DRIVE UNIT ASSEMBLY

• US 20150137586A1
• Filed: 11/19/2014
• Published: 05/21/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 11/21/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems Cameri SPA (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Original Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Systems Cameri SPA (Meritor, Inc. (Nevada))
• Inventors: BASSI, Marco, GIANONE, Roberto, TIZIANI, Eugenio
• Granted Patent: US 9,429,222 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 301/137
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/36 for driving tandem wheels
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/06 with gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/037 Gearboxes for accommodating differential gearings rotating cases for differential gearings F16H48/40
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/045 Lubricant storage reservoirs, e.g. reservoirs in addition to a gear sump for collecting lubricant in the upper part of a gear case

Abstract

A drive unit assembly including an input element, a first output element, a second output element and a drive unit housing containing a differential unit, the differential unit drivingly coupling the input element, the first output element and the second output element, the input element having input coupling features positioned externally of the drive unit housing, the first output element having output coupling features positioned externally of the drive unit housing, wherein the drive unit housing includes at least one mounting feature for securing the drive unit housing externally relative to an axle assembly and the second output element is suitable for driving an axle assembly.

Claims

1. A drive unit assembly comprising:

an input element having input coupling features;

a first output element having output coupling features;

a second output element; and

a drive unit housing containing a differential unit, the differential unit drivingly coupling the input element, the first output element, and the second output element;

wherein the input coupling features and the output coupling features are positioned externally of the drive unit housing;

wherein the drive unit housing includes at least one mounting feature for securing the drive unit housing externally relative to an axle assembly having a differential carrier and an axle housing; and

wherein the second output element is suitable for driving an axle assembly.

2. The drive unit assembly of claim 1 wherein the input element defines a first axis and the first output element is rotatable about the first axis.

3. The drive unit assembly of claim 2 wherein the second output element is rotatable about a second axis that differs from the first axis.

4. The drive unit assembly of claim 3 wherein the second axis is parallel to the first axis.

5. The drive unit assembly of claim 3 wherein the differential unit is drivingly coupled to a first gear that is rotatable about the first axis, the first gear being in meshing engagement with an idler gear, the idler gear being rotatable about a third axis disposed parallel to the first axis, the idler gear being drivingly coupled to a second gear that is rotatable about the second axis and that is drivingly coupled to the second output element.

6. The drive unit assembly of claim 3 wherein the drive unit housing includes a mounting flange having a plurality of mounting holes defining the at least one mounting feature, each mounting hole having a mounting hole axis disposed parallel to the first axis.

7. The drive unit assembly of claim 6 wherein each mounting hole axis is spaced from the second axis by substantially a same distance.

8. The drive unit assembly of claim 6 wherein the mounting flange is positioned axially between the input element and the first output element.

9. The drive unit assembly of claim 6 wherein the drive unit housing includes a mounting bracket having one or more bracket holes defining the at least one mounting feature.

10. The drive unit assembly of claim 9 wherein each bracket hole has an axis which is not parallel to the first axis.

11. The drive unit assembly of claim 9 wherein each mounting bracket hole has an axis which lies in a plane which is perpendicular to the first axis.

12. The drive unit assembly of claim 9 wherein the mounting bracket is positioned on the drive unit housing between the mounting flange and the first output element.

13. The drive unit assembly of claim 1 wherein the differential unit is a single differential unit.

14. An axle arrangement comprising:

a drive unit assembly having;

an input element having input coupling features;

a first output element having output coupling features;

a second output element; and

a drive unit housing containing a differential unit, the differential unit drivingly coupling the input element, the first output element, and the second output element, wherein the input coupling features and output coupling features are positioned externally of the drive unit housing and the drive unit housing includes at least one mounting feature; and

an axle assembly having;

an axle input element defined by a differential carrier;

a right wheel output element;

a left wheel output element; and

an axle housing containing a single axle differential unit, the single axle differential unit drivingly coupling the axle input element, the right wheel output element, and the left wheel output element;

wherein the drive unit housing is secured to the axle assembly externally relative to the axle housing via the at least one mounting feature such that the second output element selectively drives the axle input element.

15. The axle arrangement of claim 14 wherein the input element defines a first axis, the first output element is rotatable about the first axis, the axle housing extends laterally, and the first axis extends over the axle housing.

16. A vehicle comprising:

an axle arrangement including;

a drive unit assembly having;

an input element having input coupling features;

a first output element having output coupling features;

a second output element; and

a drive unit housing containing a differential unit, the differential unit drivingly coupling the input element, the first output element, and the second output element, wherein the input coupling features and the output coupling features are positioned externally of the drive unit housing and wherein the drive unit housing includes at least one mounting feature; and

an axle assembly having;

an axle input element defined by a differential carrier;

a right wheel output element;

a left wheel output element; and

an axle housing containing a single axle differential unit, the single axle differential unit drivingly coupling the axle input element, the right wheel output element, and the left wheel output element;

wherein the drive unit housing is secured to the axle assembly externally relative to the axle housing via the at least one mounting feature such that the second output element selectively drives the axle input element, and wherein the axle arrangement defines a forward-rear axle arrangement of the vehicle and the differential carrier defining a forward-rear differential carrier; and

a rear-rear axle assembly positioned behind the forward-rear axle arrangement, the rear-rear axle assembly including a rear-rear differential carrier upon which is mounted a single rear-rear differential unit;

wherein the forward-rear differential carrier is substantially the same as the rear-rear differential carrier.

17. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein an axis of the input element is coincident with an axis of the first output element.

18. The vehicle as defined in claim 17 wherein the axis of the input element is parallel to an axis of the second output element.

19. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein an axis of the input element is parallel to an axis of the axle input element.

20. The vehicle of claim 16 wherein the drive unit assembly defines a first lubricant reservoir and the axle assembly defines a second lubricant reservoir separate from the first lubricant reservoir.