Granted Patent B2

US 12,643,388 · App. 18/209,607 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Inventors: Philip J. Francis (Lapeer, MI); Brian Nickoloff (Grand Blanc, MI); Gregory L. Beyerlein (Clarkston, MI); Aniruddha Chavan (Sterling Heights, MI); Gurmeet Singh Bedi (Rochester Hills, MI); Matthew A. Biederwolf (Fishers, IN); Wesley L. Shaw (Troy, MI)

Assignee: BORGWARNER INC.

B60K6/405F16H57/0423

Abstract

Claims (38)

1 . An oil control assembly comprising:

a housing defining a housing interior for containing a lubricant, wherein said housing interior has a first interior side adjacent a first housing wall of said housing and a second interior side spaced from said first interior side and adjacent a second housing wall of said housing;

an input shaft extending along an input axis and coupled to said housing and configured to receive rotational torque from a power source;

a gear train disposed in said housing interior and rotatably coupled to said input shaft;

an output shaft rotatably coupled to said gear train and configured to provide rotational torque; and

an oil housing disposed in said housing interior between said first housing wall and said second housing wall, wherein said oil housing defines an oil housing interior that is configured to retain a portion of the lubricant;

wherein said housing has a bottom surface extending between said first interior side and said second interior side;

wherein said oil housing has a vertical wall extending perpendicular with respect to said input axis partially defining said oil housing interior, and an upper wall extending perpendicular to said vertical wall and further defining said oil housing interior; and

wherein said upper wall of said oil housing is disposed between said input shaft and said bottom surface.

2 . The oil control assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a retaining projection disposed in said housing interior and adjacent said oil housing, wherein said retaining projection is configured to retain lubricant adjacent to said oil housing.

3 . The oil control assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said oil housing is engaged with said bottom surface, and wherein said bottom surface and said oil housing define said oil housing interior.

4 . The oil control assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said upper wall defines a collection hole for collecting lubricant to retain lubricant in said oil housing interior.

5 . The oil control assembly as set forth in claim 4 , wherein said upper wall is angled with respect to said input axis such that when lubricant is disposed on said upper wall the lubricant is encouraged to migrate toward and through said collection hole.

6 . The oil control assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said housing further defines said oil housing interior with said vertical wall and said upper wall.

7 . The oil control assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said oil housing is removably coupled to said housing.

8 . The oil control assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said oil housing is integral with said housing.

9 . The oil control assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a pump configured to circulate lubricant throughout said housing interior.

10 . The oil control assembly as set forth in claim 1 further comprising a filter disposed in said oil housing interior.

11 . The oil control assembly as set forth in claim 1 , wherein said geartrain is disposed entirely outside of said oil housing interior.

12 . A drive module system comprising:

a power source; and

a drive module assembly comprising,

a housing defining a housing interior for containing a lubricant, wherein said housing interior has a first interior side adjacent a first housing wall of said housing and a second interior side spaced from said first interior side and adjacent a second housing wall of said housing;

an input shaft extending along an input axis and coupled to said housing and configured to receive rotational torque from said power source;

a gear train disposed in said housing interior and rotatably coupled to said input shaft;

an output shaft rotatably coupled to said gear train and configured to provide rotational torque to wheels of a vehicle; and

an oil housing disposed in said housing interior between said first housing wall and said second housing wall, wherein said oil housing defines an oil housing interior that is configured to retain a portion of the lubricant;

wherein said housing has a bottom surface extending between said first interior side and said second interior side;

wherein said oil housing has a vertical wall extending perpendicular with respect to said input axis partially defining said oil housing interior, and an upper wall extending perpendicular to said vertical wall and further defining said oil housing interior; and

wherein said upper wall of said oil housing is disposed between said input shaft and said bottom surface.

13 . The drive module system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said power source is further defined as an internal combustion engine.

14 . The drive module system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said power source is further defined as an electric machine.

15 . The drive module system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said drive module assembly further comprises a second input shaft coupled to said housing and rotatably coupled to said gear train, wherein said power source is further defined as a first power source and said input shaft is further defined as a first input shaft, and further comprising a second power source, wherein said first power source is configured to provide rotational torque to said first input shaft, and wherein said second power source is configured to provide rotational torque to said second input shaft.

16 . The drive module system as set forth in claim 15 , wherein said first power source is further defined as a first electric machine, and wherein said second power source is further defined as a second electric machine.

17 . The drive module system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said drive module assembly further comprises a retaining projection disposed in said housing interior and adjacent said oil housing, wherein said retaining projection is configured to retain a predetermined amount of lubricant adjacent to said oil housing.

18 . The drive module system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said oil housing is engaged with said bottom surface, and wherein said bottom surface and said oil housing define said oil housing interior.

19 . The drive module system as set forth in claim 12 , wherein said upper wall defines a collection hole for collecting lubricant to retain lubricant in said oil housing interior.

20 . A vehicle including said drive module system as set forth in claim 12 , and further comprising wheels configured to receive rotational torque from said drive module system.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (24)