Electric Axle Coolant Orientation for Space Adaptation
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing electric axles for vehicles face challenges in adapting to varying installation spaces within vehicles, requiring multiple components and complex assembly processes to achieve the appropriate dimensions for different locations.
Innovation Solution
The electric axle design includes a transmission, electric machine, and power electronics with dual coolant connections that can be oriented differently to accommodate various vehicle spaces, allowing the same components to be assembled without additional parts or processing, enabling flexible dimension adaptation through fluid-conducting connections.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components and complex assembly processes are used to adapt electric axle dimensions to different vehicle locations, then the adaptability to varying installation spaces is improved, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electric axle is designed with universal coolant connections that can serve multiple functions depending on orientation. The first and second coolant connections on the machine side can be fluidically connected to either the coolant inlet or coolant outlet on the electronics side, allowing the same component to adapt to different installation spaces without requiring multiple specialized components or complex assembly variations.
2Adaptability or versatility
If multiple components are used to achieve appropriate dimensions for different locations, then the adaptability is improved, but the quantity of components increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electric axle employs universal coolant connections that can be configured for different installation scenarios. The same first and second coolant connections on the machine side can be fluidically connected to different electronics side connections depending on orientation, eliminating the need for multiple specialized component sets for different vehicle locations.
Solution Approach 2:
The electric axle design allows for dynamic configuration through different orientations of the power electronics on the end face of the electrical machine. This enables the same physical components to be adapted to different installation spaces by changing their spatial arrangement rather than using additional components.
3Manufacturing precision
If additional processing steps are required to adapt the electric axle to different spaces, then the precision of fit is improved, but the manufacturing complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The electric axle features universal coolant connections that maintain manufacturing simplicity while achieving precise fit for different spaces. The same coolant connections can be fluidically connected to different electronics side connections depending on the required orientation, eliminating the need for additional processing steps or specialized manufacturing procedures for different installation locations.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This solution reduces the number of required components and simplifies assembly by allowing the same electric axle to be configured for different vehicle spaces, enhancing adaptability and reducing complexity in installation.
Implementation Method 1
The power electronics have a coolant inlet on the electronics side, to which a coolant circuit on the vehicle side can be connected in a fluid-conducting manner, and a coolant outlet on the electronics side
Implementation Method 2
the coolant circuit on the vehicle side can be connected in a fluid-conducting manner to the second coolant connection on the machine side
Data Source
Figure 1
Figure 2A
Figure 2B
AI summary
The invention relates to an electric axle (E-axle) for vehicles, in particular for motor vehicles. An electric motor of the E-axle has a first motor-side coolant connection and a second motor-side coolant connection. Power electronics of the E-axle have a motor-side coolant inlet, to which a vehicle-side coolant circuit can be fluidly connected, and a motor-side coolant outlet. The power electronics are arranged on an end face of the electric motor in either a first orientation or a second orientation. In the first orientation, the motor-side coolant outlet is fluidly connected to the first motor-side coolant connection, and the vehicle-side coolant circuit can be fluidly connected to the second motor-side coolant connection.In the second orientation, the electronics-side coolant drain is fluidly connected to the second machine-side coolant connection, and the vehicle-side coolant circuit can be fluidly connected to the first machine-side coolant connection.