# US 2021/0276409 A1 · Electric drive axle powerpath & the drive axle made therewith

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- Number: US 2021/0276409 A1
- Document ID: US20210276409A1
- Status: Published application
- Kind: A1
- Application number: 16/328,388
- Filed: 2017-08-30
- Published: 2021-09-09
- Earliest claimed: 2017-08-30
- Assignees: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
- Applicants: Dana Heavy Vehicle Systems Group, LLC
- Inventors: THIBAULT G. DEVREESE; WOUTER W.A. GALOPPIN
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US20210276409A1

## CPC

- B60K 7/0007: {the motor being electric}
- B60K 1/00: Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00)
- B60K 17/02: characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch
- B60K 17/06: of change-speed gearing (B60K17/10 - B60K17/16 take precedence)
- B60K 17/16: of differential gearing
- B60K 17/046: {with planetary gearing having orbital motion}
- B60K 2001/001: {one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle}
- B60K 2007/0061: {the motor axle being parallel to the wheel axle}
- F16H 3/089: all of the meshing gears being supported by a pair of parallel shafts, one being the input shaft and the other the output shaft, there being no countershaft involved
- F16H 37/082: {and additional planetary reduction gears}
- F16H 2200/0021: specially adapted for electric vehicles
- F16H 2200/0034: the gear ratios comprising two forward speeds
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- F16H: GEARING

## Abstract

An electric drive axle having first and second axle shafts operatively connected by a differential apparatus, and an electric motor having a driving shaft coupled with a rotor of the electric motor is provided. A driving shaft may be coupled for rotation with a rotor of the electric motor, and disposed parallel with the first axle shaft. A first driving gear may be disposed on the driving shaft. A driven shaft having a first driven gear and a second driven gear, wherein the first driven gear meshes with the first driving gear. A layshaft disposed parallel with the first axle shaft may comprise a first layshaft gear coupled therewith and meshed with the second driven gear. A second layshaft gear disposed on the layshaft may be in meshed engagement with a first drive gear coupled with the differential apparatus case.

## Claims

### Claim 1

An electric drive axle, comprising:
a first axle shaft;
a second axle shaft coaxial with said first axle shaft;
a differential apparatus having a differential case, wherein said differential apparatus operatively connects said first and second axle shafts;
an electric motor having a stator and a rotor;
a driving shaft coupled for rotation with said rotor disposed parallel with said first axle shaft;
a first driving gear disposed on said driving shaft;
a driven shaft having a first driven gear and a second driven gear, wherein said first driven gear meshes with said first driving gear;
a layshaft disposed parallel with said first axle shaft;
a first layshaft gear coupled with said layshaft and meshed with said second driven gear;
a second layshaft gear disposed on said layshaft; and
a first drive gear coupled with said differential case and in meshed engagement with said second layshaft gear.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The electric drive axle of claim 1, wherein:
said driven shaft is disposed concentrically about said first axle shaft.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The electric drive axle of claim 1, wherein:
said electric motor is radially offset from said first and second axle shafts.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The electric drive axle of claim 1, further comprising:
a third driven gear coupled with said driven shaft;
a second driving gear disposed on said driving shaft and in meshed engagement with said third driven gear; and
a shift element having a first position wherein said first driving gear is coupled for rotation with said driving shaft, and a second position wherein said second driving gear is coupled for rotation with said driving shaft.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The electric drive axle of claim 1, further comprising:
a first clutch drum coupled with said driving shaft;
a first clutch hub rotatably disposed about said driving shaft, wherein said first driving gear comprises a first hub gear of said first clutch hub;
a first actuation mechanism, whereby said first clutch hub is selectively engaged with said first clutch drum;
a second clutch drum coupled with said driving shaft;
a second clutch hub rotatably disposed about said driving shaft comprising a second hub gear, wherein said second clutch hub is selectively engaged with said second clutch drum via a second actuation mechanism; and
a third driven gear coupled with said driven shaft and in meshed engagement with said second hub gear.

### Claim 6 (depends on 1)

The electric drive axle of claim 1, further comprising:
a third layshaft gear disposed on said layshaft;
a second drive gear coupled with said differential case and in meshed engagement with said third layshaft gear; and
a shift element having a first position wherein said second layshaft gear is coupled for rotation with said layshaft, and a second position wherein said third layshaft gear is coupled for rotation with said layshaft.

### Claim 7 (depends on 1)

The electric drive axle of claim 1, further comprising:
a first clutch drum coupled with said layshaft;
a first clutch hub rotatably disposed about said layshaft, wherein said second layshaft gear comprises a first hub gear of said first clutch hub;
a first actuation mechanism, whereby said first clutch hub is selectively engaged with said first clutch drum;
a second clutch drum coupled with said layshaft;
a second clutch hub rotatably disposed about said layshaft comprising a second hub gear, wherein said second clutch hub is selectively engaged with said second clutch drum via a second actuation mechanism; and
a second drive gear coupled with said differential case and in meshed engagement with said second hub gear.

### Claim 8 (depends on 1)

The electric drive axle of claim 1, further comprising:
a parking brake having a first portion coupled with an axle housing portion and a second portion coupled with said layshaft, wherein said parking brake selectively engages said layshaft and said axle housing portion.