Hybrid powertrain and modular rear drive unit for same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2017282909-A1
Application number	US-201715625243-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Jun 16, 2017
Priority date	May 8, 2013
Publication date	Oct 5, 2017
Grant date	—

Abstract

A modular rear drive unit for a hybrid vehicle comprises a torque distributing unit, an electric motor-generator, and a gearing arrangement operatively connecting the electric motor-generator with the torque distributing unit. The modular rear drive unit also includes an integrated housing and rear cradle supporting and surrounding the torque distributing unit, the electric motor-generator, and the gearing arrangement. The integrated housing and rear cradle operatively mounts to the vehicle body.

First claim

1 . A modular rear drive unit for a hybrid vehicle having a vehicle body, the modular rear drive unit comprising:
a torque distributing unit providing differential action; an electric motor-generator; a gearing arrangement operatively connecting the electric motor-generator with the torque distributing unit; an integrated housing and rear cradle supporting and surrounding the torque distributing unit, the electric motor-generator, and the gearing arrangement; and wherein the integrated housing and rear cradle operatively mounts to the vehicle body.

2 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the integrated housing and rear cradle includes a first portion and a second portion;
wherein the first portion supports the torque distributing unit; and wherein the second portion is secured to the first portion and supports the electric motor-generator.

3 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 2 , wherein the integrated housing and rear cradle includes body mount locators at which the integrated housing and rear cradle directly mounts to the vehicle body.

4 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 3 , wherein some of the body mount locators are at the first portion, and some of the body mount locators are at the second portion.

5 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 2 , wherein the first portion has a first internal cavity; and
wherein the second portion has a second internal cavity aligned with the first portion.

6 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 5 , further comprising:
a cross shaft connected to the electric motor/generator; and wherein the gearing arrangement and the cross shaft are in the first internal cavity.

7 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 6 , wherein the electric motor/generator is in the second internal cavity.

8 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 2 , wherein the first portion includes a central portion, a side member, and a front cross member connecting the central portion to the side member.

9 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 8 , wherein the first portion includes a supplemental cross member adjacent to the second portion.

10 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 2 , wherein the second portion includes a central portion, a side member, and a rear cross member connecting the central portion to the side member.

11 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 10 , wherein the second portion includes a supplemental cross member connecting the central portion to the side member.

12 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 2 , wherein passages extend from a rear face of the second portion into the first portion.

13 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 12 , wherein the passages are threaded and are configured to receive fasteners.

14 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 2 , wherein the housing further comprises a third portion secured to the first portion and at least partially enclosing the electric motor/generator.

15 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 14 , wherein the vehicle includes an engine, a transmission driven by the engine, a driveshaft operatively connected with the transmission, and rear half shafts operatively connected to the torque distributing unit;
wherein the torque distributing unit is a rear differential includes a rotatable differential carrier; wherein the motor-generator is positioned at least partially rearward of the rear half shafts and has a motor shaft, and the modular rear drive unit further comprising: a pinion shaft operatively connectable to the driveshaft; a bevel gear set having a first bevel gear fixed to the pinion shaft, and a second bevel gear fixed to the differential carrier and meshing with the first bevel gear; a cross shaft fixed to and extending forward from the motor shaft generally parallel with the driveshaft; a reduction gear set having a first transfer gear fixed to the cross shaft, and a second transfer gear fixed to the pinion shaft and meshing with the first transfer gear; and wherein the reduction gear set is configured to multiply torque from the cross shaft to the pinion shaft.

16 . The modular rear drive unit of claim 1 , further comprising:
suspension mount features attached to the integrated housing and rear cradle.

17 . A powertrain for a vehicle having a vehicle body, front wheels and rear wheels, the powertrain comprising:
an engine with a crankshaft; a first motor-generator drivingly connected to the crankshaft via an endless rotatable device; a transmission having a transmission input member driven by the crankshaft and a transmission output member; a driveshaft operatively connected with the transmission output member; a modular rear drive unit comprising: a torque distributing unit operatively connectable with the driveshaft and configured to transfer torque from the driveshaft to rear half shafts that are connectable to the rear wheels; a second motor-generator drivingly connected to the torque distributing unit and positioned at least partially rearward of the rear half shafts;
a gearing arrangement operatively connecting the electric motor-generator with the torque distributing unit;
an integrated housing and rear cradle supporting and surrounding the torque distributing unit, the second motor-generator, and the gearing arrangement; and
wherein the integrated housing and rear cradle directly mounts to the vehicle body.

18 . The powertrain of claim 17 , further comprising:
a controller operatively connected to the second motor-generator and operable to control the second motor-generator to function as a motor providing driving torque to the rear half shafts through the torque distributing unit.

19 . The powertrain of claim 17 , wherein the torque distributing unit is a rear differential that includes a rotatable differential carrier; wherein the second motor-generator has a motor shaft; and the modular rear drive unit includes:
a pinion shaft operatively connectable to the driveshaft; a bevel gear set having a first bevel gear fixed to the pinion shaft, and a second bevel gear fixed to the differential carrier and meshing with the first bevel gear; a cross shaft fixed to and extending forward from the motor shaft generally parallel with the driveshaft; wherein the gearing arrangement is a reduction gear set having a first transfer gear fixed to the cross shaft, and a second transfer gear fixed to the pinion shaft and meshing with the first transfer gear; and wherein the reduction gear set is configured to multiply torque from the cross shaft to the pinion shaft.

20 . The powertrain of claim 17 , wherein the second motor-generator has a motor shaft with an axis of rotation generally parallel with the driveshaft.

Assignees

• Gm Global Tech Operations Llc

Inventors

• Swales Shawn H
• Maguire Joel M
• Tamai Goro
• Savagian Peter J

Classifications

• Y10S903/902

  Prime movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors · CPC title

• B60W20/40 Primary

  Controlling the engagement or disengagement of prime movers, e.g. for transition between prime movers {(power-up or power-down of the driveline B60W30/192)} · CPC title

• B60W2710/021

  Clutch engagement state · CPC title

• F16H57/0483

  Axle or inter-axle differentials · CPC title

• B60W2710/083

  Torque · CPC title