Driven rigid axle with one axle housing for a vehicle

Abstract

A driven rigid axle with an axle housing (2) for a vehicle for receiving at least one electric machine (8) and with first and second axle tubes (3, 4) arranged on axial sides of the axle housing (2) for receiving output shafts (5, 6), wherein the axle housing (2) is designed as a clamping body located in contact with a first axle tube (3) and attached to a second axle tube (4) via clamping means, characterized in that a support body (7) is arranged axially between the first axle tube (3) and the second axle tube (4), wherein the axle housing (2) is designed in a sleeve-like form and wherein a first axial end of the axle housing (2) has a radially inwardly directed contact edge (9), wherein a second axial end of the axle housing (2) has the clamping means and the contact edge (9) of the axle housing (2) engages behind the associated end of the first axle tube (3) for clamping.

Description

[0001] The present invention relates to a driven rigid axle with an axle housing for a vehicle for receiving at least one electric machine and with axle tubes provided on axial sides of the axle housing for receiving the output shafts.

[0002] From the generic publication DE 10 2022 208 254 A1, a cooling arrangement for cooling electric machines in an axle housing of a hybrid vehicle or an electrically powered vehicle is known. The electric machines arranged in the axle housing are coupled to two output shafts of the vehicle via an axle differential. The two output shafts each run through axle tubes, which are axially bolted to the axle housing.

[0003] Consequently, the two axle tubes arranged axially on the axle housing, along with their associated output shafts, are each attached to the axle housing via a bolted connection. This necessitates complex bolted flange connections on each axial side of the axle housing, negatively impacting manufacturing and assembly costs as well as weight. Furthermore, the required installation space is also increased due to the necessary flange thickness.

[0004] Document DE 10 2011 056 579 A1 discloses a modular system for drive axles with a hydrostatic drive or an electric drive for vehicles, in particular industrial trucks, with the following features: an electric axle housing designed for the installation of an electric motor unit of an electric drive, and a hydraulic axle housing designed for the structure-noise-decoupled installation of a hydraulic motor unit of a hydrostatic drive, wherein the electric axle housing and the hydraulic axle housing have essentially geometrically identical mounting flanges for rigid connection to a vehicle body of the vehicle.

[0005] Document DE 10 2011 079 157 A1 shows a transmission device with at least one electric motor for generating a drive torque for a vehicle, with a housing for receiving the electric motor, with a cooling ring for the electric motor, wherein the cooling ring is arranged between the electric motor and the housing and forms cooling channels together with the housing, with a bearing plate for the electric motor, wherein the bearing plate is screwed to the cooling ring via a plurality of first screw connections arranged within a first pitch circle diameter range, and to the housing via a plurality of second screw connections arranged within a second pitch circle diameter range.

[0006] The present invention is based on the objective of proposing a driven rigid axle with an axle housing for receiving at least one electric machine and a vehicle with the driven rigid axle, in which the manufacturing and assembly costs as well as the weight and the installation space requirement are minimized.

[0007] This problem is solved according to the invention by the features of claim 1 or 10. Advantageous and claimed embodiments are described in the dependent claims, the description, and the drawings.

[0008] Thus, a driven rigid axle is proposed, comprising an axle housing for accommodating at least one electric motor and axle tubes or axle tube housings provided on the axial sides of the axle housing or axle bridge housing for accommodating the output shafts. To minimize manufacturing and assembly costs, as well as weight and installation space requirements, the axle housing is designed as a clamping element resting against a first axle tube and attached to a second axle tube via clamping devices, and a support element is provided axially between the first and second axle tubes.

[0009] The proposed rigid axle results in an axle housing or axle bridge housing that requires only one screw connection on an axial side for axially clamping the two axle tubes or axle tube housings. The elimination of components such as an additional screw flange or similar parts reduces weight and assembly effort, leading to lower manufacturing costs and a smaller installation space. The axle housing, designed as a clamping element in conjunction with the support body between the two axle tubes, ensures optimal force transmission with reduced tensile stress on the axle tubes and the axle housing, thus securely fastening the axle tubes to the axle housing of the proposed driven rigid axle.

