# US 9,038,756 B2 · Propulsion system for a self-propelled vehicle with multiple electric drive units > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,038,756 B2 - Document ID: US9038756B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/114,979 - Filed: 2012-03-28 - Published: 2014-03-20 - Granted: 2015-05-26 - Earliest claimed: 2011-05-18 - Assignees: S.M.R.E. S.p.A - Applicants: Samuele Mazzini - Inventors: Samuele Mazzini - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9038756B2 ## CPC - B60K 1/02: comprising more than one electric motor - B60L 2220/42: with use of more than one motor - B60L 2220/46: Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel - B60Y 2200/12: Motorcycles, Trikes; Quads; Scooters - Y02T 10/64: Electric machine technologies in electromobility - Y10T 74/19056: Parallel - 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 - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY - Y02T: CLIMATE CHANGE MITIGATION TECHNOLOGIES RELATED TO TRANSPORTATION - Y10T: TECHNICAL SUBJECTS COVERED BY FORMER US CLASSIFICATION ## Abstract A propulsion system for a self-propelled vehicle comprises a motor body which is associated with a mechanical transmission conveying motion to the driving wheels of the vehicle, and which integrates and contains in a single body electric propulsion means, comprising at least several components of a brushless rotary motor; a clutch coupling located downstream of and mechanically connected to the electric propulsion means; and a gearbox with discontinuous gear ratios, having an input shaft connected to the clutch coupling and an output shaft coming out to the outside of the motor body and connecting to the mechanical transmission. The electric propulsion means comprise the components of at least two brushless motors, each equipped with a respective driving shaft provided with a pinion which is coupled by meshing with a predetermined ratio to a clutch coupling. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A propulsion system for a self-propelled vehicle comprising: a single body electric propulsion unit; a clutch coupling located downstream of and mechanically connected to the electric propulsion unit; and a gearbox with discontinuous gear ratios, having an input shaft connected to the clutch coupling and an output shaft coming out to an outside of the motor body; a single ring gear supported by the clutch coupling; a motor body combining together the electric propulsion unit, the clutch coupling, the ring gear and the gearbox; a mechanical drive connecting the output shaft to driving wheels of the vehicle; the electric propulsion unit comprising components of at least two brushless motors, each of the at least two brushless motors including a respective driving shaft including a pinion meshingly coupled to the ring gear in a respective predetermined ratio such that the at least two brushless motors all drive the single ring gear. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the electric propulsion unit further comprises at least one freewheel coupling operatively positioned between one of the driving shafts and a respective one of the pinions. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two brushless motors are identical. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two brushless motors are different from each other. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two brushless motors are selectively operable. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, and further comprising a controller programmed to selectively activate actuators of the at least two brushless motors depending on at least one predetermined control parameter. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The system according to claim 6, wherein the controller is programmed to selectively activate the actuators of each of the at least two brushless motors depending on an operating temperature of at least one of the at least two brushless motors. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the at least two brushless motors are selectively operable by commands issued by the vehicle driver. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the motor body is an integral part of a housing for containing the components of the at least two brushless motors. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The system according to claim 1, wherein the self-propelled vehicle is a motorcycle.