Electric power train for the steerable axle of a motor vehicle

US9440531B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG · DE

Inventors

• Raphael Fischer · Schweinfurt, DE
• Thorsten Schubert · Herzogenaurach, DE
• Thomas Mehlis · Kleinsendelbach, DE
• Christian Witt · Vestenbergsgreuth, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Jan 17, 2013
• Grant date: Sep 13, 2016
• Expiry date: Jan 17, 2033

Classification

• Technology area (CPC Y): Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
• CPC primary: Y02T10/62
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A power-train is provided for a driven, steerable axle of a motor vehicle. To reduce the size of the turning radius of the vehicle, the power train includes a left drive shaft that is fixedly connected in terms of drive to a left steerable wheel; a right drive shaft that is fixedly connected in terms of drive to a right steerable wheel; and a drive unit configured between the drive shafts for driving the drive shaft; the drive shafts being configured as articulated shafts, each having a wheel-proximal articulated joint and a wheel-distal articulated joint; and said articulated joints each having at least one axis of rotation with the same orientation for all articulated joints. The drive unit is designed for transmitting an electromotively generated torque to the drive shafts, and having a body suspension that allows the drive unit to rotate relative to the body about a swivel axis that extends in parallel to the axes of rotation having the same orientation.