US 12,077,041 B2
Multi-speed electric drive axle using multi-layshaft transmission
Austin R. Gerding, Shelby Township, MI (US); Jason Bock, Sterling Heights, MI (US); Justin Sieferd, Northville, MI (US); Peter Barta, Farmington, MI (US); Mandar Ahir, Canton, MI (US); Jonathan Trim, Madison Heights, MI (US); Shawn S. Proctor, Farmington Hills, MI (US); and Mario Amerla, Macomb, MI (US)
Assigned to AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC., Detroit, MI (US)
Filed by AMERICAN AXLE & MANUFACTURING, INC., Detroit, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 15, 2024, as Appl. No. 18/442,377.
Application 18/442,377 is a continuation of application No. PCT/US2023/032865, filed on Sep. 15, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/442,471, filed on Feb. 1, 2023.
Claims priority of provisional application 63/407,007, filed on Sep. 15, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2024/0181858 A1, Jun. 6, 2024
Int. Cl. B60K 17/16 (2006.01); B60K 1/00 (2006.01); B60K 6/40 (2007.10); B60K 6/48 (2007.10); B60K 6/547 (2007.10); B60K 17/06 (2006.01); F16H 3/02 (2006.01); F16H 3/08 (2006.01); F16H 3/093 (2006.01); B60K 6/36 (2007.10); B60K 17/12 (2006.01); F16H 3/085 (2006.01); F16H 3/095 (2006.01)
CPC B60K 1/00 (2013.01) [B60K 17/16 (2013.01); B60K 2001/001 (2013.01); B60K 6/36 (2013.01); B60K 6/40 (2013.01); B60K 6/48 (2013.01); B60K 2006/4825 (2013.01); B60K 6/547 (2013.01); B60K 17/06 (2013.01); B60K 17/12 (2013.01); F16H 3/02 (2013.01); F16H 2003/0803 (2013.01); F16H 2003/0818 (2013.01); F16H 3/085 (2013.01); F16H 3/093 (2013.01); F16H 2003/0931 (2013.01); F16H 2003/0936 (2013.01); F16H 2003/0938 (2013.01); F16H 3/095 (2013.01); F16H 2200/0034 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An electric drive axle comprising:
a housing assembly;
an electric motor coupled to the housing assembly and having a motor shaft that is rotatable about a motor axis;
a differential assembly received in the housing assembly, the differential assembly having a differential input member, which is rotatable about an output axis, and a pair of differential output members that are rotatable about the output axis; and
a transmission received in the housing assembly and transmitting rotary power between the motor shaft and the differential input member, the transmission having a multi-speed reduction that includes an input shaft, which is rotatably coupled to the motor shaft and axially movable along the motor axis, a reduction gearset, an output gear and a coupling sleeve, the reduction gearset having an intermediate input gear and an intermediate output gear, the coupling sleeve being coaxially disposed on the input shaft, the coupling sleeve being axially fixed to but rotatable about the input shaft, the input shaft being movable along the motor axis between a first position, in which the output gear is coupled to the input shaft for rotation therewith, and a second position, in which the intermediate input gear is coupled to the input shaft for rotation therewith, wherein the coupling sleeve rotatably couples the intermediate output gear to the output gear when the input shaft is in the second position.