drive unit

Abstract

drive unit at least comprising a housing (1), therein at least arranged - an electric machine, consisting of a stator which has at least two stator segments, namely the stator segment (4.1) and the stator segment (4.2), and furthermore consisting of a rotor which has at least three rotor segments, namely the rotor segment (3.1), the rotor segment (3.2) and the rotor segment (3.3), each of which has at least one brake (13) or a backstop (12.1, 12.2, 12.3) which has a fixed connection with the housing (1), - and a multi-start planetary gear set, consisting of at least two simple planetary gear sets arranged coaxially to the main axis (2), namely planetary gear set (6.1) consisting of at least one ring gear (10.1), a carrier gear (8.1) and a sun gear (7.1), and planetary gear set (6.2) consisting of at least one ring gear (10.2), a carrier gear (8.2) and a sun gear (7.2) wherein the at least three rotor segments are each separately and rotationally fixed to one another as follows: - Rotor segment (3.1) with the sun gear (7.1), with the ring gear (10.1) or with the carrier gear (8.1) - Rotor segment (3.2) with the sun gear (7.1), with the ring gear (10.1) or with the carrier gear (8.1) - Rotor segment (3.3) with the sun gear (7.2), with the ring gear (10.2) or with the carrier gear (8.2) wherein at least two stator segments, namely the stator segment (4.1) and the stator segment (4.2), of the stator of the electric machine are individually displaceable parallel to the main axis (2) by means of at least one displacement device (21) and these can drive different rotor segments of the rotor, namely the rotor segment (3.1), the rotor segment (3.2) and the rotor segment (3.3), by means of their displacement and the sun gear (7.1), the ring gear (10.1) or the carrier gear (8.1), which is not rotationally fixed to rotor segment (3.1), rotor segment (3.2) or rotor segment (3.3), is connected to the sun gear (7.2), ring gear (10.2) or carrier gear (8.2), which is not connected to rotor segment (3.1), rotor segment (3.2), rotor segment (3.3) or output shaft (11.5) of the drive unit according to the invention, wherein two rotor segments, namely rotor segment (3.1) and rotor segment (3.2), are attached to the planetary gear (6.1) and one rotor segment, namely rotor segment (3.3), is attached to the planetary gear (6.2), and the drive unit includes at least one holding device (15) which is firmly connected to the housing (1) at at least one holding point and which is arranged such that at least the rotor segment which is arranged between two adjacent rotor segments can be blocked by means of a backstop (12.2) attached to it or by means of a brake (13) attached to it.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a drive unit according to the type defined in claim 1.

[0002] Electrical machines, such as electric motors and electric generators, are known from the state of the art. The job of electric motors is to convert electrical energy into kinetic energy. They convert electrical power into mechanical power. This mechanical power is provided to the output shaft with a specific torque at a specific speed. Electric generators, on the other hand, are used to convert mechanical power into electrical power. Electrical machines are available in various sizes and with different power outputs. According to the state of the art, they usually consist of at least one stator and at least one rotor. The rotor is set in rotation by the stator using attractive and repulsive forces exerted by several magnetic fields.The stator or rotor contains permanent magnets, and the other component contains electrical coils, or both the stator and rotor contain electrical coils. There are also designs in which the rotating magnetic field of the rotor is generated by magnetizable iron cores with poles. Such motors are called reluctance motors. Magnetizable iron cores with poles are also referred to in the literature as laminated cores.

[0003] It is well known that there is a relationship between the power of the electric motor, the rotational speed of its output or drive shaft, and the torque at its input or output shaft. Mechanical transmissions are used to convert torque.

[0004] Mechanical transmissions are known that convert the rotational speed between their input shaft and their output shaft. A specific torque at a specific rotational speed of the respective shaft is converted into another specific torque at a different specific rotational speed of the other shaft, and then made available for the corresponding application.

[0005] Mechanical transmissions in the form of multi-gear planetary gears are also known. Simple planetary gears are state of the art in this case. Simple planetary gears are known which consist of a sun gear, a ring gear and a planet carrier with one or more planetary gears attached to it. Furthermore, compound planetary gears, which are made up of several simple planetary gears, are also known as multi-gear planetary gears. There are designs in which several simple planetary gears are coupled in a rotationally fixed manner. According to the state of the art, the gears are shifted within the multi-gear planetary gears using various shifting elements. In this case, non-positive connecting elements are used which create a non-positive connection either mechanically or via magnetic forces.Other known mechanically force-locking connecting elements include braking devices and radially designed overrunning clutches, also functioning as backstops or freewheels. Backstops whose locking direction is reversible with respect to the direction of rotation for a force-locking connection are also known. Disengageable backstops are also state of the art. Designs with clamping elements, clamping rollers, and other configurations are known.

[0006] Combinations of electric motors and multi-gear planetary gears are also known. Such combinations, in which the multi-gear planetary gear is located entirely or partially within the rotor of the electric motor, are known, for example, from DE 10 2007 021 359 B4 or DE 44 07 714 C1 or DE 10 2012 210 242 A1 or DE 10 2020 106 248 A1.

[0007] Further drive units are known from the documents DE 11 2007 001 649 T5, DE 10 2006 041 160 A1, DE 10 2005 008 148 A1, US 2019 / 0 013 759 A1 or DE 10 2014 207 887 A1.

[0008] The present invention is based on the object of providing a drive unit consisting of at least one electric machine and a multi-speed planetary gear, which has fewer components than the prior art, a higher overall efficiency of the drive unit and a more compact design.

[0009] This object is achieved by the drive unit according to the invention as claimed in claim 1.

[0010] What is essential to the invention is that at least two stator segments of the stator of the electric machine are displaceable parallel to the main axis 2 by means of at least one displacement device 21 and the at least two rotor segments are each separately connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the sun gear 7.1, to the ring gear 10.1 or to the carrier gear 8.1.

[0011] The drive unit according to the invention contains at least one housing 1, in which at least - an electrical machine, consisting of a stator which has at least two stator segments, and further consisting of a rotor which has at least two rotor segments, each of which has at least one brake 13 or a backstop which has a fixed connection to the housing 1, - and a multi-gear planetary gear consisting of at least one simple planetary gear 6.1 arranged coaxially to the main axis 2, consisting of at least one ring gear 10.1, a carrier gear 8.1 and a sun gear 7.1

[0012] In the drive unit according to the invention, the electrical power of the electric machine is distributed among at least two stator segments, namely stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2. Due to the displaceability of the stator segments, they can drive one or both rotor segments individually or together, which in turn are each separately and rotationally fixedly connected to a component of the simple planetary gear.

[0013] According to the invention, only brakes and backstops can be used. Switching elements that function as clutches are not required. This also increases the overall efficiency of the drive unit according to the invention by reducing friction losses, which are associated with the use of clutches, for example, due to drag losses. The inventive arrangement of the multi-speed planetary gear within the rotor segments of the electric machine results in a reduction in size compared to the prior art.

[0014] The invention relates to a drive unit that can be used, for example, to drive motor vehicles, aircraft, watercraft, or other technical devices or machines that convert electrical energy into kinetic energy and deliver this as rotational movement at specific torques and specific rotational speeds. At the same time, the invention also relates to a drive unit that, if used as a planetary gear-supported generator according to the prior art, can convert kinetic energy into electrical energy. In both cases, the total rated electrical power of the drive unit according to the invention is distributed among various movable stator segments of the electric machine.

[0015] The invention consists of a housing, arranged therein, an electrical machine, in particular an electric motor or a generator, consisting of a stator which consists of at least two stator segments, and a rotor which consists of at least two rotor segments, wherein at least two stator segments of the stator of the electrical machine are arranged displaceably parallel to the main axis by means of a displacement device. The displaceability of the stator segments of the stator is ensured by a displacement device 21 according to the prior art, for example by means of a mechanically, electromechanically or hydraulically displaceable fastening 19. The guide 20 of the fastening is fixedly connected to the housing 1. This movement is controlled by electronic control devices according to the prior art.

[0016] An electronic control unit within the meaning of the invention is an electronic module which controls and regulates electrical machines or electrical switching elements, such as relays or magnetic switches or other electronic modules.

[0017] A segment of the stator within the meaning of the invention, referred to as a stator segment, is always defined as a subset of the stator; a segment of the rotor within the meaning of the invention, referred to as a rotor segment, is always defined as a subset of the rotor.

[0018] Stator segments within the meaning of the invention are arc segments defined as parts of a geometric ring enclosing the main axis 2 of the electric machine. These can be arranged inside or outside the radius of the rotor segments. A stator segment is defined as a single arc segment of this geometric ring. The sum of the angles of the arc segments arranged within the radius of the rotor segments is less than 360 degrees. The sum of the angles of the arc segments arranged outside the radius of the rotor segments is less than 360 degrees. The rotational axis of the geometric ring is the main axis 2 within the meaning of the invention.

[0019] Rotor segments within the meaning of the invention are defined as annular parts of a ring surrounding the main axis 2 of the electric machine. They each enclose the main axis 2, with the rotor segments arranged one after the other on the main axis 2, which is the rotational axis of the rotor segments. Spaces exist between the individual rotor segments.

[0020] The main axis 2 in the sense of the invention is defined as the axis of rotation of the sun gear of the simple planetary gear of the multi-gear planetary gear or the axis of rotation of the sun gears of the simple planetary gear in embodiments of the drive unit according to the invention consisting of compound planetary gears.

[0021] A displacement device 21 within the meaning of the invention is an assembly that serves to displace the stator segments parallel to the main axis 2 and is composed of guides 20, at least one fastening 19 for each stator segment, and servomotors 18 with threaded spindles 17. The guides 20 and the servomotors 18 are firmly connected to the housing 1.

[0022] In addition to the electric motor, the drive unit according to the invention consists of a multi-speed planetary gear system, comprising a simple planetary gear system or a planetary gear system composed of several simple planetary gear systems. Multi-speed planetary gear systems composed of several planetary gear systems are referred to in the technical literature as compound planetary gear systems.

[0023] The individual movable stator segments of the electric machine drive various rotor segments of the electric machine, each of which is firmly connected to a component of the planetary gear. The rotor is set in rotation by the stator using attractive and repulsive forces exerted by multiple magnetic fields. The stator segments have electrical coils 22, to which the electrical power supplied to the electric machine is distributed by electronic control units via electrical supply lines. The rotor segments have permanent magnets 5, electrical coils 22, or magnetizable iron cores with poles. The simple planetary gear(s) can be arranged in a planetary gear housing mounted for rotation about the main axis 2 of the multi-speed planetary gear. This planetary gear housing can represent a molding of the shaft of the ring gear of the respective simple planetary gear.However, designs are also possible in which the planetary gear housing can represent the formation of other shafts from other components of the simple planetary gear.

[0024] Overrunning clutches, backstops or braking devices are provided as mechanical switching elements of the multi-speed planetary gear.

[0025] A simple planetary gear system according to the invention consists of at least a ring gear, a carrier gear, and a sun gear. One or more planetary gears are attached to the carrier gear.

[0026] The ring gear, the carrier gear and the sun gear are defined as components of a simple planetary gear within the meaning of the invention.

[0027] The multi-gear planetary gear can be expanded with additional simple planetary gears for corresponding applications. If the multi-gear planetary gear has more than one simple planetary gear, the drive unit according to the invention also has more than two rotor segments due to its design, since at least one additional rotor segment is required to drive each additional simple planetary gear. Due to the design, a holding device 15 for at least one switching element is required in this case.

[0028] A holding device 15 in the sense of the invention is a mechanical holder with a fixed connection to a holding point on the housing 1, which engages in a sufficiently dimensioned space between two rotor segments and can be blocked by a switching element attached to it, in particular by a brake or a backstop, at least one component of the simple planetary gear, which according to the invention is firmly connected to a rotor segment which is arranged between two adjacent rotor segments.

[0029] To ensure the function of the holding device 15 during operation of the drive unit according to the invention and in the various switching states of the multi-gear planetary gear, it must also be arranged such that it engages not only in a sufficiently dimensioned gap between two rotor segments, but equally in a sufficiently dimensioned gap between the arc segments of the stator, which are defined as stator segments. This gap results from the fact that the sum of the angles of the arc segments, thus of the stator segments arranged within the radius of the rotor segments, and the sum of the angles of the arc segments, thus of the stator segments arranged outside the radius of the rotor segments, is each less than 360 degrees.Depending on the embodiment of the invention, another adjacent component of a simple planetary gear can also be blocked by a further brake or backstop attached to the holding device 15. At least one backstop, which may optionally be switchable with respect to its direction of rotation, and / or at least one brake can be attached to the holding device 15, either optionally or in combination. At least one further electrical machine 16 according to the prior art can also be attached to the holding device.

[0030] The additional electric machine 16 can also be mounted directly on the housing 1, depending on the design. Its electrical power is part of the total rated power of the drive unit according to the invention. The use of an additional electric machine 16 is advantageous if the multi-gear planetary gear of the drive unit according to the invention is constructed from at least two simple planetary gears and the use of an additional electric machine 16 is intended to provide a larger number of shiftable gears with uniform step increments in the gear ratio. Such designs are described in the Fig. 8 to 14 and Fig. 16 and Fig. 17 shown.

