Methods and systems for a multi-speed electric axle assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11971090-B2
Application number	US-202318301884-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 17, 2023
Priority date	Apr 10, 2019
Publication date	Apr 30, 2024
Grant date	Apr 30, 2024

Abstract

Various methods and systems are provided for a multi-speed electric axle assembly with three gear ratios. The multi-speed electric axle assembly includes one or more power supplies, one or more shafts operatively coupled to the one or more power supplies and a differential, and one or more Ravigneaux gear assemblies integrated with the one or more shafts. The one or more Ravigneaux gear assemblies of the multi-speed electric axle assembly providing the three gear ratios.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A multi-speed electric axle assembly, comprising:
a first motor generator;
a first shaft in mechanical communication with the first motor generator;
a first gear assembly in mechanical communication the first shaft, the first gear assembly including a first sun gear, a first gear set in meshing engagement with the first sun gear, a second gear set in meshing engagement with the first gear set, a second sun gear, and a ring gear;
wherein the first gear set and the second gear set are coupled to a carrier;
wherein the carrier is selectively coupled to a first grounded member to operate in a first mode;
wherein the second sun gear is selectively coupled to a second grounded member to operate in a second mode;
wherein the first sun gear is selectively coupled to the second sun gear via a clutch to operate in a third mode; and
a differential in mechanical communication with the first gear assembly and two axle shafts that are coupled to two wheels; and
wherein the multi-speed electric axle assembly does not include an internal combustion engine.

2. The multi-speed electric axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first motor generator is arranged perpendicular to the differential.

3. The multi-speed electric axle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a second motor generator rotationally coupled to the first motor generator.

4. The multi-speed electric axle assembly of claim 3 , wherein the first motor generator and the second motor generator are coaxially arranged.

5. The multi-speed electric axle assembly of claim 1 , further comprising a controller configured to command selective engagement of the first grounded member, the second grounded member, and the clutch.

6. The multi-speed electric axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first sun gear has an outermost diameter that is smaller than an outermost diameter of the second sun gear.

7. The multi-speed electric axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the multi-speed electric axle assembly is a steerable axle assembly.

8. The multi-speed electric axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the multi-speed electric axle assembly is a non-steerable axle assembly.

9. The multi-speed electric axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the multi-speed electric axle assembly only includes the first gear assembly and a second gear assembly.

10. The multi-speed electric axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the first gear assembly is a Ravigneaux gear set.

11. The multi-speed electric axle assembly of claim 1 , wherein the multi-speed electric axle assembly is included in a heavy duty commercial vehicle.

Assignees

• Dana Heavy Vehicle Sys Group

Inventors

• Brammer Andrew T
• Cook Michael D
• Houser Jordan M

Classifications

• F16H3/663 Primary

  with conveying rotary motion between axially spaced orbital gears, e.g. a stepped orbital gear or Ravigneaux · CPC title

• F16H37/0806

  with a plurality of driving or driven shafts · CPC title

• F16H2200/0021

  specially adapted for electric vehicles · CPC title

• F16H2200/0039

  the gear ratios comprising three forward speeds · CPC title

• F16H2200/2007

  with two sets of orbital gears · CPC title