IP Library Granted Patent US 12663066
Granted Patent B2
US 12663066 · App. 18/714,398 · Granted Jun 23, 2026

Casing for a drive unit, comprising an exhaust ventilation interface, and drive unit

Inventor: Philipp Mattes (Herzogenaurach, DE)
Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
F16H57/027F16H57/029H02K5/10H02K7/116F16H2057/02034F16H2057/02043H02K2205/09
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12663066
App. No.
18/714,398
Granted
Jun 23, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

The present invention relates to a casing for a drive unit in which an electric motor and/or a transmission can be arranged. An exhaust ventilation interface is provided on/in the casing and has a permeable membrane, a shaft ( 2 ) accommodating the membrane. The invention also relates to a drive unit for a motor vehicle, comprising the casing according to the invention.

Claims (44)

1 . A casing for a drive unit of a motor vehicle, the casing comprising:

an interior space within which at least one of an electric motor or a transmission is configured to be arranged in the casing;

a projection disposed above the interior space, the projection defining a calming chamber inside the projection; and

a shaft extending from the projection, the shaft arranged in an inclined position running obliquely relative to horizontal, horizontal being defined perpendicular to gravity, the shaft comprising:

a first end adjoining the calming chamber, the first end being a lowest end of the shaft;

a second end opposed to the first end, the second end being a highest end of the shaft, the second end defining a stepped portion; and

a through-hole from the first end to the second end by which the shaft is configured to vent the calming chamber, the through-hole comprising a diameter smaller than the stepped portion, the stepped portion being concentric with the through-hole;

wherein the stepped portion accommodates a permeable membrane.

2 . The casing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the through-hole of the shaft is linear.

3 . The casing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shaft is formed by a material of the casing.

4 . The casing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the permeable membrane is configured to define an interface in the casing at the stepped portion.

5 . The casing as claimed in claim 1 , the casing comprising an internal ring gear, the internal ring gear defining the interior space.

6 . The casing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the through-hole of the shaft has the diameter of at least 3 mm.

7 . The casing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the shaft has a length-diameter ratio of greater than 5, the length-diameter ratio being a ratio of a length of the through-hole to the diameter of the through-hole.

8 . The casing as claimed in claim 1 , wherein a fluid of the drive unit is configured to be calmed in the calming chamber.

9 . A drive unit for a motor vehicle comprising:

a casing comprising:

an interior space;

a projection disposed above the interior space, the projection defining a calming chamber inside the projection; and

a shaft extending from the projection, the shaft arranged in an inclined position running obliquely relative to horizontal, horizontal being defined perpendicular to gravity, the shaft comprising:

a first end adjoining the calming chamber, the first end being a lowest end of the shaft;

a second end opposed to the first end, the second end being a highest end of the shaft, the second end defining a stepped portion; and

a through-hole from the first end to the second end by which the shaft is configured to vent the calming chamber, the through-hole comprising a diameter smaller than the stepped portion, the stepped portion being concentric with the through-hole;

wherein the stepped portion accommodates a permeable membrane;

an electric motor; and

a transmission, at least one of the electric motor or the transmission being arranged in the interior space of the casing.

10 . The drive unit according to claim 9 , wherein the through-hole of the shaft is linear.

11 . The drive unit according to claim 9 , wherein the shaft and casing are formed from a same material.

12 . The drive unit according to claim 9 , wherein the permeable membrane is configured to define an interface in the casing at the stepped portion.

13 . The drive unit according to claim 9 , wherein the shaft has a length-diameter ratio of greater than 5, the length-diameter ratio being a ratio of a length of the through-hole to the diameter of the through-hole.

14 . The drive unit according to claim 9 , wherein a fluid of the drive unit is configured to be calmed in the calming chamber.

15 . The drive unit according to claim 9 , wherein the through-hole has a cross-sectional shape comprising at least one of a circular shape, an elliptical shape, or a polygonal shape.

16 . An electric motor vehicle comprising:

a drive unit comprising:

a casing comprising:

an interior space;

a projection disposed above the interior space, the projection defining a calming chamber inside the projection; and

a shaft extending from the projection, the shaft arranged in an inclined position running obliquely relative to horizontal, horizontal being defined perpendicular to gravity, the shaft comprising:

a first end adjoining the calming chamber, the first end being a lowest end of the shaft;

a second end opposed to the first end, the second end being a highest end of the shaft, the second end defining a stepped portion; and

a through-hole from the first end to the second end by which the shaft is configured to vent the calming chamber, the through-hole comprising a diameter smaller than the stepped portion, the stepped portion being concentric with the through-hole;

wherein the stepped portion accommodates a permeable membrane;

an electric motor; and

a transmission, at least one of the electric motor or the transmission being arranged in the interior space of the casing.