Integrated driver machine comprising overhung gearbox

Abstract

The present disclosure relates to an electric machine (M) for operating one or more devices in industrial and energy applications, such as petrochemical, refinery, oil and gas. The electric machine (M) comprises an electric motor (11) configured to provide a mechanical output to drive a driven machine (5), a first frame (10) configured to house the electric motor (11), a transmission (2), which in turn comprises a first shaft (21) mechanically connected to the electric motor (11) and protruding from the first frame (10), and a gearbox (20) mechanically connected to the first shaft (21) and to a second shaft (22), such that the gearbox (20) is arranged between the first shaft (21) and the second shaft (22), wherein the second shaft (22) is mechanically connected to the driven machine (5). The gearbox (20) is arranged within a second frame (30), wherein the second frame (30) abuts the first frame (10), such that the gearbox (20) cantilevers from the first frame (10), wherein the first shaft (21) rigidly connects the electric motor (11) to an input shaft of the gearbox (20), wherein the gearbox (20) comprises a gearbox architecture having at least one sun gear (S), a ring gear (R), and a plurality of planet gears (P), wherein the plurality of planet gears (P) is installed on a carrier (C), and wherein the gearbox architecture defines the transmission (2) at which the mechanical output drives the driven machine (5). The gearbox (20) is configured to assume a first, or a second configuration to determine a gear ratio of the 20 transmission (2), wherein, in the first configuration, the carrier (C) is fixed to the second frame (30) such that the ring gear (R) is free of rotating around the input shaft of the gearbox (20), and wherein, in the second configuration, the ring gear (R) is fixed to the second frame (30) such that the carrier (C) is free of rotating around the input shaft of the gearbox (20). 25 The present disclosure also relates to a method for controlling the electric machine (M) and the technical means to run said method.

Description

Integrated Driver Machine comprising Overhung GearboxDescriptionTECHNICAL FIELD

[0001] The present disclosure concerns an overhung gearbox and an electrical machine integrated driver which comprises said overhung gearbox.

[0002] The present invention pertains to the field of electric machines, particularly those used for operating devices in industrial application, e.g., petrochemical, refinery, or oil and gas factories. More specifically, the invention relates to an electric machine that comprises an integrated driving unit to drive a load, housed within a frame. The invention can be part of various systems, including those in oil and gas factories, and can utilize a controller for efficient operations of the electrical machine and / or the overhung gearbox integrated therein.

[0003] The subject matter disclosed herein also refers to an electrical machine driven by a driver to which the latter is integrated.

[0004] The subject matter disclosed herein also refers to a method for controlling the operations of the driver-driven electrical machine.

[0005] The subject matter disclosed herein also refers to a controller comprising a processor to execute the above method.

[0006] The subject matter disclosed herein also refers to a computer program product comprising one or more instructions that when executed by the processor, causes the processor to perform the above method.BACKGROUND ART

[0007] Known systems for operating oil and gas factories, such as oil and gas, refinery, or petrochemical, provide electrical motors arranged on the ground or on baseplate pedestals, wherein a speed ratio gear box is parallelly fixed to each motor. The speed ratio gear box is arranged in a separate case, wherein the latter is usually anchored individually on baseplate pedestals.

[0008] However, this arrangement of electrical motors and parallel speed ratio gear boxes leads to several drawbacks. One of the main constraints thereof is a large footprint that is greater than the summation of the footprint of the motor and of the footprint of the gearbox. In fact, other components are required to couple the motor and the gearbox, increasing the footprint of the assembly.

[0009] Furthermore, the parallel arrangement implies an offset on the shaft line axis of the electrical motor. In fact, in common cases, the lateral footprint of a gearbox does not coincide with the lateral footprint of the electrical motor to which is connected, and therefore the connection is characterized by a misalignment of the respective axis. More in detail, the arrangement of current oil and gas factories deals with a distance between the center of the electrical motor and the center of the gear box, caused by the relative arrangement of a couple of wheels, which are required to actuate the gear box. The arrangement of the wheels implies a horizontal offset when the wheels are arranged one facing each other on the same horizontal level, or a vertical offset when a wheel leans on the other.

