# US 8,783,393 B2 · Interface for a motor and drive assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 8,783,393 B2 - Document ID: US8783393B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 13/035,077 - Filed: 2011-02-25 - Published: 2012-08-30 - Granted: 2014-07-22 - Earliest claimed: 2011-02-25 - Assignees: Deere & Company - Applicants: Mark J. Besler; Carolyn Lambka Drum; Chris Ruden; Kinte Allen; Jeffrey S. Turner - Inventors: Mark J. Besler; Carolyn Lambka Drum; Chris Ruden; Kinte Allen; Jeffrey S. Turner - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US8783393B2 ## CPC - B60B 35/16: Axle housings - B60K 7/0007: {the motor being electric} - B60K 17/046: {with planetary gearing having orbital motion} - F16H 57/0476: {Electric machines and gearing, i.e. joint lubrication or cooling or heating thereof} - B60K 2007/0038: {the motor moving together with the wheel axle} - B60K 2007/0092: {the motor axle being coaxial to the wheel axle} - B60Y 2200/14: Trucks; Load vehicles, Busses - B60Y 2306/03: Lubrication - F16B 2200/10: Details of socket shapes - F16B 2200/60: Coupler sealing means - Y10T 29/49778: with aligning, guiding, or instruction - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION - 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 - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - F16B: DEVICES FOR FASTENING OR SECURING CONSTRUCTIONAL ELEMENTS OR MACHINE PARTS TOGETHER, e.g. NAILS, BOLTS, CIRCLIPS, CLAMPS, CLIPS OR WEDGES; JOINTS OR JOINTING (couplings for transmitting rotation F16D) - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract The present invention provides an interface for aligning a power-producing device and a power-transferring device in a vehicle. The interface includes an axle tube housing and a flange integrally coupled at one end of the axle tube housing. The flange has a rear surface. The interface also includes a motor housing and a drive housing. The motor housing is configured to contain the power-producing device and the drive housing is configured to contain the power-transferring device. A plate is removably coupled to one end of the motor housing. The plate is coupled to the axle tube housing and has an outer diameter. The interface further includes a spindle coupled to the drive housing. The spindle has a front surface and an inner diameter. The outer diameter of the plate contacts the inner diameter of the spindle when the spindle is coupled to the flange. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle, comprising: a motor having a motor housing and an output shaft; an axle tube housing defining an internal reservoir; an axle tube flange integrally coupled to the axle tube housing, the flange having a rear surface; a drive assembly having a drive housing and an input shaft, the input shaft being coupled to the output shaft; a spindle coupled to the drive assembly, the spindle having a front surface and an inner diameter; an interface plate coupled to the motor housing, the interface plate having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the inner diameter defining an opening through which the output shaft protrudes; and a first fluid passage defined in the interface plate, the first fluid passage disposed above the opening; wherein, the outer diameter of the interface plate engages the inner diameter of the spindle. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a second fluid passage defined in the interface plate, the second fluid passage disposed below the opening. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the first fluid passage is disposed near the inner diameter of the interface plate and the second fluid passage is disposed near the outer diameter of the interface plate. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The vehicle of claim 2, wherein the first fluid passage fluidly couples the motor housing and the drive assembly to one another and the second fluid passage fluidly couples the drive assembly and the internal reservoir to one another. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a bearing for supporting the output shaft, the bearing being disposed at least partially in the opening of the interface plate. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a groove defined in the inner diameter of the spindle. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a seal disposed along the outer diameter of the interface plate, the seal being compressed between the rear surface of the flange and the groove. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the interface plate is integrally coupled to the motor housing. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the rear surface of the flange is substantially flat and contacts the front surface of the spindle. ### Claim 10 A vehicle having at least one axle, the at least one axle including an independently powered wheel, comprising: a motor having a motor housing and an output shaft; an axle tube housing defining an internal reservoir; a flange coupled to the axle tube housing; a drive assembly having a drive housing and an input shaft, the input shaft being coupled to the output shaft; a spindle coupled to the drive assembly, the spindle having an inner diameter; a groove defined in the inner diameter of the spindle; a seal disposed along the outer diameter of the interface plate, the seal being compressed between a rear surface of the flange and the groove; and an interface plate coupled to the motor housing, the interface plate having an outer diameter; wherein, the outer diameter of the interface plate engages the inner diameter of the spindle. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the interface plate defines an opening through which the output shaft protrudes. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a first fluid passage defined in the interface plate, the first fluid passage disposed above the opening. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The vehicle of claim 12, further comprising a second fluid passage defined in the interface plate, the second fluid passage disposed below the opening. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first fluid passage is disposed near the inner diameter of the interface plate and the second fluid passage is disposed near the outer diameter of the interface plate. ### Claim 15 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the first fluid passage fluidly couples the motor housing and the drive assembly to one another and the second fluid passage fluidly couples the drive assembly and the internal reservoir to one another. ### Claim 16 (depends on 11) The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a bearing for supporting the output shaft, the bearing being disposed at least partially in the opening of the interface plate. ### Claim 17 A vehicle, comprising: a motor having a motor housing and an output shaft; an axle tube housing defining an internal reservoir; an axle tube flange integrally coupled to the axle tube housing; a drive assembly having a drive housing and an input shaft, the input shaft being coupled to the output shaft; a spindle coupled to the drive assembly, the spindle having an inner diameter; an interface plate coupled to the motor housing, the interface plate having an inner diameter and an outer diameter, the inner diameter defining an opening through which the output shaft protrudes; a first fluid passage defined in the interface plate, the first fluid passage disposed above the opening; and a second fluid passage defined in the interface plate, the second fluid passage disposed below the opening. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the first fluid passage is disposed near the inner diameter of the interface plate and the second fluid passage is disposed near the outer diameter of the interface plate. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising: a groove defined in the inner diameter of the spindle; a gap defined between the groove, the outer diameter of the interface plate, and a rear surface of the flange; and a seal compressibly disposed in the gap. ### Claim 20 (depends on 17) The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising, wherein the first fluid passage fluidly couples the motor housing and the drive assembly to one another and the second fluid passage fluidly couples the drive assembly and the internal reservoir to one another.