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DE-112019005880-B4 - ELECTRIC VEHICLE DRIVETRAIN ARRANGEMENT

DE112019005880B4DE 112019005880 B4DE112019005880 B4DE 112019005880B4DE-112019005880-B4

Abstract

Powertrain system (300, 400), comprising: an I-sign (306, 406); a first engine (420); a second engine (460); a first A-plate (304, 404) attached to the first motor (420) and the I-plate (306, 406); a second A-plate (308, 408) attached to the second motor (460) and the I-plate (306, 406); a first gear set (263), comprising: a first motor shaft (520) of the first motor (420); a first motor gear (525) which is attached to the first motor shaft (520); a first intermediate wave (620); a first gear reduction gear (531) which is attached to the first intermediate shaft (620) and engages with the first motor gear (525); a first bevel gear (532) which is attached to the first intermediate shaft (620); a first drive shaft (621); a first drive wheel (535) which is attached to the first drive shaft (621) and is engaged with the first bevel gear (532); three and only three motor bearings (521, 522, 523) arranged collinearly and coupled to the first motor shaft (520); and two intermediate bearings arranged collinearly and coupled to the intermediate shaft (620), wherein the drive train system (300, 400) further comprises a first horseshoe-shaped bearing retaining plate (602) which is attached to the first A-shield (304, 404), wherein: the three engine mounts (521, 522, 523) include a center mount (521) which is positioned in a recess of the first A-shield (304, 404); the first horseshoe-shaped bearing retaining plate (602) is configured to maintain the position of the center bearing (521) in the recess; and a first wheel reduction gear (531) is positioned axially next to the central bearing (521) and in an opening of the first horseshoe-shaped bearing support plate (602).

Inventors

  • Mason Verbridge
  • Gary Gloceri

Assignees

  • RIVIAN IP HOLDINGS, LLC

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20191126
Priority Date
20181126

Claims (17)

