E-Axle Oil Module Channels for Lower Line Complexity
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing drive devices for electrified vehicle axles have complex oil supply systems with separate line elements, leading to increased component expenditure.
Innovation Solution
The electric motor, transmission, and oil module are combined into a single structural unit, with integrated supply lines designed as channels between the oil module and transmission, eliminating the need for separate line elements.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Ease of manufacture
If separate line elements are used for oil supply, then the oil supply system can be assembled from discrete components, but the component expenditure and system complexity increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the previously separate supply lines into the joining plane itself by creating channel segments that are integrally formed with the housing walls of both the oil module and transmission. This integration eliminates the need for separate line elements while maintaining the oil supply function, directly reducing component expenditure and system complexity
2Device complexity
If integrated channels are used in the joining plane, then component expenditure is reduced, but maintaining a hermetic seal becomes more challenging
Solution Approach 1:
The channel segments are integrally formed with the housing walls, creating a unified structure where the channel base, channel walls, and housing form a continuous oil-tight barrier. This integration eliminates potential leakage points at connections between separate components while maintaining the hermetic seal requirement
Solution Approach 2:
The channel segments are formed from the same material as the housing walls (both being metal castings), ensuring homogeneous material properties throughout the sealing structure. This material homogeneity facilitates reliable sealing by eliminating material incompatibility issues that could compromise the hermetic seal
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2
Figure 3a~3b
AI summary
The invention relates to a drive device for an electrified vehicle axle of a vehicle, having an electrical machine (1), which outputs via a gearbox (7) to drive shafts (3, 4) which lead to vehicle wheels of the vehicle axle, and having an oil module (13), which supplies the electrical machine (1) and/or the gearbox (7) with oil, wherein the electrical machine (1), the gearbox (7) and the oil module (13) are joined together to form an assembly in which the oil module (13) is flanged to the gearbox (7) at a joining plane (F), wherein the oil module (13) supplies the electrical machine (1) and/or the gearbox (7) with oil via at least one supply line (19, 21), and the oil can be returned from the electrical machine (1) and/or from the gearbox (7) to the oil module (13) via at least one return line. According to the invention, the supply line (19, 21) or/or the return line is designed at least partially as a channel which runs in the joining plane (F) between the oil module (13) and the gearbox (7) and is constructed of a module-side channel segment (49) and a gearbox-side channel segment (51), which together delimit a channel cross-section through which oil flows.