Drive module for a drive train of a hybrid vehicle

• US 10,093,163 B2
• Filed: 08/08/2016
• Issued: 10/09/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 08/13/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Original Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG (Zeppelin - Stiftung der Stadt Friedrichshafen)
• Inventors: Schmitt, Guido, Ludsteck, Sven, Model, Florian
• Primary Examiner(s): Burgess, Ramya P
• Assistant Examiner(s): Morris, David R
• Application Number:
  US15/230,669
• Publication Number:
  US 20170043657A1
• Time in Patent Office: 792 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4825 Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox input shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/48 Parallel type
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/424 Friction clutches
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 13/38 with flat clutching surfaces, e.g. discs
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 13/75 Features relating to adjustment, e.g. slack adjusters
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2300/12 Mounting or assembling
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/087 the clutch being actuated by the fluid-actuated member via a diaphragm spring or an equivalent array of levers F16D25/085, F16D25/086 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 25/126 adjustment for wear or play
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/914 Actuated, e.g. engaged or disengaged by electrical, hydraulic or mechanical means

Abstract

A drive module for a powertrain of a hybrid vehicle and a method for assembling the drive module for the powertrain of the hybrid vehicle, having a housing, a friction clutch with a pressure plate which is axially displaceable by means of an actuating arrangement, a clutch plate and with a clutch disk arrangement positioned therebetween, a hub, wherein this hub is fixedly connected to the clutch disk arrangement, and an electric machine which has a rotor with a rotor carrier and a stator which is fixed at a stator carrier. The axial arrangement or alignment of the clutch disk arrangement relative to the pressure plate and clutch plate is determined by an adjusting arrangement, wherein the adjusting arrangement is functionally arranged between the hub and a supporting element which is axially fixed to the housing of the drive module.

Claims

1. A drive module (14) for a powertrain (10) of a hybrid vehicle, comprising:

a drive module housing (20) having at least a portion configured as a stator carrier (34);

a friction clutch (18) comprising a pressure plate (62) and an actuating arrangement (60) configured to move said pressure plate (62) in an axial direction;

a clutch plate (66);

a clutch disk arrangement (74) positioned between said pressure plate (62) and said clutch plate (66);

a hub (84) fixedly connected to said clutch disk arrangement (74);

an electric machine (16) comprising a rotor (22) with a rotor carrier (24) and a stator (32) mounted at the stator carrier (34), wherein the electric motor is in axial arrangement with the hub;

a supporting element (90) axially fixed relative to said drive module housing (20), the supporting element (90) comprising at least a portion of the rotor carrier (24), wherein said supporting element (90) is formed integrally with said housing (20) of said drive module (14), with said stator carrier (34) or with said rotor carrier (24); and

an adjusting arrangement (92) for determining an axial arrangement or alignment of the electric motor relative to the hub thereby determining an axial arrangement or alignment of said clutch disk arrangement (74) relative to said pressure plate (62) and said clutch plate (66), wherein said adjusting arrangement (92) is operatively disposed between said hub (84) and said supporting element (90).

2. The drive module (14) according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting arrangement (92) is arranged at an axial end region of said rotor carrier (24).

3. The drive module (14) according to claim 1, wherein said adjusting arrangement (92) comprises a first retaining element (93);

an adjusting element (94) and a second retaining element (95).

4. The drive module (14) according to claim 3, wherein said second retaining element (95) forms a thrust washer (95) and is formed as a plastic part.

5. The drive module (14) according to claim 3, wherein said second retaining element (95) has a collar so as to be radially secured relative to said supporting element (90).

6. The drive module (14) according to claim 1, wherein the axial arrangement or alignment of said clutch disk arrangement (74) relative to said clutch plate (66) and said pressure plate (62) is fixed through a thickness of the adjusting arrangement (92).

7. The drive module (14) according to claim 1, wherein said hub (84) is supported relative to said supporting element (90) via a bearing arrangement (85).

8. A method of assembling a drive module (14), the drive module including a powertrain (10) of a hybrid vehicle, having:

a drive module housing (20);

a friction clutch (18) comprising a pressure plate (62) and an actuating arrangement (60) configured to move said pressure plate (62) in an axial direction;

a clutch plate (66);

a clutch disk arrangement (74) positioned between said pressure plate (62) and said clutch plate (66);

a hub (84) fixedly connected to said clutch disk arrangement (74);

an electric machine (16) comprising a rotor (22) with a rotor carrier (24) and a stator (32) mounted at a stator carrier (34);

a supporting element (90) axially fixed relative to said drive module housing (20); and

an adjusting arrangement (92) for determining an axial arrangement or alignment of said clutch disk arrangement (74) relative to said pressure plate (62) and said clutch plate (66), wherein said adjusting arrangement (92) is operatively disposed between said hub (84) and said supporting element (90),

wherein the method of assembling the drive module comprises;

first assembling the rotor carrier (24), the friction clutch (18), the clutch disk arrangement (74) and the hub (84) to form a preassembly so that the friction clutch (18) is closed and the clutch disk arrangement (74) contacts the clutch plate (66);

subsequently determining a distance between a first characteristic measurement point (92a) of the supporting element and a second characteristic measurement point (92b) of the hub (84);

further determining a suitable thickness for an adjusting element (94) on the basis of the determined distance for correct arrangement or alignment of the clutch disk arrangement (74) at the friction clutch (18);

subsequently assembling the adjusting arrangement (92); and

thereafter assembling remainder of component parts of the drive module (14).