  1. Drivetrain system (300, 400), comprising: an I-shield (306, 406); a first motor (420); a second motor (460); a first A-shield (304, 404) attached to the first motor (420) and the I-shield (306, 406); a second A-shield (308, 408) attached to the second motor (460) and the I-shield (306, 406); a first gear set (263), comprising: a first motor shaft (520) of the first motor (420); a first motor gear (525) attached to the first motor shaft (520); a first intermediate shaft (620); a first gear reduction gear (531) attached to the first intermediate shaft (620) and meshing with the first motor gear (525); a first bevel gear (532) attached to the first intermediate shaft (620); a first drive shaft (621); a first drive gear (535) attached to the first drive shaft (621) and meshing with the first bevel gear (532); three and only three motor bearings (521, 522, 523) arranged collinearly and coupled to the first motor shaft (520); and two intermediate bearings arranged collinearly and coupled to the intermediate shaft (620), the drive train system (300, 400) further comprising a first horseshoe-shaped bearing retaining plate (602) attached to the first A-shield (304, 404), wherein: the three engine mounts (521, 522, 523) comprise a center bearing (521) positioned in a recess of the first A-shield (304, 404); the first horseshoe-shaped bearing retaining plate (602) is configured to maintain the position of the center bearing (521) in the recess; and a first wheel reduction gear (531) is axially positioned next to the center bearing (521) and in an opening of the first horseshoe-shaped bearing retaining plate (602).
  2. Powertrain system (300, 400) according to Claim 1 , wherein: the first motor shaft (520) includes a motor axle; the first intermediate shaft (620) includes an intermediate axle; the first drive shaft (621) includes a drive axle; the motor axle, the intermediate axle and the drive axle define a shaft angle (650); and the shaft angle (650) is greater than 50 degrees.
  3. Powertrain system (300, 400) according to Claim 2 , where the wave angle (650) is approximately 60 degrees.
  4. Powertrain system (300, 400) according to Claim 2 , where the wave angle (650) is greater than 60 degrees.
  5. Powertrain system (300, 400) according to Claim 1 , further comprising: a second gear set (273), comprising: a second motor shaft (560) of the second motor (460); a second motor gear (565) attached to the second motor shaft (560); a second intermediate shaft; a second gear reduction gear (571) attached to the second intermediate shaft and meshing with the second motor gear (565); a second bevel gear (572) attached to the second intermediate shaft; a second drive shaft; a second drive gear (575) attached to the second drive shaft and meshing with the second bevel gear (572); three and only three motor bearings arranged collinearly and coupled to the second motor shaft (560); and two intermediate bearings arranged collinearly and coupled to the second intermediate shaft.
  6. Powertrain system (300, 400) according to Claim 1 , wherein the powertrain system (300, 400) comprises a modular system that can be used as a front powertrain system (110) and a rear powertrain system (120).
  7. Powertrain system (300, 400) according to Claim 6 , wherein: the drivetrain system (300, 400) comprises a first orientation as the front drivetrain system (110); the drivetrain system (300, 400) comprises a second orientation as a rear drivetrain system (120); and the second orientation is rotated 180 degrees about a vertical axis relative to the first orientation.
  8. Powertrain system (300, 400) according to Claim 7 , wherein: the drivetrain system (300, 400) comprises a first gear alignment as the front drivetrain system (110); and the drivetrain system (300, 400) comprises a second and opposite gear alignment as the rear drivetrain system (120).
  9. Powertrain system (300, 400) according to Claim 1 , further comprising: a first inverter core; a second inverter core; and a cover configured to accommodate the first inverter core and the second inverter core, the first and second inverter core being modular.
  10. Powertrain system (300, 400) according to Claim 1 , wherein the lid includes an opening (324) configured to accommodate a top cover and provide access to power electronic components (320).
  11. Powertrain system (300, 400) according to Claim 1 , wherein the two intermediate bearings comprise an inner bearing (577) and an outer bearing, and wherein the outer bearing is arranged axially inwards of an axially outer section of the first gear reduction (531).
  12. Electric vehicle (100), comprising: a first powertrain system (300, 400), comprising: a first I-shield (306, 406); a first motor (420); a second motor (460); a first A-shield (304, 404) attached to the first motor (420) and the first I-shield (306, 406); a second A-shield (308, 408) attached to the second motor (460) and the first I-shield (306, 406); a first gear set (263), comprising: a first motor shaft (520) of the first motor (420); a first motor gear (525) attached to the first motor shaft (520); a first intermediate shaft (620); a first gear reduction gear (531) attached to the first intermediate shaft (620) and meshing with the first motor gear (525); a first bevel gear (531) attached to the first intermediate shaft (620); a first drive shaft (621); a first drive gear (535) attached to the first drive shaft (621) and meshing with the first bevel gear (531); three and only three motor bearings (521, 522, 523) arranged collinearly and coupled to the first motor shaft (520); and two intermediate bearings arranged collinearly and coupled to the first intermediate shaft (620); and a second drive train system (300, 400) comprising: a second I-shield (306, 406); a third motor (420); a fourth motor (460); a third A-shield (304, 404) attached to the third motor (420) and the second I-shield (306, 406); a fourth A-shield (308, 408) attached to the fourth motor (460) and the second I-shield (306, 406); a second gear set (273) comprising: a second motor shaft (560) of the third motor (420); a second motor gear (565) attached to the second motor shaft (560); a second intermediate shaft (620); a second gear reduction gear (571) attached to the second intermediate shaft (620) and meshing with the second motor gear (565); a second bevel gear (572) attached to the second intermediate shaft (620); a second drive shaft (621); a second drive gear (575) attached to the second drive shaft (621) and engaging with the second bevel gear; three and only three motor bearings (521, 522, 523) arranged collinearly and coupled to the second motor shaft (560); and two intermediate bearings arranged collinearly and coupled to the second intermediate shaft (620), the electric vehicle (100) further comprising a first horseshoe-shaped bearing retaining plate (602) attached to the first A-shield (304, 404), wherein: the three motor bearings (521, 522, 523) of the first drive train system (300, 400) comprise a center bearing (521) positioned in a recess of the corresponding A-shield (304, 404); the first horseshoe-shaped bearing retaining plate (602) is configured to maintain the position of the center bearing (521) in the recess; and a first gear reduction gear (531) is positioned axially next to the center bearing (521) and in an opening of the first horseshoe-shaped bearing retaining plate (602).
  13. Electric vehicle (100) after Claim 12 , wherein: the first drivetrain system (300, 400) comprises a front drivetrain system (110); and the second drivetrain system (300, 400) comprises a rear drivetrain system (120).
  14. Electric vehicle (100) after Claim 13 , wherein: the front drivetrain system (110) comprises a first orientation; the rear drivetrain system (120) comprises a second orientation; and the second orientation is rotated 180 degrees about a vertical axis relative to the first orientation.
  15. Electric vehicle (100) after Claim 14 , wherein: the front drivetrain system (110) comprises a first gear alignment; and the rear drivetrain system (120) comprises a second and opposite gear alignment to the front drivetrain system (110).
  16. Electric vehicle (100) after Claim 12 , wherein each of the first drive train system (300, 400) and the second drive train system (300, 400) comprises: a first inverter core; a second inverter core; and a cover configured to accommodate the first inverter core and the second inverter core, the first and second inverter core being modular.
  17. Electric vehicle (100) after Claim 16 , wherein the cover of each of the first powertrain system (300, 400) and the second powertrain system (300, 400) includes an opening configured to accommodate a top cover and provide access to power electronics (320).

