Motor vehicle planetary transmission for the drive train of a motor vehicle

• US 5,679,087 A
• Filed: 06/16/1995
• Issued: 10/21/1997
• Est. Priority Date: 06/18/1994
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
• Original Assignee: Fichtel & Sachs AG
• Inventors: Lutz, Dieter
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Estremsky, Sherry Lynn
• Application Number:
  US08/491,079
• Time in Patent Office: 858 Days
• Field of Search: 475/149, 475/331, 475/346
• US Class Current: 475/149
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/046 with planetary gearing having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/082 Planet carriers
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 with gears

Abstract

The present invention relates to a motor vehicle planetary transmission component for the individual drive of a wheel of a motor vehicle. The planetary transmission component comprises a rotary component of a motor which is mounted with its motor shaft by means of a roller bearing on a support part, which support part simultaneously forms a housing for a planetary transmission. The motor shaft supports, equiaxially with respect to its axis of rotation, a sun wheel which is surrounded by a ring gear held on the support part. Engaged with the sun wheel and the ring gear are planet wheels which are supported axially parallel to the axis of rotation of the motor shaft on a driven shaft part of the planetary transmission. The driven shaft part is supported by means of a single, single-row roller bearing on the support part. This roller bearing is located on the side of the plane of rotation of the planet wheels axially farther from the roller bearing of the motor shaft, and has some radial play. The toothed portions of the planet wheels can thus move relative to the toothed portions of the ring gear or the toothed portions of the sun wheel, and also support the driven shaft part.

Claims

1. A motor vehicle planetary transmission for a drive train of a road motor vehicle having tires, the drive train having motor means for generating mechanical power, a housing disposed about at least a portion of the motor means, at least one wheel for receiving mechanical power from the motor means to drive the motor vehicle, a propeller shaft connected to the at least one wheel for transferring mechanical power to the at least one wheel, the planetary transmission for connecting the motor means to the propeller shaft of the drive train for rotating the propeller shaft, said planetary transmission comprising:

a sun gear;

a ring gear;

a planet gear carrier;

said sun gear being disposed centrally with respect to said ring gear;

said ring gear being disposed substantially concentrically about said sun gear;

a plurality of planet gears;

said planet gear carrier rotatably mounting said plurality of planet gears between said sun gear and said ring gear;

said plurality of planet gears being disposed between and in contact with said sun gear and said ring gear;

said plurality of planet gears being disposed between and intermeshed with said sun gear and said ring gear;

said planet gears having a plane of rotation;

said planetary transmission further comprising;

input means for fixedly connected to the motor means;

output means for connecting to the propeller shaft;

a support structure;

said support structure for being connected to the housing;

means for rotatably supporting said input means with respect to said support structure;

said means for rotatably supporting being disposed axially with respect to said plane of rotation of said planet gears;

said planetary transmission further comprising;

a bearing;

said bearing comprising an inner ring;

said bearing further comprising a plurality of rotating elements;

said outer ring being disposed to coaxially surround said inner ring;

said plurality of rotating elements comprising a sole single row of rotating elements;

said single row of rotating elements being disposed between said inner ring and said outer ring;

said single row of rotating elements being disposed to be rotated by at least one of said inner ring and said outer ring;

said inner ring being disposed substantially on said output means;

said bearing being disposed to support said output means with respect to said support structure;

said output means having an axis of rotation;

said bearing being disposed to allow said output means to rotate freely in a direction about the axis of rotation of said output means;

said bearing having a radial direction extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation;

one of said inner ring, said outer ring, and said rotating elements comprising means for providing play between said inner ring and said outer ring, to permit said inner ring to move with respect to said outer ring in a radial direction;

said plurality of rotating elements comprising a sole single row of rotating elements comprising a single row of ball bearings;

said inner ring comprising an inner race;

said inner race comprising a radius of curvature;

said outer ring comprising an outer race;

said outer race comprising a radius of curvature;

each of said ball bearings having a radius of curvature;

the radius of curvature of at least one of said inner race and said outer race being larger than the radius of curvature of each of said ball bearings;

the radius of curvature of at least one of aid inner race and said outer race being larger than the radius of curvature of each of said ball bearings by one percent to four percent;

