Motor vehicle and method for operating a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a motor vehicle (10) comprising at least one electric machine (11), wherein the electric machine (11) is configured to generate a torque, and a coupling device (13) which is configured to supply the torque generated by the electric machine (11) to a first working device (14) and a second working device (15).

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a motor vehicle comprising at least one electric machine, wherein the electric machine is configured to generate a torque, and a coupling device configured to supply the torque generated by the electric machine to a working device. Furthermore, the invention relates to a method for operating a motor vehicle.

[0002] In addition to the actual vehicle drive, motor vehicles are equipped with a multitude of consumers or auxiliary units, such as a refrigerant compressor, a coolant pump, or similar, each of which is typically driven by an associated electric motor. This requires a vehicle, in addition to a traction motor, several decentralized electric motors for the various auxiliary units, which can be powered, for example, by a vehicle battery. If these decentralized electric motors are operated at different voltage levels, a large number of voltage converters may also be required.

[0003] Against this background, it is an object of the invention to improve a motor vehicle. In particular, a motor vehicle and / or a method for operating a motor vehicle is to be improved in order to optimize the use of power provided by an electric machine of the motor vehicle.

[0004] This object is achieved by a motor vehicle having the features of claim 1 and a method for operating a motor vehicle having the features of claim 11. The dependent claims relate to advantageous developments of the invention.

[0005] According to a first aspect, a motor vehicle is provided, comprising at least one electric machine, wherein the electric machine is configured to generate a torque, and a coupling device configured to supply the torque generated by the electric machine to a first working device and alternatively to at least one second working device.

[0006] According to a further aspect, a method for operating a motor vehicle is proposed, comprising steps of operating an electric machine of the motor vehicle to generate a torque; providing the generated torque to a first working device by means of a coupling device in a first switching state; and switching the coupling device to a second switching state in which the generated torque is provided to at least one second working device by means of the coupling device.

[0007] This allows the torque generated or provided by the electric machine to be used by another working device, so that the other working device does not require its own drive device or electric machine, in particular one exclusively assigned to this working device. This can improve the utilization of the power provided or that can be provided by the electric machine.

[0008] The motor vehicle is, in particular, an electrically powered or operated motor vehicle. The at least one electric machine is configured to convert electrical energy, which is provided, in particular, by a drive battery, into mechanical power. In such an electric machine, energizable conductor coils can generate magnetic fields whose mutual forces of attraction and repulsion are converted into movement. This can, for example, generate a rotating movement or torque, which can be provided by a rotor shaft of the electric machine and used to operate or drive a work device. The electric machine can, for example, be a drive motor of the motor vehicle or another electric motor.

[0009] The working device is in particular a working machine or a working unit which can absorb and convert energy in the form of mechanical work or the provided torque. The absorbed torque can be output by the working device in particular as mechanical energy or work. In some embodiments, the first working device in particular can have and / or be, for example, a transmission, an axle and / or a wheel drive, which can be configured to generate a rotary movement at wheels of the motor vehicle in order to move it forward. In some exemplary embodiments, the absorbed energy can be supplied to a fluid by means of the working device and can be, for example, a pump, a compressor, a blower and / or a fan.

[0010] The respective working device can be connected to the electrical machine via the coupling device and in particular via a mechanism, such as a shaft, in order to absorb the torque generated or provided by the electrical machine. The coupling device is in particular a machine or machine element that can be switched between at least two switching states and is designed to transmit the torque and / or in particular to connect two shafts rigidly, movably, and / or detachably, wherein the connection can be designed to be positively and / or non-positively connected. The coupling device can, for example, be or have at least one clutch, in particular a non-positively and / or positively connected clutch, and can be or have, for example, a friction disc clutch, a switchable magnetic clutch, or the like. In some embodiments, the coupling device can have at least one gear.

[0011] In particular, the coupling device is designed to connect a rotor shaft of the electric machine to the respective working device or a drive shaft of the respective working device in order to transmit rotation and thus the torque and thus mechanical work. For example, the coupling device can be designed so that it can be switchable between at least two switching states. Thus, in a first switching state of the coupling device, the torque provided by the electric machine can be transmitted to a drive axle of the first working device, whereby the latter can be operated. In a second switching state, the first drive axle of the first drive machine can be disconnected from the coupling device ora torque transmission path, and the coupling device can be or become connected to a drive axle of the second working device, so that the torque provided by the electric machine can be transmitted to the second working device. The torque provided by the electric machine can be transmitted to at least one, both, or more working devices or mechanical consumers in a suitable transmission ratio.