Description

The present disclosure relates to a powertrain arrangement and in particular a powertrain arrangement for an electric vehicle. WO 2017 138 312 A1 discloses a vehicle drive device comprising an electric motor and an axle-parallel reduction gear that reduces the drive power of the electric motor and transmits it to a drive wheel JP 2016 151 347 A provides a vehicle drive device with two motors and a structure in which the radial dimensions of the reduction gears are small, the number of oil seals for the lubricating oil filled into the reduction gears is minimal, and the oil seals only come into contact with the shaft rotating at minimum speed. US 6 321 865 B1 refers to a front- and rear-wheel drive vehicle comprising one engine that drives one of the pairs of front and rear wheels and another engine that drives the other pair of wheels. US 2016 / 0 229 289 A1 reveals a vehicle powertrain with two independent transmissions. US 2014 / 0 033 846 A1 shows a drive device for use in an electric vehicle. US 2012 / 0 248 850 A1 refers to a drive device for a wheel hub motor. Brief description The object of the invention is to provide an improved powertrain arrangement. This problem is solved by a powertrain system according to claim 1 or by an electric vehicle according to claim 12. Advantageous further developments of the invention are given by the respective subject matter of the dependent claims. Electric vehicles comprise electric powertrains. The arrangement of electric vehicle powertrains depends on design, crash, and performance considerations. It would be advantageous to provide a relatively more compact powertrain arrangement for an electric vehicle. In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to a drive train system. The drive train system comprises an I-shield, two motors, two A-shields, and a gear set. Each A-shield is attached to a corresponding motor, and each A-shield is also attached to the I-shield. The gear set comprises a motor shaft from one of the motors and a motor gear attached to the motor shaft. Three, and only three, motor bearings are arranged collinearly and coupled to the motor shaft. The gear set further comprises an intermediate shaft and a gear reduction connected to the intermediate shaft and meshing with the first motor gear. A bevel gear is also attached to the intermediate shaft. Two intermediate bearings are arranged collinearly and coupled to the intermediate shaft. The gear set further comprises a drive shaft and a drive gear attached to the drive shaft and meshing with the first bevel gear. The drivetrain system includes a horseshoe-shaped bearing support plate attached to a first A-shield. The three engine mounts include a center bearing positioned in a recess of the first A-shield. The horseshoe-shaped bearing support plate is further configured to maintain the position of the center bearing within the recess. A gear reduction gear is positioned axially adjacent to the center bearing and in an opening of the horseshoe-shaped bearing support plate. In some embodiments, the first motor shaft includes a motor axle, the intermediate shaft includes an intermediate axle, and the first drive shaft includes a drive axle. In some such embodiments, the motor axle, the intermediate axle, and the drive axle define a shaft angle greater than 50 degrees. The shaft angle may, for example, be 60 degrees or greater. In some embodiments, the drivetrain system includes a second gear set. The second gear set may be similar to the first gear set and may be coupled to the other motor. In some embodiments, the powertrain system can be used as a front powertrain system and a rear powertrain system. The powertrain system can, for example, be modular. In some embodiments, the drivetrain system has a first orientation as the front drivetrain system and a second orientation as a rear drivetrain system. In some such embodiments, the second orientation is, for example, relative to the first. The gears are rotated 180 degrees around a vertical axis. In some embodiments, the drivetrain system comprises a first gear orientation as the front drivetrain system and a second and opposite gear orientation as the rear drivetrain system. In some embodiments, the drive system comprises two inverter cores and a cover configured to accommodate the inverter cores. In some such embodiments, the inverter cores are modular. In some embodiments, the cover includes an opening configured to accommodate a top cover and provide access to the power electronics components. In some embodiments, the intermediate bearings comprise an inner bearing and an outer bearing, the outer bearing being arranged axially inwards from an axially outer section of the first gear reduction. In some embodiments, the present disclosure relates to an electric vehicle comprising a first powertrain system and a second powertrain system. In some embodiments, the first powertrain system and the second powertrain system each comprise the powertra