[0031] The switchable gears of various examples of possible designs of the drive unit according to the invention, shown in columns 1 to 4 of Table 1, in relation to the number of rotor segments present and, if applicable, to the interconnection in designs in which the multi-gear planetary gear of the drive unit according to the invention is designed as a compound planetary gear, as is also shown in the Fig. 1 to 17 and Fig. 20 to 25, with a spread as shown in column 6 of Table 1, are as shown in column 5 of Table 1. Table 1 Number of simple planetary gears Number of movable stator segments Number of other electrical machines Number of rotor segments Number of shiftable gears Spread 1 2 0 2 3 2,618 1 2 0 2 4 4,24 2 2 1 3 7 6,85 2 3 0 3 7 6,85 3 2 2 4 15 17,94 3 4 0 4 15 17,94 4 2 3 5 31 46,97 4 5 0 5 31 46,97

[0032] The energy flow between the electrical energy source and the stator segments of the stator of the electrical machine and any additional electrical machines 16 is controlled by electronic control units. These switch and regulate the current flow to the electrical machine and, if applicable, to the additional electrical machines 16.

[0033] If the displacement of the stator segments of the stator is carried out, for example, electromechanically, the control of the servo motors 18 of the displacement device 21 is carried out by electronic control units which control and regulate the current flow to the servo motors 18.

[0034] Furthermore, in embodiments of the drive unit according to the invention with a multi-gear planetary gear consisting of more than one simple planetary gear, it is particularly advantageous that the ratio of the number of teeth of the sun gear of a simple planetary gear to the number of teeth of the ring gear of the same simple planetary gear is preferably determined as 1 to 1.618. This is particularly advantageous because none of the step increments of the multi-gear planetary gear is greater than 1.618. Furthermore, gears of the multi-gear planetary gear are thus provided with approximately equal step increments, and the step increments are distributed approximately evenly across the spread of the multi-gear planetary gear between the lowest and highest gears.Since achieving an exact ratio of 1 to 1.618 between the number of teeth on the sun gear of a simple planetary gear and the number of teeth on the ring gear of the same simple planetary gear can only be achieved with a correspondingly high number of teeth on the sun gear and ring gear of the simple planetary gear, the design should aim for a ratio of the number of teeth on the sun gear and ring gear that approximates this ratio while keeping the number of teeth as low as possible. As the deviation from the ratio of 1 to 1.618 between the number of teeth on the sun gear of a simple planetary gear and the number of teeth on the ring gear of the same simple planetary gear increases, some increments between gears become larger, while others become smaller than 1.618.Accordingly, it is proposed to choose a ratio of the number of teeth of the sun gear of a simple planetary gear to the number of teeth of the ring gear of the same simple planetary gear between 1 to 1.46 and 1 to 1.77 in order to achieve the most uniform step changes between the gears.

[0035] The number of possible shiftable gears for various exemplary embodiments of the invention are listed in column 5 of Table 1. The information on the number of shiftable gears and the information on the spread of the various exemplary embodiments of the multi-speed planetary gear of the drive unit according to the invention, shown in column 6 of Table 1, are based on a structure consisting of simple planetary gears, in which the ratio of the number of teeth of the sun gear of a simple planetary gear to the number of teeth of the ring gear of the same simple planetary gear in the first and in all further simple planetary gears is determined to be approximately 1 to 1.618. For embodiments with a multi-speed planetary gear consisting of two or more simple planetary gears, the interconnection is as in Fig. 8 to 14 and Fig. 16 to 17.

[0036] Furthermore, in embodiments of the drive unit according to the invention with a multi-speed planetary gear consisting of more than one simple planetary gear, in particular here in embodiments with two simple planetary gears, in which the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear 7.1 to the number of teeth of ring gear 10.1 in the first planetary gear 6.1 and the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear 7.2 to the number of teeth of ring gear 10.2 in the second planetary gear 6.2 with preferably 1 to 1.618, with a deviation in the range of 1 to 1.46 to 1 to 1.77, particularly advantageous in order to fully utilize the installed total electrical rated power of the drive unit according to the invention, that the distribution of the electrical power in the electrical machine of the drive unit according to the invention in an embodiment with at least two displaceable stator segments of the stator and a further electrical machine takes place in a certain division ratio, shown in Table 2. Table 2 Stator segment 4.2 with rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 or rotor segment 3.3 Stator segment 4.1 with rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 or rotor segment 3.3 additional electrical machine 16 calculated share of the total rated electrical power 61,8% 23,6% 14,6%

[0037] Approximately 61.8 percent of the total rated electrical power of the drive unit according to the invention is to be allocated to one stator segment 4.2 of the stator, approximately 23.6 percent to the other stator segment 4.1, and approximately 14.6 percent to the further electrical machine 16 of 100 percent. Technically, such an exact division ratio cannot be achieved or can only be achieved with disproportionate effort, so that the greatest possible approximation to this division ratio is sought. This is achieved by orienting the ratio of the number of electrical coils 22 of stator segment 4.1 to the number of electrical coils 22 of stator segment 4.2 on the percentage share of the respective stator segment in the total rated electrical power of the drive unit according to the invention, which corresponds to a ratio of the number of electrical coils 22 of stator segment 4.1 to the number of electrical coils 22 of stator segment 4.2 of 1 to 2.5, which is as close as possible to the desired ideal ratio of 1 to 2.618.

[0038] If high speeds of rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3 of the rotor are desired, it is advantageous to distribute the smallest possible number of electrical coils 22 between stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the stator, with the ratio of the number of electrical coils 22 of stator segment 4.1 to the number of electrical coils 22 of stator segment 4.2 being as small as possible, of 1 to 2.618. In order to ensure three-phase rotating fields, the number of electrical coils 22 of each stator segment of the stator must also be divisible by three. In terms of maximum utilization of the total rated electrical power provided by the drive unit according to the invention, a ratio of the number of electrical coils 22 of six electrical coils 22 on stator segment 4.1 of the stator to fifteen electrical coils 22 on stator segment 4.2 of the stator is advantageous.The quotient of the number of electrical coils 22 of stator segment 4.2 and the number of electrical coils 22 of stator segment 4.1 is 2.5 and is thus as close as possible to the desired value of 2.618.

[0039] If the drive unit according to the invention is to be used for operating a motor vehicle, it is economically advantageous to use only backstops in the design of the drive unit according to the invention in order to reduce the design effort. However, in this case, recuperation is only possible in one gear. If necessary in the application, it may also be advantageous to replace one or more backstops of the drive unit according to the invention with brakes. Although this increases the design effort and results in drag losses in the area of ​​the brakes, the degree of recuperation is increased.

[0040] If a reversal of the direction of rotation on the output shaft is required, which is the case, for example, in motor vehicles with reverse gear, this functionality can be provided with the drive unit according to the invention, for example by reversing the direction of rotation of the electric motor using an electronic control unit. In this case, it is necessary to design the backstops so that they can be switched over with respect to the locking direction, depending on the desired gear ratio in reverse gear. In order to reduce the design effort and when only certain gear ratios are required in reverse gear, the design effort can be particularly advantageously reduced by designing individual backstops so that they can be switched over rather than switched over.

[0041] If higher torques of the drive unit according to the invention are required with the same total electrical rated power of the drive unit according to the invention, the drive unit according to the invention can be expanded with further simple planetary gears or other gears according to the state of the art.

[0042] In order to support the ring gears of the simple planetary gears of the drive unit according to the invention and at the same time to keep the necessary amount of lubricant low during operation of the multi-gear planetary gear, it is particularly advantageous to encapsulate the individual simple planetary gears within the housing of the drive unit according to the invention in planetary gear housings in a lubricant-tight manner.

[0043] When using the drive unit according to the invention, for example in motor vehicles, it is also advantageous to generate the electrical energy required for operating the drive unit according to the invention by a generator driven by an internal combustion engine and / or, if required, to temporarily store it in a temporary energy storage device and then use it to drive the drive unit according to the invention.

[0044] The fields of application of the drive unit according to the invention, in its various forms, are diverse. For example, the drive unit according to the invention can be used economically in motor vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft, as well as in machine tools or wind turbines, although in this case it functions as a generator.

[0045] It is preferred that the two stator segments of the stator are the stator segment 4.1 and the stator segment 4.2, the two rotor segments of the rotor are the rotor segment 3.1 and the rotor segment 3.2 and the backstops are backstop 12.1 and backstop 12.2.

[0046] It is further preferred that the rotor has at least three rotor segments and the multi-gear planetary gear consists of at least two simple planetary gears arranged coaxially to the main axis 2, wherein the sun gear 7.1, the ring gear 10.1 or the carrier gear 8.1, which is not connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotor segment 3.1, to the rotor segment 3.2 or to the rotor segment 3.3, is connected to the sun gear 7.2, to the ring gear 10.2 or to the carrier gear 8.2, which is connected neither to the rotor segment 3.1, to the rotor segment 3.2, to the rotor segment 3.3 nor to the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention, wherein two rotor segments, namely the rotor segment 3.1 and the rotor segment 3.2, are fastened to the planetary gear 6.1 and one rotor segment, namely the rotor segment 3, is fastened to the planetary gear 6.2.3, and the drive unit contains at least one holding device 15 which is firmly connected to the housing 1 at at least one holding point, which is arranged such that at least the rotor segment which is arranged between two adjacent rotor segments can be blocked by means of a backstop 12.2 fastened to it or by means of a brake 13 fastened to it.

[0047] This design of the drive unit according to the invention leads to an increase in the number of possible useful gears and also to an increase in the spread of the multi-speed planetary gear of the drive unit according to the invention compared to the design of the drive unit according to the invention with a multi-speed planetary gear consisting of only a single planetary gear. Compared to the state of the art for comparable drive units, a drive unit is provided that has a more compact design.

[0048] It is further preferred that the rotor segments are the rotor segment 3.1, the rotor segment 3.2 and the rotor segment 3.3 and the simple planetary gears are the planetary gear 6.1 and the planetary gear 6.2.

[0049] It is further preferred that the sun gear 7.1, the ring gear 10.1 or the carrier gear 8.1 of the planetary gear 6.1, which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotor segment 3.1, can be driven by a further electrical machine 16, namely an electric motor.

[0050] This design of the drive unit according to the invention increases the number of possible useful gears and also leads to an increase in the spread of the multi-speed planetary gear of the drive unit according to the invention. The use of an additional electric machine 16 to drive a rotor segment instead of an additional, third, and movable stator segment represents a simplification compared to a design with three movable stator segments with similar functionality and six useful gears, thus reducing the design effort.

[0051] It is further preferred that the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear 7.1 to the number of teeth of ring gear 10.1 in the planetary gear 6.1 and the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear 7.2 to the number of teeth of ring gear 10.2 in the planetary gear 6.2 is in the range between 1 to 1.46 and 1 to 1.77, particularly preferably 1 to 1.618.

[0052] This is particularly advantageous because, in contrast to other possible embodiments of the drive unit according to the invention with a multi-gear planetary gear, a higher number of switchable gears with uniform step increments in the gear ratio is provided.

[0053] It is further preferred that the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear 7.1 to the number of teeth of ring gear 10.1 in the planetary gear 6.1 and the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear 7.2 to the number of teeth of ring gear 10.2 in the planetary gear 6.2 is in the range between 1 to 1.46 and 1 to 1.77, particularly preferably 1 to 1.618, and the stator segment 4.1 of the stator has six electrical coils 22 and the stator segment 4.2 of the stator has fifteen electrical coils 22, wherein only three-phase rotating fields can be generated by the stator segments, namely stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2.

[0054] This is particularly advantageous because, in contrast to other possible embodiments of the drive unit according to the invention with the special ratio of the teeth of the sun gear to the ring gear of approximately 1 to 1.618 in all simple planetary gears, the maximum possible speed of the rotor segments of the electric machine of the drive unit according to the invention and thus also the maximum possible speed of the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention can be increased. A ratio of six electrical coils 22 on stator segment 4.1 to fifteen electrical coils 22 on stator segment 4.2, which corresponds to a ratio of 1 to 2.5, represents the optimum in conjunction with the three-phase rotating fields that the stator segments generate to drive the rotor segments of the electric machine of the drive unit according to the invention.The ratio of 1 to 2.5 comes closest to the desired ratio of 1 to 2.618 with the smallest possible number of electrical coils 22 to be used. With appropriate dimensioning of the additional electrical machine 16, it is thus possible to assign approximately 61.8 percent of the total electrical rated power of the drive unit according to the invention to one stator segment, approximately 23.6 percent to the other stator segment, and approximately 14.6 percent to the additional electrical machine 16.

[0055] Furthermore, the use of a drive unit according to at least one of claims 1 to 7 for a motor vehicle, aircraft or watercraft, for machine tools or as a generator in a wind turbine is particularly preferred.

