Drive unit for a vehicle

Inventors: Johannes Kaltenbach (Friedrichshafen, DE); Thomas Martin (Weissensberg, DE); Alexander Thorwart (Langenargen, DE); Michael Preuß (Friedrichshafen, DE)

Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG

B60K1/02 B60K17/046 B60K17/16 F16H3/66 B60Y2200/91 F16H3/663 F16H48/08 F16H57/08 F16H2200/0039 F16H2200/2064 F16H2200/2094

View Patent ↗

Loading inventors, assignments & file history…

Monitor This Case

Get email alerts when status or documents change.

Order Certified Copies

Most orders are placed with the USPTO same day — all within 24 business hours.

Order via The Patent Place →

Pre-filled with this patent's details

Quick Facts

Patent No.: US 12668112
App. No.: 19/069,343
Granted: Jun 30, 2026
Kind: B2

External Links

USPTO Patent Center↗ Full Patent PDF↗

Abstract

A drive unit has a first and second electric motors arranged axially parallel, a manual gearbox arranged axially parallel to the motors and having first and second planetary gearsets, a positive-locking shift unit, a differential, a drive shaft, and a driven shaft. The first shift unit having first, second, and third shift elements, and an axially displaceable sliding sleeve. Closing the first shift element shifts a first gear, where the first web shaft, the second hollow gear shaft, and the driven shaft are connected in a rotationally fixed manner. Closing the second shift element shifts a second gear, where the second web shaft and the driven shaft are connected rotationally fixed. Closing the third shift element shifts a third gear, where the first sun shaft, the second sun shaft, the drive shaft, and the driven shaft are connected rotationally fixed.

Claims (29)

1 . A drive unit for a vehicle, comprising

a first electric motor;

a second electric motor arranged axially parallel to the first electric motor;

a manual gearbox arranged axially parallel to the first and second electric motors and having a first planetary gear set, a second planetary gear set, and a first positive-locking shift unit;

a differential with one differential input shaft and two differential output shafts;

a drive shaft configured for connecting the first electric motor to the manual gearbox; and

a driven shaft configured for connecting the manual gearbox to the differential;

wherein the first planetary gear set has a first sun shaft, a first hollow gear shaft, and a first web shaft,

wherein the second planetary gear set has a second sun shaft, a second hollow gear shaft, and a second web shaft;

wherein the first sun shaft, the second sun shaft, and the drive shaft are connected in a rotationally fixed manner;

wherein the first web shaft and the second hollow gear shaft are connected in a rotationally fixed manner;

wherein the second web shaft and the driven shaft are connected in a rotationally fixed manner,

wherein the first shift unit has a first shift element, a second shift element, a third shift element, and an axially displaceable first sliding sleeve;

wherein a first gear with a first transmission ratio is shifted in the closed state of the first shift element, wherein the first web shaft and the second hollow gear shaft are connected in a rotationally fixed manner to a stationary component in the first gear;

wherein in the closed state of the second shift element a second gear with a second transmission ratio is shifted, wherein in the second gear the first hollow gear shaft is connected to the stationary component in a rotationally fixed manner, and

wherein a third gear with a third transmission ratio is shifted in the closed state of the third shift element, wherein the first and second planetary gear sets are locked in the third gear.

2 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first electric motor is connected to the drive shaft via a first spur gear stage, wherein the second electric motor can be connected to the drive shaft or to the driven shaft via a second spur gear stage and a second shift unit with a fourth shift element, a fifth shift element, and a second sliding sleeve.

3 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein:

the first electric motor is connected to the drive shaft via a first spur gear stage and a second spur gear stage; and

the second electric motor is configured to be connected to the drive shaft or to the driven shaft via a third spur gear stage, a fourth spur gear stage, and a second shift unit having a fourth shift element, a fifth shift element, and a second sliding sleeve.

4 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first electric motor is connected to the drive shaft via a first spur gear stage, and wherein the second electric motor is connected to the driven shaft via a second spur gear stage.

5 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first electric motor is connected to the drive shaftvia a first spur gear stage and a second spur gear stage, and wherein the second electric motor is connected to the driven shaft via a third spur gear stage and a fourth spur gear stage.

6 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first shift unit is arranged radially nested at least partially on a circumference of the first and second planetary gear sets.

7 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the first shift unit is arranged radially nested at least partially on a circumference of the differential.

8 . The drive unit according to claim 1 wherein the differential is arranged coaxially to the manual gearbox and the third differential output shaft is guided axially through the driven shaft, and wherein the differential input shaft is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the driven shaft.

9 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the differential is arranged transversely to the manual gearbox and the differential input shaft is connected to the driven shaft via a bevel gear stage.

10 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the differential is arranged axially parallel to the manual gearbox and the differential input shaft is connected to the driven shaft via at least one spur gear stage.

11 . The drive unit according to claim 1 , wherein the drive shaft is designed as a hollow shaft and the driven shaft is arranged inside the drive shaft.

12 . A vehicle comprising at least one drive unit according to claim 1 .