Patent ID: 8960341
Filing Date: 2015-02-24
Classification: B60K,B60L,H02K,Y02T,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An electric drive module for driving a pair of wheels of a vehicle, comprising: first and second output shafts adapted for connection to the pair of wheels; a first electric motor having a first rotor; a second electric motor having a second rotor; a gearbox assembly disposed between the first and second electric motors, the gearbox assembly including a first sun gear fixed for rotation with the first rotor, a first carrier fixed for rotation with the first output shaft, a first ring gear, first planet gears rotatably supported by the first carrier and meshed with the first ring gear and the first sun gear, a second sun gear fixed for rotation with the second rotor, a second carrier fixed for rotation with the second output shaft, a second ring gear, and second planet gears rotatably supported by the second carrier and meshed with the second sun gear and the second ring gear, and a common ring gear unit interconnecting the first ring gear and the second ring gear; a third electric motor configured to rotate the common ring gear unit of the gearbox assembly to establish common rotation of the first ring gear and the second ring gear; and a control system electrically connected to the first, second and third electric motors and being operable to independently control actuation of the first, second and third motors for controlling a direction and speed of rotation of the common ring gear unit so as to vary a speed ratio between the first and second output shafts.