MOTOR INTEGRATION ASSEMBLY

• US 20180208046A1
• Filed: 03/21/2018
• Published: 07/26/2018
• Est. Priority Date: 10/06/2011
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: XL Hybrids, Inc. (The Shyft Group, Inc.)
• Original Assignee: XL Hybrids
• Inventors: Leach, Brian Joseph, Brenner, Neal Ennis, Hafer, Jason Paul, McCabe, Joseph D.
• Granted Patent: US 10,688,859 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2006/4808 Electric machine connected or connectable to gearbox output shaft
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/20 the prime-movers consisting of electric motors and internal combustion engines, e.g. HEVs
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/405 Housings
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/442 Series-parallel switching type
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/52 Driving a plurality of drive axles, e.g. four-wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/10 Road Vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/92 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2400/82 Four wheel drive systems
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/02034 Gearboxes combined or connected with electric machines
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/02 Gearboxes; Mounting gearing therein
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/902 Prime movers comprising electrical and internal combustion motors
• CPC Class Codes: Y10S 903/916 with plurality of drive axles

Abstract

A motor integration assembly includes a supporting structure for connecting a transmission of a vehicle to a drivetrain of the vehicle, wherein the support structure includes a housing to receive a portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle. The motor integration assembly also includes a torque transfer unit for transferring torque from an electric machine to the portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle.

Claims

1. A motor integration assembly, comprising:

a supporting structure for connecting a transmission of a vehicle to a drivetrain of the vehicle, wherein the support structure includes a housing to receive a portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle; and

a torque transfer unit for transferring torque from an electric machine to the portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle.

2. The motor integration assembly of claim 1, wherein the electric machine is located in a portion of the vehicle for a four-wheel drive component.

3. The motor integration assembly of claim 1, wherein the motor integration assembly is positioned in a location for a tail housing of the transmission of the vehicle.

4. The motor integration assembly of claim 1, wherein the electrical machine is located internal to the motor integration assembly.

5. The motor integration assembly of claim 1, wherein the electric machine is located external to motor integration assembly.

6. The motor integration assembly of claim 1, wherein the supporting structure includes a multi-piece bracket.

7. The motor integration assembly of claim 1, wherein the motor integration assembly is substantially aligned with the transmission and the drivetrain of the vehicle along an axis of rotation.

8. The motor integration assembly of claim 1, wherein the torque transfer unit includes gearing for transferring torque from the electric machine to the drivetrain of the vehicle.

9. The motor integration assembly of claim 1, wherein the electric machine converts electrical power to mechanical power.

10. A hybrid-electric vehicle system, comprising:

a transmission for providing torque to a drivetrain of the hybrid-electric vehicle;

an electric machine for providing torque to the drivetrain of the hybrid-electric vehicle; and

a motor integration assembly, comprising,

a supporting structure for connecting the transmission of the hybrid-electric vehicle to the drivetrain of the hybrid-electric vehicle, wherein the support structure includes a housing to receive a portion of the drivetrain of the hybrid-electric vehicle, and

a torque transfer unit for transferring torque from the electric machine to the portion of the drivetrain of the hybrid-electric vehicle.

11. The hybrid-electric vehicle system of claim 10, wherein the electric machine is located in a portion of the vehicle for a four-wheel drive component.

12. The hybrid-electric vehicle system of claim 10, wherein the motor integration assembly is positioned in a location for a tail housing of the transmission of the vehicle.

13. The hybrid-electric vehicle system of claim 10, wherein the electrical machine is located internal to the motor integration assembly.

14. The hybrid-electric vehicle system of claim 10, wherein the electric machine is located external to motor integration assembly.

15. The hybrid-electric vehicle system of claim 10, wherein the supporting structure includes a multi-piece bracket.

16. The hybrid-electric vehicle system of claim 10, wherein the motor integration assembly is substantially aligned with the transmission and the drive electric of the vehicle along an axis of rotation.

17. The hybrid-electric vehicle system of claim 10, wherein the torque transfer unit includes gearing for transferring torque from the electric machine to the drivetrain of the vehicle.

18. The hybrid-electric vehicle system of claim 10, wherein the electric machine converts electrical power to mechanical power.

19. A method of installing a hybrid-electric conversion system, comprising:

replacing a tail housing of a transmission of a vehicle with a motor integration assembly for transferring torque from a combustion engine and an electric machine to a drivetrain of the vehicle.

20. The method of claim 19, wherein the motor integration assembly utilizes connection points of the transmission used by the tail housing.