[0010] In addition, connecting the electrical motor to a speed ratio gearbox arranged such as to enlarge the axis on which the electrical motor is arranged increases the footprint, and therefore causes a high inertia of the system. A high inertia is a limitation for the system that implies a prolonged startup of the electrical motor and a relatively lengthy acceleration period before the electric motor achieves normal operating speed. This drawback is both due to the intrinsic inertia of the motor, and the whole inertia of the system.

[0011] Additional drawbacks relate to constraints on parallel shaft configuration, due to unbalanced meshing forces on upper mesh side. This unbalance may cause high reaction forces on bearing making in some case these components to be the limiting factor.

[0012] Additional drawbacks are the impacts that the bearings size will generate on auxiliary equipment such as pump, tank size pipeline diameter, and valves associated thereto.

[0013] Still a drawback of this arrangement is showed as an excessive weight that is intrinsically related to the inertia and as such compromises the performance of theelectrical motor. In fact, the mechanical torsional-vibrations impact the electrical motor behavior and the external load determines a transient response thereof. In particular, bigger is the inertia of rotating equipment coupled to the electric motor and more critical are the torsional vibration phenomena during the transient operations like startup, emergency stops or electric malfunctions.

[0014] The relevant prior art comprises the patent applications US 2024 / 125375 Al, DE 102018204200 Al, CN 116428317 A, and CN 102454752 A.

[0015] It appears advantageous the need to overcome the above limitations to the existing electrical machinery in order to increase the potential of such systems and to reduce the overall inertia and to allow high-speed conversion rates required for electrical machines of an oil and gas factory, or any other industrial applications.

[0016] Particularly, it appears beneficial to enhance the design and monitoring of gearboxes operating under stationary and nonstationary conditions, to provide dynamic behavior of a drive gear set that interacts with driver-driven electrical machines.SUMMARY

[0017] Certain aspects commensurate in scope with the originally claimed disclosure are summarized below. These aspects are not intended to limit the scope of the claimed disclosure, but rather these aspects are intended only to provide a brief summary of possible forms of the disclosure. Indeed, the full disclosure may encompass a variety of forms that may be similar to or different from the aspects set forth below.

[0018] In one aspect, the subject matter disclosed herein is directed to an electric machine for operating one or more devices in industrial and energy applications, such as petrochemical, refinery, oil and gas. The electric machine comprises a first frame housing a driving unit configured to provide a mechanical output to drive a driven machine, and a transmission, which in turn comprises a first shaft mechanically connected to the driving unit and protruding from the first frame, and a gearbox mechanically connected to the first shaft.

[0019] Further, the gearbox connects a second shaft, such that the gearbox is arranged between the first shaft and the second shaft, which is mechanically connectedto the driven machine.

[0020] The gearbox is arranged within a second frame wherein the second frame facing against the first frame, such that the gearbox cantilevers from the first frame.

[0021] The gearbox comprises a gearbox architecture having at least one sun gear, a ring gear, and a plurality of planet gears.

[0022] The plurality of planet gears is installed on a carrier, and the gearbox architecture is configured to define the transmission at which the mechanical output drives the driven machine.

[0023] In a further aspect, the subject matter disclosed refers to a computer- implemented method for controlling an electric machine. The method comprises defining an electrical input of a driving unit of the electric machine, and controlling the operations of the electrical machine.BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0024] A more complete appreciation of the disclosed embodiments of the invention and many of the attendant advantages thereof will be readily obtained as the same becomes better understood by reference to the following detailed description when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, wherein:Figure 1 is a side view of an electric machine for operating one or more devices, according to the present invention;Figure 2 is a top view of an electric machine for operating one or more devices, according to the present invention;Figure 3 is a perspective view of an embodiment of a gearbox architecture according to the present invention;Figure 4 is a schematic view of an arrangement of a gearbox architecture, according to an embodiment of the invention;Figure 5 is a prospective view of an electric machine coupled to a gearbox, comprised of the prior art; andFigure 6 is schematic side view of the main components of a known electric machine coupled to a gearbox, comprised in the prior art.DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS

[0025] The present disclosure concerns an electric machine M for operating one or more devices in industrial and energy applications, such as petrochemical, refinery, oil and gas.

[0026] Referring to Fig. 1, it is illustrated an electric machine M for operating one or more devices in industrial and energy applications, such as petrochemical, refinery, oil and gas.

[0027] The electric machine M comprises a driving unit 11 (not shown in Fig. 1) configured to provide a mechanical output to drive a driven machine 5.

