Electric drive axle assembly with independent dual motors
First Claim
Patent Images
1. A drive axle comprising:
- a first wheel end assembly defining a lateral axis of rotation;
a second wheel end assembly laterally spaced from said first wheel end assembly along said lateral axis of rotation;
a first electric motor including a first motor output shaft that rotates about a first longitudinal axis and which is operably coupled to drive said first wheel end assembly; and
a second electric motor including a second motor output shaft that rotates about a second longitudinal axis and which is operably coupled to drive said second wheel end assembly independently from said first wheel end assembly, and wherein said first electric motor is laterally spaced apart from said first wheel end assembly along said lateral axis of rotation by a first distance, said second electric motor is laterally spaced apart from said second wheel end assembly along said lateral axis of rotation by a second distance, and said first and second electric motors are spaced apart from each other along said lateral axis of rotation by a third distance, said first and second distances both being greater than said third distance.
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Abstract
An electric drive axle includes a pair of center mounted electric motors that independently drive a pair of laterally spaced wheels. The electric drive axle includes an axle housing assembly that extends between the pair of laterally spaced wheels. Both center mounted electric motors preferably do not include connections to a chassis and are solely supported by the axle housing assembly near a vehicle centerline.
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Citations
22 Claims
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1. A drive axle comprising:
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a first wheel end assembly defining a lateral axis of rotation; a second wheel end assembly laterally spaced from said first wheel end assembly along said lateral axis of rotation; a first electric motor including a first motor output shaft that rotates about a first longitudinal axis and which is operably coupled to drive said first wheel end assembly; and a second electric motor including a second motor output shaft that rotates about a second longitudinal axis and which is operably coupled to drive said second wheel end assembly independently from said first wheel end assembly, and wherein said first electric motor is laterally spaced apart from said first wheel end assembly along said lateral axis of rotation by a first distance, said second electric motor is laterally spaced apart from said second wheel end assembly along said lateral axis of rotation by a second distance, and said first and second electric motors are spaced apart from each other along said lateral axis of rotation by a third distance, said first and second distances both being greater than said third distance. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10)
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11. A drive axle comprising:
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a first wheel end assembly defining a lateral axis of rotation; a second wheel end assembly laterally spaced from said first wheel end assembly along said lateral axis of rotation; a first electric motor operably coupled to drive said first wheel end assembly; a second electric motor operably coupled to drive said second wheel end assembly independently from said first wheel end assembly wherein said first electric motor is laterally spaced apart from said first wheel end assembly along said lateral axis of rotation by a first distance, said second electric motor is laterally spaced apart from said second wheel end assembly along said lateral axis of rotation by a second distance, and said first and second electric motors are spaced apart from each other along said lateral axis of rotation by a third distance, said first and second distances both being greater than said third distance; and an axle housing assembly extending between said first and second wheel end assemblies wherein said first and second electric motors are solely supported by said axle housing assembly. - View Dependent Claims (12, 13)
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14. A drive axle comprising:
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a first wheel end assembly defining a lateral axis of rotation; a second wheel end assembly laterally spaced from said first wheel end assembly along said lateral axis of rotation; an axle housing extending between said first and second wheel end assemblies and having a central portion that is extendable across a longitudinal vehicle centerline that intersects said lateral axis of rotation; a first electric motor operably coupled to drive said first wheel end assembly; and a second electric motor operably coupled to drive said second wheel end assembly independently from said first wheel end assembly wherein said first and second electric motors are supported on said central portion of said axle housing and solely supported by said axle housing, and wherein said first and said second electric motors are positionable closer to said longitudinal vehicle centerline than to said first and second wheel end assemblies. - View Dependent Claims (15, 16, 17, 18, 19, 20, 21, 22)
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Specification