[0056] State-of-the-art drive units are used to power motor vehicles, aircraft, and watercraft. The drive unit according to the invention enables more economical operation, as it offers a more compact design with comparable functionality. This also applies to use in machine tools and as a generator in a wind turbine.

[0057] Advantageous embodiments of the drive unit according to the invention are described in the subclaims 2 to 5. The features of the claims can be combined in any technically reasonable manner, whereby the following description as well as the features from the Fig. 1 to 27 and Tables 1 to 7 may serve as a basis. Subclaim 6 specifies areas of application of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0058] The invention will be described below using various embodiments regarding construction, commissioning, function and gear changes from the lowest to the highest gear with reference to the Fig. 1 to 27, where Fig. 1 to 3 First embodiment with two displaceable stator segments, namely stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, which are arranged outside the radius of the two rotor segments, namely rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, two rotor segments, namely rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, a simple planetary gear 6.1 and two backstops, backstop 12.1 and backstop 12.2; Fig. 1 first embodiment, first gear Fig. 2 first embodiment, second gear Fig. 3 first embodiment, third gear Fig.4 to 7 Second embodiment with two movable stator segments, namely stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, which are arranged outside the radius of the two rotor segments, namely rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, two rotor segments, namely rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, a simple planetary gear 6.1 and a backstop 12.1, an overrunning clutch 14 and a brake 13 Fig. 4 second embodiment, first gear Fig. 5 second embodiment, second gear Fig. 6 second embodiment, third gear Fig. 7 second embodiment, fourth gear Fig.8 to 13 Third embodiment with two displaceable stator segments, namely stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, which are arranged outside the radius of the three rotor segments, namely rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3, three rotor segments, namely rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3, two simple planetary gears, namely planetary gear 6.1 and planetary gear 6.2, three backstops, namely backstop 12.1, backstop 12.2 and backstop 12.3, and a holding device 15, as well as a further electrical machine 16; Fig. 8 third embodiment, first gear Fig. 9 third embodiment, second gear Fig. 10 third embodiment, third gear Fig. 11 third embodiment, fourth gear Fig. 12 third embodiment, fifth gear Fig.13 third embodiment, sixth gear Fig. 14 Fourth embodiment with two displaceable stator segments, namely stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, which are arranged outside the radius of the three rotor segments, namely rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3, three rotor segments, namely rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3, two simple planetary gears, namely planetary gear 6.1 and planetary gear 6.2, two backstops, namely backstop 12.1 and backstop 12.2, a brake 13 and a holding device 15, as well as a further electrical machine 16; Fig. 14 fourth embodiment, fifth gear Fig. 15 Perspective view of the displacement device 21 in the first embodiment according to Fig. 3, illustration without backstop 12.1 Fig.16 Third embodiment in the switching state of the sixth gear in a schematic sectional view, representation without guide 20 and with only two threaded spindles 17 and only two servo motors 18 and only two fastenings 19 Fig. 17 Third embodiment with perspective view of the holding device 15 in the multi-speed planetary gear of the drive unit according to the invention, view without backstop 12.1 and backstop 12.3 and without housing 1 Fig. 18 Third and fourth embodiments showing the position of the holding device 15 between the stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the drive unit according to the invention Fig. 19 Third and fourth embodiments, schematic representation of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 with representation of the distribution of the electrical coils 22 on stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the drive unit according to the invention Fig. 20 to 22 Fifth embodiment with two displaceable stator segments, namely stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, wherein stator segment 4.1 is arranged inside and stator segment 4.2 outside the radius of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, two rotor segments, namely rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, a simple planetary gear 6.1 and two backstops, namely backstop 12.1 and backstop 12.2; Fig. 20 fifth embodiment, first gear Fig. 21 fifth embodiment, second gear Fig. 22 fifth embodiment, third gear Fig.23 to 25 Sixth embodiment with two displaceable stator segments, namely stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, which are arranged within the radius of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, two rotor segments, namely rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, a simple planetary gear 6.1 and two backstops, namely backstop 12.1 and backstop 12.2; Fig. 23 sixth embodiment, first gear Fig. 24 sixth embodiment, second gear Fig. 25 sixth embodiment, third gear Fig.26 Fifth embodiment in the switching state of the third gear, representation of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, the movable stator segments, namely stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, wherein stator segment 4.1 is arranged inside and stator segment 4.2 outside the radius of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, as well as the electrical coils 22 and the permanent magnets 5, rotor segment 3.1 cut away Fig. 27 Sixth embodiment in the third gear shift state, representation of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, the two movable stator segments, namely stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, which are arranged within the radius of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, as well as the electrical coils 22 and the permanent magnets 5; rotor segment 3.2 cut away

[0059] A first embodiment of the drive unit according to the invention with three gears is described below with reference to the Fig.1 to 3 and Fig. 15 and consists of a housing 1, an electric machine and a multi-speed planetary gear consisting of a simple planetary gear 6.1, which is driven by the electric machine via rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2.

[0060] The electric machine consists of a stator, which consists of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, and furthermore of a rotor, which consists of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2. Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the electric machine are arranged outside the radius of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 of the electric machine. Electrical coils 22 are arranged on stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, and permanent magnets 5 are arranged on rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2. The electric machine also consists of a displacement device 21. The displacement device 21 is constructed of four threaded spindles 17 with electric servo motor 18, guides 20, and fastenings 19 and in Fig. 15 shown.

[0061] The multi-speed planetary gear consists of a simple planetary gear 6.1 in a planetary gear housing. The simple planetary gear 6.1 consists of sun gear 7.1, ring gear 10.1, and carrier gear 8.1 with planetary gears 9. Furthermore, the multi-speed planetary gear consists of shaft 11.1, shaft 11.2, and shaft 11.3, as well as backstop 12.1 and backstop 12.2.

[0062] The shaft 11.1, which is designed as a hollow shaft, is rotatably mounted on the shaft 11.3 and connects rotor segment 3.1 of the rotor with the sun gear 7.1. The shaft 11.1 is also connected to the backstop 12.1. The backstop 12.1 also has a fixed connection to the housing 1. The shaft 11.2, in the form of a planetary gear housing, is rotatably mounted on the one hand on the shaft 11.1 and on the other hand on the shaft 11.3. Furthermore, the ring gear 10.1 and the rotor segment 3.2 of the rotor are attached to the shaft 11.2. The shaft 11.2 is also connected to the backstop 12.2. The backstop 12.2 also has a fixed connection to the housing 1. In the exemplary embodiment, the shaft 11.3 is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. It is arranged on the main axis 2 and rotatably mounted in the housing 1. The shaft 11.3 is firmly connected to the carrier wheel 8.1.

[0063] In this design of the drive unit, the single planetary gear 6.1 of the multi-gear planetary gear is driven via rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2. In this embodiment, rotor segment 3.1 is permanently connected to sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. Rotor segment 3.2 is permanently connected to ring gear 10.1 via shaft 11.2.

[0064] The direction of rotation of the drive of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 corresponds to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.3, which is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. The backstop 12.1 and the backstop 12.2 prevent the rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, and all components of the simple planetary gear 6.1 firmly connected to them, from rotating in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.3.

[0065] Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the stator are each attached to a mount 19 of the displacement device 21. Each mount 19 is mounted for displacement parallel to the main axis 2 in a guide 20, which is rigidly connected to the housing 1. Each mount 19 has two internal threads, through which a threaded spindle 17, arranged parallel to the main axis 2, runs. The respective threaded spindle 17 is rotatably mounted in the housing 1 on the one hand and rigidly connected to a servomotor 18 on the other, which in turn is rigidly connected to the housing 1. The respective servomotor 18 is controlled by electronic control units. Depending on the required direction of movement of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, this is ensured by counterclockwise or clockwise rotation of the respectively assigned servomotors 18.

[0066] The operation of the drive unit according to the invention in the first exemplary embodiment is explained below based on its various switching states and their transitions. The sequence of switching states is described from first gear, with the highest torque at the output shaft in relation to the power of the electric motor, to third gear, with the lowest torque at the output shaft in relation to the power of the electric motor.

[0067] In first gear, stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 are positioned so that they drive rotor segment 3.1 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source is switched to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 by electronic control units. When the electrical energy flow is switched on, these now set rotor segment 3.1 in rotation. This occurs up to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine. Rotor segment 3.1 drives sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. Backstop 12.1 arranged on shaft 11.1 is in freewheel mode. Backstop 12.2 prevents ring gear 10.1 from rotating backwards in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the drive on shaft 11.3.

[0068] Thus, in this switching state, the sun gear 7.1 drives the carrier gear 8.1 via the planet gears 9 and thus the shaft 11.3, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0069] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention provides the maximum torque on shaft 11.3 in relation to the power of the electric machine in first gear. This switching state is in Fig. 1 shown.

[0070] The change from first gear to second gear is effected by repositioning stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 with the displacement device 21 so that they can drive the rotor segment 3.2 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 is switched by electronic control units.

[0071] During the repositioning of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, it is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 by electronic control units.

[0072] In second gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical power source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2. These then cause rotor segment 3.2 to rotate.

[0073] Rotor segment 3.2 drives ring gear 10.1. Backstop 12.2 is in freewheeling mode. The speed of ring gear 10.1 increases. This causes sun gear 7.1 to accelerate negatively, and at the same time, the speed of carrier gear 8.1, which is driven by ring gear 10.1 via planet gears 9, increases. Since sun gear 7.1 is no longer driven by rotor segment 3.1, the speed of sun gear 7.1 decreases until it stops. The backstop 12.1 prevents sun gear 7.1 from rotating backward. The speed of carrier gear 8.1 increases. This increases until it reaches the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric motor.

[0074] The carrier wheel 8.1 drives the shaft 11.3, which in the embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0075] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in second gear provides a lower torque on the shaft 11.3 in relation to the power of the electric machine, but at a higher speed on the shaft 11.3 than in first gear. This switching state is in Fig. 2 shown.

[0076] The change from second gear to third gear is effected by repositioning the stator segment 4.1 with the displacement device 21 so that it can drive the rotor segment 3.1 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the stator segment 4.1 is switched by electronic control units.

[0077] It is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to the stator segment 4.1 by electronic control units during the repositioning of the stator segment 4.1. The stator segment 4.2 continues to drive the multi-gear planetary gear via the rotor segment 3.2.

[0078] In third gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical power source to stator segment 4.1. This then causes rotor segment 3.1 to rotate.

[0079] The speed of rotor segment 3.1 increases. At the same time, the electrical power supply to stator segment 4.2 is reduced by electronic control units, thus also reducing the speed of rotor segment 3.2 until the speeds of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 are almost synchronized.

[0080] After the speeds of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 have been synchronized, their speed is increased to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine.

[0081] Rotor segment 3.1 drives sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. The backstop 12.1 located on shaft 11.1 is in freewheeling mode. Furthermore, rotor segment 3.2 drives ring gear 10.1. The backstop 12.2 is in freewheeling mode.

[0082] Thus, in this switching state, the sun gear 7.1 and the ring gear 10.1 drive the carrier gear 8.1 and thus the shaft 11.3 via the planet gears 9, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0083] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in third gear provides the lowest torque on shaft 11.3 in relation to the power of the electric machine at maximum speed on shaft 11.3. This switching state is in Fig. 3 shown.

[0084] A second embodiment of the drive unit according to the invention with four gears is described below with reference to the Fig.4 to 7 and consists of a housing 1, in which Fig. 4 to 7 not shown, an electric machine and a multi-speed planetary gear, which is driven by the electric machine via rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2.

[0085] The electric machine consists of a stator, which consists of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, and a rotor, which consists of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2. Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the electric machine are arranged outside the radius of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 of the electric machine. Electrical coils 22 are arranged on stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, in the Fig. 4 to 7 are not shown, and on rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 are permanent magnets 5, in the Fig.4 to 7 not shown. Furthermore, the electric machine consists of a displacement device 21. The displacement device 21 consists of four threaded spindles 17 with electric servo motor 18, in the Fig. 4 to 7 not shown, guides 20, and fastenings 19 assembled.

[0086] The multi-speed planetary gear consists of a simple planetary gear 6.1 in a planetary gear housing. The simple planetary gear 6.1 consists of sun gear 7.1, ring gear 10.1 and carrier gear 8.1 with planetary gears 9, in the Fig. 4 to 7 are not shown. Furthermore, the multi-gear planetary gear consists of shaft 11.1, shaft 11.2, and shaft 11.3, as well as the brake 13, the overrunning clutch 14, and the backstop 12.1.

[0087] Shaft 11.1, which is designed as a hollow shaft, is rotatably mounted on shaft 11.3 and connects rotor segment 3.1 of the rotor to sun gear 7.1. Shaft 11.1 is also connected to overrunning clutch 14, which is also rigidly connected to shaft 11.2. Shaft 11.1 is also connected to brake 13, which is rigidly connected to housing 1.

[0088] Shaft 11.2 is rotatably mounted on shaft 11.1 and on shaft 11.3. Furthermore, the carrier wheel 8.1 and the rotor segment 3.2 of the rotor are attached to shaft 11.2. Shaft 11.2 is also connected to the backstop 12.1. The backstop 12.1 also has a fixed connection to the housing 1.

