Electric drive system with differential steering
First Claim
1. An electric drive system;
- comprising;
a first output member;
a second output member;
an electric motor including an output shaft having an axis of rotation, the output shaft operatively engaged with the first and second output members to rotate the first and second output members;
a differential steering system disposed between the electric motor and the first and second output members, the differential steering system including a first planetary gear assembly, a second planetary gear assembly, and a third planetary gear assembly, each of the first, second, and third planetary gear assemblies having a sun gear, a planet gear set, a ring gear, and a rotational axis that substantially aligns with the rotational axis of the output shaft;
a steering motor operatively engaged with the at least one of the first, second and third planetary gear assemblies and operable to modify the rotational speed of the at least one planetary gear assembly to thereby adjust the rotational speed of one of the first and second output members relative to the other of the first and second output members; and
a reaction member directly connecting the sun gears of the first, second, and third planetary gear assemblies.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electric drive system is provided. The electric drive system includes a first output member, a second output member, and an electric motor that includes an output shaft having an axis of rotation. The output shaft is operatively engaged with the first and second output members to rotate the first and second output members. A differential steering system is disposed between the electric motor and the first and second output members. The differential steering system includes at least one planetary gear assembly that has an axis of rotation that substantially aligns with the axis of rotation of the output shaft. A steering motor is operatively engaged with the at least one planetary gear assembly and is operable to modify the rotational speed of the at least one planetary gear assembly to thereby adjust the rotational speed of one of the first and second output members relative to the other of the first and second output members.
41 Citations
26 Claims
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1. An electric drive system;
- comprising;
a first output member;
a second output member;
an electric motor including an output shaft having an axis of rotation, the output shaft operatively engaged with the first and second output members to rotate the first and second output members;
a differential steering system disposed between the electric motor and the first and second output members, the differential steering system including a first planetary gear assembly, a second planetary gear assembly, and a third planetary gear assembly, each of the first, second, and third planetary gear assemblies having a sun gear, a planet gear set, a ring gear, and a rotational axis that substantially aligns with the rotational axis of the output shaft;
a steering motor operatively engaged with the at least one of the first, second and third planetary gear assemblies and operable to modify the rotational speed of the at least one planetary gear assembly to thereby adjust the rotational speed of one of the first and second output members relative to the other of the first and second output members; and
a reaction member directly connecting the sun gears of the first, second, and third planetary gear assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11)
- comprising;
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12. A method of assembling an electric drive system, comprising:
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providing an electric motor including an output shaft having an axis of rotation, the electric motor operable to rotate a first output member and a second output member;
disposing a differential steering system having a first planetary gear assembly, a second planetary gear assembly, and a third planetary gear assembly, between the electric motor and the first and second output members such that an axis of rotation of the first, second, and third planetary gear assemblies substantially aligns with the axis of rotation of the output shaft;
engaging a steering motor with the differential steering system, the steering motor operable to modify the rotational speed of at least one of the first, second, and third planetary gear assemblies to thereby adjust the rotational speed of one of the first and second output members relative to the other of the first and second output members; and
directly connecting sun gears of the first, second and third planetary gear assemblies with a reaction member. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15)
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16. A vehicle, comprising:
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a first ground engaging device;
a second ground engaging device;
a first output member connected to the first ground engaging device;
a second output member connected to the second ground engaging device;
an electric motor including an output shaft having an axis of rotation, the output shaft operatively engaged with the first and second output members to rotate the first and second output members;
a differential steering system disposed between the electric motor and the first and second output members, the differential steering system including a first planetary gear assembly, a second planetary gear assembly, and a third planetary gear assembly, each of the first, second, and third planetary gear assemblies having a sun gear, a planet gear set, a ring gear, and a rotational axis that substantially aligns with the rotational axis of the output shaft;
a differential steering motor operatively engaged with at least one planetary gear assembly and operable to vary the rotation of at least one of the first, second, and third planetary gear assemblies to thereby adjust the rotational speed of one of the first and second output members relative to the other of the first and second output members; and
a reaction member directly connecting the sun gears of the first, second, and third planetary gear assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26)
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Specification