- and
- a ring gear;
- and
- a sun gear;
- and
- wherein the ring gear and/or the sun gear function as an output;
- wherein the first set of pinion gears meshes with the ring gear and/or the sun gear;
- and
- wherein the planetary gear set is a compound planetary gear that includes a second set of pinion gears that mesh with the sun gear and are rotationally coupled to the first set of pinion gears.
An electric drive unit, comprising:
- a set of traction motors that are each rotationally coupled to a separate pinion gear in a first set of pinion gears;
- and
- a planetary gear set including:
- a carrier mechanically grounded and coupled to the first set of pinion gears and a second set of pinion gears;
- the first set of pinion gears that mesh with a ring gear and/or a sun gear;
- and
- the second set of pinion gears that mesh with:
- a sun gear;
- and
- the first set of pinion gears.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.