[0012] The invention is based, among other things, on the idea of ​​making one electrical machine available or using it for a number of mechanical consumers. For this purpose, it is proposed to provide a switchable coupling device which enables an alternative connection or torque transmission to a first and at least one second mechanical consumer or the first and second working device, so that, when the electrical machine is in operation, either the first working device can be operated in a first switching state of the coupling device and the second working device can be operated in a second state of the coupling device. This makes it possible to reduce the number of electrical machines required, in particular decentralized ones, for operating working devices or auxiliary units. Since different working devices orSince auxiliary units are typically operated with different voltage levels, the necessary voltage converters can be omitted, since at least two working devices or mechanical consumers can be driven alternately by means of an electrical machine.

[0013] In one embodiment, the coupling device is designed to coaxially connect the first working device and / or the at least one second working device to the electric machine or to connect them for torque transmission. With a coaxial connection, the rotor shaft of the electric motor lies on one axis or axis of rotation with the drive shaft of the first and / or second working device to be connected. In this case, the coupling device can be designed, for example, as a double clutch or is designed as a switchable unit which can have at least two, in particular coaxial, clutches which can each connect to a drive shaft of the respective working device. By coaxially connecting the electric machine to the working device(s), the overall size of the arrangement can be reduced.

[0014] In one embodiment, the coupling device is configured to connect the first working device and / or the at least one second working device to the electric machine in an axially parallel manner or to connect them for torque transmission. The drive shafts of the first and second working devices can be arranged offset relative to one another in an axially parallel manner. The coupling device can, for example, have at least two clutches, each of which is configured for connection to a respective drive shaft of the respective working device. This increases the flexibility of possible arrangements for the first and / or second working device(s) within a predetermined installation space of the motor vehicle.

[0015] In one embodiment, the coupling device has at least one planetary stage. The coupling device can, for example, comprise, have, or be connected to at least one clutch and one planetary stage or a planetary gear in order to be able to deliver the provided torque to the respective working device, in particular with a predetermined gear ratio.

[0016] In one embodiment, the coupling device can comprise at least one gear pair. The torque can be transmitted from the electric machine to the respective working device by means of the coupling device, for example via intermeshing internal and / or external toothings of at least two mutually associated gears, in particular with a suitable transmission ratio.

[0017] In one embodiment, the coupling device comprises at least one belt transmission. A belt transmission comprises at least one traction mechanism configured for force-locking and / or positive-locking torque transmission, particularly between two shafts. The traction mechanism can be, for example, a closed drive belt or a closed chain. Such a solution allows spaced-apart working devices to be driven alternatively or alternately by the same electric machine.

[0018] In one embodiment, the first working device is a vehicle axle of the motor vehicle. In this case, the electric machine can be a drive motor of the motor vehicle. As a result, in a first switching state of the coupling device, the torque can be transmitted to the vehicle axle and thus to at least one wheel of the motor vehicle, thereby enabling the motor vehicle to move. In a second switching state, the vehicle axle can be set to freewheel, and the torque provided by the electric machine can be transmitted or provided, in particular in a suitable transmission ratio, to at least one other mechanical consumer or working device.

[0019] In one embodiment, the electric machine is a secondary drive unit of an all-wheel drive system of the motor vehicle. A secondary drive unit is, in particular, one of two electric drive units, each driving an axle, which can be switched to additionally drive a second axle. This allows the electric machine to be used to drive another mechanical load or work device, particularly when an all-wheel drive function of the motor vehicle is not in use.

[0020] In one embodiment, the second working device is a refrigerant compressor. A refrigerant compressor or an air conditioning compressor is, in particular, a refrigeration machine designed to compress a gaseous refrigerant in the circuit of a motor vehicle's air conditioning system. Such an arrangement allows the air conditioning compressor to be coupled to a drive motor, thus eliminating the need for an additional electric motor to operate the refrigerant compressor.

[0021] In one embodiment, the second working device is a coolant pump. A coolant pump can be part of a liquid cooling system of the motor vehicle and can be configured to effect a forced flow of the coolant for transporting waste heat from at least one component of the motor vehicle.

