VEHICLE POWER TRANSFER SYSTEM AND METHOD, AND VEHICLE USING THE SAME

• US 20070256869A1
• Filed: 05/04/2006
• Published: 11/08/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 05/04/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Original Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC (Ford Motor Company)
• Inventors: Kozarekar, Shailesh
• Granted Patent: US 7,624,828 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.235
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/365 with the gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/40 characterised by the assembly or relative disposition of components
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 6/445 Differential gearing distribution type
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle power transfer system and method, and vehicle using the same. The vehicle power transfer system including a differential unit coupled to a half axle, and an electric motor for supplying torque to propel a vehicle. The electric motor is collinear with the differential unit and the half axle.

Claims

1. A vehicle power transfer system, the vehicle power transfer system comprising:

a differential unit coupled to a half axle; and

an electric motor for supplying torque to propel a vehicle, wherein the electric motor is collinear with the differential unit and the half axle.

2. The vehicle power transfer system of claim 1 wherein the electric motor includes a rotor shaft having a bore such that the rotor shaft has an inner and outer surface.

3. The vehicle power transfer system of claim 2 wherein the half axle passes through the bore such that the half axle is proximate the inner surface of the rotor shaft.

4. The vehicle power transfer system of claim 3 further comprising a first bearing set configured to substantially center the half axle within the bore, the first bearing set having an inner and outer race, wherein the inner race of the first bearing set is proximate an outer surface of the half axle and the outer race of the first bearing set is proximate the inner surface of the rotor shaft.

5. The vehicle power transfer system of claim 4 wherein the outer race of the first bearing set is fixedly coupled to the inner surface of the rotor shaft.

6. The vehicle power transfer system of claim 5 wherein the outer race of the first bearing set is fixedly coupled to the inner surface of the rotor shaft via one or more clips.

7. The vehicle power transfer system of claim 5 wherein the outer race of the first bearing set is fixedly coupled to the inner surface of the rotor shaft via a weld.

8. The vehicle power transfer system of claim 4 wherein the inner race of the first bearing set is fixedly coupled to the half axle.

9. The vehicle power transfer system of claim 4 wherein the first bearing set is rated for a speed less than a no load speed of the electric motor.

10. The vehicle power transfer system of claim 4 wherein the first bearing set rotates at a first rotational speed substantially equal to Ws-Wa when the half axle is rotating at a second rotational speed of Wa and the rotor shaft is rotating at a third rotational speed of Ws.

11. The vehicle power transfer system of claim 4 further comprising a second bearing set spaced apart from the first bearing set and configured to substantially center the half axle within the bore, the second bearing set having an inner and outer race, wherein the inner race of the second bearing set is proximate an outer surface of the half axle and the outer race of the second bearing set is proximate the inner surface of the rotor shaft.

12. A method for transferring power in a vehicle, the method comprising:

providing an electric motor configured to generate torque, and a differential unit coupled to a half axle; and

aligning the electric motor collinear with the differential unit and the half axle.

13. The method of claim 12 wherein

the electric motor includes a rotor shaft having a bore such that the rotor shaft has an inner and outer surface;

and

the step of aligning the electric motor collinear with the differential unit and the half axle further includes passing the half axle through the bore such that the half axle is proximate the inner surface of the rotor shaft.

14. The method of claim 13 further comprising positioning an inner race of a first bearing set adjacent an outer surface of the half axle and an outer race of the first bearing set adjacent the inner surface of the rotor shaft to substantially center the half axle within the bore.

15. The method of claim 14 further comprising fixedly coupling the outer race of the first bearing set to the inner surface of the rotor shaft.

16. The method of claim 14 further comprising fixedly coupling the outer race of the first bearing set to the inner surface of the rotor shaft using one or more clips.

17. The method of claim 14 further comprising fixedly coupling the outer race of the first bearing set to the inner surface of the rotor shaft using one or more welds.

18. The method of claim 14 further comprising fixedly coupling the inner race of the first bearing set to the half axle.

19. A vehicle comprising:

a differential unit coupled to a half axle, wherein the half axle is configured to couple to a wheel of the vehicle; and

an electric motor aligned collinearly with the differential unit and the half axle, and including a rotor shaft having a bore such that the rotor shaft has an inner and outer surface, wherein the half axle passes through the bore such that the half axle is proximate the inner surface of the rotor shaft.

20. The vehicle of claim 19 further comprising a first bearing set having an inner and outer race, wherein the inner race of the first bearing set is proximate an outer surface of the half axle and the outer race of the first bearing set is proximate the inner surface of the rotor shaft, wherein the first bearing set is configured to rotate at a first rotational speed equal to Ws-Wa when the half axle is rotating at a second rotational speed of Wa and the rotor shaft is rotating at a third rotational speed of Ws.