the radius of curvature of one of at least one of said inner race and said outer race being large than the radius of curvature of each of said ball bearings by two percent to three percent;

the motor vehicle planetary transmission comprising the motor means;

said motor means comprising an external rotor electric motor, said external rotor electric motor comprising;

an electric motor shaft;

a ring-shaped external rotor being disposed on said motor shaft;

a ring-shaped stator, said ring-shaped stator surrounding a central cavity;

said ring-shaped external rotor being disposed to surround said ring-shaped stator radially outward; and

said ring-shaped external rotor comprising a permanent magnet rotor;

said support structure comprising a bearing extension, said bearing extension being disposed to extend into the central cavity of said ring-shaped stator, said bearing extension being disposed to surround said motor shaft;

said means for rotatably supporting said input means being disposed between said bearing extension and said motor shaft;

said electric motor shaft having two ends;

said rotor being disposed on one end of said electric motor shaft;

said sun gear being disposed on the other end of said electric motor shaft;

said means for rotatably supporting said input means comprising a roller bearing system;

said electric motor shaft being said input means;

said roller bearing system being disposed on said electric motor shaft between the two ends of said electric motor shaft; and

said roller bearing system being disposed between said bearing extension and said electric motor shaft for supporting said motor shaft on said bearing extension.

2. The motor vehicle planetary transmission according to claim 1, wherein:

at least a portion of said electric motor shaft between said sun gear and said roller bearing system comprises a tubular part; and

said tubular part comprises a laminated tubular part.

3. The motor vehicle planetary transmission according to claim 2, wherein:

said output means comprises two ends;

one of said output means ends comprises means for being operatively connected to the propeller shaft;

said output means comprises a seal for sealing around a rotatable body;

said output means seal is disposed between said output means and said support part, said output means seal seals between said output means and said support part;

said output means seal is disposed between said single row bearing and said end of said output means comprising said means for being operatively connected to the propeller shaft;

said motor shaft comprises a seal for sealing around a rotating body;

said motor shaft seal is disposed between said motor shaft and said support structure, said motor shaft seal seals between said motor shaft and said support structure; and

said motor shaft seal is disposed between said rotor and said roller bearing system.

4. The motor vehicle planetary transmission according to claim 3, wherein said planet gear carrier is fixedly connected to said output means and said ring gear is fixedly connected to said support structure.

5. A motor vehicle planetary transmission for a drive train of a motor vehicle, the drive train having motor means for generating mechanical power, a housing disposed about at least a portion of the motor means, at least one wheel for receiving mechanical power from the motor means to drive the motor vehicle, a propeller shaft connected to the at least one wheel for transferring mechanical power to the at least one wheel, the planetary transmission for connecting the motor means to the propeller shaft of the drive train for rotating the propeller shaft, said planetary transmission comprising:

a sun gear;

a ring gear;

a planet gear carrier;

said sun gear being disposed centrally with respect to said ring gear;

said ring gear being disposed substantially concentrically about said sun gear;

a plurality of planet gears;

said planet gear carrier rotatably mounting said plurality of planet gears between said sun gear and said ring gear;

said plurality of planet gears being disposed between and in contact with said sun gear and said ring gear;

said plurality of planet gears being disposed between and intermeshed with said sun gear and said ring gear;

said planet gears having a plane of rotation;

said planetary transmission further comprising;

input means for fixedly connecting to the motor means;

output means for connecting to the propeller shaft;

a support structure;

said support structure for being connected to the housing;

means for rotatably supporting said input means with respect to said support structure;

said means for rotatably supporting being disposed axially with respect to said plane of rotation of said planet gears;

said planetary transmission further comprising;

a bearing;

said bearing comprising an inner ring;

said bearing comprising an outer ring;

said bearing further comprising a plurality of rotating elements;

said outer ring being disposed to coaxially surround said inner ring;

said plurality of rotating elements comprising a sole single row of rotating elements;

said single row of rotating elements being disposed between said inner ring and said outer ring;

said single row of rotating elements being disposed to be rotated by at least one of said inner ring and aid outer ring;

said inner ring being disposed substantially on said output means;

said bearing being disposed to support said output means with respect to said support structure;