[0010] It is particularly advantageous if at least one component already located inside the clamping body serves as a support. This further reduces the number of required components, as at least one existing component is used for support between the axle tubes.

[0011] For example, it is conceivable that at least a section of a heat sink for cooling the electric machine and / or at least a section of the stator of the electric machine could be used as a support structure. It is also conceivable that other existing components could be used as support structures. However, the aforementioned components are particularly suitable because, radially speaking, they are located in the immediate vicinity of the two axle tubes to be supported inside the axle housing.

[0012] In the proposed driven rigid axle, a particularly simple, cost-saving and easy-to-assemble design of the clamping body is achieved by making the clamping body approximately sleeve-shaped, wherein a first axial end of the clamping body has a radially inwardly directed contact edge or the like, and wherein a second axial end of the clamping body has the clamping means with which the clamping body is attached to the associated axle tube.

[0013] To achieve clamping of the clamping body, which only has clamping means on one axial side, the contact edge of the clamping body can, for example, engage behind the corresponding end of the first axle tube for clamping. In this way, the clamping body is positively engaged behind one axle tube, while the clamping body is fastened to the opposite axle tube via the clamping means.

[0014] Fastening via clamping devices can be achieved in a cost-effective and space-saving manner, for example, by using a flange-type screw connection or the like as the clamping device.

[0015] For example, the screw connection can be achieved using an annular disc body or the like. The annular disc body has several screw elements or similar components arranged around its circumference for clamping.

[0016] In order to simultaneously achieve clamping and fastening via the screw connection between the clamping body and the associated axle tube, it is provided, for example, that the ring disc body rests against an edge of the associated end of the second axle tube facing away from the clamping body, and that the screw elements of the ring disc body can be fastened to the second axial end of the clamping body for clamping.

[0017] The proposed driven rigid axle offers a further advantage in that the clamping element additionally secures at least one component, fixed to the housing inside, axially between the two axle tubes. Thus, the clamping element fulfills an additional fastening function, thereby eliminating the need for other components.

[0018] The problem underlying the invention is also solved by a vehicle with at least one previously described driven rigid axle. This results in the advantages already described and further advantages.

[0019] The invention will be further explained below with reference to the drawings.

[0020] They show: Fig. 1 a cutaway partial view of a possible embodiment of a driven rigid axle according to the invention with an axle housing as a clamping body for clamping axle tubes provided on the axial sides of the clamping body; Fig. 2 a cutaway three-dimensional partial view of the driven rigid axle; and Fig. 3 a three-dimensional partial view of the driven rigid axle.

[0021] In the Fig. 1, Fig. 2 to Fig. Figure 3 shows various views of a possible embodiment of a rigid axle according to the invention, using a vehicle 1 as an example.

[0022] The rigid axle comprises a centrally arranged axle housing or axle bridge housing 2 for accommodating an electric machine 8 and axle tubes 3, 4 provided on the axial sides of the axle housing 2, each of which accommodates an associated output shaft 5, 6 for driving drive wheels, the output shafts 5, 6 being coupled to a rotor shaft of the electric machine 8 via an axle differential 14. The axle differential 14 is arranged in the second axle tube 4.

[0023] To minimize manufacturing and assembly costs, as well as weight and installation space requirements, of the proposed driven rigid axle, the axle housing 2 is designed as a clamping element located in contact with a first axle tube 3 and attached to a second axle tube 4 via clamping means. A support body 7 is provided axially between the first axle tube 3 and the second axle tube 4. The support body 7 is arranged axially inside the axle housing / clamping element 2 between the axle tubes 3 and 4 such that the clamping force acting on the axle tubes 3 and 4 during clamping by the axle housing 2 is supported by the support body 7.

