Granted Patent B2

US 12,734,915 · App. 18/017,367 · Granted Sep 15, 2026

Inventors: Frank Seemann (Euerbach, DE); Andre Ehrsam (Bergrheinfeld, DE); Martin Mach (Plzen, CZ); Zbynek Stepan (Plzen, CZ); Vladimir Dvorak (Plzen, CZ); Gabriel Scherer (Deggenhausertal, DE); Rico Glöckner (Pocking, DE)

Assignee: ZF FRIEDRICHSHAFEN AG

B60L53/20B60K1/00H02P5/74B60L2210/40

Abstract

Claims (27)

1 . A converter apparatus configured to convert an operating current for an electric vehicle with a vehicle battery and a drive apparatus comprising a drive motor and an auxiliary motor, comprising:

a battery interface configured to connect the converter apparatus to the vehicle battery;

a bidirectional inverter with a first connector configured to connect the inverter to the battery interface, and with a second connector, wherein the inverter is configured to convert a direct voltage present at the first connector into an alternating voltage and supply it at the second connector; and

a switch device connected to the inverter and with a switch connector configured as a bus that is directly connected between the switch device and the second connector of the inverter for connecting the switch device to the second connector of the inverter, and with a drive interface configured to directly connect the converter apparatus to the drive motor via a respective single switch between the switch connector and the drive interface and with an auxiliary interface configured to connect the converter apparatus directly to the auxiliary motor via a respective single switch between the switch connector and the auxiliary interface,

wherein the switch device is configured to connect the switch connector, using a switch signal, to the drive interface or the auxiliary interface.

2 . The converter apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the switch device has a current-supply interface configured to supply current to an appliance coupled to the current-supply interface, and wherein the switch device is configured to connect the switch connector to the drive interface or the auxiliary interface or the current-supply interface using the switch signal.

3 . The converter apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the switch device has a charging interface configured to charge the vehicle battery, and wherein the switch device is configured to connect the switch connector to the drive interface or the auxiliary interface or the charging interface using the switch signal, and wherein the inverter is designed to convert the alternating voltage which is present at the second connector into a direct voltage and to supply it to the first connector.

4 . The converter apparatus as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the inverter has a third connector in order to convert a direct voltage present at the first connector into the alternating voltage and supply it at the third connector, and wherein the switch device has a further switch connector configured to connect the switch device to the third connector of the inverter, and wherein the switch device is configured to connect the switch connector to the drive interface or the auxiliary interface using the switch signal and to connect the further switch connector to the current-supply interface or the charging interface using the switch signal.

5 . The converter apparatus as claimed in claim 2 , wherein the inverter has a third connector in order to convert a direct voltage present at the first connector into the alternating voltage and supply it at the third connector, and wherein the switch device has a further switch connector configured to connect the switch device to the third connector of the inverter, and wherein the switch device is configured to connect the switch connector to the drive interface or the auxiliary interface using the switch signal and to connect the further switch connector to the current-supply interface or a charging interface using the switch signal.

6 . The converter apparatus as claimed in claim 5 , further comprising a mains filter and/or an isolating element, wherein the mains filter and/or the isolating element is arranged between the third connector and the further switch connector.

7 . The converter apparatus as claimed in claim 1 , further comprising a further inverter with a further first connector configured to connect the further inverter to the battery interface and to a further drive interface configured to connect the converter apparatus to a further drive motor, wherein the further inverter is configured to convert the direct voltage present at the further first connector into a further alternating voltage and supply it to the further drive interface.

8 . The converter apparatus as claimed in claim 7 , wherein the inverter and the switch device are arranged in a common housing, and wherein the further inverter has a further housing.

9 . A drive apparatus for an electric vehicle, comprising:

a converter apparatus configured to convert an operating current for an electric vehicle with a vehicle battery and a drive apparatus comprising a drive motor and an auxiliary motor, comprising:

a battery interface configured to connect the converter apparatus to the vehicle battery;

a bidirectional inverter with a first connector configured to connect the inverter to the battery interface, and with a second connector, wherein the inverter is configured to convert a direct voltage present at the first connector into an alternating voltage and supply it at the second connector; and

a switch device connected to the inverter and with a switch connector configured as a bus that is directly connected between the switch device and the second connector of the inverter for connecting the switch device to the second connector of the inverter, and with a drive interface configured to directly connect the converter apparatus to the drive motor via a respective single switch between the switch connector and the drive interface and with an auxiliary interface configured to connect the converter apparatus directly to the auxiliary motor via a respective single switch between the switch connector and the auxiliary interface,

wherein the switch device is configured to connect the switch connector, using a switch signal, to the drive interface or the auxiliary interface;

the drive motor for driving a wheel of the electric vehicle,

wherein the drive motor is connected to the drive interface; and

an auxiliary motor for supplying an auxiliary function of the electric vehicle, wherein the auxiliary motor is connected to the auxiliary interface.

10 . The drive apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising a further drive motor configured to drive a further wheel of the electric vehicle, wherein the further drive motor is connected to a further drive interface.

11 . The drive apparatus as claimed in claim 9 , further comprising a coupling device for coupling the drive motor or a further drive motor to an axle for driving the wheel and a further wheel.

12 . A method for converting an operating current for an electric vehicle with a vehicle battery, a drive apparatus, and a converter apparatus configured to convert an operating current for an electric vehicle with a vehicle battery and a drive apparatus comprising a drive motor and an auxiliary motor, having: a battery interface configured to connect the converter apparatus to the vehicle battery; a bidirectional inverter with a first connector configured to connect the inverter to the battery interface, and with a second connector, wherein the inverter is configured to convert a direct voltage present at the first connector into an alternating voltage and supply it at the second connector; and a switch device connected to the inverter and with a switch device connected to the inverter and with a switch connector configured as a bus that is directly connected between the switch device and the second connector of the inverter for connecting the switch device to the second connector of the inverter, and with a drive interface configured to directly connect the converter apparatus to the drive motor via a respective single switch between the switch connector and the drive interface and with an auxiliary interface configured to connect the converter apparatus directly to the auxiliary motor via a respective single switch between the switch connector and the auxiliary interface, wherein the switch device is configured to connect the switch connector, using a switch signal, to the drive interface or the auxiliary interface; the drive motor for driving a wheel of the electric vehicle, wherein the drive motor is connected to the drive interface; and an auxiliary motor for supplying an auxiliary function of the electric vehicle, wherein the auxiliary motor is connected to the auxiliary interface, comprising:

converting a direct voltage present at the first connector of the inverter into the alternating voltage and supplying the alternating voltage to the second connector of the inverter; and

connecting the switch connector to the drive interface or the auxiliary interface using the switch signal.

13 . The method as claimed in claim 12 , further comprising determining the switch signal depending on an operating function of the electric vehicle.

Assignments (1)

Priority Claims (1)

Continuity (1)

References Cited (21)