Inverter module integratably mountable with drive unit of vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11993166-B2
Application number	US-202117244288-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Apr 29, 2021
Priority date	Apr 29, 2021
Publication date	May 28, 2024
Grant date	May 28, 2024

Abstract

Various disclosed embodiments include illustrative inverter modules that are integratably mountable with a drive unit of a vehicle, illustrative drive units with an inverter module integratably mounted therewith, and illustrative vehicles with at least one drive unit with an inverter module integratably mounted therewith. Given by way of non-limiting example, an illustrative module for a drive unit of a vehicle includes a housing having an open face defined therein. Inverter circuitry is disposed in the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A drive unit for a vehicle, the drive unit comprising:
a frame;
a first drive member configured to rotate a first propulsion device;
a first plurality of gears disposed within the frame and configured to rotatably engage the first drive member;
a first electric motor configured to rotatably engage the first plurality of gears; and
an inverter module integratably mountable with the frame, the inverter module including:
a housing having an open face defined therein and mounted with the frame by a plurality of fasteners, wherein the open face is the top face of the housing and the top face is mounted to the frame with the housing inverted; and
inverter circuitry disposed in and mounted to the housing through the open face, wherein the inverter circuitry is mounted with the frame via the housing and the housing utilizes no lid or cover when inverted and mounted to the frame.

2. The drive unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
a second drive member configured to rotate a second propulsion device;
a second plurality of gears disposed within the frame and configured to rotatably engage the second drive member; and
a second electric motor configured to rotatably engage the second plurality of gears.

3. The drive unit of claim 1 , wherein:
the frame defines a first sealing surface; and
the housing defines a second sealing surface configured to sealably engage the first sealing surface.

4. The drive unit of claim 3 , wherein the first and second sealing surfaces each include a gasket.

5. The drive unit of claim 3 , wherein the open face is defined interior the first sealing surface.

6. The drive unit of claim 3 , wherein:
the first sealing surface defines a first plurality of holes therein; and
the second sealing surface defines a second plurality of holes therein that are alignable with the first plurality of holes.

Assignees

• Rivian Ip Holdings Llc

Inventors

• Doo Young
• Hiti Silva
• Lopez Juan

Classifications

• B60L53/20 Primary

  characterised by converters located in the vehicle · CPC title

• B60K1/02

  comprising more than one electric motor · CPC title

• B60K1/04

  of the electric storage means for propulsion · CPC title

• F16H57/029

  characterised by means for sealing the gearboxes, e.g. to improve airtightness · CPC title

• B60K2001/001

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