Drive unit for automotive vehicle
AssigneeAmerican Axle & Manufacturing, Inc.
InventorsMattias FREIHOLTZ, Tommy EBLING, Alexander TYLEE-BIRDSALL, David KELLY, John BURKE, Jason ALLEN, Thomas BENGTSSON, Michael KLINTH
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A vehicle drive unit that provides improved power transfer to a differential input member of a differential assembly. The vehicle drive unit is configured with an interlock system that is configured to inhibit the supply of electrical power from a source of electrical power if certain predetermined conditions are not met.
Claims25
A vehicle drive unit comprising:
- a housing;
- an input pinion mounted in the housing for rotation about a first axis;
- a first shaft mounted in the housing for rotation about a second axis that is transverse to the first axis;
- a ring gear that is meshingly engaged to the input pinion and rotationally coupled to the first shaft;
- a final reduction input gear rotationally coupled to the first shaft;
- a final reduction output gear that is housed in the housing and rotatable about an output axis;
- a differential assembly having a differential input member, and a pair of differential output members, the differential input member receiving rotary power from the final reduction output gear;
- and
- a pair of output shafts, each of the output shafts being rotatably coupled to a corresponding one of the differential output members.
A vehicle drive unit comprising:
- a housing;
- an electric motor coupled to the housing, the electric motor having a hollow motor output shaft that is rotatable about an output axis;
- a differential assembly having a differential input member and a pair of differential output members that are rotatable about the output axis;
- and
- a transmission configured to transmit rotary power between the motor output shaft and the differential input member, the transmission having a first intermediate reduction, a second intermediate reduction, a final reduction, and a transmission coupling, the first intermediate reduction having a first intermediate gear, which is coupled to the motor output shaft, and a second intermediate gear, the second intermediate reduction having a third intermediate gear, which is coupled to the motor output shaft, and a fourth intermediate gear, the final reduction having a drive gear and a driven gear, the driven gear being rotatable about the output axis, the transmission coupling being operable in a first mode in which the third intermediate gear is rotatably coupled to the drive gear and the fourth intermediate gear is rotatably decoupled from the drive gear, and a second mode in which the third intermediate gear is rotatably decoupled from the drive gear and the fourth intermediate gear is rotatably coupled to the drive gear, wherein the driven gear is configured to drive the differential input member.
A vehicle drive unit comprising:
- a housing having a motor portion that defines a channel and a mounting flange;
- an electric motor coupled to the motor portion of the housing;
- a power terminal disposed in the channel in the motor portion;
- a cover that is removably coupled to the motor portion to cover at least a portion of the channel to inhibit access to the power terminal, the cover being configured to seat against or proximate the mounting flange when coupled to the motor portion;
- an electric lead that is received in the channel and electrically coupled to the power terminal;
- a blocking member coupled to the motor portion, the blocking member being movable relative to the motor portion between a first position, which at least partially blocks access of the electric lead to the power terminal through the channel and projects from the motor portion to inhibit the cover from being coupled to the motor portion, and a second position which permits access of the electric lead to the power terminal through the channel and is oriented to permit the cover to be coupled to the motor portion;
- a differential assembly received in the housing, the differential assembly having a differential input member and a pair of differential output members;
- a pair of shafts, each of the shafts being driven by a respective one of the differential output members;
- and
- a transmission disposed in the housing, the transmission transmitting rotary power between the electric motor and the differential input member.
A method for assembling a vehicle drive unit, the vehicle drive unit having a housing, an electric motor, a power terminal, a differential assembly, a pair of shafts and a transmission, the housing having a motor portion that defines a channel and a mounting flange, the electric motor being coupled to the motor portion of the housing, the power terminal being disposed in the channel in the motor portion, the differential assembly being received in the housing and having a differential input member and a pair of differential output members, each of the shafts being driven by a respective one of the differential output members, the transmission being disposed in the housing and transmitting rotary power between the electric motor and the differential input member, the method comprising:
- providing a blocking member that is coupled to the motor portion of the housing, the blocking member being movable between a first position, which inhibits access to the power terminal through the channel and projects into a location that inhibits installation of a cover to the motor portion of the housing, and a second position that permits access to the power terminal through the channel and which clears the location to permit installation of the cover to the motor portion of the housing, the blocking member being biased into the first position;
- moving the blocking member from the first position to the second position while inserting an electric lead through the channel to route the electric lead through the channel and to the power terminal;
- coupling the electric lead to the power terminal, wherein retention of the electric lead in the channel inhibits movement of the blocking member from the second position to the first position;
- and
- with the blocking member in the second position, installing the cover to the motor portion of the housing.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.