IP Library Granted Patent US 12,088,157
Granted Patent B2
US 12,088,157 · App. 17/794,654 · Granted Sep 10, 2024

Shaft grounding device and electric drive unit comprising such a device

Inventor: Michael Griesbach (Tettnang, DE)
Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
H02K11/40F16C19/52H02K5/1732
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,088,157
App. No.
17/794,654
Granted
Sep 10, 2024
Kind
B2
Abstract

A shaft grounding device (X) for the electrical grounding of a shaft ( 1 ) with respect to a housing ( 2 ) includes an electrically conductive rectangular ring ( 4 ) arranged in a rectangular groove ( 3 ) formed in the shaft ( 1 ). The rectangular ring ( 4 ) is in electrically conductive contact with the housing ( 2 ) via a metallic sleeve ( 5 ). A preloading device presses the rectangular ring ( 4 ) axially against the rectangular ring groove ( 3 ) and radially outward against the sleeve ( 5 ).

Claims (26)

1. A shaft grounding device (X) for electrical grounding of a shaft ( 1 ) with respect to a housing ( 2 ), comprising:

an electrically conductive rectangular ring ( 4 ) arranged in a rectangular groove ( 3 ) formed in the shaft ( 1 ),

a metallic sleeve ( 5 ), the rectangular ring ( 4 ) in electrically conductive contact with the housing ( 2 ) via the metallic sleeve ( 5 ); and

a preloading device pressing the rectangular ring ( 4 ) axially against the rectangular ring groove ( 3 ) and radially outward against the sleeve ( 5 ).

2. The shaft grounding device (X) of claim 1 , wherein the rectangular ring ( 4 ) is silver-coated.

3. The shaft grounding device (X) of claim 1 , wherein the preloading device comprises:

a piston ( 6 ) that is wedge-shaped; and

a radially preloaded base spring ( 7 ),

wherein the piston ( 6 ) and the base spring ( 7 ) are arranged in the rectangular ring groove ( 3 ), and the base spring ( 7 ) presses the piston ( 6 ) against the rectangular ring ( 4 ) such that the rectangular ring ( 4 ) is pressed axially against the rectangular ring groove ( 3 ) and radially outward against the sleeve ( 5 ) by the wedge-shape of the piston ( 6 ).

4. The shaft grounding device (X) of claim 3 , wherein the piston ( 6 ) defines an installation opening ( 9 ).

5. The shaft grounding device (X) of claim 3 , wherein the piston ( 6 ) is a one-piece piston or a two-piece piston.

6. The shaft grounding device (X) of claim 1 , wherein the rectangular ring ( 4 ) is additionally configured as an oil sealing ring.

7. The shaft grounding device (X) of claim 6 , wherein:

on a side facing away from the rectangular ring ( 4 ) in an installed state, a piston ( 6 ) defines grooves ( 8 ) distributed over a circumference of the piston ( 6 );

the grooves ( 8 ) configured for allowing oil to enter the rectangular ring groove ( 4 ) such that the rectangular ring ( 4 ) is pressed axially onto the rectangular ring groove ( 3 ) and radially outward against the sleeve ( 5 ) for a seal.

8. An electric drive unit (G 1 , G 2 ) for a motor vehicle, comprising:

a housing ( 2 );

a shaft ( 1 ) mounted in the housing ( 2 ); and

the shaft grounding device (X) of claim 1 ,

wherein an electrically conductive contact is established between the housing ( 2 ) and the shaft ( 1 ) by the shaft grounding device (X).

9. The electric drive unit (G 2 ) of claim 8 , wherein the shaft grounding device (X) is arranged in an oil chamber (GR) of the electric drive unit (G 2 ).

10. The electric drive unit (G 2 ) of claim 9 , wherein the rectangular ring ( 4 ) of the shaft grounding device (X) operates as a sealing ring for sealing the oil chamber (GR).

11. The electric drive unit (G 2 ) of claim 10 , wherein:

the preloading device comprises a piston ( 6 ) that is wedge-shaped and a radially preloaded base spring ( 7 ), the piston ( 6 ) and the base spring ( 7 ) are arranged in the rectangular ring groove ( 3 ), and the base spring ( 7 ) presses the piston ( 6 ) against the rectangular ring ( 4 ) such that the rectangular ring ( 4 ) is pressed axially against the rectangular ring groove ( 3 ) and radially outward against the sleeve ( 5 ) by the wedge-shape of the piston ( 6 ); and

the piston ( 6 ) is configured such that a pressure prevailing in the oil chamber (GR) acts on the piston ( 6 ) to increase a sealing effect of the rectangular ring ( 4 ).

12. The electric drive unit (G 1 ) of claim 8 , wherein the shaft grounding device (X) is arranged in a dry space (GT) of the electric drive unit (G 1 ).

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Jul 22, 2022
From: GRIESBACH, MICHAEL
To: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG
Reel/Frame 060588/0494 →
Priority Claims (1)
DE 10 2020 200 821.3 · Jan 23, 2020 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230078270A1 · Mar 16, 2023