IP Library › Granted Patent US 11,226,031
Granted Patent B2
US 11,226,031 · App. 16/465,310 · Granted Jan 18, 2022

Drive assembly for a vehicle, and vehicle comprising the drive assembly

Inventors: Sebastian Paulik (Tiefenbach, DE); Harald Wendl (Vilshofen, DE); Matthias Kobler (Perlesreut, DE); Andreas Lachhammer (Ruhstorf, DE)
Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
F16H57/0423F16H1/06F16H57/027F16H57/029F16H57/0457F16H2057/02034F16H2057/02043
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,226,031
App. No.
16/465,310
Granted
Jan 18, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

A drive assembly 1 for a vehicle includes a prime mover housing section 2 and a transmission housing section 3 . The prime mover housing section 2 encompasses a dry space 4 , and the transmission housing section 3 encompasses an oil space 5 . The oil space 5 is at least partially filled with an oil 6 . A prime mover shaft 10 extends from the dry space 4 into the oil space 5 . A partition 7 separates the oil space 5 from the dry space 4 . A sealing device 13 seals the prime mover shaft 10 with respect to the partition 7 . The sealing device 13 is arranged in the partition 7 . A connecting unit 19 provides a fluidic connection between and compensates for pressure differences between the oil space 5 and the dry space 4.

Claims (25)

1. A drive assembly ( 1 ) for a vehicle, comprising:

a prime mover housing section ( 2 ) encompassing a dry space ( 4 );

a transmission housing section ( 3 ) encompassing an oil space ( 5 ), the oil space ( 5 ) at least partially filled with an oil ( 6 );

a partition ( 7 ) separating the oil space ( 5 ) from the dry space ( 4 );

a prime mover shaft ( 10 ) extending from the dry space ( 4 ) into the oil space ( 5 );

an electric motor for driving the prime mover shaft ( 10 ), the electric motor arranged in the prime mover housing section ( 2 );

a sealing device ( 13 ) sealing the prime mover shaft ( 10 ) with respect to the partition ( 7 ), the sealing device ( 13 ) arranged in the partition ( 7 ); and

a connecting unit ( 19 ) providing a fluidic connection between the oil space ( 5 ) and the dry space ( 4 ) in order to compensate for pressure differences between the oil space ( 5 ) and the dry space ( 4 ),

wherein the connecting unit ( 19 ) is mounted on the partition ( 7 ), and

wherein air is flowable back and forth between the oil space ( 5 ) and the dry space ( 4 ) through the connecting unit ( 19 ).

2. The drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the connecting unit ( 19 ) comprises one or both of an oil separator for separating out the oil ( 6 ) and a membrane.

3. The drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 1 , wherein the connecting unit ( 19 ) comprises a labyrinth for retaining the oil ( 6 ) in the oil space ( 5 ).

4. The drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 1 , further comprising a gearwheel ( 14 ) arranged in the oil space ( 5 ), the prime mover shaft ( 10 ) rotationally fixed to the gearwheel ( 14 ) and configured to drive the gearwheel ( 14 ), the gearwheel ( 14 ) at least partially rotatable through the oil ( 6 ).

5. The drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 4 , further comprising at least one stripper ( 20 ) arranged in the oil space ( 5 ), the stripper ( 20 ) removing the oil ( 6 ) from one or both of the gearwheel ( 14 ) and a further gearwheel ( 15 ), the stripper ( 20 ) arranged between the transmission housing section ( 3 ) and the gearwheel ( 14 ), the stripper ( 20 ) arranged laterally adjacent to one or both of the gearwheel ( 14 ) and the further gearwheel ( 15 ).

6. The drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 5 , wherein a shield ( 18 ) and the stripper ( 20 ) define an oil flow path (S) such that the oil ( 6 ), which is carried along and slung off in an upward direction at the shield ( 18 ) by one or both of the gearwheel ( 14 ) and the further gearwheel ( 15 ), is at least partially intercepted and removed by the stripper ( 20 ).

7. The drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 4 , further comprising at least one further gearwheel ( 15 ) arranged in the oil space ( 5 ), the further gearwheel ( 15 ) meshed with the gearwheel ( 14 ), the further gearwheel ( 15 ) at least partially rotatable in the oil ( 6 ).

8. The drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 7 , further comprising at least one shield ( 18 ) arranged in the oil space ( 5 ), the shield ( 18 ) arranged between the transmission housing section ( 3 ) and the gearwheel ( 14 ), the shield ( 18 ) arranged below the gearwheel ( 14 ).

9. The drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 8 , wherein the shield ( 18 ) has a concave cross-section with a bend radius greater than a radius of the one or both of the gearwheel ( 14 ) and the further gearwheel ( 15 ).

10. The drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 9 , wherein a center of the bend radius is concentric with a center of the radius of the one or both of the gearwheel ( 14 ) and the further gearwheel ( 15 ).

11. The drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 8 , wherein an angular range of the shield ( 18 ) is no less than thirty degrees and no greater than one hundred and fifty degrees.

12. The drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 8 , further comprising at least one stripper ( 20 ) arranged in the oil space ( 5 ), the stripper ( 20 ) removing the oil ( 6 ) from one or both of the gearwheel ( 14 ) and the further gearwheel ( 15 ), the stripper ( 20 ) arranged between the transmission housing section ( 3 ) and the gearwheel ( 14 ), the stripper ( 20 ) arranged laterally adjacent to one or both of the gearwheel ( 14 ) and the further gearwheel ( 15 ),

wherein the shield ( 18 ) and the stripper ( 20 ) define an oil flow path (S) such that the oil ( 6 ), which is carried along and slung off in an upward direction at the shield ( 18 ) by one or both of the gearwheel ( 14 ) and the further gearwheel ( 15 ), is at least partially intercepted and removed by the stripper ( 20 ).

13. The drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 12 , wherein the stripper ( 20 ) has a downwardly facing concave cross-section.

14. The drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 12 , wherein the stripper ( 20 ) is positioned proximate a first side of the further gearwheel ( 15 ) and the connecting unit ( 19 ) is positioned proximate a second, opposite side of the further gearwheel ( 15 ).

15. A vehicle comprising the drive assembly ( 1 ) of claim 1 .

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded May 30, 2019
From: PAULIK, SEBASTIAN; WENDL, HARALD; KOBLER, MATTHIAS; LACHHAMMER, ANDREAS
To: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
Reel/Frame 049320/0288 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20190390762A1 · Dec 26, 2019
Cited By (1)
US 12,655,905