[0089] In the exemplary embodiment, shaft 11.3 is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. It is arranged on the main axle 2 and rotatably mounted in the housing 1. Shaft 11.3 is rigidly connected to the ring gear 10.1.

[0090] In this version of the drive unit, the simple planetary gear 6.1 of the multi-speed planetary gear is driven via the rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2.

[0091] In this embodiment, rotor segment 3.1 is firmly connected to sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. Rotor segment 3.2 is firmly connected to carrier gear 8.1 via shaft 11.2.

[0092] Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the stator are each attached to a mount 19 of the displacement device 21. Each mount 19 is mounted for displacement parallel to the main axis 2 in a guide 20, which is rigidly connected to the housing 1. Each mount 19 has two internal threads, through which a threaded spindle 17, arranged parallel to the main axis 2, runs. The respective threaded spindle 17 is rotatably mounted in the housing 1 on the one hand and rigidly connected to a servomotor 18 on the other, which in turn is rigidly connected to the housing 1. The respective servomotor 18 is controlled by electronic control units. Depending on the required direction of movement of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, this is ensured by counterclockwise or clockwise rotation of the respectively assigned servomotors 18.

[0093] The operation of the drive unit according to the invention in the second exemplary embodiment is explained below based on its various switching states and their transitions. The sequence of switching states is described from first gear, with the highest torque at the output shaft in relation to the power of the electric motor, to fourth gear, with the lowest torque at the output shaft in relation to the power of the electric motor.

[0094] In first gear, stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 are positioned so that they drive rotor segment 3.1 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source is switched to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 by electronic control units. When the electrical energy flow is switched on, these now set rotor segment 3.1 in a rotary motion opposite to the direction of rotation of the output shaft, which in the exemplary embodiment is shaft 11.3. This occurs up to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine. Rotor segment 3.1 drives sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. Brake 13 arranged on shaft 11.1 is deactivated. Reverse rotation of carrier gear 8.1 opposite to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.3, which is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention, is prevented by backstop 12.1. The overrunning clutch 14 is in freewheel mode.

[0095] Thus, in this switching state, the sun gear 7.1 drives the ring gear 10.1 via the planet gears 9 and thus the shaft 11.3, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0096] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention provides the maximum torque on shaft 11.3 in relation to the power of the electric machine in first gear. This switching state is in Fig. 4 shown.

[0097] The change from first gear to second gear is initially achieved by interrupting the flow of electrical energy from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 by electronic control units.

[0098] Subsequently, stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 are switched into generator mode by electronic control units, and the electrical energy from stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 is directed to an electrical consumer by electronic control units. This leads to a reduction in the speed of rotor segment 3.1, which is accelerated by switching stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 into generator mode. At the same time, this also causes rotor segment 3.2 and the carrier gear 8.1 connected to it via shaft 11.2 to rotate in the direction of rotation of shaft 11.3. The speed of rotor segment 3.2 increases, while at the same time the speed of rotor segment 3.1 and the speed of sun gear 7.1, which is firmly connected to it via shaft 11.1, decrease until they come to a standstill. When rotor segment 3.1 comes to a standstill, electronic control units switch off the generator mode of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 switched off.

[0099] In second gear, stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 are positioned to drive rotor segment 3.1. Electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 so that rotor segment 3.1 is now set in rotation in the same direction of rotation as shaft 11.3. The speed of sun gear 7.1, which is firmly connected to rotor segment 3.1 via shaft 11.1, increases. Brake 13 located on shaft 11.1 is deactivated, and backstop 12.1 is freewheeling. As soon as the speed of the sun gear 7.1 reaches the speed of the carrier gear 8.1 as it increases in speed, the overrunning clutch 14 switches from the freewheel to the clutch state, which causes the rotor segment 3.1 to rotate the sun gear 7.1 via the shaft 11.1 and simultaneously the carrier gear 8 via the shaft 11.1, the connected overrunning clutch 14 and subsequently the shaft 11.2.1. The carrier gear 8.1, together with the sun gear 7.1, now drives the ring gear 10.1 via the planetary gears 9. In this switching state, the direction of rotation of the shaft 11.1 and shaft 11.2 corresponds to the direction of rotation of the shaft 11.3, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0100] The speeds of carrier gear 8.1, sun gear 7.1, and ring gear 10.1, and thus also the speed of shaft 11.3, increase synchronously. This occurs up to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric motor.

[0101] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in second gear provides a lower torque on the shaft 11.3 in relation to the power of the electric machine, but at a higher speed on the shaft 11.3 than in first gear. This switching state is in Fig. 5 shown.

[0102] The shift from second gear to third gear occurs initially by interrupting the flow of electrical energy from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 by electronic control units. Brake 13 is activated by electronic control units and decelerates shaft 11.1, blocking it when stationary. Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 are then repositioned using the shifting device 21 so that they can drive rotor segment 3.2 as soon as the flow of electrical energy from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 is switched by electronic control units.

[0103] In third gear, stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 are positioned to drive rotor segment 3.2. Electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 such that rotor segment 3.2 is now set in rotation in the same direction of rotation as shaft 11.3. The speed of carrier gear 8.1, which is firmly connected to rotor segment 3.2 via shaft 11.2, increases. The overrunning clutch 14 and the backstop 12.1 are in freewheeling mode. Carrier gear 8.1 now drives ring gear 10.1 via planetary gears 9.

[0104] The rotational speeds of the carrier gear 8.1, the ring gear 10.1, and thus also the rotational speed of the shaft 11.3, which in this embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention, increase. This occurs up to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric motor.

[0105] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in third gear provides a lower torque on the shaft 11.3 in relation to the power of the electric machine, but at a higher speed on the shaft 11.3 than in second gear. This switching state is in Fig. 6 shown.

[0106] The shift from third gear to fourth gear occurs initially by electronic control units interrupting the flow of electrical energy from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1. Stator segment 4.1 is then repositioned using the displacement device 21 so that it can drive rotor segment 3.1 as soon as the flow of electrical energy from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 is switched by electronic control units. Meanwhile, stator segment 4.2 continues to drive rotor segment 3.2.

[0107] Electronic control units now switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1. When the electrical energy flow is switched on, stator segment 4.1 causes rotor segment 3.1 to rotate in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of shaft 11.3, which in this embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. For this purpose, electronic control units release brake 13. The speed of rotor segment 3.1 increases.

[0108] At the same time, the electrical power supply to stator segment 4.2 is reduced by electronic control units to such an extent that the speed of rotor segment 3.2 is also reduced until the speeds of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 are almost synchronous, with the direction of rotation of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 being opposite. The backstop 12.1 and the overrunning clutch 14 are in freewheeling mode. After the speeds of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 have been synchronized, their speed is increased to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine.

[0109] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in fourth gear provides the lowest torque on shaft 11.3 in relation to the power of the electric machine, but at the highest possible speed on shaft 11.3. This switching state is in Fig. 7 shown.

[0110] A third embodiment of the drive unit according to the invention with six gears is described below with reference to the Fig. 8 to 13 and Fig. 16 to 19 and consists of a housing 1, in which Fig. 8 to 13 and Fig. 16 to 19 not shown, an electric machine, a further electric machine 16 according to the prior art and a multi-speed planetary gear consisting of two simple planetary gears, planetary gear 6.1 and planetary gear 6.2, wherein the multi-speed planetary gear is driven by the electric machine via rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3 and further by the further electric machine 16 via the shaft 11.1. Another component of the drive unit according to the invention is a holding device 15. This is in the embodiment 3 in Fig. 16 to 18.

[0111] The electric machine consists of a stator, which consists of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, and furthermore of a rotor, which consists of rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2, and rotor segment 3.3. Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the electric machine are arranged outside the radius of rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2, and rotor segment 3.3 of the electric machine. Electrical coils 22 are arranged on stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, and permanent magnets 5 are arranged on rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2, and rotor segment 3.3. In the exemplary embodiment, stator segment 4.1 has six electrical coils, while stator segment 4.2 has fifteen electrical coils 22, as shown in Fig. 19 is shown schematically.

[0112] Furthermore, the electric machine consists of a displacement device 21. The displacement device 21 is constructed from four threaded spindles 17 with electric servo motor 18, guides 20, and fastenings 19.

[0113] The total rated power of the electric machine of the drive unit according to the invention and of the further electric machine 16 is distributed as shown in Table 2.

[0114] The maximum achievable speeds of rotor segments 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3 as well as the speed of the shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment represents the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention, and the speed of the shaft 11.1, which in the exemplary embodiment represents the output shaft of the further electrical machine 16, are approximately the same.

[0115] In the illustrated example, the multi-gear planetary gear consists of the simple planetary gear 6.1 and the simple planetary gear 6.2, each in a planetary gear housing. The simple planetary gear 6.1 consists of sun gear 7.1, ring gear 10.1 and carrier gear 8.1 with planetary gears 9, in the Fig. 8 to 13 and Fig. 16, Fig. 18 and Fig. 19 not shown. The simple planetary gear 6.2 consists of sun gear 7.2, ring gear 10.2 and carrier gear 8.2 with planet gears 9, in the Fig. 8 to 13 and Fig. 16, Fig. 18 and Fig. 19 not shown.

[0116] Furthermore, the multi-speed planetary gear consists of shaft 11.1, shaft 11.2, shaft 11.3, shaft 11.4 and shaft 11.5 as well as backstop 12.1, backstop 12.2 and backstop 12.3.

[0117] In the present embodiment, the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear 7.1 to the number of teeth of ring gear 10.1 in the simple planetary gear 6.1 and the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear 7.2 to the number of teeth of ring gear 10.2 in the planetary gear 6.2 is 1 to ~1.618.

[0118] Shaft 11.1, which is designed as a hollow shaft and is also the output shaft of the additional electrical machine 16 according to the prior art, is rotatably mounted on shaft 11.5 and connects rotor segment 3.1 of the rotor to sun gear 7.1. Shaft 11.1 is also connected to the backstop 12.1. The backstop 12.1 also has a fixed connection to the housing 1. Furthermore, the additional electrical machine 16 also has a fixed connection to the housing 1.

[0119] Shaft 11.2, which is designed as a hollow shaft in the form of a planetary gear housing, is rotatably mounted on shaft 11.1 on one side and on shaft 11.3 on the other. Furthermore, the ring gear 10.1 and the rotor segment 3.2 of the rotor are attached to shaft 11.2. Shaft 11.2 is also connected to the backstop 12.2. The backstop 12.2 is also firmly connected to the holding device 15, which in turn is firmly connected to the housing 1.

[0120] The shaft 11.3, which is designed as a hollow shaft, is rotatably mounted on the shaft 11.5 and connects the carrier wheel 8.1 with the sun wheel 7.2.

[0121] Shaft 11.4, which is designed as a hollow shaft in the form of a planetary gear housing, is rotatably mounted on shaft 11.3 on one side and on shaft 11.5 on the other. Furthermore, the ring gear 10.2 and the rotor segment 3.3 of the rotor are attached to shaft 11.4. Shaft 11.4 is also connected to the backstop 12.3. The backstop 12.3 is also firmly connected to the housing 1.

[0122] In the exemplary embodiment, shaft 11.5 is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. It is arranged on the main axle 2 and rotatably mounted in the housing 1. Shaft 11.5 is rigidly connected to the carrier wheel 8.2.

[0123] In this embodiment of the drive unit according to the invention, the simple planetary gear 6.1 of the multi-gear planetary gear is driven via rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2, and the additional electric machine 16. In this embodiment, the rotor segment 3.1 is firmly connected to the sun gear 7.1 via the shaft 11.1. The shaft 11.1 is also the output shaft of the additional electric machine 16. In this embodiment, the rotor segment 3.2 is firmly connected to the ring gear 10.1 via the shaft 11.2.

[0124] In this embodiment of the drive unit according to the invention, the simple planetary gear 6.2 of the multi-gear planetary gear is driven via the rotor segment 3.3 and the shaft 11.3. In this embodiment, the rotor segment 3.3 is firmly connected to the ring gear 10.2 via the shaft 11.4. The shaft 11.3 is firmly connected to the sun gear 7.2 in this embodiment.

[0125] The direction of rotation of the drive of rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3 corresponds to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.5, which is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0126] The direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.1, which represents the output shaft of the further electrical machine 16, corresponds to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.5, which represents the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0127] Backstop 12.1, backstop 12.2 and backstop 12.3 prevent rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3 and all components of planetary gear 6.1 and planetary gear 6.2 of the multi-speed planetary gear that are firmly connected to them from rotating in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.5.

[0128] Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the stator are each attached to a mount 19 of the displacement device 21. Each mount 19 is mounted for displacement parallel to the main axis 2 in a guide 20, which is rigidly connected to the housing 1. Each mount 19 has two internal threads, through which a threaded spindle 17, arranged parallel to the main axis 2, runs. The respective threaded spindle 17 is rotatably mounted in the housing 1 on the one hand and rigidly connected to a servomotor 18 on the other, which in turn is rigidly connected to the housing 1. The respective servomotor 18 is controlled by electronic control units. Depending on the required direction of movement of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, this is ensured by counterclockwise or clockwise rotation of the respectively assigned servomotors 18.

