IP Library Granted Patent US 12680612
Granted Patent B2
US 12680612 · App. 18/993,935 · Granted Jul 14, 2026

Locking device, electric motor drive unit, and vehicle

Inventors: Christof Heeger (Gelnhausen, DE); Karl Martin Fritsch (Battenberg, DE); Jens Henrich (Schmitten, DE); Philip Kieper (Königstein, DE)
Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG
F16H63/3466F16H63/3433H02K7/003H02K7/116H02K11/33
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12680612
App. No.
18/993,935
Granted
Jul 14, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

A locking device for an electric motor drive unit having a locking mechanism for locking a lockable shaft of the electric motor drive unit and an electric drive for actuating the locking mechanism received by a housing of the locking device together with the locking mechanism. The housing receives a position sensor assembly that comprises a signal transmitter and a sensor component, which interacts with the signal transmitter and detects the position of a rotor of an electric motor to commutate the electric motor.

Claims (27)

1 . A locking device for an electric motor drive unit, comprising:

a locking device housing;

a locking mechanism received by the locking device housing and configured to lock a lockable shaft of the electric motor drive unit;

an electric drive received by the locking device housing and configured to actuate the locking mechanism;

a multifunctional shaft adapter, which is substantially made of a plastic and received by the locking device housing and configured to connect to the lockable shaft;

wherein the plastic of the shaft adapter is connected in an integrally bonded manner to a form-fit element for connection to the lockable shaft; and

a position sensor assembly that detects a position of a rotor of an electric motor of the electric motor drive unit, the rotor connected to the lockable shaft to commutate the electric motor, the position sensor assembly received by the locking device housing and comprises:

a signal transmitter; and

a sensor component that is received in a fixed position by the plastic of the shaft adapter and at least partly made of metal, which interacts with the signal transmitter.

2 . The locking device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the signal transmitter is fixed to the locking device housing and the sensor component is fixed to the lockable shaft.

3 . The locking device as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising:

contacts embedded in the multifunctional shaft adapter for external excitation of the rotor.

4 . The locking device as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the sensor component is formed as a disk-like element that is at least partly made of metal.

5 . The locking device as claimed in claim 4 , wherein the signal transmitter an integral part of a printed circuit board and the disk-like element is arranged opposite the printed circuit board.

6 . The locking device as claimed in claim 5 , wherein the printed circuit board has motor electronics configured to control the electric motor drive unit and sensor electronics for the position sensor assembly.

7 . An electric motor drive unit, for driving a vehicle comprising:

a locking device comprising:

a locking device housing;

a locking mechanism received by the locking device housing and configured to lock a lockable shaft of the electric motor drive unit;

an electric drive received by the locking device housing and configured to actuate the locking mechanism;

a multifunctional shaft adapter, which is substantially made of a plastic and received by the locking device housing and configured to connect to the lockable shaft;

wherein the plastic of the shaft adapter is connected in an integrally bonded manner to a form-fit element for connection to the lockable shaft; and

a position sensor assembly that detects a position of a rotor of an electric motor of the electric motor drive unit, the rotor connected to the lockable shaft to commutate the electric motor, the position sensor assembly received by the locking device housing and comprises:

a signal transmitter; and

a sensor component that is received in a fixed position by the plastic of the shaft adapter and at least partly made of metal, which interacts with the signal transmitter; and

a housing of the electric motor of the electric motor drive unit to which the locking device is attached.

8 . A vehicle comprising an electric motor drive unit as claimed in claim 7 .