Drive module for a motor vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12508839-B2
Application number	US-202318520907-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 28, 2023
Priority date	Dec 13, 2022
Publication date	Dec 30, 2025
Grant date	Dec 30, 2025

Abstract

A drive module ( 1, 1 a ) includes an axle casing ( 2 ) and a shaft ( 3 ) rotatably mounted in an interior space ( 11 ) of the axle casing ( 2 ). Two bearing units ( 6, 6 a ) lie opposite each other and are secured in the axle casing ( 2 ) in an axial direction. Each bearing unit ( 6, 6 a ) includes an inner bearing ring ( 7, 7 a ) fixedly connected to the shaft ( 3 ), an outer bearing ring ( 8, 8 a ) fixedly connected to the axle casing ( 2 ), and rolling elements ( 9, 9 a ) arranged between the inner bearing ring ( 7, 7 a ) and the outer bearing ring ( 8, 8 a ). A lubricating fluid is present at least in the interior space ( 11 ). The lubricating fluid forming a fluid reservoir at a bottom of the interior space ( 11 ). The axle casing ( 2 ) includes a fluid opening extending, in each case, from the interior space ( 11 ) to a respective bearing unit ( 6, 6 a ) for conducting the lubricating fluid to the rolling elements ( 9, 9 a ). At least one conduction device is fluidically connected to the fluid reservoir and is configured for conducting the lubricating fluid the interior space ( 11 ) to the respective fluid opening.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A drive module ( 1 , 1 a ), comprising:
an axle casing ( 2 ); a shaft ( 3 ) rotatably mounted in an interior space ( 11 ) of the axle casing ( 2 ); two bearing units ( 6 , 6 a ) disposed opposite each other and secured in an axial direction in the axle casing ( 2 ), each of the two bearing units ( 6 , 6 a ) comprising an inner bearing ring ( 7 , 7 a ) fixedly connected to the shaft ( 3 ), an outer bearing ring ( 8 , 8 a ) fixedly connected to the axle casing ( 2 ), and rolling elements ( 9 , 9 a ) arranged between the inner bearing ring ( 7 , 7 a ) and the outer bearing ring ( 8 , 8 a ); and a drive shaft ( 20 ) arranged in the axle casing ( 2 ) underneath the shaft ( 3 ) and disposed transversely to the shaft ( 3 ), the drive shaft ( 20 ) being arranged between the two bearing units ( 6 , 6 a ) in the interior space ( 11 ) of the axle casing ( 2 ), wherein a lubricating fluid is present at least in the interior space ( 11 ), the lubricating fluid forming a fluid reservoir at a bottom of the interior space ( 11 ), wherein the axle casing ( 2 ) comprises at least one fluid opening that extends, in each case, from the interior space ( 11 ) to a respective one of the two bearing units ( 6 , 6 a ) for conducting the lubricating fluid to the rolling elements ( 9 , 9 a ), wherein at least one conduction device is fluidically connected to the fluid reservoir and is configured for conducting the lubricating fluid from the interior space ( 11 ) to a respective one of the at least one fluid opening, and wherein the at least one conduction device is at least one mechanical turbulizer ( 10 , 10 a ) co-rotationally mounted on the drive shaft ( 20 ) and configured for at least partially plunging into the fluid reservoir during rotation of the drive shaft ( 20 ).

2 . The drive module ( 1 , 1 a ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mechanical turbulizer ( 10 , 10 a ) is fastened on the drive shaft ( 20 ) by a clamp or by a bolt.

3 . The drive module ( 1 , 1 a ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mechanical turbulizer ( 10 , 10 a ) is integrally arranged on the drive shaft ( 20 ).

4 . The drive module ( 1 , 1 a ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one mechanical turbulizer ( 10 , 10 a ) comprises a plurality of mechanical turbulizers ( 10 , 10 a ), the plurality of mechanical turbulizers ( 10 , 10 a ) being one or both of:
differently designed from each other; or distributed over a circumference of the drive shaft ( 20 ).

5 . The drive module ( 1 , 1 a ) of claim 1 , wherein the at least one fluid opening comprises a plurality of fluid openings in the axle casing ( 2 ) arranged facing from the respective one of the two bearing units ( 6 , 6 a ), in each case, toward the interior space ( 11 ) to establish a fluidic connection between the two bearing units ( 6 , 6 a ) and the fluid reservoir.

6 . The drive module ( 1 , 1 a ) of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of fluid openings in the axle casing ( 2 ) are arranged underneath the shaft ( 2 ).

7 . The drive module ( 1 , 1 a ) of claim 6 , wherein at least some of the plurality of fluid openings are disposed in the axle casing ( 2 ) to align with the rolling elements ( 9 , 9 a ) to guide the lubricating fluid to the rolling elements ( 9 , 9 a ).

8 . The drive module ( 1 , 1 a ) of claim 5 , wherein the plurality of fluid openings in the axle casing ( 2 ) are formed as bores.

9 . The drive module ( 1 , 1 a ) of claim 8 , wherein at least some of the plurality of fluid openings are disposed in the axle casing ( 2 ) to align with the rolling elements ( 9 , 9 a ) to guide the lubricating fluid to the rolling elements ( 9 , 9 a ).

10 . The drive module ( 1 , 1 a ) of claim 1 , wherein the shaft ( 3 ) comprises at least one fluid-conducting channel extending in the axial direction to a respective one of the at least one fluid opening.

11 . The drive module ( 1 , 1 a ) of claim 10 , wherein the at least one fluid-conducting channel are grooves on the shaft ( 3 ).

12 . The drive module ( 1 , 1 a ) of claim 11 , wherein the at least one fluid-conducting channel are distributed over a circumference of the shaft ( 3 ).

Assignees

• Zahnradfabrik Friedrichshafen

Inventors

• Smerczek Simon

Classifications

• F16C33/6644

  by a magnetic field acting on a magnetic liquid · CPC title

• B60B35/121

  Power-transmission from drive shaft to hub · CPC title

• F16C33/6685

  Details of collecting or draining, e.g. returning the liquid to a sump · CPC title

• F16C2326/01

  Parts of vehicles in general · CPC title

• F16C33/6681

  Details of distribution or circulation inside the bearing, e.g. grooves on the cage or passages in the rolling elements · CPC title