[0129] The functioning of the drive unit according to the invention in the third exemplary embodiment is explained below based on its various switching states and their transitions. The sequence of switching states is described from gear 1, with the highest torque on shaft 11.5, which represents the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention, in relation to the power of the electric motor and the additional electric motor 16, to gear 6, with the lowest torque on shaft 11.5 in relation to the power of the electric motor and the additional electric motor 16.

[0130] In first gear, stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 are positioned to drive rotor segment 3.1 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source is switched to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 by electronic control units. When the electrical energy flow is switched on, these units set rotor segment 3.1 in rotation together with the additional electrical machine 16, to which the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source is simultaneously switched by electronic control units. This occurs up to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electrical machine and the additional electrical machine 16.

[0131] The rotor segment 3.1 and the additional electric motor 16 drive the sun gear 7.1 via the shaft 11.1. The backstop 12.1 located on the shaft 11.1 is in freewheeling mode. The backstop 12.2 prevents the ring gear 10.1 from rotating in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the drive on the shaft 11.5.

[0132] Thus, in this switching state, the sun gear 7.1 drives the carrier gear 8.1 and thus the shaft 11.3 via the planet gears 9. The shaft 11.3 drives the sun gear 7.2, which in turn drives the carrier gear 8.2 via the planet gears 9 and thus the shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. Reverse rotation of the ring gear 10.2 in the opposite direction of rotation of the drive of the shaft 11.5 is prevented by the backstop 12.3.

[0133] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention provides the maximum torque on the shaft 11.5 in relation to the sum of the power of the electric machine and the further electric machine 16 in first gear. This switching state is in Fig. 8 shown.

[0134] The change from first gear to second gear is effected by repositioning stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 with the displacement device 21 so that they can drive the rotor segment 3.2 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 is switched by electronic control units.

[0135] During the repositioning of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, it is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 by electronic control units.

[0136] In second gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2. Before switching on the electrical energy flow to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, electronic control units interrupt the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the additional electrical machine 16. Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 cause rotor segment 3.2 to rotate.

[0137] The rotor segment 3.2 drives the ring gear 10.1. The backstop 12.2 is in freewheeling mode. The speed of the ring gear 10.1 increases. This causes the sun gear 7.1 to accelerate negatively and, at the same time, the speed of the carrier gear 8.1, which is driven by the ring gear 10.1 via the planet gears 9, to increase. Since the sun gear 7.1 is no longer driven by the rotor segment 3.1 and the additional electric machine 16, the speed of the sun gear 7.1 decreases until it stops. The backstop 12.1 prevents the sun gear 7.1 from rotating backwards in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the drive of the shaft 11.5. The speed of the carrier gear 8.1 increases. This occurs up to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine.

[0138] The carrier gear 8.1 drives the sun gear 7.2 via the shaft 11.3, which in turn drives the carrier gear 8.2 via the planetary gears 9 and thus the shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. Reverse rotation of the ring gear 10.2 in the opposite direction of rotation of the drive of the shaft 11.5 is prevented by the backstop 12.3.

[0139] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in second gear provides a lower torque on the shaft 11.5 in relation to the sum of the power of the electric machine and the further electric machine 16, but at a higher speed on the shaft 11.5 than in first gear. This switching state is in Fig. 9 shown.

[0140] The change from second gear to third gear is effected by repositioning the stator segment 4.1 with the displacement device 21 so that it can drive the rotor segment 3.1 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the stator segment 4.1 is switched by electronic control units.

[0141] It is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to the stator segment 4.1 by electronic control units during the repositioning of the stator segment 4.1.

[0142] The stator segment 4.2 continues to drive the multi-gear planetary gear via the rotor segment 3.2.

[0143] In third gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1. When the electrical energy flow is switched on, this causes rotor segment 3.1 to rotate. At the same time, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the additional electrical machine 16. Thus, rotor segment 3.1 and the additional electrical machine 16 drive sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1.

[0144] The speed of rotor segment 3.1 increases. At the same time, the electrical power supply to stator segment 4.2 is reduced by electronic control units until the speed of rotor segment 3.2 is also reduced until the speeds of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 are almost synchronized. Once the speeds of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 have been synchronized, their speed is increased to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine and the additional electric machine 16. The rotor segment 3.1 and the additional electric machine 16 continue to drive the sun gear 7.1 via the shaft 11.1. The backstop 12.1 attached to the shaft 11.1 is in freewheeling mode. The rotor segment 3.2 also drives the ring gear 10.1. The backstop 12.2 is in freewheeling mode.

[0145] Thus, in this switching state, the sun gear 7.1 and the ring gear 10.1 drive the carrier gear 8.1 via the planetary gears 9. The carrier gear 8.1 drives the sun gear 7.2 via the shaft 11.3, which in turn drives the carrier gear 8.2 via the planetary gears 9 and thus the shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. Reverse rotation of the ring gear 10.2 in the opposite direction of rotation of the drive of the shaft 11.5 is prevented by the backstop 12.3.

[0146] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in third gear provides a lower torque on the shaft 11.5 in relation to the sum of the power of the electric machine and the further electric machine 16, but at a higher speed on the shaft 11.5 than in second gear. This switching state is in Fig. 10 shown.

[0147] The change from third gear to fourth gear is effected by repositioning stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 with the displacement device 21 so that they can drive the rotor segment 3.3 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 is switched by electronic control units.

[0148] The prerequisite for the possibility of repositioning stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 is the inventive design and arrangement of the holding device 15. According to the invention, this engages in a sufficiently dimensioned gap between rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3. It is arranged such that it also engages in a sufficiently dimensioned gap between the arc segments of the stator, i.e., stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2. This allows the stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 to be repositioned unhindered past the holding device 15 with the displacement device 21 parallel to the main axis 2 so that they can drive the rotor segment 3.3.

[0149] During the repositioning of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, it is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 using electronic control units. At the same time, the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the other electrical machine 16 is interrupted by electronic control units.

[0150] In fourth gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical power source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2. Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 cause rotor segment 3.3 to rotate.

[0151] Rotor segment 3.3 drives ring gear 10.2. Backstop 12.3 is in freewheeling mode. Sun gear 7.1 and ring gear 10.1 are no longer driven. The speed of ring gear 10.2 increases. This causes sun gear 7.2 and thus carrier gear 8.1 connected via shaft 11.3, and subsequently sun gear 7.1 and ring gear 10.1, to accelerate negatively. At the same time, the speed of carrier gear 8.2, which is driven by ring gear 10.2 via planet gears 9, increases. The speeds of sun gear 7.1 and ring gear 10.1 decrease until they come to a standstill. The backstop 12.1 prevents sun gear 7.1 from rotating backward. The reverse rotation of the ring gear 10.1 is prevented by the backstop 12.2, which has a fixed connection to the housing 1 via the holding device 15. The rotational speed of the carrier gear 8.2 continues to increase.

[0152] The carrier wheel 8.2 drives the shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0153] The speed of shaft 11.5 is increased to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine.

[0154] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in fourth gear provides a lower torque on the shaft 11.5 in relation to the sum of the power of the electric machine and the further electric machine 16, but at a higher speed on the shaft 11.5 than in third gear. This switching state is in Fig. 11 shown.

[0155] The shift from fourth gear to fifth gear occurs when electronic control units switch on the electrical energy flow to the additional electric motor 16. Stator segments 4.1 and 4.2 continue to drive rotor segment 3.3 and thus the multi-gear planetary gear.

[0156] In fifth gear, after the electrical energy flow to the additional electrical machine 16 is switched on, this additional electrical machine 16 sets the sun gear 7.1 in rotation via the shaft 11.1.

[0157] At the same time, the supply of electrical power to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 is reduced by electronic control units so that the speed of rotor segment 3.3 is also reduced until the speeds of rotor segment 3.3 and shaft 11.1 are almost synchronous. After the synchronization of the speeds of shaft 11.1 and rotor segment 3.3 has taken place, their speed is increased to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine and the further electric machine 16.

[0158] The additional electric motor 16 drives the sun gear 7.1 via the shaft 11.1. The backstop 12.1 attached to the shaft 11.1 is in freewheeling mode. Furthermore, the rotor segment 3.3 drives the ring gear 10.2. The backstop 12.3 is in freewheeling mode.

[0159] Thus, in this switching state, sun gear 7.1 drives carrier gear 8.1 via planetary gears 9. Carrier gear 8.1 drives sun gear 7.2 via shaft 11.3, which, together with ring gear 10.2, in turn drives carrier gear 8.2 via planetary gears 9 and thus shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. Reverse rotation of ring gear 10.1 in the opposite direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.5 is prevented by backstop 12.2.

[0160] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in fifth gear provides a lower torque on the shaft 11.5 in relation to the sum of the power of the electric machine and the further electric machine 16, but at a higher speed on the shaft 11.5 than in fourth gear. This switching state is in Fig. 12 shown.

[0161] The change from fifth to sixth gear is effected by repositioning the stator segment 4.1 with the displacement device 21 so that it can drive the rotor segment 3.2 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the stator segment 4.1 is switched by electronic control units.

[0162] The prerequisite for the possibility of repositioning the stator segment 4.1 is the inventive design and arrangement of the holding device 15. This engages in a sufficiently dimensioned gap between the rotor segment 3.2 and the rotor segment 3.3. It is arranged in such a way that it also engages in a sufficiently dimensioned gap between the arc segments of the stator, i.e., stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2. This makes it possible to reposition the stator segment 4.1 unhindered past the holding device 15 with the displacement device 21 parallel to the main axis 2 so that it can drive the rotor segment 3.2. The arrangement of the holding device 15 in the third exemplary embodiment is shown in a schematic sectional view in the shift state of the sixth gear in Fig. 16 shown.

[0163] It is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to the stator segment 4.1 by electronic control units during the repositioning of the stator segment 4.1.

[0164] At this point in time, the multi-gear planetary gear is driven on the one hand via the stator segment 4.2 and on the other hand via the additional electric machine 16 and thus via the shaft 11.1.

[0165] In sixth gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1. When the electrical energy flow is switched on, this causes rotor segment 3.2 to rotate.

[0166] The speed of rotor segment 3.2 increases. At the same time, the electrical power supply to stator segment 4.2 and the additional electrical machine 16 is reduced by electronic control units to such an extent that the speed of shaft 11.1 and rotor segment 3.3 is also reduced until the speeds of shaft 11.1, rotor segment 3.2, and rotor segment 3.3 are approximately synchronous. Once the speeds of rotor segment 3.2, rotor segment 3.3, and shaft 11.1 have been synchronized, their speed is increased to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electrical machine and the additional electrical machine 16.

[0167] In sixth gear, with precise synchronization of the speeds of shaft 11.1, rotor segment 3.2, and rotor segment 3.3 within the simple planetary gears, planetary gear 6.1 and planetary gear 6.2, no rotational movement of the individual gears relative to each other is observed. Thus, shaft 11.1, the simple planetary gear 6.1, shaft 11.2, the simple planetary gear 6.2, and shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention, rotate synchronously around the main axis 2.

[0168] The additional electric motor 16 drives sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. The backstop 12.1 attached to shaft 11.1 is in freewheeling mode. Furthermore, rotor segment 3.2 drives ring gear 10.1. The backstop 12.2 is in freewheeling mode. Furthermore, rotor segment 3.3 drives ring gear 10.2. The backstop 12.3 is in freewheeling mode.

[0169] Thus, the sun gear 7.2, which is driven by the carrier gear 8.1, which in turn is driven by the sun gear 7.1 and the ring gear 10.1, and the ring gear 10.2 in this switching state drive the carrier gear 8.2 and thus the shaft 11.5 via the planet gears 9, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0170] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in sixth gear provides the lowest torque on shaft 11.5 in relation to the sum of the power of the electric machine and the further electric machine 16, but at the highest possible speed on shaft 11.5. This switching state is in Fig. 13 and in perspective view in Fig. 17 shown.

[0171] The described third embodiment of the drive unit according to the invention enables, in this configuration, the gear ratios and step changes between the gears shown in Table 3. Table 3 corridor Gear ratio Step jump to the next gear 1 1 to ~0.146 ~1,618 2 1 to ~0.236 ~1,618 3 1 to ~0.382 ~1,618 4 1 to ~0.618 ~1,618 6 1 to 1 -

[0172] The size of the step increments from first to second, from second to third, from third to fourth, and from fourth to sixth gear correspond approximately to 1.618. The fifth gear represents a useful intermediate gear. For this reason, it was included in the description of the exemplary embodiment. If it is taken into account when depicting the gear ratios and the step increments between the gears, the size of the step increments results as shown in Table 4. Overall, this results in a spread for the multi-speed planetary gear of the drive unit according to the invention of approximately 6.854. Table 4 corridor Gear ratio Step jump to the next gear 1 1 to ~0.146 ~1,618 2 1 to ~0.236 ~1,618 3 1 to ~0.382 ~1,618 4 1 to ~0.618 ~1,234 5 1 to ~0.763 ~1,310 6 1 to 1 -

[0173] A fourth embodiment of the drive unit according to the invention with six gears is described below with reference to the Fig. 14, in the fifth gear shift state, and based on the Fig. 18 and Fig. 19. The only difference in the design compared to the third embodiment is that, instead of the backstop 12.2, a brake 13 is attached to the holding device 15. This expands the functionality by allowing recuperation to be used in fifth gear as well. The brake 13 is controlled by electronic control units. The operation and transition between the switching states of the drive unit according to the invention in the fourth embodiment is as follows.