[0024] During the Fig. 1 and Fig. In the embodiment shown in Figure 2, at least a portion of a heat sink already present in the axle housing 2 is used as a support body 7 to cool the electric machine 8. Therefore, no additional component is required as a support body 7.

[0025] The axle housing 2, designed as a clamping element, is approximately sleeve-shaped. A radially inwardly directed contact edge 9 is provided at a first axial end of the clamping element or axle housing 2. Due to its radially inwardly angled shape, the contact edge 9 engages behind the associated end of the first axle tube 3 and rests against an edge of the axle tube 3, almost like a clamping jaw.

[0026] The clamping means are provided at the second axial end of the clamping body or axle housing 2, opposite the first axial end. A flange-type screw connection 10 is provided as the clamping means. The screw connection 10 comprises an annular disc body 11, with several screw elements 12 arranged around the circumference of the annular disc body 11 for clamping.

[0027] The ring disc body 11 rests against an edge of the end of the second axle tube 4 facing away from the clamping body or the axle housing 2. The screw elements 12 of the ring disc body 11 can be attached to the second axial end of the clamping body or the axle housing 2 for clamping by screwing the screw elements into an associated thread or nut at the corresponding second axial end of the clamping body.

[0028] The support body 7, clamped between the two axle tubes 3, 4, allows other components provided inside the axle housing 2 to be held securely in the housing. For example, a bearing carrier 15 of a rotor shaft of the electric machine 8 is held between the support body 7 and the respective axle tube 3, 4.

[0029] Out of Fig. Figure 3 shows that on the driven rigid axle in the area of ​​the axle tubes 3, 4 fastenings 13 are provided, for example for attaching shock absorbers or the like. Reference sign 1 vehicle 2 axle housings 3. First axle tube for receiving a first output shaft 4. Second axle tube for accommodating a second output shaft 5 first output shaft 6 second output shaft 7 Support bodies as heat sinks for the electric machine 8 electric machine 9. Investment edge 10 screw bandages 11 ring disc bodies 12 screw elements 13 Fastening 14 axle differential 15 bearing supports

Claims

A driven rigid axle with an axle housing (2) for a vehicle for receiving at least one electric machine (8) and with first and second axle tubes (3, 4) arranged on axial sides of the axle housing (2) for receiving output shafts (5, 6), wherein the axle housing (2) is designed as a clamping body located in contact with a first axle tube (3) and attached to a second axle tube (4) via clamping means, characterized in that a support body (7) is arranged axially between the first axle tube (3) and the second axle tube (4), wherein the axle housing (2) is designed in a sleeve-like form and wherein a first axial end of the axle housing (2) has a radially inwardly directed contact edge (9), wherein a second axial end of the axle housing (2) has the clamping means and the contact edge (9) of the axle housing (2) engages behind the associated end of the first axle tube (3) for clamping. Driven rigid axle according to claim 1, characterized in that at least one component arranged inside the axle housing (2) is arranged as a support body (7). Driven rigid axle according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that at least a region of a heat sink and / or at least a region of a stator of the electric machine (8) is arranged as a support body (7). Driven rigid axle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that a flange-type screw connection (10) is used as a clamping device. Driven rigid axle according to claim 4, characterized in that the screw assembly (10) has an annular disk body (11), wherein several screw elements (12) for clamping are arranged on the annular disk body (11) distributed around the circumference. Driven rigid axle according to claim 5, characterized in that the ring disc body (11) abuts an edge of the end of the second axle tube (4) facing away from the axle housing (2), and that the screw elements (12) of the ring disc body (11) can be fastened to the second axial end of the axle housing (2) for clamping. Driven rigid axle according to one of the preceding claims, characterized in that the axle housing (2) has at least one component arranged inside which is fixed to the housing axially between the two axle tubes (3, 4). Vehicle (1) with at least one driven rigid axle according to one of the preceding claims.

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