Integrated Electric Drive Assembly With Integral Shaft Layout

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Solution Overview

Problem

Current electric drive power assemblies in vehicles have a complex structure, high noise, and increased axial size due to the use of shaft couplings and parking lock wheels, which hinder lightweight design and compact arrangement.

Innovation Solution

An integrated electric drive power assembly with a simplified structure where the motor and gearbox share an integral shaft, and the parking lock wheel is positioned at the input shaft, reducing the axial size and weight by eliminating the need for a separate shaft coupling and optimizing torque transmission.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Length of moving object

If a shaft coupling is used to connect the motor output shaft and gearbox input shaft, then the connection is achieved, but the axial size increases and structure becomes complicated

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial sizeVSAvoidstructure complexity
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The motor output shaft and gearbox input shaft are merged into a single integral shaft structure. The motor rotor is directly coupled to the input shaft, eliminating the need for a separate shaft coupling component. This integration reduces the number of parts, simplifies the structure, and decreases the axial dimension of the overall assembly.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Length of moving object

If the parking lock wheel is arranged at the middle shaft or output differential, then the locking function is achieved, but the axial size increases due to larger lay-up torque requirements

Engineering Contradiction:
Improveaxial sizeVSAvoidlocking function
Core Design Contradiction:
Length of moving objectVSReliability

Solution Approach 1:

Instead of placing the parking lock wheel at the conventional locations (middle shaft or output differential), the invention inverts the arrangement by positioning it at the input shaft. This location offers mechanical advantage where the same locking force produces a larger braking effect due to the torque multiplication through the gear system, allowing for a more compact axial design.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #13The other way round (Inversion)

3Weight of moving object

If multiple separate components are used for shaft connection and torque transmission, then the torque transmission is achieved, but the weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:
ImproveweightVSAvoidtorque transmission
Core Design Contradiction:
Weight of moving objectVSPower

Solution Approach 1:

Multiple separate components (shaft coupling, bearings, connection elements) are merged into an integral shaft structure. The motor rotor, output shaft, and input shaft are combined into a single piece that extends through both components, reducing the total weight by eliminating redundant materials and connection hardware while maintaining full torque transmission capability through the gear mesh.

Inventive Principle:
Principle #5Merging (Combining)

Data Source

PatentEP3608140B2Integrated electric drive powertrain
Publication Date: 2024.03.13 JING JIN ELECTRIC TECH CO LTD
  • EP3608140B2 patent drawingFigure 1

AI summary

The present disclosure discloses an integrated electric drive power assembly, which solves the problems of the electrically driving power assemblies in the prior art that have a greater axial size and greater weight. The power assembly comprises a motor and a gearbox, an output shaft of the motor and an input shaft of the gearbox are integrally manufactured, to form a main shaft (18) of the power assembly, a parking lock wheel (5) is provided within the gearbox, and the parking lock wheel (5) is fixedly mounted to the main shaft (18). The present disclosure significantly reduces the axial size of the power assembly, which facilitates the light weighing and the arrangement in the vehicle of the power assembly.