# US 8,783,135 B2 · Electro-mechanical drive-unit > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,135 B2 - Document ID: US8783135B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/570,669 - Filed: 2012-08-09 - Published: 2014-02-13 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2012-08-09 - Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC - Applicants: Matthew R. Knoth; William S. Reed - Inventors: Matthew R. Knoth; William S. Reed - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783135B2 ## CPC - B60K 6/48: Parallel type - B60K 6/26: characterised by the motors or the generators - B60L 1/02: to electric heating circuits - B60L 3/0061: {relating to electrical machines} - B60L 50/16: with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion - H02K 5/207: {with openings in the casing specially adapted for ambient air} - B60K 2001/003: {with means for cooling the electrical propulsion units} - B60K 2001/006: {the electric motors} - B60K 2006/4816: {Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox internal shaft} - B60L 2220/50: Structural details of electrical machines - B60L 2240/12: Speed - B60L 2240/36: Temperature of vehicle components or parts - B60L 2240/421: Speed - B60L 2240/423: Torque - B60L 2240/441: Speed - B60L 2240/443: Torque - H02K 9/19: for machines with closed casing and closed-circuit cooling using a liquid cooling medium, e.g. oil - Y02T 10/62: Hybrid vehicles - Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility - Y02T 10/70: Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries - Y02T 10/7072: Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors - Y02T 90/16: Information or communication technologies improving the operation of electric vehicles - Y10T 74/19014: Plural prime movers selectively coupled to common output - Y10T 74/19051: Single driven plural drives - Y10T 74/2189: Cooling - 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 - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract An electro-mechanical drive-unit includes an input member, an output member, a drive-unit housing, and a gearing arrangement operatively connected to each of the output and input members. The drive-unit also includes a pump for circulating pressurized fluid and an electric motor. The electric motor includes a rotor connected to the gearing arrangement, a stator fixed relative to the drive-unit housing and having wire windings, and a motor housing configured to retain the rotor and the stator. The drive-unit also includes a fluid cavity between the drive-unit housing and the motor housing configured to receive the pressurized fluid. The drive-unit housing defines a passage in fluid communication with the fluid cavity. The drive-unit also includes a fastener having a head and a shank. The fastener is secured within the passage to facilitate discharging the fluid from under the fastener head onto the wire windings for cooling and/or lubrication thereof. ## Claims ### Claim 1 An electro-mechanical drive-unit connectable with at least one power source for launching and propelling a vehicle, comprising: an input member and an output member; a drive-unit housing; a gearing arrangement operatively connected to each of the output and input members; a pump configured to circulate pressurized fluid inside the drive-unit; and an electric motor including: a rotor operatively connected to the gearing arrangement; a stator fixed with respect to the drive-unit housing and having wire windings; a motor housing configured to retain the rotor and the stator; and a fluid cavity generated between the drive-unit housing and the motor housing and configured to receive the pressurized fluid; wherein: the drive-unit housing defines a passage that is in fluid communication with the fluid cavity; and a fastener having a fastener head and a fastener shank is secured within the passage such that the passage discharges the pressurized fluid from under the fastener head onto the wire windings for cooling and/or lubrication thereof. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The electro-mechanical drive-unit according to claim 1, further comprising a feature disposed between the fastener head and the drive-unit housing that defines an aperture configured to accept the fastener shank en route to the passage, wherein: the feature defines a slot originating at the aperture and extending beyond a perimeter of the fastener head; and the slot is in fluid communication with the passage and positioned to direct the pressurized fluid from under the fastener head onto the wire windings. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The electro-mechanical drive-unit according to claim 2, wherein the feature is a step configured as an integral part of the drive-unit housing. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The electro-mechanical drive-unit according to claim 2, wherein the feature includes at least one of a counter-sink and a counter-bore located at the passage adjacent the fastener head and the slot originates at the at least one of the counter-sink and the counter-bore. ### Claim 5 (depends on 2) The electro-mechanical drive-unit according to claim 2, wherein the fastener fixes the motor housing to the drive-unit housing and defines an effective size of the slot. ### Claim 6 (depends on 2) The electro-mechanical drive-unit according to claim 2, wherein the feature is a plate that is a separate and distinct component from the drive-unit housing. ### Claim 7 (depends on 5) The electro-mechanical drive-unit according to claim 5, wherein the plate includes a raised edge sandwiched between the fastener head and the drive-unit housing and configured to preload the fastener in the passage. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The electro-mechanical drive-unit according to claim 1, further comprising a plurality of seals, wherein the plurality of seals is disposed between the drive-unit housing and the motor housing to seal the fluid cavity. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The electro-mechanical drive-unit according to claim 1, wherein the motor housing defines apertures configured to discharge the pressurized fluid onto the wire windings for cooling of the wire windings. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The electro-mechanical drive-unit according to claim 1, further comprising a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the pump and configured to control pressure of the fluid in the cavity. ### Claim 11 A hybrid vehicle comprising: an engine; a drive wheel; and an electro-mechanical drive-unit operatively connected with the engine for launching and propelling the vehicle, the drive-unit including: an input member operatively connected to the engine; an output member operatively connected to the drive wheel; a drive-unit housing; a gearing arrangement operatively connected to each of the output and input members; a pump configured to circulate pressurized fluid inside the drive-unit; and an electric motor including: a rotor operatively connected to the gearing arrangement; a stator fixed with respect to the drive-unit housing and having wire windings; a motor housing configured to retain the rotor and the stator; and a fluid cavity generated between the drive-unit housing and the motor housing and configured to receive the pressurized fluid from the pump; wherein: the drive-unit housing defines a passage that is in fluid communication with the fluid cavity; and a fastener having a fastener head and a fastener shank is secured within the passage such that the passage discharges the pressurized fluid from under the fastener head onto the wire windings for cooling and/or lubrication thereof ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The hybrid vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising a feature disposed between the fastener head and the drive-unit housing and defining an aperture configured to accept the fastener shank en route to the passage; wherein: the feature defines a slot originating at the aperture and extending beyond a perimeter of the fastener head; and wherein the slot is in fluid communication with the passage and positioned to direct the pressurized fluid from under the fastener head onto the wire windings. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the feature is a step configured as an integral part of the drive-unit housing. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the feature includes at least one of a counter-sink and a counter-bore located at the passage adjacent the fastener head and the slot originates at the at least one of the counter-sink and the counter-bore. ### Claim 15 (depends on 12) The hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the fastener fixes the motor housing to the drive-unit housing and defines an effective size of the slot. ### Claim 16 (depends on 12) The hybrid vehicle according to claim 12, wherein the feature is a plate that is a separate and distinct component from the drive-unit housing. ### Claim 17 (depends on 15) The hybrid vehicle according to claim 15, wherein the plate includes a raised edge sandwiched between the fastener head and the drive-unit housing and configured to preload the fastener in the passage. ### Claim 18 (depends on 11) The hybrid vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising a plurality of seals, wherein the plurality of seals is disposed between the drive-unit housing and the motor housing to seal the fluid cavity. ### Claim 19 (depends on 11) The hybrid vehicle according to claim 11, wherein the motor housing defines apertures configured to discharge the pressurized fluid onto the wire windings for cooling and/or lubrication of the wire windings. ### Claim 20 (depends on 11) The hybrid vehicle according to claim 11, further comprising a pressure relief valve in fluid communication with the pump and configured to control pressure of the fluid in the cavity.