IP Library › Granted Patent US 12,391,114
Granted Patent B2
US 12,391,114 · App. 17/657,722 · Granted Aug 19, 2025

Systems for electrified vehicle

Inventors: Jeremy A. Rapp (Maumee, OH); Nathan Mandery (Perrysburg, OH); Kyle Mourdock (Bowling Green, OH)
Assignee: DANA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
B60K23/0808B60K1/02B60K17/02B60K17/16B60K2001/001
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 12,391,114
App. No.
17/657,722
Granted
Aug 19, 2025
Kind
B2
Abstract

Methods and systems are provided for a disconnect device. In one example, a system for an electric drivetrain comprises a differential and a disconnect device arranged in a transmission housing and coupled to the differential, the disconnect device comprising a plurality of cam ring lugs engaged with a differential case, wherein each of the plurality of cam ring lugs is asymmetric.

Claims (19)

1. A system, comprising:

an electric drivetrain comprising a differential; and

a disconnect device arranged in a transmission housing and coupled to the differential via a dog clutch, the disconnect device comprising a plurality of cam ring lugs engaged with a differential case, wherein each of the plurality of cam ring lugs is asymmetric, wherein each of the plurality of cam ring lugs comprises a drive flank and a coast flank, wherein a drive angle between the drive flank and the differential case is greater than a coast angle between the coast flank and the differential case, and wherein a drive gap is present when the differential case touches the coast flank during a coast condition, and wherein a coast gap is present when the differential case touches the drive flank during a drive condition, wherein the coast condition comprises decoupling a magnet motor of the electric drivetrain from drive wheels.

2. The system of claim 1 , wherein each of the plurality of cam ring lugs comprises a solenoid interface positioned between the drive flank and the coast flank.

3. The system of claim 1 , wherein the electric drivetrain is an all-wheel drive electric drivetrain.

4. The system of claim 1 , wherein the drive angle between the drive flank and the differential case is 2-8 times larger than the coast angle between the coast flank and the differential case.

5. The system of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of cam ring lugs extends in a direction away from a differential ring of the differential.

6. A disconnect device configured to disconnect a magnetic motor from driven wheels of a vehicle, the disconnect device comprising:

a cam ring coupled to a differential via a dog clutch, the cam ring comprising a plurality of cam ring lugs each asymmetric and including a coast flank and a drive flank interfacing with a differential case, wherein a coast angle between the coast flank and the differential case is smaller than a drive angle between the drive flank and the differential case, and wherein a drive gap is present when the differential case touches the coast flank during a coast condition, and wherein a coast gap is present when the differential case touches the drive flank during a drive condition, wherein the coast condition comprises decoupling the magnetic motor of the electric drivetrain from drive wheels.

7. The disconnect device of claim 6 , wherein a drive engagement load applied to the drive flank is greater than a coast engagement load applied to the coast flank.

8. The disconnect device of claim 7 , wherein a solenoid engages with the plurality of cam ring lugs via a solenoid interface arranged at each of the plurality of cam ring lugs, the solenoid interface comprising an opening that extends into each of the plurality of cam ring lugs between the coast flank and the drive flank.

9. The disconnect device of claim 8 , wherein the solenoid interface is equidistant to the drive flank and the coast flank.

10. The disconnect device of claim 6 , wherein the plurality of cam ring lugs interface with a portion of the differential case opposite from the dog clutch.

11. The disconnect device of claim 8 , wherein the drive angle is 2-8 times larger than the coast angle.

12. The disconnect device of claim 6 , wherein the dog clutch comprises a plurality of cam teeth and a plurality of differential teeth, wherein the plurality of cam teeth extends in a direction opposite a direction in which the plurality of cam ring lugs extends, the plurality of differential teeth extending in the direction parallel to the direction in which the plurality of cam ring lugs extends.

13. An electric vehicle, comprising:

a transmission coupled to a magnet motor, the transmission comprising a differential coupled to a disconnect device via a dog clutch along an axle coupled to drive wheels of the electric vehicle, wherein the disconnect device comprises a plurality of cam ring lugs arranged on a side of a cam ring facing a direction away from the differential, wherein each of the plurality of cam ring lugs is asymmetric, wherein a drive gap is present when the differential case touches a coast flank during a coast condition, and wherein a coast gap is present when the differential case touches a drive flank during a drive condition, wherein the coast condition comprises decoupling the magnet motor from the drive wheels.

14. The electric vehicle of claim 13 , wherein each of the plurality of cam ring lugs comprises the coast flank and the drive flank, and wherein a coast angle between the coast flank and a differential case is steeper than a drive angle between the drive flank and the differential case.

15. The electric vehicle of claim 13 , wherein a disengagement force to enter the coast condition is less than an engagement force to enter the drive condition.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 1, 2022
From: RAPP, JEREMY A.; MANDERY, NATHAN; MOURDOCK, KYLE
To: DANA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC
Reel/Frame 059477/0933 →
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20230311649A1 · Oct 5, 2023
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