IP Library Granted Patent US 12686256
Granted Patent B2
US 12686256 · App. 18/980,210 · Granted Jul 21, 2026

Axle drive for a vehicle

Inventors: Thomas Waim (Grafenau, DE); Julian Lüftl (Tiefenbach, DE)
Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
B60K1/00B60K17/16B60K2001/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12686256
App. No.
18/980,210
Granted
Jul 21, 2026
Kind
B2
Abstract

An axle drive for a vehicle includes at least one electric machine ( 1 ) as a drive and a transmission ( 2 ), which is coupled via an output differential ( 3 ) to output shafts ( 4, 5 ) for driving vehicle wheels. An overload decoupling device ( 6 ) is arranged between the output differential ( 3 ) and the output shafts ( 4, 5 ) with respect to a torque flow.

Claims (31)

1 . An axle drive for a vehicle, comprising:

an electric machine ( 1 ) as a drive;

a transmission ( 2 ) coupled via an output differential ( 3 ) to output shafts ( 4 , 5 ) for driving vehicle wheels; and

an overload decoupling device ( 6 ) arranged between the output differential ( 3 ) and the output shafts ( 4 , 5 ) with respect to a torque flow,

wherein the overload decoupling device ( 6 ) decouples the torque flow between the output differential ( 3 ) and the output shafts ( 4 , 5 ) when an overload occurs.

2 . The axle drive of claim 1 , wherein the overload decoupling device ( 6 ) comprises:

a first coupling element ( 7 );

a second coupling element ( 8 ); and

an interlocking or friction-locking torque transmission disposed between the first and second coupling elements ( 7 , 8 ), the interlocking or friction-locking torque transmission decouplable according to load.

3 . The axle drive of claim 2 , wherein the first and second coupling elements ( 7 , 8 ) are inter-lockingly interconnected via toothings that include repellent tooth geometries and that are pre-loaded against each other.

4 . The axle drive of claim 2 , wherein the first and second coupling elements ( 7 , 8 ) have friction surfaces, the first and second coupling elements ( 7 , 8 ) being frictionally interconnected when the friction surfaces are preloaded against each other.

5 . The axle drive of claim 2 , wherein the first coupling element ( 7 ) is connected to the output differential ( 3 ), and the second coupling element ( 8 ) is connected to one of the output shafts ( 4 , 5 ).

6 . The axle drive of claim 5 , wherein the first coupling element ( 7 ) is connected to an output side gear ( 9 ) of the output differential ( 3 ) for conjoint rotation, and the second coupling element ( 8 ) is axially movably connected to the one of the output shafts ( 4 , 5 ) for conjoint rotation.

7 . The axle drive of claim 6 , wherein the first coupling element ( 7 ) has a cylindrical shape with an external toothing ( 10 ) engaged with an internal toothing of the output side gear ( 9 ) of the output differential ( 3 ), and an end-face-dog-profiled toothing ( 11 ) having a repellent tooth geometry is integrally formed onto the cylindrical shape on an axial side of the cylindrical shape.

8 . The axle drive of claim 5 , wherein the second coupling element ( 8 ) has a sleeve-shaped main body with an internal toothing ( 12 ) for corotational connection to an external toothing on the one of the output shafts ( 4 , 5 ), and an end-face-dog-profiled toothing ( 13 ) having a repellent tooth geometry is integrally formed on the sleeve-shaped main body on an axial side of the sleeve-shaped main body.

9 . The axle drive of claim 8 , wherein the overload decoupling device ( 6 ) further comprises a spring element ( 14 ), and

wherein, when an overload occurs, the second coupling element ( 8 ) is axially movable along the internal toothing ( 12 ) against the spring element ( 14 ) for decoupling corresponding end-face-dog-profiled toothings ( 11 , 13 ) of the first and second coupling elements ( 7 , 8 ).

10 . The axle drive of claim 2 , wherein the overload decoupling device ( 6 ) further comprises a sleeve ( 15 ), the first and second coupling elements ( 7 , 8 ) being received within the sleeve ( 15 ), the second coupling element ( 8 ) being slidable within the sleeve ( 15 ).

11 . The axle drive of claim 10 , wherein the overload decoupling device ( 6 ) further comprises a spring element ( 14 ) radially between the sleeve ( 15 ) and the second coupling element ( 8 ), and

wherein, when an overload occurs, the second coupling element ( 8 ) is axially movable against the spring element ( 14 ) for decoupling the first and second coupling elements ( 7 , 8 ).

12 . The axle drive of claim 1 , wherein the output differential ( 3 ) comprises a bevel gear differential.

13 . The axle drive of claim 1 , wherein one or both of the electric machine ( 1 ) and the transmission ( 2 ) is arranged coaxially with the output shafts ( 4 , 5 ).

14 . The axle drive of claim 13 , wherein the electric machine ( 1 ) is arranged axially next to the transmission ( 2 ) such that at least one of the output shafts ( 4 , 5 ) is guided axially through the electric machine ( 1 ) and the transmission ( 2 ).

15 . An axle drive for a vehicle, comprising:

an electric machine ( 1 ) as a drive;

a transmission ( 2 ) coupled via an output differential ( 3 ) to output shafts ( 4 , 5 ) for driving vehicle wheels; and

an overload decoupling device ( 6 ) arranged between the output differential ( 3 ) and the output shafts ( 4 , 5 ) with respect to a torque flow, the overload decoupling device ( 6 ) comprising:

a first coupling element ( 7 );

a second coupling element ( 8 );

a sleeve ( 15 ), the first and second coupling elements ( 7 , 8 ) being received within the sleeve ( 15 ), the second coupling element ( 8 ) being slidable within the sleeve ( 15 ); and

an interlocking or friction-locking torque transmission disposed between the first and second coupling elements ( 7 , 8 ), the interlocking or friction-locking torque transmission decouplable according to load.