[0174] In the fourth embodiment, the drive unit according to the invention consists of a housing 1, in which Fig. 14, Fig. 18 and Fig.19 not shown, an electric machine, a further electric machine 16 according to the prior art and a multi-speed planetary gear consisting of the simple planetary gear 6.1 and the simple planetary gear 6.2, wherein the multi-speed planetary gear is driven by the electric machine via rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3 and further by the further electric machine 16 via the shaft 11.1. Another component of the drive unit according to the invention is a holding device 15. This is in the fourth embodiment in Fig. 18 shown.

[0175] The electric machine consists of a stator, which consists of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, and furthermore of a rotor, which consists of rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2, and rotor segment 3.3. Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the electric machine are arranged outside the radius of rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2, and rotor segment 3.3 of the electric machine. Electrical coils 22 are arranged on stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, and permanent magnets 5 are arranged on rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2, and rotor segment 3.3. In the exemplary embodiment, stator segment 4.1 has six electrical coils 22, while stator segment 4.2 has fifteen electrical coils 22, as in Fig. 19 is shown schematically.

[0176] Furthermore, the electric machine consists of a displacement device 21. The displacement device 21 is constructed from four threaded spindles 17 with electric servo motor 18, guides 20, and fastenings 19.

[0177] The total rated power of the electric machine of the drive unit according to the invention and of the further electric machine 16 is distributed as shown in Table 5. Table 5 Stator segment 4.2 with rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 or rotor segment 3.3 Stator segment 4.1 with rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 or rotor segment 3.3 additional electrical machine 16 Calculated share of the total rated electrical power 61,8% 23,6% 14,6%

[0178] The maximum achievable speeds of rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3 as well as the speed of the shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment represents the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention, and the speed of the shaft 11.1, which in the exemplary embodiment represents the output shaft of the further electrical machine 16, are the same.

[0179] In the illustrated example, the multi-gear planetary gear consists of the simple planetary gear 6.1 and the simple planetary gear 6.2, each in a planetary gear housing. The simple planetary gear 6.1 consists of sun gear 7.1, ring gear 10.1 and carrier gear 8.1 with planetary gears 9, in the Fig. 14, Fig. 18 and Fig. 19 not shown. The simple planetary gear 6.2 consists of sun gear 7.2, ring gear 10.2 and carrier gear 8.2 with planet gears 9.

[0180] Furthermore, the multi-speed planetary gear consists of shaft 11.1, shaft 11.2, shaft 11.3, shaft 11.4 and shaft 11.5 as well as backstop 12.1, backstop 12.3 and brake 13.

[0181] In the present embodiment, the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear 7.1 to the number of teeth of ring gear 10.1 in the simple planetary gear 6.1 and the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear 7.2 to the number of teeth of ring gear 10.2 in the planetary gear 6.2 is 1 to ~1.618.

[0182] Shaft 11.1, which is designed as a hollow shaft and is also the output shaft of the additional electrical machine 16 according to the prior art, is rotatably mounted on shaft 11.5 and connects rotor segment 3.1 of the rotor to sun gear 7.1. Shaft 11.1 is also connected to the backstop 12.1. The backstop 12.1 also has a fixed connection to the housing 1. Furthermore, the additional electrical machine 16 also has a fixed connection to the housing 1.

[0183] Shaft 11.2, which is designed as a hollow shaft in the form of a planetary gear housing, is rotatably mounted on shaft 11.1 on one side and on shaft 11.3 on the other. Furthermore, the ring gear 10.1 and the rotor segment 3.2 of the rotor are attached to shaft 11.2. Shaft 11.2 is also connected to brake 13. Brake 13 is also rigidly connected to the holding device 15, which in turn is rigidly connected to housing 1.

[0184] The shaft 11.3, which is designed as a hollow shaft, is rotatably mounted on the shaft 11.5 and connects the carrier wheel 8.1 with the sun wheel 7.2.

[0185] Shaft 11.4, which is designed as a hollow shaft in the form of a planetary gear housing, is rotatably mounted on shaft 11.3 on one side and on shaft 11.5 on the other. Furthermore, the ring gear 10.2 and the rotor segment 3.3 of the rotor are attached to shaft 11.4. Shaft 11.4 is also connected to the backstop 12.3. The backstop 12.3 is also firmly connected to the housing 1.

[0186] In the exemplary embodiment, shaft 11.5 is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. It is arranged on the main axle 2 and rotatably mounted in the housing 1. Shaft 11.5 is rigidly connected to the carrier wheel 8.2.

[0187] In this embodiment of the drive unit according to the invention, the simple planetary gear 6.1 of the multi-gear planetary gear is driven via rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 and the additional electric machine 16. In this embodiment, the rotor segment 3.1 is permanently connected to the sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. Shaft 11.1 is also the output shaft of the additional electric machine 16. In this embodiment, the rotor segment 3.2 is permanently connected to the ring gear 10.1 via shaft 11.2.

[0188] In this embodiment of the drive unit according to the invention, the simple planetary gear 6.2 of the multi-gear planetary gear is driven via the rotor segment 3.3 and the shaft 11.3. In this embodiment, the rotor segment 3.3 is firmly connected to the ring gear 10.2 via the shaft 11.4. The shaft 11.3 is firmly connected to the sun gear 7.2 in this embodiment.

[0189] The direction of rotation of the drive of rotor segment 3.1, rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3 corresponds to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.5, which represents the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0190] The direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.1, which represents the output shaft of the further electrical machine 16, corresponds to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.5, which represents the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0191] Backstop 12.1 and backstop 12.3 prevent the rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.3 and all components of planetary gear 6.1 and planetary gear 6.2 of the multi-speed planetary gear that are firmly connected to them from rotating in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.5.

[0192] The brake 13 enables the blocking of the shaft 11.2, the rotor segment 3.2 and thus the ring gear 10.1 of the simple planetary gear 6.1 of the multi-speed planetary gear, so that they cannot rotate opposite to the direction of rotation of the drive of the shaft 11.5.

[0193] Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the stator are each attached to a mount 19 of the displacement device 21. Each mount 19 is mounted for displacement parallel to the main axis 2 in a guide 20, which is rigidly connected to the housing 1. Each mount 19 has two internal threads, through which a threaded spindle 17, arranged parallel to the main axis 2, runs. The respective threaded spindle 17 is rotatably mounted in the housing 1 on the one hand and rigidly connected to a servomotor 18 on the other, which in turn is rigidly connected to the housing 1. The respective servomotor 18 is controlled by electronic control units. Depending on the required direction of movement of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, this is ensured by counterclockwise or clockwise rotation of the respectively assigned servomotors 18.

[0194] The operation of the drive unit according to the invention in the fourth exemplary embodiment is explained below based on its various switching states and their transitions. The sequence of switching states is described from first gear with the highest torque on shaft 11.5, which represents the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention, in relation to the power of the electric machine and the additional electric machine 16, to sixth gear with the lowest torque on shaft 11.5 in relation to the power of the electric machine and the additional electric machine 16.

[0195] In first gear, stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 are positioned to drive rotor segment 3.1 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source is switched to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 by electronic control units. When the electrical energy flow is switched on, these units set rotor segment 3.1 in rotation together with the additional electrical machine 16, to which the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source is simultaneously switched by electronic control units. This occurs up to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electrical machine and the additional electrical machine 16.

[0196] The rotor segment 3.1 and the additional electric motor 16 drive the sun gear 7.1 via the shaft 11.1. The backstop 12.1 located on the shaft 11.1 is in freewheeling mode. The ring gear 10.1 is blocked by the brake 13, which is activated by electronic control units and has a fixed connection to the housing 1 via the holding device 15.

[0197] Thus, in this switching state, the sun gear 7.1 drives the carrier gear 8.1 and thus the shaft 11.3 via the planet gears 9. The shaft 11.3 drives the sun gear 7.2, which in turn drives the carrier gear 8.2 via the planet gears 9 and thus the shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. Reverse rotation of the ring gear 10.2 opposite to the direction of rotation of the drive of the shaft 11.5 is prevented by the backstop 12.3.

[0198] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention provides the maximum torque on the shaft 11.5 in relation to the sum of the power of the electric machine and the further electric machine 16 in first gear.

[0199] The change from first gear to second gear is effected by repositioning stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 with the displacement device 21 so that they can drive the rotor segment 3.2 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 is switched by electronic control units.

[0200] During the repositioning of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, it is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 by electronic control units.

[0201] In second gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2. Before switching on the electrical energy flow to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, electronic control units interrupt the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the additional electrical machine 16. Electronic control units release brake 13. Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 cause rotor segment 3.2 to rotate.

[0202] Rotor segment 3.2 drives ring gear 10.1. The speed of ring gear 10.1 increases. This causes sun gear 7.1 to accelerate negatively and, at the same time, an increase in the speed of carrier gear 8.1, which is driven by ring gear 10.1 via planet gears 9. Since sun gear 7.1 is no longer driven by rotor segment 3.1 and the additional electric machine 16, the speed of sun gear 7.1 decreases until it stops. The reverse rotation of sun gear 7.1, opposite to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.5, is prevented by backstop 12.1. The speed of carrier gear 8.1 increases. This occurs up to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine.

[0203] The carrier gear 8.1 drives the sun gear 7.2 via the shaft 11.3, which in turn drives the carrier gear 8.2 via the planetary gears 9 and thus the shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. Reverse rotation of the ring gear 10.2 in the opposite direction of rotation of the drive of the shaft 11.5 is prevented by the backstop 12.3.

[0204] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in second gear provides a lower torque on the shaft 11.5 in relation to the sum of the power of the electric machine and the further electric machine 16, but at a higher speed on the shaft 11.5 than in first gear.

[0205] The change from second gear to third gear is effected by repositioning the stator segment 4.1 with the displacement device 21 so that it can drive the rotor segment 3.1 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the stator segment 4.1 is switched by electronic control units.

[0206] It is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to the stator segment 4.1 by electronic control units during the repositioning of the stator segment 4.1.

[0207] The stator segment 4.2 continues to drive the multi-gear planetary gear via the rotor segment 3.2.

[0208] In third gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1. When the electrical energy flow is switched on, this causes rotor segment 3.1 to rotate. At the same time, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the additional electrical machine 16. Thus, rotor segment 3.1 and the additional electrical machine 16 drive sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1.

[0209] The speed of rotor segment 3.1 increases. At the same time, the electrical power supply to stator segment 4.2 is reduced by electronic control units until the speed of rotor segment 3.2 is also reduced until the speeds of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 are approximately synchronized. Once the speeds of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 have been synchronized, their speed is increased to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric motor and the additional electric motor 16.

[0210] Rotor segment 3.1 and the additional electric motor 16 continue to drive sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. The backstop 12.1 attached to shaft 11.1 is in freewheeling mode. Rotor segment 3.2 continues to drive ring gear 10.1. Brake 13 remains disengaged.

[0211] Thus, in this switching state, the sun gear 7.1 and the ring gear 10.1 drive the carrier gear 8.1 via the planetary gears 9. The carrier gear 8.1 drives the sun gear 7.2 via the shaft 11.3, which in turn drives the carrier gear 8.2 via the planetary gears 9 and thus the shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. Reverse rotation of the ring gear 10.2 in the opposite direction of rotation of the drive of the shaft 11.5 is prevented by the backstop 12.3.

[0212] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in third gear provides a lower torque on the shaft 11.5 in relation to the sum of the power of the electric machine and the further electric machine 16, but at a higher speed on the shaft 11.5 than in second gear.

[0213] The change from third gear to fourth gear is effected by repositioning stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 with the displacement device 21 so that they can drive the rotor segment 3.3 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 is switched by electronic control units.

[0214] The prerequisite for the possibility of repositioning stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 is the inventive design and arrangement of the holding device 15. According to the invention, this engages in a sufficiently dimensioned gap between rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3. It is arranged such that it also engages in a sufficiently dimensioned gap between the arc segments of the stator, i.e., stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2. This allows stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 to be repositioned unhindered past the holding device 15 using the displacement device 21 parallel to the main axis 2 so that they can drive rotor segment 3.3.

[0215] During the repositioning of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, it is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 using electronic control units. At the same time, the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the other electrical machine 16 is interrupted by electronic control units.

[0216] In fourth gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical power source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2. Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 cause rotor segment 3.3 to rotate.

