Integrated electric motor assembly
First Claim
1. An integrated drive system assembly for an electric vehicle, the integrated drive system assembly comprising:
- a gearbox positioned on a center line of the electric vehicle;
a power inverter attached to the gearbox, the power inverter positioned on one side of the center line; and
an electric motor attached to the gearbox, the electric motor electrically connected to the power inverter, the electric motor coupled to the gearbox, the electric motor positioned on another side of the center line;
wherein the gearbox, electric motor and power inverter are assembled into a single unit with a multi-piece housing.
2 Assignments
0 Petitions
Accused Products
Abstract
An integrated drive system assembly is provided that combines an electric motor, a power inverter assembly and a gearbox into a single, multi-piece enclosure. Combining these components into a single enclosure reduces weight, reduces drive system complexity, reduces system volume, simplifies assembly integration into an electric vehicle, reduces manufacturing cost, allows the flexible and lengthy electrical cables between the power inverter and the electric motor to be replaced with short, low loss, rigid bus bars, and simplifies component cooling by allowing the use of a common thermal management system. The common thermal management system includes a liquid coolant loop that is thermally coupled to the electric motor, the power inverter assembly and the gearbox.
39 Citations
14 Claims
-
1. An integrated drive system assembly for an electric vehicle, the integrated drive system assembly comprising:
-
a gearbox positioned on a center line of the electric vehicle; a power inverter attached to the gearbox, the power inverter positioned on one side of the center line; and an electric motor attached to the gearbox, the electric motor electrically connected to the power inverter, the electric motor coupled to the gearbox, the electric motor positioned on another side of the center line; wherein the gearbox, electric motor and power inverter are assembled into a single unit with a multi-piece housing. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13)
-
-
14. An integrated drive system assembly for an electric vehicle, the integrated drive system assembly comprising:
-
first means for transferring a rotation to at least one wheel axle of the electric vehicle, the first means positioned on a center line of the electric vehicle; second means for converting DC from an energy storage system to AC, the second means attached to the first means and positioned on one side of the center line; and third means for creating the rotation using the AC from the second means, the third means attached to the first means and positioned on another side of the center line; wherein the first, second and third means are assembled into a single unit with a multi-piece housing.
-
Specification