Electric drive system with plural motors
First Claim
1. An electric drive system, comprising:
- a first output member;
a second output member;
a driving shaft having an axis of rotation;
a plurality of electric motors arranged adjacent to the driving shaft, each of the plurality of electric motors having an output shaft in driving engagement with and substantially parallel to the driving shaft;
a differential steering system operably disposed between the driving shaft and the first and second output members such that the driving shaft conveys torque from the electric motors to the differential steering system, the differential steering system including a first planetary gear assembly operatively engaged between the driving shaft and the first output member and operatively engaged between the driving shaft and the second output member, the first planetary gear assembly having an axis of rotation that substantially aligns with the axis of rotation of the driving shaft; and
a steering motor operatively engaged with the differential steering system and operable to simultaneously adjust the relative rotational speed of the first and second output members.
1 Assignment
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An electric drive system is provided having first and second output members and a driving shaft having an axis or rotation. A plurality of electric motors are arranged adjacent to the driving shaft. Each motor has an output shaft in driving engagement with and substantially parallel to the driving shaft. A differential steering system is operably disposed between the driving shaft and the first and second output members. The differential steering system includes a first planetary gear assembly operably engaged both between the driving shaft and the first output member and between the driving shaft and the second output member. The first planetary gear assembly has an axis of rotation that substantially aligns with the axis of rotation of the driving shaft. A steering motor is operatively engaged with the differential steering system and operable to simultaneously adjust the relative rotational speed of the first and second output members.
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Citations
28 Claims
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1. An electric drive system, comprising:
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a first output member; a second output member; a driving shaft having an axis of rotation; a plurality of electric motors arranged adjacent to the driving shaft, each of the plurality of electric motors having an output shaft in driving engagement with and substantially parallel to the driving shaft; a differential steering system operably disposed between the driving shaft and the first and second output members such that the driving shaft conveys torque from the electric motors to the differential steering system, the differential steering system including a first planetary gear assembly operatively engaged between the driving shaft and the first output member and operatively engaged between the driving shaft and the second output member, the first planetary gear assembly having an axis of rotation that substantially aligns with the axis of rotation of the driving shaft; and a steering motor operatively engaged with the differential steering system and operable to simultaneously adjust the relative rotational speed of the first and second output members. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. An electric drive system, comprising:
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a first output member; a second output member; a driving shaft having an axis of rotation; a plurality of electric motors arranged adjacent to the driving shaft, each of the plurality of electric motors having an output shaft in driving engagement with and substantially parallel to the driving shaft; a differential steering system operably disposed between the driving shaft and the first and second output members such that the driving shaft conveys torque from the electric motors to the differential steering system; a steering motor operatively engaged with the differential steering system and operable to simultaneously adjust the relative rotational speed of the first and second output members; a first final drive assembly driven by the first output member and having a first drive axis offset from the axis of rotation of the driving shaft; and a second final drive assembly driven by the second output member and having a second drive axis offset from the axis of rotation of the driving shaft. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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12. A method of operating an electric drive system of a vehicle, comprising:
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disposing a first electric motor having a first output shaft adjacent a driving shaft with the first output shaft parallel to the axis of the driving shaft; disposing a second electric motor having a second output shaft adjacent the driving shaft with the second output shaft parallel to the axis of the driving shaft; disposing a gear on each of the first and second output shafts; disposing a gear on the driving shaft in driving engagement with the gears on each of the first and second output shafts; disposing first and second output members on the vehicle; disposing a differential steering system in driving engagement between the driving shaft and the first and second output members; driving the first and second electric motors to rotate the gear on each of the first and second output shafts in the same direction of rotation to thereby drive the gear on the driving shaft and to thereby drive the first and second output members. - View Dependent Claims (13, 14, 15, 16, 17, 18, 19)
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20. 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; a driving shaft having an axis of rotation; a plurality of electric motors arranged adjacent to the driving shaft and each having an output shaft substantially parallel to and in driving engagement with the driving shaft; a differential steering system operably disposed between the driving shaft and the first and second output members such that the driving shaft conveys torque from the electric motors to the differential steering system, the differential steering system including a first planetary gear assembly operatively engaged between the driving shaft and the first output member and operatively engaged between the driving shaft and the second output member, the first planetary gear assembly having an axis of rotation that substantially aligns with the axis of rotation of the driving shaft; and a steering motor operatively engaged with the differential steering system and operable to simultaneously adjust the relative rotational speed of the first and second output members. - View Dependent Claims (21, 22, 23, 24, 25, 26, 27, 28)
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Specification