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US 7,028,583 B2Granted
Axle assembly with transverse mounted electric motors
AssigneeArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
InventorJohn L. Bennett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An axle assembly includes a first and a second electric motor which drive a gearbox assembly substantially therebetween. The electric motors drive the gearbox assembly which drives the vehicle wheels through a first and second axle shaft located along a first axis. The electric motors are located along axes which are substantially transverse to the first axis. The electric motors drive the gearbox assembly which includes a first stage gear reduction, a second stage gear reduction and a third stage gear reduction. A relatively lightweight and compact axle assembly is thereby provided which will benefit from an electric motor of reduced size.
Claims22
An axle assembly comprising:
- a first axle shaft defined substantially along a first axis of rotation;
- a second axle shaft defined substantially along said first axis of rotation;
- at least one electric motor defined substantially along a second axis of rotation transverse to said first axis of rotation, said at least one electric motor for driving both said first and said second axle shafts;
- a first stage gear reduction driven by said at least one electric motor, said first stage gear reduction including a drive gear driven about said second axis of rotation by said at least one electric motor and a driven gear driven by said drive gear;
- a second stage gear reduction driven by said first stage gear reduction, said second stage gear reduction including a pinion gear driven by said driven gear and a ring gear driven about said first axis of rotation by said pinion gear, said first axle shaft extending through said ring gear;
- a differential driven by said second stage gear reduction, said first axle shaft and said second axle shaft driven by said differential;
- and
- a third stage gear reduction driven by said ring gear and coupled to said differential.
5 more elements
An axle assembly comprising:
- a first axle shaft defined substantially along a first axis of rotation;
- a second axle shaft defined substantially along said first axis of rotation;
- at least one electric motor defined substantially along a second axis of rotation transverse to said first axis of rotation, said at least one electric motor for driving both said first and second axle shafts, wherein said at least one electric motor comprises a first electric motor defined substantially along said second axis of rotation and a second electric motor defined substantially along a third axis of rotation transverse to said first axis of rotation;
- a first stage gear reduction driven by said at least one electric motor, said first stage gear reduction including a drive gear driven about said second axis of rotation by said at least one electric motor and a driven gear driven by said drive gear, and wherein said first and said second electric motors simultaneously drive said driven gear;
- a second stage gear reduction driven by said first stage gear reduction, said second stage gear reduction including a pinion gear driven by said driven gear and a ring gear driven about said first axis of rotation by said pinion gear, said first axle shaft extending through said ring gear;
- and
- a differential driven by said second stage gear reduction, said first axle shaft and said second axle shaft driven by said differential.
4 more elements
An axle assembly comprising:
- a first axle shaft defined substantially along a first axis of rotation;
- a second axle shaft defined substantially along said first axis of rotation;
- a first electric motor defined substantially along a second axis of rotation transverse to said first axis of rotation for driving both said first and said second axle shafts;
- a second electric motor defined substantially along a third axis of rotation transverse to said first axis of rotation for driving both said first and said second axle shafts;
- a first stage gear reduction driven by said first and second electric motors, said first stage gear reduction including a first drive gear driven about said second axis of rotation by said first electric motor and a second drive gear driven about said third axis of rotation by said second electric motor, said first drive gear and said second drive gear driving a driven gear;
- a second stage gear reduction driven by said first stage gear reduction, said second stage gear reduction including a pinion gear driven by said driven gear and a ring gear driven by said pinion gear, said first axle shaft extending through said ring gear;
- and
- a differential driven by said second stage gear reduction, said first axle shaft and said second axle shaft driven by said differential.
5 more elements
A drive system for a multi-axle vehicle comprising:
- a frame which includes a pair of main longitudinal members;
- a first axle shaft defined substantially along a first axis of rotation transverse to said pair of main longitudinal members;
- an electric motor defined substantially along a second axis of rotation extending along a direction having at least a component extending parallel to said pair of main longitudinal members and transverse to said first axis of rotation, said first axis of rotation and said second axis of rotation contained within a common plane;
- a first stage gear reduction including a drive gear driven by said electric motor and a driven gear which supports a pinion gear of a second stage gear reduction, said driven gear and said pinion gear mounted along a common axis of rotation generally parallel to said second axis of rotation;
- and
- said second stage gear reduction being driven by said first stage gear reduction and including a ring gear driven about said first axis of rotation by said pinion gear, said first axle shaft extending through said ring gear and driven by said second stage gear reduction.
3 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.