Torque transfer unit with integrated electric drive motor

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-8961369-B2
Application number	US-201314084049-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 19, 2013
Priority date	Mar 17, 2011
Publication date	Feb 24, 2015
Grant date	Feb 24, 2015

Abstract

An axle assembly comprises a power transmission device including a housing having a cylindrically shaped sidewall. The power transmission device selectively communicates rotatable motion from an input member to an output member. A frictional clutch is disposed in the housing and includes a drum. A first and a second axle shaft selectively drive a first and a second drive wheel, respectively. A differential selectively transfers drive torque from the output member to at least one of the first and second axle shafts. An electric motor comprising a coil and a plurality of magnets is provided on the axle assembly. In one example, the coil is disposed on the housing and the magnets are disposed on the drum. The coil is configured to selectively energize to provide one of a positive or negative torque input to the output member.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A torque transfer device comprising:
a first housing;
a second housing mounted to the first housing, the first and second housings cooperating to define a cavity;
a first shaft received in the first housing and extending into the cavity;
a plurality of first clutch plates received in the cavity and non-rotatably coupled to the first shaft;
a second shaft received in the second housing;
an outer clutch drum mounted on the second shaft, the outer clu…

Assignees

• American Axle & Mfg Inc

Inventors

• Stuart Charles G

Classifications

• Y02T10/6265

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02T10/90

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• Y02T10/626

  Cross-Sectional Technologies · mapped topic

• F16D13/54 Primary

  Mechanical Engineering · mapped topic

• B60K2006/4808

  Operations & Transport · mapped topic