US 12,278,539 B2
Electric axle with direct rotor and head spray cooling
Carl Trudel, Boucherville (CA); Steven Vanhee, Hooglede (BE); and Luke Miller, Montreal (CA)
Assigned to DANA TM4 INC., Boucherville (CA)
Filed by DANA TM4 INC., Boucherville (CN)
Filed on Apr. 29, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/661,476.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/182,720, filed on Apr. 30, 2021.
Prior Publication US 2022/0348063 A1, Nov. 3, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. H02K 5/20 (2006.01); B60K 1/00 (2006.01); B60K 11/02 (2006.01); H02K 5/15 (2006.01); H02K 5/18 (2006.01); H02K 9/16 (2006.01); H02K 9/19 (2006.01); H02K 9/193 (2006.01)
CPC H02K 5/203 (2021.01) [B60K 1/00 (2013.01); B60K 11/02 (2013.01); H02K 5/15 (2013.01); H02K 5/18 (2013.01); H02K 5/20 (2013.01); H02K 9/193 (2013.01); B60K 2001/001 (2013.01); B60K 2001/006 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric axle comprising:
an electric motor having a stator and a rotor with a rotor shaft;
a gear train directly rotationally coupled to the rotor shaft;
a coolant manifold mounted to an end plate of the rotor, wherein the coolant manifold is configured to flow coolant to rotor coolant lines extending axially through the rotor;
a first spray ring arranged adjacent to the coolant manifold and a second spray ring arranged distally to the coolant manifold, wherein the first spray ring receives coolant from the coolant manifold via an interior passage and the second spray ring receives coolant from the coolant manifold via an outer passage;
wherein a coolant fluid in the coolant manifold is oil;
a housing enclosing the electric motor, the gear train, the coolant manifold, the first spray ring, and the second spray ring; and
a pump positioned within the housing and receiving oil from a motor sump and the gear train;
wherein the pump is in fluidic communication with a water to oil heat exchanger.