[0217] Rotor segment 3.3 drives ring gear 10.2. Backstop 12.3 is in freewheeling mode. Sun gear 7.1 and ring gear 10.1 are no longer driven. The speed of ring gear 10.2 increases. This causes sun gear 7.2 and thus carrier gear 8.1 connected via shaft 11.3, and subsequently sun gear 7.1 and ring gear 10.1, to accelerate negatively. At the same time, the speed of carrier gear 8.2, which is driven by ring gear 10.2 via planet gears 9, increases. The speeds of sun gear 7.1 and ring gear 10.1 decrease until they come to a standstill. The backstop 12.1 prevents sun gear 7.1 from rotating backward. The ring gear 10.1 is blocked by the brake 13, which is now activated by electronic control units and has a fixed connection to the housing 1 via the holding device 15. The speed of the carrier gear 8.2 continues to increase.

[0218] The carrier wheel 8.2 drives the shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0219] The speed of shaft 11.5 is increased to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine.

[0220] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in fourth gear provides a lower torque on the shaft 11.5 in relation to the sum of the power of the electric machine and the further electric machine 16, but at a higher speed on the shaft 11.5 than in third gear.

[0221] The shift from fourth gear to fifth gear occurs when electronic control units switch on the electrical energy flow to the additional electric motor 16. Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 continue to drive rotor segment 3.3 and thus the multi-speed planetary gear.

[0222] In fifth gear, after the electrical energy flow to the additional electrical machine 16 is switched on, this additional electrical machine 16 sets the sun gear 7.1 in rotation via the shaft 11.1.

[0223] At the same time, the supply of electrical power to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 is reduced by electronic control units so that the speed of rotor segment 3.3 is also reduced until the speeds of rotor segment 3.3 and shaft 11.1 are almost synchronous. After the synchronization of the speeds of shaft 11.1 and rotor segment 3.3 has taken place, their speed is increased to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine and the further electric machine 16.

[0224] The additional electric motor 16 drives the sun gear 7.1 via the shaft 11.1. The backstop 12.1 attached to the shaft 11.1 is in freewheeling mode. Furthermore, the rotor segment 3.3 drives the ring gear 10.2. The backstop 12.3 is in freewheeling mode. The ring gear 10.1 continues to be blocked by the brake 13.

[0225] Thus, in this switching state, the sun gear 7.1 drives the carrier gear 8.1 via the planet gears 9. The carrier gear 8.1 drives the sun gear 7.2 via the shaft 11.3, which, together with the ring gear 10.2, in turn drives the carrier gear 8.2 via the planet gears 9 and thus the shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0226] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in fifth gear provides a lower torque on the shaft 11.5 in relation to the sum of the power of the electric machine and the further electric machine 16, but at a higher speed on the shaft 11.5 than in fourth gear.

[0227] The change from fifth to sixth gear is effected by repositioning the stator segment 4.1 with the displacement device 21 so that it can drive the rotor segment 3.2 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the stator segment 4.1 is switched by electronic control units.

[0228] The prerequisite for the possibility of repositioning stator segment 4.1 is the inventive design and arrangement of the holding device 15. This engages in a sufficiently dimensioned gap between rotor segment 3.2 and rotor segment 3.3. It is arranged such that it also engages in a sufficiently dimensioned gap between the arc segments of the stator, i.e., stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2. This allows the stator segment 4.1 to be repositioned unhindered past the holding device 15 using the displacement device 21 parallel to the main axis 2 so that it can drive the rotor segment 3.2.

[0229] It is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to the stator segment 4.1 by electronic control units during the repositioning of the stator segment 4.1.

[0230] At this point in time, the multi-gear planetary gear is driven on the one hand via the stator segment 4.2 and on the other hand via the additional electric machine 16 and thus via the shaft 11.1.

[0231] In sixth gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1. When the electrical energy flow is switched on, this causes rotor segment 3.2 to rotate. At the same time, electronic control units release brake 13.

[0232] The speed of rotor segment 3.2 increases. At the same time, the electrical power supply to stator segment 4.2 and the other electrical machine 16 is reduced by electronic control units to such an extent that the speed of shaft 11.1 and rotor segment 3.3 is also reduced until the speeds of shaft 11.1, rotor segment 3.2, and rotor segment 3.3 are almost synchronous. After the synchronization of the speeds of rotor segment 3.2, rotor segment 3.3 and shaft 11.1 has taken place, their speed is increased to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine and the further electric machine 16.

[0233] In sixth gear, with precise synchronization of the speeds of shaft 11.1, rotor segment 3.2, and rotor segment 3.3 within planetary gear 6.1 and planetary gear 6.2, no rotational movement of the individual gears relative to each other is observed. Thus, shaft 11.1, the simple planetary gear 6.1, shaft 11.2, the simple planetary gear 6.2, and shaft 11.5, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention, rotate synchronously around the main axis 2.

[0234] The additional electric motor 16 drives sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. The backstop 12.1 attached to shaft 11.1 is freewheeling. Furthermore, rotor segment 3.2 drives ring gear 10.1. The backstop 12.2 is freewheeling. Furthermore, rotor segment 3.3 drives ring gear 10.2. The brake 13 is released.

[0235] Thus, the sun gear 7.2, which is driven by the carrier gear 8.1, which in turn is driven by the sun gear 7.1 and the ring gear 10.1, and the ring gear 10.2 in this switching state drive the carrier gear 8.2 and thus the shaft 11.5 via the planet gears 9, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0236] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in sixth gear provides the lowest torque on the shaft 11.5 in relation to the sum of the power of the electric machine and the further electric machine 16, but at the highest possible speed on the shaft 11.5.

[0237] The described fourth embodiment of the drive unit according to the invention enables, in this embodiment, the transmission ratios and step changes between the gears shown in Table 6. Table 6 corridor Gear ratio Step jump to the next gear 1 1 to ~0.146 ~1,618 2 1 to ~0.236 ~1,618 3 1 to ~0.382 ~1,618 4 1 to ~0.618 ~1,618 6 1 to 1 -

[0238] The size of the step increments from first to second, from second to third, from third to fourth, and from fourth to sixth gear correspond approximately to 1.618. The fifth gear represents a useful intermediate gear. It was included in the description of the exemplary embodiment for this reason. If it is taken into account when depicting the gear ratios and the step increments between the gears, the size of the step increments is as shown in Table 7. The overall spread is approximately 6.854. Table 7 corridor Gear ratio Step jump to the next gear 1 1 to ~0.146 ~1,618 2 1 to ~0.236 ~1,618 3 1 to ~0.382 ~1,618 4 1 to ~0.618 ~1,234 5 1 to ~0.763 ~1,310 6 1 to 1 -

[0239] The fifth gear in this embodiment offers a special feature compared to the third embodiment. Since the brake 13 in the fourth embodiment replaces the backstop 12.2 in the third embodiment, recuperation is possible in this gear, as the use of the brake 13 allows the ring gear 10.1 to be driven or blocked in both directions of rotation. Without the use of the brake 13, as in the third embodiment, recuperation is only possible in sixth gear.

[0240] A fifth embodiment of the drive unit according to the invention with three gears is described below with reference to the Fig. 20 to 22 and Fig. 26 and consists of a housing 1, in which Fig. 20 to 22 and Fig.26 not shown, an electric machine and a multi-speed planetary gear consisting of a simple planetary gear 6.1, which is driven by the electric machine via rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2.

[0241] The electrical machine consists of a stator, which consists of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, and furthermore of a rotor, which consists of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2. The stator segment 4.1 of the electrical machine is arranged within the radius of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 of the electrical machine. The stator segment 4.2 of the electrical machine is arranged outside the radius of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 of the electrical machine. Electrical coils 22 are arranged on stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, in the Fig. 20 to 22 are not shown, and on rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 are permanent magnets 5, in the Fig.20 to 22 not shown. Furthermore, the electric machine consists of a displacement device 21. The displacement device 21 consists of four threaded spindles 17 with electric servo motor 18, in Fig. 20 to 22 and Fig. 26 not shown, guides 20 and fastenings 19 assembled.

[0242] The multi-speed planetary gear consists of a simple planetary gear 6.1 in a planetary gear housing. The simple planetary gear 6.1 consists of sun gear 7.1, ring gear 10.1 and carrier gear 8.1 with planetary gears 9, in the Fig. 20 to 22 and Fig. 26 not shown. Furthermore, the multi-speed planetary gear consists of shaft 11.1, shaft 11.2, and shaft 11.3, as well as backstop 12.1 and backstop 12.2.

[0243] Shaft 11.1, designed as a hollow shaft, is rotatably mounted on shaft 11.3 and connects rotor segment 3.1 of the rotor with sun gear 7.1. Shaft 11.1 is also connected to backstop 12.1. Backstop 12.1 is also firmly connected to housing 1. Shaft 11.2, designed as a planetary gear housing, is rotatably mounted on shaft 11.1 on the one hand and on shaft 11.3 on the other. Furthermore, ring gear 10.1 and rotor segment 3.2 of the rotor are attached to shaft 11.2. Shaft 11.2 is also connected to backstop 12.2. Backstop 12.2 is also firmly connected to housing 1. In the exemplary embodiment, shaft 11.3 is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. It is arranged on the main axle 2 and rotatably mounted in the housing 1. Shaft 11.3 is rigidly connected to the carrier wheel 8.1.

[0244] In this design of the drive unit, the single planetary gear 6.1 of the multi-gear planetary gear is driven via rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2. In this embodiment, rotor segment 3.1 is permanently connected to sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. Rotor segment 3.2 is permanently connected to ring gear 10.1 via shaft 11.2.

[0245] The direction of rotation of the drive of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 corresponds to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.3, which is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. Backstop 12.1 and backstop 12.2 prevent rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, and all components of the simple planetary gear 6.1 firmly connected to them, from rotating in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.3.

[0246] Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the stator are each attached to a mount 19 of the displacement device 21. Each mount 19 is mounted for displacement parallel to the main axis 2 in a guide 20, which is rigidly connected to the housing 1. Each mount 19 has two internal threads, through which a threaded spindle 17, arranged parallel to the main axis 2, runs. The respective threaded spindle 17 is rotatably mounted in the housing 1 on the one hand and rigidly connected to a servomotor 18 on the other, which in turn is rigidly connected to the housing 1. The respective servomotor 18 is controlled by electronic control units. Depending on the required direction of movement of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, this is ensured by counterclockwise or clockwise rotation of the respectively assigned servomotors 18.

[0247] The operation of the drive unit according to the invention in the fifth exemplary embodiment is explained below based on its various switching states and their transitions. The sequence of switching states is described from first gear, with the highest torque at the output shaft in relation to the power of the electric motor, to third gear, with the lowest torque at the output shaft in relation to the power of the electric motor.

[0248] In first gear, stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 are positioned so that they drive rotor segment 3.1 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source is switched to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 by electronic control units. When the electrical energy flow is switched on, these now set rotor segment 3.1 in rotation. This occurs up to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine. Rotor segment 3.1 drives sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. Backstop 12.1 arranged on shaft 11.1 is in freewheel mode. Backstop 12.2 prevents ring gear 10.1 from rotating backwards in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the drive on shaft 11.3.

[0249] Thus, in this switching state, the sun gear 7.1 drives the carrier gear 8.1 via the planet gears 9 and thus the shaft 11.3, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0250] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention provides the maximum torque on shaft 11.3 in relation to the power of the electric machine in first gear. This switching state is in Fig. 20 shown.

[0251] The change from first gear to second gear is effected by repositioning stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 with the displacement device 21 so that they can drive the rotor segment 3.2 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 is switched by electronic control units.

[0252] During the repositioning of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, it is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 by electronic control units.

[0253] In second gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical power source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2. These then cause rotor segment 3.2 to rotate.

[0254] Rotor segment 3.2 drives ring gear 10.1. Backstop 12.2 is in freewheeling mode. The speed of ring gear 10.1 increases. This causes sun gear 7.1 to accelerate negatively, and at the same time, the speed of carrier gear 8.1, which is driven by ring gear 10.1 via planet gears 9, increases. Since sun gear 7.1 is no longer driven by rotor segment 3.1, the speed of sun gear 7.1 decreases until it stops. The backstop 12.1 prevents sun gear 7.1 from rotating backward. The speed of carrier gear 8.1 increases. This increases until it reaches the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric motor.

[0255] The carrier wheel 8.1 drives the shaft 11.3, which in the embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0256] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in second gear provides a lower torque on the shaft 11.3 in relation to the power of the electric machine, but at a higher speed on the shaft 11.3 than in first gear. This switching state is in Fig. 21 shown.

[0257] The change from second gear to third gear is effected by repositioning the stator segment 4.1 with the displacement device 21 so that it can drive the rotor segment 3.1 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the stator segment 4.1 is switched by electronic control units.

[0258] It is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to the stator segment 4.1 by electronic control units during the repositioning of the stator segment 4.1.

[0259] The stator segment 4.2 continues to drive the multi-gear planetary gear via the rotor segment 3.2.

