Cover for an electric axle assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11667180-B2
Application number	US-202017103402-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 24, 2020
Priority date	Nov 24, 2020
Publication date	Jun 6, 2023
Grant date	Jun 6, 2023

Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for an electric axle assembly. In one example, a system, includes a cover plate for a head assembly, wherein a cross-member is integrated into the cover plate and configured to attach to a vehicle frame.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A system, comprising:
a cover plate for a head assembly, wherein a cross-member is integrated into the cover plate and configured to physically couple to a vehicle frame via a fastener extending through an opening of the vehicle frame and an opening of the cross-member.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein the head assembly is an electric axle carrier head assembly.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the yoke shaft couples to a drive axle.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the cross-member extends in a direction normal to a central axis of the yoke shaft.

5. An electric system, comprising:
an electric motor and an electric axle carrier, wherein a cover plate is physically coupled to a head assembly of the electric axle carrier; and
a cross-member extending from the cover plate, wherein the cross-member is configured to directly physically couple to a vehicle frame, wherein the cross-member comprises a first portion and a second portion, and wherein the first portion and the second portion extend from the cover plate in a direction normal to a central axis of the electric axle carrier, the first portion comprising an opening that receives a fastener extending through a surface of the vehicle frame in a direction normal to the first portion, the second portion, and the central axis.

6. The electric system of claim 5 , wherein the first portion and the second portion are identical in size and shape.

7. The electric system of claim 5 , wherein the first portion comprises a first upper arm and a first lower arm, wherein the first upper arm is coupled to a first upper mating feature and the first lower arm is coupled to a first lower mating feature.

8. The electric system of claim 7 , wherein the first upper mating feature comprises a first upper surface comprising a trapezoidal shape, wherein the first upper mating feature further comprises a first lower surface extending from the first upper surface in a direction normal to the first upper surface and the central axis of the electric axle carrier.

9. The electric system of claim 8 , wherein the first lower mating feature comprises a second upper surface comprising the trapezoidal shape, wherein the first lower mating feature further comprises a second lower surface extending from the second upper surface in the direction normal to the second upper surface and the central axis of the electric axle carrier, wherein the second lower surface extends toward the first lower surface.

10. The electric system of claim 9 , wherein a first gap is arranged between the first upper arm and the first lower arm, and wherein a second gap is arranged between the first lower surface and the second lower surface, wherein the first gap is larger than the second gap.

11. The electric system of claim 9 , wherein the first lower surface and the second lower surface comprise through-holes, wherein each of the through-holes is configured to receive a fastener, wherein the fastener physically couples the first lower surface and the second lower surface to the vehicle frame.

12. The electric system of claim 5 , wherein the cover plate is bolted to the head assembly.

13. A system, comprising:
an electric axle system comprising an electric motor and a yoke shaft;
an input helical gear set configured to receive an output from the electric motor and a hypoid gear set configured to receive a helical gear set output and provide an input to the yoke shaft;
a cover plate physically coupled to a head assembly of the electric axle system, wherein the cover plate comprises a central opening configured to receive the yoke shaft and a yoke, and wherein the cover plate further comprises a plurality of openings spaced radially outward relative to the central opening, wherein fasteners extend through the plurality of openings and engage with the head assembly; and
a cross-member extending from the cover plate and configured to attach to first and second frame rails of a vehicle, wherein the cross-member comprises a first portion and a second portion, wherein the first portion extends toward the first frame rail and the second portion extends toward the second frame rail.

14. The system of claim 13 , wherein the first portion comprises a first mating feature and the second portion comprises a second mating feature, wherein the first mating feature is bolted to the first frame rail and the second mating feature is bolted to the second frame rail.

15. The system of claim 13 , wherein the electric axle system is free of a ring gear, a differential case, differential bearings, and a pinion gear, and wherein the yoke shaft is connected to a drive axle.

16. The system of claim 13 , wherein the cover plate seals the head assembly.

17. The system of claim 13 , wherein the cross-member is integral to the cover plate.

Assignees

• Dana Heavy Vehicle Sys Group

Inventors

• Trost Harry W
• Slesinski Steven G

Classifications

• B60K17/04

  characterised by arrangement, location or kind of gearing · CPC title

• B60B35/163

  characterised by specific shape of the housing, e.g. adaptations to give space for other vehicle elements like chassis or exhaust system · CPC title

• F16H57/031

  characterised by covers or lids for gearboxes · CPC title

• B60K2001/001

  one motor mounted on a propulsion axle for rotating right and left wheels of this axle · CPC title

• B60K1/00 Primary

  Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units (B60K7/00 takes precedence; arrangement or mounting of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion B60K6/00) · CPC title