E-Axle Drive Assembly With Adjustable Stop for Vibration-Free Clamping

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Solution Overview

Problem

Existing drive devices for electrified vehicle axles face challenges in simple assembly without component deformations, as operational vibrations and tolerance issues complicate the integration of electric machines, transmissions, and oil modules.

Innovation Solution

A drive device with a vibration-resistant, frame-shaped structural unit where the electric machine and coolant/lubricant module are flanged at an axial distance, featuring a radially projecting arm with a stroke-adjustable stop element and multiple screw points to reduce vibrations and allow assembly without tolerance-related deformations, including a stop sleeve for tool-actuated adjustment and a compensating sleeve for transverse vibration blocking.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Stability of the object's composition

If a rigid, fixed-position connection is used between the electric motor arm and the module, then structural stability is improved, but assembly difficulty increases due to tolerance variations causing interference contours

Engineering Contradiction:
Improvestructural stabilityVSAvoidassembly difficulty
Core Design Contradiction:
Stability of the object's compositionVSEase of manufacture

Solution Approach 1:

The stop element is made adjustable between a non-use position and a support position, transforming a static connection system into a dynamic one that can adapt to tolerance variations during assembly while maintaining structural stability when clamped

Inventive Principle:
Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The stop element acts as an intermediary component between the electric motor arm and the module, providing a adjustable interface that compensates for tolerance variations and enables assembly without interference contours

Inventive Principle:
Principle #24Intermediary (Mediator)

2Object-affected harmful factors

If multiple screw connections are used to reduce operational vibrations, then vibration resistance is improved, but device complexity increases

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveoperational vibrationsVSAvoiddevice complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Object-affected harmful factorsVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The connection system is segmented into multiple screw connections distributed at different locations, with each screw contributing to vibration reduction in different directions, thereby reducing operational vibrations without requiring an overly complex monolithic structure

Inventive Principle:
Principle #1Segmentation

Data Source

PatentEP4204246B1Drive device for an electrified vehicle axle
Publication Date: 2023.12.20 AUDI AG
  • EP4204246B1 patent drawingFigure 1
  • EP4204246B1 patent drawingFigure 2
  • EP4204246B1 patent drawingFigure 3

AI summary

The invention relates to a drive device for an electrified vehicle axle of a vehicle, having an electric machine (1), which outputs via a gearbox (7) to drive shafts (3, 4) which lead to vehicle wheels of the vehicle axle, and having a coolant and/or lubricant module (13), which supplies the electric machine (1) and/or the gearbox (7) with coolant and/or lubricant, the electric machine (1), the gearbox (7) and the module (13) being assembled to form a structural unit in which the electric machine (1) and the coolant/lubricant module (13) are flanged to the gearbox (7) at an axial distance from one another, and the electric machine (1) having, on its side axially opposite the gearbox (7), a radially protruding arm (35), which bridges an axial distance (Δx) from the coolant/lubricant module (13) and is attached at its free arm end (37) to the coolant/lubricant module (13) in a force-transmitting manner via at least one screw point (A), in particular to reduce operation-related vibrations in the structural unit. According to the invention, a stop element (49) is provided at the arm end (37) and can be moved between a non-use position (N) and a supporting position (S). Before the screw point (A) is tightened, the stop element (49) can be moved, using up a tolerance gap, until it bears against the module supporting face (55), so that the arm end (37) and the module (13) can be clamped to one another without tolerance-related component deformations.