Axle assembly with parallel drive system for electric hybrid vehicles
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Accused Products
Abstract
The inventive parallel drive system is particularly well suited to be supported at the axle of the vehicle. A coupling arrangement includes a clutching mechanism and a gear reduction device that selectively couple an electric motor to the drive wheels for providing torque to the wheels alone or in combination with input from an internal combustion engine. The drive torque can also be provided exclusively from the internal combustion engine. The inventive arrangement also allows for the electric motor to be used as a generator during coasting or braking, for example.
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Citations
30 Claims
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1-20. -20. (canceled)
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21. A vehicle axle assembly, comprising:
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an axle housing;
at least one axle shaft supported for rotation relative to the axle housing;
a first coupling device supported at least partially by the axle housing, the first coupling device selectively coupling a first input member to be driven by an internal combustion engine to the axle shaft to provide torque to the axle shaft;
an electric motor supported at a location of the axle housing;
a second coupling device supported at least partially by the axle housing, the second coupling device selectively coupling a second input member associated with the electric motor to the axle shaft to provide torque to the axle shaft. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28, 29, 30)
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Specification