US 12,276,335 B2
Lubrication for an electric drive arrangement for a vehicle
Theodor Gassmann, Siegburg (DE); John Foulsham, Hampshire (GB); and Daniel Beeby, Norfolk (GB)
Assigned to GKN Automotive Limited, Birmingham (GB)
Appl. No. 18/570,094
Filed by GKN Automotive Limited, Birmingham (GB)
PCT Filed Jul. 30, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/071442
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Dec. 14, 2023,
PCT Pub. No. WO2023/006216, PCT Pub. Date Feb. 2, 2023.
Prior Publication US 2024/0271692 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. F16H 57/04 (2010.01); B60K 1/00 (2006.01); B60K 11/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16H 57/0476 (2013.01) [B60K 11/02 (2013.01); F16H 57/0412 (2013.01); F16H 57/0435 (2013.01); F16H 57/0436 (2013.01); F16H 57/0453 (2013.01); B60K 1/00 (2013.01); B60K 2001/006 (2013.01); F15B 2211/20561 (2013.01)] 16 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric drive arrangement for a vehicle, the electric drive arrangement comprising:
a housing;
an electric machine with a stator connected to the housing and a rotor with a rotor shaft rotatably supported in the housing;
a transmission to transmit a rotary movement from the rotor shaft to drive a driveline of the vehicle; and
a hydraulic circuit for circulating a fluid to cool and lubricate the electric machine and the transmission, the hydraulic circuit comprising a bi-directional pump which on a suction side is hydraulically connected to an oil sump of the housing, a pump-actuated switch valve hydraulically connected to the bi-directional pump, a first hydraulic path connecting the switch valve with cooling nozzles of the electric machine, a second hydraulic path connecting the switch valve with a portion of the transmission, and a heat exchanger for cooling the fluid pumped by the bi-directional pump through the switch valve;
wherein, operation of the bi-directional pump in a first direction of rotation transfers the switch valve into a first position in which fluid is pumped through the heat exchanger to the first hydraulic path for cooling the electric machine, and, operation of the bi-directional pump in a second direction of rotation transfers the switch valve into a second position in which fluid is pumped through the heat exchanger to the second hydraulic path for cooling and/or lubricating the transmission.