[0028] The driving unit 11 is housed within a first frame 10, ensuring structural integrity and alignment of the internal components.

[0029] The electric machine M comprises a transmission 2 mechanism, which converts and transfers the mechanical output from the driving unit 11 to the driven machine 5. This transmission 2 comprises a first shaft 21 that mechanically connects the driving unit 11 and extends outwardly from the first frame 10. Attached to this first shaft 21 is a gearbox 20 that is mechanically interconnected with a second shaft 22, forming a sequential link. The gearbox 20 is arranged between the first shaft 21 and the second shaft 22, and the second shaft 22 in turn mechanically links to the driven machine 5.

[0030] As it is shown in Fig. 2, in some embodiments the first 21 and the second 22 shafts are arranged along an axis passing through the driving unit 11 and the driven machine 5, e.g., the centerline thereof.

[0031] Other arrangements of the shafts, preferably parallel to each other, are employed in other embodiments.

[0032] The gearbox 20 is housed within a second frame 30, which abuts the first frame 10. This configuration allows the gearbox 20 to cantilever from the first frame10, providing stability and support while enabling efficient mechanical transmission.

[0033] Fig. 1 shows that the first frame 10 is arranged on a baseplate pedestal 100 that spaces away the electric motor M from the ground. The overhung arrangement has the benefit that the second frame 30 cantilevers from the first frame 10 without the need of a further pedestal. This arrangement reduces the overall footprint of the electrical motor M.

[0034] A difference with respect to the prior art is shown in Fig. 5 and Fig.6 that respectively show both the driving unit and the gearbox (namely their frames 10pand 30p) arranged on the baseplate , and each on a pedestal 100p.

[0035] Fig. 6 also shows that a protective cover 210pis arranged around an output 2 lpof the driving unit. Such additional protective cover and the shaft arranged therein cause a horizontal offset ho between frames 10pof the driving unit and 30pof the gearbox. Additionally, the centerline of the driving unit of and the centerline of the gearbox are at different height with respect to the baseplate, therefore provoking a further vertical offset vo between the shaft of the driving unit and the shaft of the gearbox.

[0036] Some embodiments provide with the first frame 10 arranged on the baseplate. Since the second frame 30 cantilevers with respect to the first frame 10, the area of the baseplate required to allocate all the components of the electric machine M is reduced with respect to known arrangements in the fields of petrochemical, refinery, or oil and gas applications.

[0037] The gearbox 20 comprises a gearbox architecture having at least one sun gear S, a ring gear R, and a plurality of planet gears P installed on a carrier C. This gearbox architecture defines the transmission 2 mechanism, facilitating the drive of the driven machine 5 by translating the mechanical output from the driving unit 11.

[0038] Fig. 3 shows that the gearbox 20 comprises a planetary gear setup having one sun gear S, a ring gear R, and three planet gears Pi, P2, P3, wherein the plurality of planet gears Pi, P2, P3 is installed on a carrier C. The gearbox architecture defines the transmission 2 at which the mechanical output drives the driven machine 5.

[0039] Other embodiments may provide different epicyclic gear setup, e.g., anepicyclic gear train star configuration. A skilled person may understand that in the star arrangement the carrier usually is fixed, and the relative speeds of the sun, planet, and ring are simply determined by the speed of one member and the number of teeth in each gear, while in a planetary arrangement the ring gear usually is fixed, and planets orbit the sun while rotating on the planet shaft. The ring gear R may be understood by the skilled person as an outer ring, e.g., having inward-facing teeth that mesh with the planetary gears.

[0040] Fig. 4 shows another embodiment of the gearbox 20, having two planet gears, Pi, P2 orbiting around a single sun gear S. A sleeve 220 is shown around an input shaft of the gearbox 20, and it is designed to fit over said input shaft. The input shaft of gearbox 20 preferably is linked to the first shaft 21 as detailed below.

[0041] Particularly, fig. 4 shows a planetary configuration, wherein an outer ring, e.g., a ring gear R, or an anulus, is fixed or registered to the frame 30, while the carrier C is linked to the driving unit 11, which denotes the so called “slow shaft”, and the sun gear S is linked to the driven machine 5, e.g., to a compressor, making the so called “fast shaft”.

