Drive module with parallel input axes for propulsive and torque-vectoring inputs

• US 10,006,533 B1
• Filed: 02/08/2017
• Issued: 06/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 02/08/2017
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: E-aam Driveline Systems Ab (American AXLE & Manufacturing Holdings Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: E-aam Driveline Systems Ab (American AXLE & Manufacturing Holdings Incorporated)
• Inventors: Strandberg, Mats
• Primary Examiner(s): Holmes, Justin
• Application Number:
  US15/427,314
• Time in Patent Office: 503 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/16 of differential gearing
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/165 provided between independent half axles B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/364 using electric or hydraulic motors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/08 comprising bevel gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/36 characterised by intentionally generating speed difference between outputs

Abstract

A drive module with a first input, which receives rotary power from a first power source, and a second input that receives rotary power from a second power source. Rotary power from the first power source is transmitted to a differential assembly to drive a pair of vehicle wheels. Rotary power is selectively provided by the second power source to provide the drive module with torque-vectoring capabilities in which equal but opposite moments are applied to the vehicle wheels. The axes of the first input and the second input are parallel one another.

Claims

1. A drive module comprising:

a housing assembly;

an input pinion received in the housing assembly and rotatable about a first axis;

a differential assembly received in the housing assembly, the differential assembly having a differential input, which is rotatable about a second axis that is not parallel to the first axis, and first and second differential outputs that are rotatable about the second axis;

a differential ring gear coupled to the differential input for rotation therewith, the differential ring gear being meshingly engaged with the input pinion;

a first axle shaft drivingly coupled to the first differential output;

a second axle shaft drivingly coupled to the second differential output;

a transmission received in the housing assembly and having first and second planetary gearsets, the first planetary gearset having a first ring gear, a first planet carrier, a first sun gear and a plurality of first planet gears, the first planet carrier being coupled to the differential input for common rotation, the first planet gears being rotatably supported by the first planet carrier and being drivingly engaged with the first ring gear and the first sun gear, the second planetary gearset having a second ring gear, a second planet carrier, a second sun gear and a plurality of second planet gears, the second sun gear being coupled to the first sun gear for rotation therewith, the second planet carrier being coupled to the second axle shaft for rotation therewith, the second planet gears being rotatably supported by the second planet carrier and being drivingly engaged with the second ring gear and the second sun gear, wherein one of the first and second ring gears is rotatable relative to the housing assembly and the other one of the first and second ring gears is non-rotatably coupled to the housing assembly;

a first bevel gear coupled to the one of the first and second ring gears for rotation therewith;

a second bevel gear meshed with the first bevel gear and rotatable about a third axis that is parallel to the first axis; and

an electric motor drivingly coupled to the second bevel gear;

wherein the first and second bevel gears are hypoid gears, wherein the input pinion and the differential ring gear are hypoid gears, and wherein the second axis is disposed vertically between the first and third axes.

2. The drive module of claim 1, wherein the differential input comprises a differential case and wherein the differential assembly further comprises a plurality of differential pinions that are meshingly engaged with the first and second differential outputs.

3. The drive module of claim 1, wherein each of the first planet gears is meshingly engaged with the first ring gear.

4. The drive module of claim 1, wherein each of the second planet gears is meshingly engaged with the second ring gear.

5. The drive module of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is drivingly coupled to the second bevel gear through a reduction gearset.

6. The drive module of claim 1, wherein the input pinion and the second bevel gear are disposed on a common longitudinal side of the differential assembly.