Electric drive axle in a vehicle
An electric drive axle in a vehicle is provided. The electric drive axle includes, in one example, a housing configured to enclose an electric motor-generator and a gearbox. In the electric drive axle, the housing includes a first section that is removably coupled to a second section, the second section at least partially encloses the gearbox, the first section includes a first axle shaft opening, and the second section includes a second axle shaft opening that is laterally aligned with the first axle shaft opening.
1. A rigid beam electric drive axle comprising:
a housing with two axle shaft openings that include two axle shafts which extend therethrough, respectively, wherein the housing includes:
a housing body that at least partially encloses an electric motor, a gearbox, and a differential;
a first access panel removably attached to a first flange of the housing body via a plurality of attachment devices and providing access to the differential; and
a second access panel removably attached to a second flange of the housing body via a plurality of attachment devices and providing access to at least one of the gearbox and the electric motor; and
an inverter electrically coupled to the electric motor;
wherein the first flange is arranged perpendicular to the second flange; and
wherein the housing body includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs that laterally extend across an outer surface of the housing body.
2. The rigid beam electric drive axle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs each have varying heights.
3. The rigid beam electric drive axle of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs traverse a depression formed between a motor enclosure and a differential enclosure.
4. The rigid beam electric drive axle of claim 1 , wherein the electric motor is an electric motor-generator.
5. The rigid beam electric drive axle of claim 1 , wherein the housing is not directly mounted to a vehicle frame.
6. The rigid beam electric drive axle of claim 1 , wherein the housing body includes at least one of the two axle shaft openings.
7. The rigid beam electric drive axle of claim 1 , further comprising a plurality of mounting interfaces that are each configured to attach to one or more suspension system components.
8. The rigid beam electric drive axle of claim 7 , wherein the one or more suspension system components are shock absorbers.
9. The rigid beam electric drive axle of claim 1 , wherein the rigid beam electric drive axle is a non-steerable axle.
10. The rigid beam electric drive axle of claim 1 , wherein the rigid beam electric drive axle forms an unsprung portion of a vehicle.
11. The rigid beam electric drive axle of claim 1 , further comprising two wheel bearing assemblies coupled to the two axle shafts, respectively.
12. The rigid beam electric drive axle of claim 1 , wherein the housing further comprises an electrical interface that includes a plurality of electrical connectors which are coupled to the inverter.
13. The rigid beam electric drive axle of claim 1 , wherein a rotational axis of the electric motor is parallel to rotational axes of the two axle shafts.
14. The rigid beam electric drive axle of claim 1 , wherein the first and/or second flanges include a plurality of bosses.
15. A non-steerable solid beam electrified axle comprising:
a housing with two axle shaft openings that include two axle shafts that extend therethrough, wherein the housing includes:
a housing body that at least partially encloses an electric motor, a gearbox, and a differential;
a first access panel removably attached to a first flange of the housing body via a plurality of attachment devices and providing access to the differential; and
a second access panel removably attached to a second flange of the housing body via a plurality of attachment devices and providing access to at least one of the gearbox and the electric motor;
an inverter electrically coupled to the electric motor;
an electrical interface that includes a plurality of electrical connectors coupled to the inverter; and
two wheel bearing assemblies coupled to the two axle shafts, respectively;
wherein the first flange is arranged perpendicular to the second flange; and
wherein the housing body includes a plurality of reinforcing ribs that laterally extend across an outer surface.
16. The non-steerable solid beam electrified axle of claim 15 , wherein the plurality of reinforcing ribs traverse a depression formed between a motor enclosure and a differential enclosure and are parallel to one another.
17. The non-steerable solid beam electrified axle of claim 15 , wherein the first and second flanges include a plurality of bosses that are designed to receive the respective plurality of attachment devices.
18. The non-steerable solid beam electrified axle of claim 15 , wherein a rotational axis of the electric motor is parallel to rotational axes of the two axle shafts.
19. The non-steerable solid beam electrified axle of claim 15 , wherein the first access panel has an asymmetric profile.
20. The non-steerable solid beam electrified axle of claim 15 , further comprising a plurality of mounting interfaces that are each configured to attach to one or more shock absorbers that include one or more of a leaf spring, a coil spring, and an air spring.