Electric vehicle powertrain assembly
The drivetrain system includes an I shield, two motors, two A-shields, and a gearset. Each A-shield is affixed to a respective one of the two motors, and each A-shield is also affixed to the I-shield. The gearset includes a motor shaft of one of the motors and a motor gear affixed to the motor shaft. Three motor bearings are arranged co-linearly and coupled to the motor shaft. The gearset also includes an intermediate shaft and a wheel gear affixed to the intermediate shaft and engaged with the first motor gear. A pinion gear is also affixed to the intermediate shaft. Two intermediate bearings are arranged co-linearly and coupled to the intermediate shaft. The gearset also includes a drive shaft and a drive gear affixed to the drive shaft and engaged with the first pinion gear. The motor shaft, intermediate shaft and drive shaft form a shaft angle that may allow compactness.
1 . A bearing retention plate comprising:
a semi-circular shape having an inner radius, the semi-circular shape partially surrounding a motor shaft of a motor, wherein:
a motor gear affixed to the motor shaft is configured to engage with a wheel gear; and
a portion of the wheel gear is within the inner radius of the semi-circular shape.
2 . The bearing retention plate of claim 1 , further comprising a section having a relatively lesser radial width than another section.
3 . The bearing retention plate of claim 1 , wherein the bearing retention plate is configured to be affixed to a housing to which the motor is affixed.
4 . The bearing retention plate of claim 1 , wherein the bearing retention plate maintains a position of a motor bearing and reacts axial loads on the motor shaft.
5 . The bearing retention plate of claim 1 , wherein the bearing retention plate retains a mid-bearing along the motor shaft.
6 . The bearing retention plate of claim 5 , wherein the mid-bearing is one of three and only three bearings along the motor shaft.
7 . A system comprising:
a housing configured to house a gearset and to interface to an electric motor having a motor shaft, wherein the gearset comprises a motor gear and an intermediate gear configured to be engaged with the motor gear;
a motor bearing engaged with the motor shaft, wherein the motor gear is affixed to the motor shaft; and
a retention plate comprising a semi-circular shape that forms an open area and extends partially around the motor shaft to retain the motor bearing against the housing, wherein a portion of the intermediate gear is within the open area.
8 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the retention plate is affixed to the housing.
9 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the retention plate maintains a position of the motor bearing and reacts axial loads on the motor shaft.
10 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the motor bearing is a mid-bearing along the motor shaft.
11 . The system of claim 10 , wherein the mid-bearing is one of three and only three bearings along the motor shaft.
12 . The system of claim 11 , wherein:
the retention plate allows an axial stack up of the intermediate gear and the motor gear to be reduced relative to a four-bearing arrangement.
13 . The system of claim 7 , wherein the retention plate forms open area is an azimuthal open area.
14 . A system comprising:
a motor gear affixed to a motor shaft engaged with a motor bearing;
an intermediate gear engaged with the motor gear; and
a retention plate that retains the motor bearing, wherein the retention plate comprises a semi-circular shape that forms an open area and extends partially around the motor shaft, and wherein a portion of the intermediate gear is within the open area.
15 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the retention plate maintains a position of the motor bearing and reacts axial loads on the motor shaft.
16 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the motor bearing is a mid-bearing along the motor shaft, and wherein the mid-bearing is one of three and only three bearings along the motor shaft.
17 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the retention plate maintains alignment of the motor bearing.
18 . The system of claim 14 , wherein the open area allows an axial stack up of the intermediate gear and the motor gear to be reduced by a thickness of the retention plate.
19 . The system of claim 14 , wherein a motor comprises the motor shaft, and wherein the retention plate is affixed to a housing to which the motor is affixed.