[0042] As stated above, other epicyclic setups may be provided. In particular, the star setup provides an anulus or the ring gear R linked to the driving unit 11, denoting the so called “slow shaft”, while the sun gear S is linked to the driven machine 5, e.g., a compressor, denoting the so called “fast shaft”.

[0043] The first shaft 21 rigidly connects the driving unit 11 to the gearbox 20. It can feature various end configurations, such as a flanged shaft end, splined shaft end, cylindrical keyed hub, hirth joint, or a tapered conical hub transmitting torque by friction, ensuring compatibility and robust coupling with the gearbox 20.

[0044] Some embodiments provide flexible coupling members mated by flanged, or splined shaft to prevent or avoid an angular, or an axial decoupling. In this way, the risk of mismatch between the driving unit 11 and the gearbox 20 is prevented.

[0045] Similarly, the second shaft 22 connects the driven machine 5 to the gearbox 20 and can also feature similar end configurations for versatile coupling, such as a flanged shaft end, splined shaft end, cylindrical keyed hub, hirth joint, or taperedconical hub transmitting torque by friction.

[0046] Some embodiments provide an additional coupling member 4 between the driving unit 11 and the gearbox 20, allowing for rotational flexibility of at least one gear S, R, P, C of the gearbox architecture around the first shaft 21. The coupling member 4 may comprise elements like an elastic spine, coiled spring pin, dog clutch, split pin, diaphragm, geared member, or flexible member, providing mechanical resilience and adaptability.

[0047] The gearbox 20 is designed to adopt multiple configurations to determine the gear ratio of the transmission 2.

[0048] In a first configuration, the carrier C is fixed to the second frame 30, allowing the ring gear R to rotate freely around the input shaft of the gearbox 20.

[0049] In a second configuration, the ring gear R is fixed to the second frame 30, allowing the carrier C to rotate freely around the input shaft of the gearbox 20. The carrier C may feature an annular sleeve positioned circumferentially about the first shaft 21, enhancing mechanical engagement and stability.

[0050] The driving unit 11 of the electric machine M is typically an electric motor, providing efficient and reliable mechanical power. The driven machine 5 can be a centrifugal compressor, an alternative compressor, or a pump, demonstrating the machine's versatility in various industrial applications.

[0051] The transmission 2 can be configured for a fixed speed ratio, ensuring consistent and predictable mechanical performance. Additionally, the electric machine M may comprise at least one controller U to regulate the electrical input of the driving unit 11, optimizing performance and energy efficiency.

[0052] Within the present disclosure the expressions speed ratio gear box and gearbox are used with the same meaning unless otherwise indicated.

[0053] Some embodiments may comprise a transmission 2’ configured to be a continuous variable transmission.

[0054] Advantageously, the continuous variable transmission 2’ is configured tomodulate or determine the driving power output of the driving unit 11 to drive the driven machine 5, or any generic loads. This allows the electric machine M to be adapted to drive various loads with different power requirements by modulating the gear ratio of the transmission 2’.

[0055] In those embodiments provided with a continuous variable transmission 2’, the gearbox architecture provides a compact and efficient means of modulating, or adjusting the gear ratio between the driving unit 11 and the driven machine 5.

[0056] Further, in those embodiments with a continuous variable transmission, the controller U is also configured to control the architecture of the gearbox 20 to determine the gear ratio of the transmission 2’. In detail, the carrier C is configured to assume a first, a second, or a third configuration to determine a gear ratio of the transmission 2’, wherein in the first configuration the carrier C engages the at least one sun gear S, in the second configuration the carrier C engages the ring gear R; and in the third configuration the carrier C engages a planet gear Pi, P2, P3, P4, P5... , Pn of the plurality of planet gears P.

[0057] Independently from the kind of transmission 2, 2’ employed, the first shaft 21 and the second shaft 22 can be arranged along either parallel axes or the same axis, providing flexibility in design and application.

[0058] Furthermore, the transmission 2 may comprise mechanical pumps, power take-offs, or other control means capable of influencing the driven machine 5, expanding its functional scope.

[0059] Other control means may comprise auxiliary power take-offs and / or devices having low speed turning gear managed by a clutch.

[0060] To enhance operational safety and durability, the electric machine M may also comprise protective means to decouple the driven machine 5 from the transmission 2, preventing damage under adverse conditions.