said output means having an axis of rotation;

said bearing being disposed to allow said output means to rotate freely in a direction about the axis of rotation of said output means;

said input means having an axis of rotation;

means for permitting said output means to move in an angular direction with respect to said input means thus permitting the angle of intersection between the output means axis of rotation and the input means axis of rotation to vary;

said angular moving means comprising means for providing substantial play between said inner ring and said outer ring;

at lest one of said inner ring, said outer ring, and said rotating elements comprising said play providing means;

said plurality of rotating elements comprising a sole single row of rotating elements comprising a single row of ball bearings;

said inner ring comprising an inner race;

said inner race comprising a radius of curvature;

said outer ring comprising an outer race;

said outer race comprising a radius of curvature;

each of said ball bearings having a radius of curvature;

the radius of curvature of at least one of said inner race and said outer race being larger than the radius of curvature of each of said ball bearings;

the radius of curvature of at least one of said inner race and said outer race being larger than the radius of curvature of each of said ball bearings by at least one percent;

the motor vehicle planetary transmission comprising the motor means;

said motor means comprising an external rotor electric motor, said external rotor electric motor comprising;

an electric motor shaft;

a ring-shaped external rotor being disposed on said motor shaft;

a ring-shaped stator, said ring-shaped stator surrounding a central cavity;

said ring-shaped external rotor being disposed to surround said ring-shaped stator radially outward; and

said ring-shaped external rotor comprising a permanent magnet rotor;

said support structure comprising a bearing extension, said bearing extension being disposed to extend into the central cavity of said ring-shaped stator, said bearing extension being disposed to surround said motor shaft;

said means for rotatably supporting said input means being disposed between said bearing extension and said motor shaft;

said electric motor shaft having two ends;

said rotor being disposed on one end of said electric motor shaft;

said sun gear being disposed on the other end of said electric motor shaft;

said means for rotatably supporting said input means comprising a roller bearing system;

said electric motor shaft being said input means;

said roller bearing system being disposed on said electric motor shaft between the two ends of said electric motor shaft;

said roller bearing system being disposed between said bearing extension and said electric motor shaft for supporting said motor shaft on said bearing extension;

at least a portion of said electric motor shaft between said sun gear and said roller bearing system comprising a tubular part;

said tubular part comprising a laminated tubular part;

said output means comprising two ends;

one of said output means ends comprising means for being operatively connected to the propeller shaft;

said output means comprising a seal for sealing around a rotatable body;

said output means seal being disposed between said output means and said support part, said output means seal sealing between said output means and said support part;

said output means seal being disposed between said single row bearing and said end of said output means comprising said means for being operatively connected to the propeller shaft;

said motor shaft comprising a seal for sealing around a rotating body;

said motor shaft seal being disposed between said motor shaft and said support structure, said motor shaft seal sealing between said motor shaft and said support structure;

said motor shaft seal being disposed between said rotor and said roller bearing system;

said planet gear carrier being fixedly connected to said output means; and

said ring gear being fixedly connected to said support structure.

6. A combination electric motor and planetary transmission for a drive train of a motor vehicle, the drive train having at least one wheel for receiving mechanical power from the electric motor to drive the motor vehicle, a propeller shaft connected to the at least one wheel for transferring mechanical power to the at least one wheel, said combination electric motor and planetary transmission comprising:

a housing;

an electric motor;

said electric motor comprising a rotor;

a first transmission component comprising a sun gear;

a second transmission component comprising a ring gear;

a third transmission component comprising a planet gear carrier;

said sun gear being disposed centrally with respect to said ring gear;

said ring gear being disposed substantially concentrically about said sun gear;

a plurality of planet gears;

said planet gear carrier rotatably mounting said plurality of planet gears between said sun gear and said ring gear;

said plurality gear carrier rotatably mounting said plurality of planet gears between said sun gear and said ring gear;

said plurality of planet gears being disposed between and in contact with said sun gear and said ring gear;

said plurality of planet gears being disposed between and intermeshed with said sun gear and said ring gear;

said planet gears having a plane of rotation;

input means comprising a motor shaft being fixedly connected to said rotor;

output means for connecting to the propeller shaft;

