Granted Patent B2

US 12,643,417 · App. 18/404,572 · Granted Jun 2, 2026

Inventors: Gowrisankar Devaraj (Leamington Spa, GB); Cody Ott (Ida, MI)

Assignee: DANA AUTOMOTIVE SYSTEMS GROUP, LLC

B60L15/2036B60K1/02B60K17/02B60L2240/461B60L2240/463B60L2240/50

Abstract

Claims (52)

1 . An electric drive unit, comprising:

a first electric machine rotationally coupled to a first drive wheel via a first gear train;

a second electric machine rotationally coupled to a second drive wheel via a second gear train;

a first disconnect clutch configured to, in an engaged configuration, rotationally couple the first electric machine and the second electric machine;

a park lock assembly coupled to one of the first gear train and the second gear train and configured to inhibit rotation of the corresponding gear train;

a controller including instructions stored in memory that when executed, during a first operating condition, cause the controller to:

engage the first disconnect clutch; and

operate one of the first and second electric machines in a generator mode while the other electric machine is operated in a drive mode, and

wherein the controller further includes instructions that when executed, during a null speed condition, cause the controller to:

engage the first disconnect clutch and the park lock assembly.

2 . The electric drive unit of claim 1 , further comprising:

a second disconnect clutch positioned in the first gear train; and

a third disconnect clutch positioned in the second gear train.

3 . The electric drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes instructions that when executed, during a cornering condition, cause the controller to:

disengage the first disconnect clutch.

4 . The electric drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the controller includes instructions that when executed, during a second operating condition, cause the controller to:

engage the first disconnect clutch; and

operate the first electric machine and the second electric machine in the drive mode.

5 . The electric drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the first disconnect clutch is directly rotationally coupled to a first rotor shaft of the first electric machine and a second rotor shaft of the second electric machine.

6 . The electric drive unit of claim 1 , wherein the park lock assembly includes a parking gear that is coupled for rotation with a rotor shaft extension of the first electric machine or the second electric machine.

7 . A method for operation of an electric drive unit, comprising:

engaging or sustaining engagement of a first disconnect clutch, a second disconnect clutch, and a third disconnect clutch;

operating a first electric machine in a drive mode while a second electric machine receives mechanical power from the first electric machine and is operated in a generator mode; and

disconnecting the second disconnect clutch and the third disconnect clutch during an overspeed condition;

the first electric machine of the electric drive unit rotationally coupling a first drive wheel via a first gear train;

the second electric machine of the electric drive unit rotationally coupling a second drive wheel via a second gear train; and

the first disconnect clutch of the electric drive unit selectively rotationally coupling the first electric machine and the second electric machine,

wherein the second disconnect clutch of the electric drive unit is positioned in the first gear train, and

wherein the third disconnect clutch of the electric drive unit is positioned in the second gear train.

8 . The method of claim 7 , where the electric drive unit further comprises:

a park lock assembly coupled to one of the first gear train and the second gear train and configured to inhibit rotation of the corresponding gear train.

9 . The method of claim 8 , further comprising, during a null speed condition:

engaging or sustaining engagement of the first disconnect clutch, the second disconnect clutch, and the third disconnect clutch; and

engaging the park lock assembly.

10 . An electric axle, comprising:

a first electric machine rotationally coupled to a first drive wheel via a first gear train;

a second electric machine rotationally coupled to a second drive wheel via a second gear train;

a first disconnect clutch configured to, in an engaged configuration, rotationally couple the first electric machine and the second electric machine;

a second disconnect clutch positioned in the first gear train;

a third disconnect clutch positioned in the second gear train; and

a controller including instructions stored in memory that when executed, during a coasting condition, cause the controller to:

disengage the second disconnect clutch and the third disconnect clutch.

11 . The electric axle of claim 10 , the controller including instructions stored in memory that when executed, during a first operating condition, cause the controller to:

engage the first disconnect clutch; and

operate one of the first and second electric machines in a generator mode while the other electric machine is operated in a drive mode.

12 . The electric axle of claim 11 , the controller including instructions that when executed, during a second operating condition, cause the controller to:

engage the first disconnect clutch; and

operate the first electric machine and the second electric machine in the drive mode.

13 . The electric axle of claim 10 , wherein the first disconnect clutch is directly rotationally coupled to a first rotor shaft of the first electric machine and a second rotor shaft of the second electric machine.

14 . The electric axle of claim 13 , further comprising a park lock assembly that includes a parking gear that is coupled for rotation with a rotor shaft extension of the first electric machine or the second electric machine.

15 . The electric axle of claim 10 , the controller including instructions that when executed, during a cornering condition, cause the controller to:

disengage the first disconnect clutch.

Assignments (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (16)