[0061] Some embodiments comprise additional features that provide breakaway sections to protect the transmission 2, 2’ from over torque, friction clutches or hydraulic, mechanical, or electromechanical clutches for load decoupling.

[0062] In addition to the structural elements, a computer-implemented method at the controller U of the integrated driver-driven electric machine M is employed for controlling the machine. This method involves defining the electrical input of the driving unit 11 and control the machine's operations, including lubrication management for the gearbox 20. Monitoring the amount of lubricant and sending signals for adjustments based on real-time data ensures optimal lubrication and maintenance.

[0063] In those examples in which the transmission 2’ is configured to be a continuous variable transmission, the method comprises the step of controlling the architecture of the gearbox 20 to determine a gear ratio of the transmission 2’.

[0064] In particular, the method may provide the control of a plurality of configuration of the carrier C, wherein each configuration determines a gear ratio of the transmission 2’. When the gearbox architecture is in a first configuration, the carrier C engages the at least one sun gear S. To modify the gear ratio, the method may comprise the step of modifying the configuration of the gearbox architecture from the first configuration to a second configuration, in which the carrier C engages the ring gear R. The change of the configuration may be reversible, giving great flexibility based on the optimal gear ratio required.

[0065] The method may also provide the step of switching to (and from) a third configuration, in which the carrier C engages a planet gear Pi, P2, P3, P4, P5. . ., Pn of the plurality of planet gears P.

[0066] Therefore, the controller U may adjust the arrangement of the gearbox 20 to optimize the gear ratio of continuous variable transmissions, providing for efficient machine performance.

[0067] The method also monitors the lubricant levels necessary for the smooth operation of the gearbox 20 and communicating with the electric machine M or the operator to adjust these levels as required, ensuring long-term operational efficiency and reduced wear and tear.

[0068] A controller U equipped with a processor is programmed to carry out these methods, facilitated by a computer program product comprising instructions forexecution by the processor. The program is stored on a computer-readable medium, enabling seamless implementation and control of the electric machine M.

[0069] The controller U can be implemented within various digital platforms, such as microprocessors or FPGA (Field Programmable Gate Array) devices. As known the function of the controller U is to execute instructions to implement an algorithm passed.

[0070] For FPGA implementations, the logic can be reconfigured using hardware description languages like VHDL or Verilog. This provides users the ability to program the controller U to meet specific application requirements, without the need for significant hardware changes.

[0071] The controller U can comprise also standard communication interfaces, such as SPI (Serial Peripheral Interface) or I2C (Inter-Integrated Circuit), to facilitate easy communication with other digital parts.

[0072] While aspects of the invention have been described in terms of various specific embodiments, it will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art that many modifications, changes, and omissions are possible without departing form the spirit and scope of the claims. In addition, unless specified otherwise herein, the order or sequence of any process or method steps may be varied or re-sequenced according to alternative embodiments.

[0073] The subject matter described herein can be implemented in digital electronic circuitry, or in computer software, firmware, or hardware, including the structural means disclosed in this specification and structural equivalents thereof, or in combinations of them. The subject matter described herein can be implemented as one or more computer program products, such as one or more computer programs tangibly embodied in an information carrier (e.g., in a machine-readable storage device), or embodied in a propagated signal, for execution by, or to control the operation of, data processing apparatus (e.g., a programmable processor, a computer, or multiple computers). A computer program (also known as a program, software, software application, or code) can be written in any form of programming language, including compiled or interpreted languages, and it can be deployed in any form, including as a stand-alone program or as a module, component, subroutine, or other unit suitable foruse in a computing environment. A computer program does not necessarily correspond to a file. A program can be stored in a portion of a file that holds other programs or data, in a single file dedicated to the program in question, or in multiple coordinated files (e.g., files that store one or more modules, sub-programs, or portions of code). A computer program can be deployed to be executed on one computer or on multiple computers at one site or distributed across multiple sites and interconnected by a communication network.

[0074] The processes and logic flows described in this specification, including the method steps of the subject matter described herein, can be performed by one or more programmable processors executing one or more computer programs to perform functions of the subject matter described herein by operating on input data and generating output. The processes and logic flows can also be performed by, and apparatus of the subject matter described herein can be implemented as, special purpose logic circuitry, e.g., an FPGA (field programmable gate array) or an ASIC (application-specific integrated circuit).