[0260] In third gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical power source to stator segment 4.1. This then causes rotor segment 3.1 to rotate.

[0261] The speed of rotor segment 3.1 increases. At the same time, the electrical power supply to stator segment 4.2 is reduced by electronic control units, thus also reducing the speed of rotor segment 3.2 until the speeds of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 are almost synchronized. Once the speeds of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 have been synchronized, their speed is increased to the maximum speed achievable by the electric motor.

[0262] Rotor segment 3.1 drives sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. The backstop 12.1 located on shaft 11.1 is in freewheeling mode. Furthermore, rotor segment 3.2 drives ring gear 10.1. The backstop 12.2 is in freewheeling mode.

[0263] Thus, in this switching state, the sun gear 7.1 and the ring gear 10.1 drive the carrier gear 8.1 and thus the shaft 11.3 via the planet gears 9, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0264] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in third gear provides the lowest torque on shaft 11.3 in relation to the power of the electric machine at maximum speed on shaft 11.3. This switching state is in Fig. 22 shown.

[0265] A sixth embodiment of the drive unit according to the invention with three gears is described below with reference to the Fig.23 to 25 and Fig. 27 and consists of a housing 1, in which Fig. 23 to 25 and Fig. 27 not shown, an electric machine and a multi-speed planetary gear consisting of a simple planetary gear 6.1, which is driven by the electric machine via rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2.

[0266] The electric machine consists of a stator, which consists of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, and a rotor, which consists of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2. Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the electric machine are arranged within the radius of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 of the electric machine. Electrical coils 22 are arranged on stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, in the Fig. 23 to 25 and Fig.27 is not shown, and on rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 are permanent magnets 5, in the Fig. 23 to 25 and Fig. 27 not shown. Furthermore, the electric machine consists of a displacement device 21. The displacement device 21 consists of four threaded spindles 17 with electric servo motor 18, in the Fig. 23 to 25 and Fig. 27 not shown, guides 20, and fastenings 19 assembled.

[0267] The multi-speed planetary gear consists of a simple planetary gear 6.1 in a planetary gear housing. The simple planetary gear 6.1 consists of sun gear 7.1, ring gear 10.1 and carrier gear 8.1 with planetary gears 9, in the Fig. 23 to 25 and Fig. 27 not shown. Furthermore, the multi-speed planetary gear consists of shaft 11.1, shaft 11.2, and shaft 11.3, as well as backstop 12.1 and backstop 12.2.

[0268] Shaft 11.1, designed as a hollow shaft, is rotatably mounted on shaft 11.3 and connects rotor segment 3.1 of the rotor with sun gear 7.1. Shaft 11.1 is also connected to backstop 12.1. Backstop 12.1 is also firmly connected to housing 1. Shaft 11.2, designed as a planetary gear housing, is rotatably mounted on shaft 11.1 on the one hand and on shaft 11.3 on the other. Furthermore, ring gear 10.1 and rotor segment 3.2 of the rotor are attached to shaft 11.2. Shaft 11.2 is also connected to backstop 12.2. Backstop 12.2 is also firmly connected to housing 1. In the exemplary embodiment, shaft 11.3 is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. It is arranged on the main axle 2 and rotatably mounted in the housing 1. Shaft 11.3 is rigidly connected to the carrier wheel 8.1.

[0269] In this design of the drive unit, the single planetary gear 6.1 of the multi-gear planetary gear is driven via rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2. In this embodiment, rotor segment 3.1 is permanently connected to sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. Rotor segment 3.2 is permanently connected to ring gear 10.1 via shaft 11.2.

[0270] The direction of rotation of the drive of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 corresponds to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.3, which is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention. Backstop 12.1 and backstop 12.2 prevent rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2, and all components of the simple planetary gear 6.1 firmly connected to them, from rotating in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the drive of shaft 11.3.

[0271] Stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 of the stator are each attached to a mount 19 of the displacement device 21. Each mount 19 is mounted for displacement parallel to the main axis 2 in a guide 20, which is rigidly connected to the housing 1. Each mount 19 has two internal threads, through which a threaded spindle 17, arranged parallel to the main axis 2, runs. The respective threaded spindle 17 is rotatably mounted in the housing 1 on the one hand and rigidly connected to a servomotor 18 on the other, which in turn is rigidly connected to the housing 1. The respective servomotor 18 is controlled by electronic control units. Depending on the required direction of movement of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, this is ensured by counterclockwise or clockwise rotation of the respectively assigned servomotors 18.

[0272] The operation of the drive unit according to the invention in the sixth exemplary embodiment is explained below based on its various switching states and their transitions. The sequence of switching states is described from first gear, with the highest torque at the output shaft in relation to the power of the electric motor, to third gear, with the lowest torque at the output shaft in relation to the power of the electric motor.

[0273] In first gear, stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 are positioned so that they drive rotor segment 3.1 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source is switched to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 by electronic control units. When the electrical energy flow is switched on, these now set rotor segment 3.1 in rotation. This occurs up to the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric machine. Rotor segment 3.1 drives sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. Backstop 12.1 arranged on shaft 11.1 is in freewheel mode. Backstop 12.2 prevents ring gear 10.1 from rotating backwards in the opposite direction to the direction of rotation of the drive on shaft 11.3.

[0274] Thus, in this switching state, the sun gear 7.1 drives the carrier gear 8.1 via the planet gears 9 and thus the shaft 11.3, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0275] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention provides the maximum torque on shaft 11.3 in relation to the power of the electric machine in first gear. This switching state is in Fig. 23 shown.

[0276] The change from first gear to second gear is effected by repositioning stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 with the displacement device 21 so that they can drive the rotor segment 3.2 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 is switched by electronic control units.

[0277] During the repositioning of stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2, it is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2 by electronic control units.

[0278] In second gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical power source to stator segment 4.1 and stator segment 4.2. These then cause rotor segment 3.2 to rotate.

[0279] Rotor segment 3.2 drives ring gear 10.1. Backstop 12.2 is in freewheeling mode. The speed of ring gear 10.1 increases. This causes sun gear 7.1 to accelerate negatively, and at the same time, the speed of carrier gear 8.1, which is driven by ring gear 10.1 via planet gears 9, increases. Since sun gear 7.1 is no longer driven by rotor segment 3.1, the speed of sun gear 7.1 decreases until it stops. The backstop 12.1 prevents sun gear 7.1 from rotating backward. The speed of carrier gear 8.1 increases. This increases until it reaches the maximum speed that can be achieved by the electric motor.

[0280] The carrier wheel 8.1 drives the shaft 11.3, which in the embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0281] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in second gear provides a lower torque on the shaft 11.3 in relation to the power of the electric machine, but at a higher speed on the shaft 11.3 than in first gear. This switching state is in Fig. 24 shown.

[0282] The change from second gear to third gear is effected by repositioning the stator segment 4.1 with the displacement device 21 so that it can drive the rotor segment 3.1 as soon as the electrical energy flow from an electrical energy source to the stator segment 4.1 is switched by electronic control units.

[0283] It is necessary to interrupt the electrical energy flow to the stator segment 4.1 by electronic control units during the repositioning of the stator segment 4.1.

[0284] The stator segment 4.2 continues to drive the multi-gear planetary gear via the rotor segment 3.2.

[0285] In third gear, electronic control units switch the electrical energy flow from an electrical power source to stator segment 4.1. This then causes rotor segment 3.1 to rotate.

[0286] The speed of rotor segment 3.1 increases. At the same time, the electrical power supply to stator segment 4.2 is reduced by electronic control units, thus also reducing the speed of rotor segment 3.2 until the speeds of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 are almost synchronized. Once the speeds of rotor segment 3.1 and rotor segment 3.2 have been synchronized, their speed is increased to the maximum speed achievable by the electric motor.

[0287] Rotor segment 3.1 drives sun gear 7.1 via shaft 11.1. The backstop 12.1 located on shaft 11.1 is in freewheeling mode. Furthermore, rotor segment 3.2 drives ring gear 10.1. The backstop 12.2 is in freewheeling mode.

[0288] Thus, in this switching state, the sun gear 7.1 and the ring gear 10.1 drive the carrier gear 8.1 and thus the shaft 11.3 via the planet gears 9, which in the exemplary embodiment is the output shaft of the drive unit according to the invention.

[0289] This switching state of the drive unit according to the invention in third gear provides the lowest torque on shaft 11.3 in relation to the power of the electric machine at maximum speed on shaft 11.3. This switching state is in Fig. 25 shown. List of reference symbols 1 housing 2 main axis 3.1 Rotor segment 3.2 Rotor segment 3.3 Rotor segment 4.1 Stator segment 4.2 Stator segment 5 Permanent magnet 6.1 Planetary gear 6.2 Planetary gear 7.1 Sun gear 7.2 Sun gear 8.1 Carrier wheel 8.2 Carrier wheel 9 Planetary gear 10.1 Ring gear 10.2 Ring gear 11.1 Wave 11.2 Wave 11.3 Wave 11.4 Wave 11.5 Wave 12.1 Backstop 12.2 Backstop 12.3 Backstop 13 Brake 14 Overrunning clutch 15 Holding device 16 additional electric machines 17 Threaded spindle 18 Servo motor 19 Fastening 20 leadership 21 Shifting device 22 electrical coil

Claims

[1] Drive unit at least containing a housing (1), therein arranged at least - an electrical machine, consisting of a stator which has at least two stator segments, namely the stator segment (4.1) and the stator segment (4.2), and further comprising a rotor which has at least three rotor segments, namely the rotor segment (3.1), the rotor segment (3.2) and the rotor segment (3.3), each of which has at least one brake (13) or a backstop (12.1, 12.2, 12.3) which has a fixed connection to the housing (1), - and a multi-speed planetary gear consisting of at least two simple planetary gears arranged coaxially to the main axis (2), namely planetary gears (6.1) consisting of at least one ring gear (10.1), a carrier gear (8.1) and a sun gear (7.1), and planetary gears (6.2) consisting of at least one ring gear (10.2), a carrier gear (8.2) and a sun gear (7.2), wherein the at least three rotor segments are each separately connected in a rotationally fixed manner as follows: - Rotor segment (3.1) with the sun gear (7.1), with the ring gear (10.1) or with the carrier gear (8.1) - Rotor segment (3.2) with the sun gear (7.1), with the ring gear (10.1.) or with the carrier gear (8.1) - Rotor segment (3.3) with the sun gear (7.2), with the ring gear (10.2) or with the carrier gear (8.2), wherein at least two stator segments, namely the stator segment (4.1) and the stator segment (4.2), of the stator of the electrical machine are individually displaceable parallel to the main axis (2) with at least one displacement device (21) and these can drive different rotor segments of the rotor, namely the rotor segment (3.1), the rotor segment (3.2) and the rotor segment (3.3) by their displacement and the sun gear (7.1), the ring gear (10.1) or the carrier gear (8.1), which is not connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotor segment (3.1), to the rotor segment (3.2) or to the rotor segment (3.3), is connected to the sun gear (7.2), to the ring gear (10.2) or to the carrier gear (8.2), which is connected neither to the rotor segment (3.1), to the rotor segment (3.2), to the rotor segment (3.3) nor to the output shaft (11.5) of the drive unit according to the invention, wherein two rotor segments, namely the rotor segment (3.1) and the rotor segment (3.2), are fastened to the planetary gear (6.1) and one rotor segment, namely the rotor segment (3.3), is fastened to the planetary gear (6.2), and the drive unit contains at least one holding device (15) which is firmly connected to the housing (1) at at least one holding point and which is arranged such that at least the rotor segment which is arranged between two adjacent rotor segments can be blocked by means of a backstop (12.2) or a brake (13) fastened to it. [2] Drive unit according to claim 1 characterized by that the sun gear (7.1), the ring gear (10.1) or the carrier gear (8.1) of the planetary gear (6.1), which is connected in a rotationally fixed manner to the rotor segment (3.1), can be driven by a further electrical machine (16), namely an electric motor. [3] Drive unit according to one of claims 1 or 2, characterized bythat the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear (7.1) to the number of teeth of ring gear (10.1) in the planetary gear (6.1) and the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear (7.2) to the number of teeth of ring gear (10.2) in the planetary gear (6.2) is in the range between 1 to 1.46 and 1 to 1.77, particularly preferably 1 to 1.

618. [4] Drive unit according to claim 3, characterized bythat the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear (7.1) to the number of teeth of ring gear (10.1) in the planetary gear (6.1) and the ratio of the number of teeth of sun gear (7.2) to the number of teeth of ring gear (10.2) in the planetary gear (6.2) is in the range between 1 to 1.46 and 1 to 1.77, particularly preferably 1 to 1.618, and the stator segment (4.1) of the stator has six electrical coils (22) and the stator segment (4.2) of the stator has fifteen electrical coils (22), wherein only three-phase rotating fields can be generated by the stator segments, namely stator segment (4.1) and stator segment (4.2). [5] Use of a drive unit according to at least one of claims 1 to 4 for a motor vehicle, aircraft or watercraft, for machine tools or as a generator in a wind turbine.

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