Multi-speed transmission and method for transmission operation

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12208675-B2
Application number	US-202217817844-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 5, 2022
Priority date	Aug 5, 2022
Publication date	Jan 28, 2025
Grant date	Jan 28, 2025

Abstract

Systems and methods for an electric drive unit are provided. A transmission system, in one example, includes a higher-lower range clutch assembly positioned downstream of a multi-speed clutch assembly and designed to shift the transmission system between a higher range operating mode and a lower range operating mode. The higher-lower range clutch assembly includes a lower range clutch and a higher range clutch each positioned on one of a first layshaft and an output shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A transmission system, comprising:
a higher-lower range clutch assembly positioned downstream of a multi-speed clutch assembly and designed to shift the transmission system between a higher range operating mode and a lower range operating mode;
wherein the higher-lower range clutch assembly includes a lower range clutch and a higher range clutch each positioned on one of a first layshaft and an output shaft;
wherein the output shaft is designed to rotationally couple to at least one drive axle; and
wherein the transmission system is designed with an equal number of forward and reverse driving gear modes.

2. The transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the multi-speed clutch assembly includes a first set of clutches arranged coaxial to a second layshaft and a second set of clutches arranged coaxial to a third layshaft.

3. The transmission system of claim 2 , wherein the first and second sets of clutches each include two or more friction clutches.

4. The transmission system of claim 1 , wherein the higher range clutch and the lower range clutch are friction clutches.

5. The transmission system of claim 1 , further comprising an input assembly that includes an input gear on an input shaft that is designed to mesh with a gear on an electric machine interface shaft.

6. The transmission system of claim 5 , wherein the input assembly further includes an output gear that meshes with one or more gears in the multi-speed clutch assembly.

7. The transmission system of claim 5 , wherein the input shaft is positioned above an electric machine interface shaft.

8. The transmission system of claim 1 , further comprising a charging pump driven by an electric motor coupled to a housing of the transmission system.

9. The transmission system of claim 1 , further comprising an input shaft positioned above the output shaft.

10. The transmission system of claim 9 , wherein the output shaft is rotationally coupled to multiple drive axles.

11. A method for operation of a transmission system, comprising:
during a first operating condition, operating a higher-lower range clutch assembly positioned downstream of a multi-speed clutch assembly to shift the transmission system between a higher range operating mode and a lower range operating mode; and
operating an electric motor to drive a charging pump, wherein the electric motor and the charging pump are coupled to a housing of the transmission system;
wherein the higher-lower range clutch assembly is positioned downstream of the multi-speed clutch assembly;
wherein the higher-lower range clutch assembly includes a lower range clutch and a higher range clutch each positioned on one of a first layshaft and an output shaft; and
wherein the output shaft is designed to rotationally couple to a drive axle.

12. The method of claim 11 , wherein operating the higher-lower range clutch assembly to shift the transmission system between the higher range operating mode and the lower range operating mode is implemented during a reverse driving operating condition.

13. The method of claim 11 , further comprising during a second operating condition, operating the multi-speed clutch assembly to powershift the transmission system between two gear speed modes.

14. An electric transmission system, comprising:
a higher-lower range clutch assembly positioned downstream of a multi-speed clutch assembly and designed to shift the electric transmission system between a higher range operating mode and a lower range operating mode; and
an input assembly that includes an input gear on an input shaft that is designed to mesh with a gear on a first electric machine interface shaft;
wherein the higher-lower range clutch assembly includes a lower range friction clutch and a higher range friction clutch each positioned on one of a first layshaft and an output shaft; and
wherein the output shaft is designed to rotationally couple to a drive axle.

15. The electric transmission system of claim 14 , wherein the input gear is designed to mesh with a gear on the output shaft of a second electric machine.

16. The electric transmission system of claim 14 , wherein the input shaft is positioned above the output shaft and the first electric machine interface shaft.

17. The electric transmission system of claim 14 , wherein the first layshaft and the output shaft are positioned below the first electric machine interface shaft.

Assignees

• Dana Belgium Nv

Inventors

• Cattoor Kurt
• Schacht Filip D
• Van Raepenbusch Filip

Classifications

• B60K17/08

  of mechanical type · CPC title

• F16H57/0473

  Friction devices, e.g. clutches or brakes · CPC title

• B60K2001/001

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

• F16H2200/0082

  characterised by the number of reverse speeds · CPC title

• F16H2200/006

  the gear ratios comprising eight forward speeds · CPC title