Drive system for electric vehicles
First Claim
1. A drive system for vehicles comprising:
- a dual-rotor electric traction motor having a first rotor and a second rotor, wherein when said dual-rotor motor is energized said two rotors are propelled by the same electromagnetic forces to rotate in opposite directions;
a first drive axle having two wheels and a second drive axle having two wheels, wherein the wheels of at least one of said two drive axles are steerable;
a first drive train connecting said first rotor to said first drive axle for transmitting mechanical energy between the first rotor and the wheels of the first drive axle, anda second drive train connecting said second rotor to said second drive axle for transmitting mechanical energy between the second rotor and the wheels of the second drive axle,whereby providing a four-wheel-drive mode.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A dual-rotor electric motor (1), having an outer rotor (3) and an inner rotor (4), drives a first drive axle (5) and a second drive axle (6), while also provides inter-axle speed differential function. One of the drive axles is also a steering axle. Torque and rotation are transmitted between the outer rotor and the first drive axle through a clutch (19) and a first drive shaft (20), and between the inner rotor and the second drive axle through a second drive shaft (22). A first brake (24) brakes the rotation of the outer rotor, and a second brake (25) brakes the rotation of the inner rotor. A fluid pressure source, including a pump (51) and an accumulator (59), provides fluid pressure, through a plurality of fluid lines, for operating the clutch and brakes. Electromagnetic control valves (60, 61, 62) control the operation of the clutch and brakes. An electronics (78) monitors and compares continuously the rotational speeds of the axles and controls the valves for engaging the clutch and releasing the first brake when a speed lower than a predetermined value is detected, whereby providing low-speed/four-wheel-drive mode, or disengaging the clutch and applying the first brake when a speed higher than a predetermined value is detected, whereby providing high-speed/two-wheel-drive mode, or applying the first brake or the second brake when a traction slip respectively of the first drive axle or of the second drive axle higher than a respective predetermined value is detected, whereby providing anti-slip traction control.
137 Citations
24 Claims
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1. A drive system for vehicles comprising:
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a dual-rotor electric traction motor having a first rotor and a second rotor, wherein when said dual-rotor motor is energized said two rotors are propelled by the same electromagnetic forces to rotate in opposite directions; a first drive axle having two wheels and a second drive axle having two wheels, wherein the wheels of at least one of said two drive axles are steerable; a first drive train connecting said first rotor to said first drive axle for transmitting mechanical energy between the first rotor and the wheels of the first drive axle, and a second drive train connecting said second rotor to said second drive axle for transmitting mechanical energy between the second rotor and the wheels of the second drive axle, whereby providing a four-wheel-drive mode. - View Dependent Claims (2, 3, 4, 5, 6, 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12, 13, 14, 15, 16)
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17. A method for driving a vehicle comprising a first drive axle having two wheels and a second drive axle having two wheels, wherein the wheels of at least one of said two drive axles are steerable, said method comprising the steps of:
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generating mechanical energy within a dual-rotor electric traction motor having a first rotor and a second rotor, wherein when said dual-rotor motor is energized said two rotors are propelled by the same electro-magnetic forces to rotate in opposite directions; transmitting mechanical energy from said first rotor to said first drive axle through a first drive train, and transmitting mechanical energy from said second rotor to said second drive axle through a second drive train, whereby providing a low-speed/four-wheel-drive mode. - View Dependent Claims (18, 19, 20)
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21. A method for manufacturing a vehicle comprising the steps of:
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providing a dual-rotor electric traction motor having a first rotor and a second rotor, wherein when said dual-rotor-motor is energized said two rotors are propelled by the same electromagnetic forces to rotate in opposite directions; providing a first drive axle having two wheels and a second drive axle having two wheels, wherein the wheels of at least one of said two drive axles are steerable; connecting said first rotor to said first drive axle through a first drive train for transmitting mechanical energy between the first rotor and the wheels of the first drive axle, and connecting said second rotor to said second drive axle through a second drive train for transmitting mechanical energy between the second rotor and the wheels of the second drive axle. - View Dependent Claims (22, 23, 24)
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Specification