[0022] Further advantages and possible applications of the invention will become apparent from the following description in conjunction with the figures. Fig. 1 shows a first schematic representation of a motor vehicle according to the invention according to a first embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle according to the invention according to a second embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a motor vehicle according to the invention according to a third embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 4 shows a further schematic representation of a motor vehicle according to the invention according to a fourth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 5 shows a further schematic representation of a motor vehicle according to the invention according to a fifth embodiment of the present invention. Fig. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram of an inventive method for operating a motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0023] Fig. 1 shows a motor vehicle 10 according to a first embodiment in a schematic representation.

[0024] The motor vehicle 10 has an electric machine 11, which is supplied with electrical energy by a drive battery 12 of the motor vehicle 10 and is configured to generate torque. A coupling device 13 is connected to the electric machine 11 and configured to supply the torque generated by the electric machine 11 alternatively to a first working device 14 or a second working device 15.

[0025] In the illustrated embodiment, the electric machine 11 is a switchable secondary drive machine of an all-wheel drive of the motor vehicle 10, which can be switched on in particular to support a main drive with a (primary) drive machine and a permanently drivable vehicle axle.

[0026] The coupling device 13 is designed to be switchable between two switching states and, in a first switching state, can transmit the torque provided by the electric machine 11 to a first working device 14, here ultimately to a vehicle axle 17, whereby the latter can be operated and drive at least one vehicle wheel 18. In a second switching state of the coupling device 13, the first drive machine 14 can be disconnected from a torque transmission path and the coupling device 13 can be connected to the second working device 15, so that the torque provided by the electric machine 11 can be transmitted to the second working device 15 and the latter can be operated.

[0027] Fig. 2 shows a schematic representation of a second embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 according to the invention (not shown further here) with an electric machine 11 and a coupling device 13.

[0028] The torque generated by the electric machine is transmitted to an exemplary transmission 16 via the rotor shaft 111. The transmission comprises the rotor shaft 111, an intermediate shaft 112, and an output shaft 113, which can be interconnected by means of gear stages 161 and 162 for torque transmission. In the present embodiment, the clutch device 13 comprises three clutches K1, K2, K3, which can be alternatively opened or closed for torque transmission.

[0029] Here, the clutch device 13 is configured to transmit a torque generated by the electric machine 11, axially parallel, alternatively to a first working device 14, to a second working device 15, or to a further second or third working device 15a. In a first switching state of the clutch device 13, the first clutch K1 can be closed and the further clutches K2, K3 can be opened in order to transmit the torque from the rotor shaft 111 of the electric machine 11 to a drive shaft 114 of the first working device 14 and thus to the first working device 14. In a second switching state, the first and third clutches K1, K3 can be opened and the second clutch K2 can be closed, so that the torque can be transmitted, for example, by means of the intermediate shaft 112 to the second working device 15 or its drive shaft 115.In a third switching state, the first clutch K1 and the second clutch K2 can be disengaged, so that the torque can be transmitted to the third drive device 15a or its drive shaft 115a. Furthermore, a transmission ratio for the respective working device 14, 15, 15a can be provided, for example, by means of a respective transmission device i1, i2, i3, for example, a suitable gear pair and / or at least one belt transmission.

[0030] Fig. 3 shows a schematic representation of a third embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 according to the invention (not shown further here) with an electric machine 11 and a coupling device 13. The illustrated embodiment largely corresponds to the embodiment of Fig. 2, which is why only the differences will be discussed below.

[0031] In the present exemplary embodiment, the coupling device 13 has three clutches K1, K2, K3, each of which comprises or has at least one planetary stage, wherein the coupling device 13 transmits the torque generated by the electric machine 11 coaxially, alternatively to a first working device 14, to a second working device 15 or to a further second or third working device 15a. The first clutch K1 is arranged on the rotor shaft 111 of the electric machine and is closed in a first switching state of the coupling device 13 and can transmit the torque of the electric machine to the first working device 14, in particular via a transmission provided by the planetary stage. In this case, the further clutches K2, K3 of the coupling device 13 are open.

[0032] In further switching states of the coupling device, the second clutch K2 can be closed and the second working device 15 or the third clutch K3 can be closed to transmit the torque to a third working device 15a. In this case, the remaining clutches K1, K3 or K1, K2 are open, so that no torque transmission is possible.

[0033] Fig. Fig. 4 shows a schematic representation of a fourth embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 according to the invention (not shown further here) with an electric machine 11 and a coupling device 13. The illustrated embodiment largely corresponds to the embodiments of Fig. 2 or Fig. 3, which is why only the differences will be discussed below.