a support structure;

said support structure being connected to said housing;

means for rotatably supporting said motor shaft with respect to said support structure;

said means for rotatably supporting being disposed axially with respect to said plane of rotation of said planet gears;

said combination electric motor and planetary transmission further comprising;

a bearing;

said bearing comprising an inner ring;

said bearing comprising an outer ring;

said bearing further comprising a plurality of rotating elements;

said outer ring being disposed to coaxially surround said inner ring;

said plurality of rotating elements comprising a sole single row of rotating elements;

said single row of rotating elements being disposed between said inner ring and said outer ring;

said single row of rotating elements being disposed to be rotated by at least one of said inner ring and said outer ring;

one of said three transmission components being fixedly connected to said output part;

another of said three transmission components being fixedly connected to said support part;

said inner ring being disposed substantially on said output means;

said bearing being disposed to support said output means with respect to said support structure;

said output means having an axis of rotation;

said bearing being disposed to allow said output means to rotate freely in a direction about the axis of rotation of said output means;

said bearing having a radial direction extending radially with respect to the axis of rotation;

one of said inner ring, said outer ring, and said rotating elements comprising means for providing play between said inner ring and said outer ring, to permit said inner ring to move with respect to said outer ring in a radial direction;

said means for providing play between said inner ring and said outer ring being dimensioned for permitting said another transmission component fixedly connected to said support part to radially support said one transmission component fixedly connected to said output part;

said plurality of rotating elements comprising a sole single row of rotating elements comprising a single row of ball bearings;

said inner ring comprising an inner race;

said inner race comprising a radius of curvature;

said outer ring comprising an outer race;

said outer race comprising a radius of curvature;

each of said ball bearings having a radius of curvature;

the radius of curvature of at least one of said inner race and said outer race being larger than the radius of curvature of each of said ball bearings;

the radius of curvature of at least one of said inner race and aid outer race being larger than the radius of curvature of each of said ball bearings by at least one percent;

the radius of curvature of at least one of said inner race and said outer race being larger than the radius of curvature of each of said ball bearings by two percent to three percent;

said electric motor comprising an external rotor electric motor, said external rotor electric motor comprising;

an electric motor shaft;

a ring-shaped external rotor being disposed on said motor shaft;

a ring-shaped stator, said ring-shaped stator surrounding a central cavity;

said ring-shaped external rotor being disposed to surround said ring-shaped stator radially outward; and

said ring-shaped external rotor comprising a permanent magnet rotor;

said support structure comprising a bearing extension, said bearing extension being disposed to extend into the central cavity of said ring-shaped stator, said bearing extension being disposed to surround said motor shaft;

said means for rotatably supporting said input means being disposed between said bearing extension and said motor shaft;

said electric motor shaft having two ends;

said rotor being disposed on one end of said electric motor shaft;

said sun gear being disposed on the other end of said electric motor shaft;

said means for rotatably supporting said input means comprising a roller bearing system;

said electric motor shaft being said input means;

said roller bearing system being disposed on said electric motor shaft between the two ends of said electric motor shaft; and

said roller bearing system being disposed between said bearing extension and said electric motor shaft for supporting said motor shaft on said bearing extension.

7. The combination electric motor and planetary transmission according to claim 6, wherein:

at least a portion of said electric motor shaft between said sun gear and said roller bearing system comprising a tubular part; and

said tubular part comprises a laminated tubular part.

8. The combination electric motor and planetary transmission according to claim 7, wherein:

said output means comprises two ends;

one of said output means ends comprises means for being operatively connected to the propeller shaft;

said output means comprises a seal for sealing around a rotatable body;

said output means seal is disposed between said output means and said support part, said output means seal seals between said output means and said support part;

said output means seal is disposed between said single row bearing and said end of said output means comprising said means for being operatively connected to the propeller shaft;

said motor shaft comprises a seal for sealing around a rotating body;

said motor shaft seal is disposed between said motor shaft and said support structure, said motor shaft seal seals between said motor shaft and said support structure;

said motor shaft seal is disposed between said rotor and said roller being system;

said planet gear carrier is fixedly connected to said output means; and

said ring gear is fixedly connected to said support structure.