[0075] Processors suitable for the execution of a computer program include, by way of example, both general and special purpose microprocessors, and any one or more processor of any kind of digital computer. Generally, a processor will receive instructions and data from a read-only memory or a random access memory or both. The essential elements of a computer are a processor for executing instructions and one or more memory devices for storing instructions and data. Generally, a computer will also include, or be operatively coupled to receive data from or transfer data to, or both, one or more mass storage devices for storing data, e.g., magnetic, magneto-optical disks, or optical disks. Information carriers suitable for embodying computer program instructions and data include all forms of non-volatile memory, including by way of example semiconductor memory devices, (e.g., EPROM, EEPROM, and flash memory devices); magnetic disks, (e.g., internal hard disks or removable disks); magneto-optical disks; and optical disks (e.g., CD and DVD disks). The processor and the memory can be supplemented by, or incorporated in, special purpose logic circuitry.

[0076] To provide for interaction with a user, the subject matter described herein can be implemented on a computer having a display device, e.g., a CRT (cathode ray tube)or LCD (liquid crystal display) monitor, for displaying information to the user and a keyboard and a pointing device, (e.g., a mouse or a trackball), by which the user can provide input to the computer. Other kinds of devices can be used to provide for interaction with a user as well. For example, feedback provided to the user can be any form of sensory feedback, (e.g., visual feedback, auditory feedback, or tactile feedback), and input from the user can be received in any form, including acoustic, speech, or tactile input.

[0077] The techniques described herein can be implemented using one or more modules. As used herein, the term “module” refers to computing software, firmware, hardware, and / or various combinations thereof. At a minimum, however, modules are not to be interpreted as software that is not implemented on hardware, firmware, or recorded on a non-transitory processor readable recordable storage medium (i.e., modules are not software per se). Indeed “module” is to be interpreted to always include at least some physical, non-transitory hardware such as a part of a processor or computer. Two different modules can share the same physical hardware (e.g., two different modules can use the same processor and network interface). The modules described herein can be combined, integrated, separated, and / or duplicated to support various applications. Also, a function described herein as being performed at a particular module can be performed at one or more other modules and / or by one or more other devices instead of or in addition to the function performed at the particular module. Further, the modules can be implemented across multiple devices and / or other components local or remote to one another. Additionally, the modules can be moved from one device and added to another device, and / or can be included in both devices.

[0078] The subj ect matter described herein can be implemented in a computing system that includes a back-end component (e.g., a data server), a middleware component (e.g., an application server), or a front-end component (e.g., a client computer having a graphical user interface or a web browser through which a user can interact with an implementation of the subject matter described herein), or any combination of such back-end, middleware, and front-end components. The components of the system can be interconnected by any form or medium of digital data communication, e.g., a communication network. Examples of communication networks include a local area network (“LAN”) and a wide area network (“WAN”), e.g., the Internet.

[0079] Reference has been made in detail to the embodiments of the disclosure, one or more examples of which are illustrated in the drawings. Each example is provided by way of explanation of the disclosure, not limitation of the disclosure. In fact, it will be apparent to those skilled in the art that various modifications and variations can be made in the present disclosure without departing from the scope or spirit of the disclosure. Reference throughout the specification to "one embodiment" or "an embodiment" or “some embodiments” means that the particular feature, structure or characteristic described in connection with an embodiment is included in at least one embodiment of the subject matter disclosed. Thus, the appearance of the phrase "in one embodiment" or "in an embodiment" or "in some embodiments" in various places throughout the specification is not necessarily referring to the same embodiment s). Further, the particular features, structures or characteristics may be combined in any suitable manner in one or more embodiments.

[0080] When elements of various embodiments are introduced, the articles “a”, “an”, “the”, and “said” are intended to mean that there are one or more of the elements. The terms “comprising”, “including”, and “having” are intended to be inclusive and mean that there may be additional elements other than the listed elements.

