Electric drive axle
First Claim
1. A drive axle for an automotive vehicle having left and right drive wheels, said drive axle comprising:
- an electric motor having a rotor;
left and right torque couplings, each torque coupling including an input torque member driven by the rotor of the electric motor and an output torque member and also a magnetic particle clutch and planetary gear set arranged between the input and output members such that torque developed by the motor and applied to the input member is transferred through the clutch and planetary set to the output member, with the torque transferred being controlled by the clutch, the output member of the left torque coupling being adapted for connection to the left drive wheel and the output member of the right torque coupling being adapted for connection to the right drive wheel; and
an angle drive located between the motor and the torque couplings, the angle drive including a pinion connected to the rotor of the electric motor and driven by the motor, a connecting shaft located between the two torque couplings and connected to the input torque members of the couplings, and a spur gear on the connecting shaft and engaged with the pinion.
1 Assignment
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Accused Products
Abstract
An electric drive axle, which is located between and powers the left and right drive wheels of an automotive vehicle, includes an electric motor and left and right torque couplings. Torque developed by the motor transfers through the torque couplings to axle shafts which are connected to the drive wheels. Each torque coupling includes a magnetic particle clutch and a planetary set organized such that the current flowing through the electromagnet of the clutch controls the torque delivered through the coupler. The magnetic particle clutches also accommodate slippage so that the drive wheels may rotate at different angular velocities.
47 Citations
11 Claims
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1. A drive axle for an automotive vehicle having left and right drive wheels, said drive axle comprising:
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an electric motor having a rotor; left and right torque couplings, each torque coupling including an input torque member driven by the rotor of the electric motor and an output torque member and also a magnetic particle clutch and planetary gear set arranged between the input and output members such that torque developed by the motor and applied to the input member is transferred through the clutch and planetary set to the output member, with the torque transferred being controlled by the clutch, the output member of the left torque coupling being adapted for connection to the left drive wheel and the output member of the right torque coupling being adapted for connection to the right drive wheel; and an angle drive located between the motor and the torque couplings, the angle drive including a pinion connected to the rotor of the electric motor and driven by the motor, a connecting shaft located between the two torque couplings and connected to the input torque members of the couplings, and a spur gear on the connecting shaft and engaged with the pinion. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7)
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8. In an automotive vehicle having left and right drive wheels and left and right axle shafts connected to the left and right drive wheels respectively, for transferring torque to the drive wheels, an improved drive axle for generating torque and distributing it selectively to the axle shafts, said drive axle comprising:
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an electric motor; a left torque coupling connected between the motor and the left axle shaft; and a right torque coupling connected between the motor and the right axle shaft; each torque coupling including a magnetic particle clutch having an electromagnet, and armature located within the electromagnet, and magnetic particles between the electromagnet and armature; each torque coupling also including a planetary gear set having a sun gear, a ring gear, and a planet gear located between the sun and ring gears, the clutches and the planetary sets of the left and right clutches being organized along a common axis. - View Dependent Claims (9, 10, 11)
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Specification