IP Library Granted Patent US 11,979,073
Granted Patent B2
US 11,979,073 · App. 17/165,414 · Granted May 7, 2024

Four-wheel drive hub lock harness assembly

Inventors: Christoph Zipf (Greenville, SC); Lukas Graf (Greenville, SC)
Assignee: FIT VOLTAIRA AMERICAS CORPORATION
H02K5/04B60R16/0215G01D5/145H02K11/215H05K7/1427
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 11,979,073
App. No.
17/165,414
Granted
May 7, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A four-wheel drive hub lock harness assembly is disclosed. The harness assembly comprises a motor receptacle configured to retain a motor. The motor receptacle comprises a retainer and lead frame assembly configured to house a printed circuit board, a magnetic sensor electrically coupled to the retainer and lead frame assembly, a first and second bracket extending substantially vertically from the retainer and lead frame assembly, the first and second brackets configured to secure corresponding ends of the motor to the retainer and lead frame assembly, and encapsulation material encapsulating the printed circuit board and magnetic sensor for dampening vibrations of the wheels of a vehicle. The harness assembly also comprises a housing assembly situated beneath the motor receptacle, which mechanically connects with the eIWE, and a cable extending from the housing assembly, the cable configured to electrically connect the hub lock harness assembly to a powertrain control module (PCM).

Claims (14)

1. A four-wheel drive hub lock harness assembly comprising:

a motor receptacle configured to retain a motor and further configured to be inserted within a housing of an electric Integrated Wheel End (eIWE) disconnect, the motor receptacle comprising:

a retainer and lead frame assembly configured to house a printed circuit board;

a magnetic sensor electrically coupled to the retainer and lead frame assembly;

a first and second bracket extending substantially vertically from the retainer and lead frame assembly, the first and second brackets each including an undercut feature configured to receive corresponding ends of the motor in a snap-fit configuration to secure the motor to the retainer and lead frame assembly;

encapsulation material embedding the printed circuit board and magnetic sensor for dampening vibrations of the wheels of a vehicle; and

a first seal situated within the motor receptacle and configured to limit or eliminate water from seeping into the motor receptacle and potentially damaging components therein;

a housing assembly situated beneath the motor receptacle;

a cable extending from the housing assembly, the cable configured to electrically connect the hub lock harness assembly to a powertrain control module (PCM); and

a second seal at least partially surrounding the cable.

2. The four-wheel drive hub lock harness assembly of claim 1 , wherein an interior of the cable includes an adhesive material to minimize the amount of media entering the cable.

3. The four-wheel drive hub lock harness assembly of claim 1 , wherein the encapsulation material is a hotmelt adhesive.

4. The four-wheel drive hub lock harness assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic sensor is a hall-effect integrated circuit.

5. The four-wheel drive hub lock harness assembly of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic sensor is electrically coupled to the retainer and lead assembly via an IC lead, and a single wire is directly weld compacted to the IC lead.

Assignments (2)
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Jan 9, 2024
From: PRETTL ELECTRIC CORPORATION
To: FIT VOLTAIRA AMERICAS CORPORATION
Reel/Frame 066239/0103 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Feb 2, 2021
From: ZIPF, CHRISTOPH; GRAF, LUKAS
To: PRETTL ELECTRIC CORP.
Reel/Frame 055116/0296 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20220247252A1 · Aug 4, 2022