Claims

CLAIMS1. An electric machine (M) for operating one or more devices in industrial and energy applications, such as petrochemical, refinery, oil and gas, the electric machine (M) comprising: an electric motor (11) configured to provide a mechanical output to drive a driven machine (5); a first frame (10) configured to house the electric motor (11); a transmission (2), which in turn comprises a first shaft (21) mechanically connected to the electric motor (11) and protruding from the first frame (10), and a gearbox (20) mechanically connected to the first shaft (21) and to a second shaft (22), such that the gearbox (20) is arranged between the first shaft (21) and the second shaft (22), wherein the second shaft (22) is mechanically connected to the driven machine (5); wherein the electric machine (M) is characterized: in that the gearbox (20) is arranged within a second frame (30), wherein the second frame (30) abuts the first frame (10), such that the gearbox (20) cantilevers from the first frame (10), wherein the first shaft (21) rigidly connects the electric motor (11) to an input shaft of the gearbox (20); in that the gearbox (20) comprises a gearbox architecture having at least one sun gear (S), a ring gear (R), and a plurality of planet gears (P), wherein the plurality of planet gears (P) is installed on a carrier (C); in that the gearbox architecture defines the transmission (2) at which the mechanical output drives the driven machine (5); and in that the gearbox (20) is configured to assume a first, or a second configuration to determine a gear ratio of the transmission (2), wherein: in the first configuration, the carrier (C) is fixed to the second frame (30) such that the ring gear (R) is free of rotating around the input shaft of the gearbox (20); and in the second configuration, the ring gear (R) is fixed to the second frame (30) such that the carrier (C) is free of rotating around the input shaftof the gearbox (20).

2. The electric machine (M) of the preceding claim, wherein the first shaft (21) comprises one or more of a flanged shaft end, a splined shaft end, a cylindrical keyed hub, a hirth joint, a tapered conical hub transmitting torque by friction, or other mechanism, to rotatably couple the input shaft of the gearbox (20).

3. The electric machine (M) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second shaft (22) rigidly connects the driven machine (5) to an output shaft of the gearbox (20).

4. The electric machine (M) of the preceding claim, wherein the second shaft (22) comprises one or more of a flanged shaft end, a splined shaft end, a cylindrical keyed hub, a hirth joint, a tapered conical hub transmitting torque by friction, or other mechanism, to rotatably couple the output shaft of the gearbox (20).

5. The electrical machine (M) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first shaft (21) comprises a coupling member (4) between the electric motor (11) and the gearbox (20) such that at least one gear (S, R, P, C) of the gearbox architecture rotates relatively to the electric motor (11) around the first shaft (21).

6. The electric machine (M) of the preceding claim, wherein the coupling member(4) comprises an elastic spine, a coiled spring pin, a dog clutch, a split pin, a diaphragm, a disc, a geared member, or another flexible member.

7. The electrical machine (M) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the second shaft (22) comprises a flexible coupling member to connect the driven machine(5) to an output shaft of the gearbox (20).

8. The electric machine (M) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the carrier (C) comprises an annular sleeve positioned circumferentially about the first shaft (21).

9. The electric machine (M) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the driven machine (5) is a centrifugal compressor, an alternative compressor, or a pump.

10. The electric machine (M) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission (2) is configured to be a fixed speed ratio transmission.

11. The electric machine (M) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising at least one controller (U) configured to control an electrical input of the electric motor (11).

12. The electric machine (M) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the first shaft (21) and second shaft (22) are arranged along a first axis.

13. The electric machine (M) of any one of claims 1-11, wherein the first shaft (21) is arranged along a first axis, and the second shaft (22) is arranged along a second axis parallel to the first axis.

14. The electric machine (M) of any one of the preceding claims, wherein the transmission (2) comprises at least one mechanical pump, a power take-off, or other control means capable of acting on the driven machine (5).

15. The electric machine (M) of any one of the preceding claims, further comprising protective means to prevent the transmission (2) by decoupling the driven machine (5).

16. A computer-implemented method, at a controller (U) of an integrated driver- driven electric machine according to any one of claims 1-15, for controlling the driver- driven electric machine, the method comprising: defining an electrical input of the electric motor (11); and controlling the operations of the electrical machine (M).

17. The computer-implemented method of the preceding claim, wherein controlling the operations of the electric machine (M) comprises lubricating the gearbox (20), monitoring an amount of lubricant to lubricate the gearbox (20), and sending a signal to the electric machine (M), and / or to an operator, for adjusting the amount of lubricant based on the monitoring.

18. A controller (U) comprising a processor for carrying out the method of claim 16 or 17.

19. A computer program product comprising instructions which, when the program is executed by a processor, cause the processor to carry out the method of claim 16 or 17.

20. A computer-readable medium having stored thereon the computer program product of claim 19.

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