Multi-speed electric axle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12584547-B2
Application number	US-202418828505-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Sep 9, 2024
Priority date	Sep 22, 2023
Publication date	Mar 24, 2026
Grant date	Mar 24, 2026

Abstract

A system and method for a multi-speed electric axle. The multi-speed electric axle includes, in one example, an electric machine rotationally coupled to an input shaft, a planetary gear set including a ring gear meshed with a gear fixedly coupled to the input shaft and a carrier that is rotationally coupled to a shaft, a first clutch configured to selectively ground a sun gear in the first planetary gear set, and a second clutch configured to selectively rotationally couple a sun gear in the planetary gear set with the shaft.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1 . A multi-speed electric beam axle, comprising:
a traction motor rotationally coupled to an input shaft; a simple planetary gear set including:
a ring gear meshed with a gear fixedly coupled to the input shaft; and
a carrier that is rotationally coupled to a shaft;
a first clutch configured to selectively ground a sun gear in the simple planetary gear set; a second clutch configured to selectively rotationally couple the sun gear in the simple planetary gear set with the shaft; a jumper shaft rotationally coupled to the shaft and extending across a side of the electric machine; and a mechanical limited slip differential coupled to the jumper shaft via a second simple planetary gear set; wherein the multi-speed electric beam axle is a rear axle.

2 . The multi-speed electric beam axle of claim 1 , wherein the second simple planetary gear set is coupled to the differential.

3 . The multi-speed electric beam axle of claim 2 , wherein the traction motor is a motor-generator.

4 . The multi-speed electric beam axle of claim 1 , wherein the first clutch and the second clutch are coaxially arranged and are friction clutches.

5 . The multi-speed electric beam axle of claim 4 , wherein the first clutch and the second clutch are positioned axially outboard of the simple planetary gear set.

6 . The multi-speed electric beam axle of claim 4 , wherein the first clutch and the second clutch are positioned axially inboard of the simple planetary gear set.

7 . The multi-speed electric beam axle of claim 1 , wherein the multi-speed electric beam axle is positioned vertically under an exhaust conduit of an internal combustion engine.

Assignees

• Dana Automotive Systems Group

Inventors

• Engerman Eric M

Classifications

• F16H2200/2035

  with two engaging means · CPC title

• F16H2200/2007

  with two sets of orbital gears · CPC title

• F16H2200/0034

  the gear ratios comprising two forward speeds · CPC title

• F16H2200/0021

  specially adapted for electric vehicles · CPC title

• B60Y2200/92

  Hybrid vehicles · CPC title