[0034] In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling device 13 is designed for the coaxial connection of the first and second working devices 14, 15 and has two clutches K1, K2. In a first switching state of the coupling device 13, the first clutch K1 can be closed in order to transmit the torque of the electric machine 11 to the first working device 14 via the rotor shaft 111. The second clutch K2 is open in this case. In a second switching state of the coupling device 13, the second clutch K2 can be closed in order to transmit the torque of the electric machine to the second working device 15, wherein the first clutch K1 is open.

[0035] Fig. Figure 5 shows a schematic representation of a fifth embodiment of a motor vehicle 10 according to the invention (not shown further here) with an electric machine 11 and a coupling device 13. The illustrated embodiment largely corresponds to the embodiments of Fig. 2, Fig. 3 or Fig. 4, which is why only the differences will be discussed below.

[0036] In the illustrated embodiment, the coupling device 13 has a coupling K1 which is designed to enable a coaxial connection of the second working devices 15 and 15a and, alternatively, to enable an axis-parallel connection for the first working device 14.

[0037] Fig. 6 shows a schematic flow diagram of a method 100 according to the invention for operating a motor vehicle 10 according to an embodiment of the present invention.

[0038] In a first step a, an electric machine 11 of the motor vehicle 10 is operated to generate a torque. The electric machine 11 can be, for example, a drive motor of the motor vehicle 10 or another electric motor. In a further step b, the generated torque is provided to a first working device 14 by means of a coupling device 13 in a first switching state in order to operate the first working device 14.

[0039] In a further step c, the coupling device 13 is switched to a second switching state in which the torque generated is provided by means of the coupling device 13 to at least one second working device 15. During switching, for example, clutches K1, K2, K3 can be alternately opened or closed in order to change a torque transmission path. In this case, the torque is always provided exclusively to one of the working devices 14, 15, 15a. Because at least two working devices 14, 15, 15a can be operated alternately by means of an electric machine 11, the utilization of power provided or that can be provided by the electric machine can be improved and / or the number of electric machines 11 and / or voltage converters required to operate working devices 14, 15, 15a or auxiliary units can be reduced. LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS 10 motor vehicle 11 electric machine 12 traction battery 13 Coupling device 14 first work facility 15 second work facility 15a third work facility 16 gearboxes 17 vehicle axle 18 wheel 100 procedures 111 Rotor shaft of the electric machine 112 intermediate shaft 113 Output shaft 114 Drive shaft of the first working device 115 Drive shaft of the second working device 115a Drive shaft of the third working device 161 Gearbox transmission device 162 Gearbox transmission device a - c steps i1 Translation device of the coupling device i2 Translation device of the coupling device i3 Translation device of the coupling device K1 clutch K2 Clutch K3 Clutch

Claims

[1] Motor vehicle (10), comprising at least one electric machine (11), wherein the electric machine (11) is configured to generate a torque, and a coupling device (13) which is configured to supply the torque generated by the electric machine (11) to a first working device (14) and alternatively to at least one second working device (15). [2] Motor vehicle (10) according to claim 1, wherein the coupling device (13) is designed to connect the first working device (14) and / or the at least one second working device (15) coaxially to the electric machine (11). [3] Motor vehicle (10) according to claim 1 or 2, wherein the coupling device (13) is designed to connect the first working device (14) and / or the at least one second working device (15) to the electric machine (11) in an axially parallel manner. [4] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling device (13) has at least one planetary stage. [5] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling device (13) has at least one gear pair. [6] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the coupling device (13) has at least one belt transmission. [7] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the first working device (14) is a vehicle axle (17) of the motor vehicle (10). [8] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the electric machine (11) is a secondary drive machine of an all-wheel drive of the motor vehicle (10). [9] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second working device (15) is a refrigerant compressor. [10] Motor vehicle (10) according to one of the preceding claims, wherein the second working device (15) is a coolant pump. [11] Method (100) for operating a motor vehicle (10) comprising the following steps: a) operating an electric machine (11) of the motor vehicle (10) to generate a torque; b) providing the generated torque to a first working device (14) by means of a coupling device (13) in a first switching state; and c) switching the coupling device (13) into a second switching state in which the generated torque is provided by means of the coupling device (13) to at least one second working device (15).

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