ELECTRIC DRIVE SYSTEM FOR PASSIVE VEHICLE
First Claim
1. An electric drive system for a passive vehicle having a pair of spaced-apart wheels, comprising:
- a hollow axle tube positioned between the spaced-apart wheels;
first and second gear assemblies coupled to the hollow axle tube;
first and second electric motors respectively coupled to the first and second gear assemblies; and
first and second drive axles positioned within the hollow axle tube, the first drive axle comprising a first end portion coupled to a first of the spaced-apart wheels and a second end portion coupled to the first gear assembly, and the second drive axle comprising a first end portion coupled to a second of the spaced-apart wheels and a second end portion coupled to the second gear assembly;
wherein actuation of the first electric motor rotates the first drive axle and first wheel via the first gear assembly and actuation of the second electric motor rotates the second drive axle and second wheel via the second gear assembly.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
One embodiment of an electric drive system includes first and second gear assemblies coupled to a hollow axle tube, and first and second electric motors respectively coupled to the first and second gear assemblies. Further, the electric drive system includes first and second drive axles positioned within the hollow axle tube. The first drive axle includes a first end portion coupled to a first wheel and a second end portion coupled to the first gear assembly. Similarly, the second drive axle includes a first end portion coupled to a second wheel spaced-apart from the first wheel and a second end portion coupled to the second gear assembly. Actuation of the first electric motor rotates the first drive axle and first wheel via the first gear assembly and actuation of the second electric motor rotates the second drive axle and second wheel via the second gear assembly.
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Citations
20 Claims
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1. An electric drive system for a passive vehicle having a pair of spaced-apart wheels, comprising:
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a hollow axle tube positioned between the spaced-apart wheels; first and second gear assemblies coupled to the hollow axle tube; first and second electric motors respectively coupled to the first and second gear assemblies; and first and second drive axles positioned within the hollow axle tube, the first drive axle comprising a first end portion coupled to a first of the spaced-apart wheels and a second end portion coupled to the first gear assembly, and the second drive axle comprising a first end portion coupled to a second of the spaced-apart wheels and a second end portion coupled to the second gear assembly; wherein actuation of the first electric motor rotates the first drive axle and first wheel via the first gear assembly and actuation of the second electric motor rotates the second drive axle and second wheel via the second gear assembly. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12)
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13. An electric drive system for a passive vehicle having a pair of spaced-apart wheels, comprising:
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a hollow axle tube positioned between the spaced-apart wheels and secured to the trailer; first and second gear assemblies coupled to the hollow axle tube, the first and second gear assemblies each comprising a plurality of gears rotatable about respective axes extending parallel to the hollow axle tube; first and second electric motors respectively coupled to the first and second gear assemblies, the first and second electric motors each comprising an input/output shaft extending parallel to the hollow axle tube, the input/output shaft of the first electric motor being coupled to a first gear of the first gear assembly and the input/output shaft of the second electric motor being coupled to a first gear of the second gear assembly; first and second drive axles positioned within the hollow axle tube and extending parallel to the hollow axle tube, the first drive axle comprising a first end portion coupled to a first of the spaced-apart wheels and a second end portion coupled to a second gear of the first gear assembly, and the second drive axle comprising a first end portion coupled to a second of the spaced-apart wheels and a second end portion coupled to a second gear of the second gear assembly, the second gears being positioned within the hollow axle tube; and an energy storage system in electrical power communication with the first and second electric motors, the energy storage system supplying electrical power to at least one of the first and second electric motors in a drive assist mode and receiving electrical power from at least one of the first and second electric motors in an energy recovery mode. - View Dependent Claims (14, 15, 16, 17, 18)
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19. A method for retrofitting an existing passive vehicle comprising a passive axle assembly having an existing hollow axle tube coupled to the vehicle via a suspension assembly, the method comprising:
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removing the existing hollow axle tube from the suspension assembly; providing an electrically driven axle assembly comprising a modified hollow axle tube substantially similar to the existing hollow axle tube, first and second gear assemblies coupled to the modified hollow axle tube, first and second electric motors respectively coupled to the first and second gear assemblies, and first and second drive axles positioned within the hollow axle tube, the first drive axle comprising an end portion coupled to the first gear assembly, and the second drive axle comprising an end portion coupled to the second gear assembly, wherein actuation of the first electric motor rotates the first drive axle via the first gear assembly and actuation of the second electric motor rotates the second drive axle via the second gear assembly; and coupling the modified hollow axle tube to the suspension assembly. - View Dependent Claims (20)
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Specification