US 12,135,062 B2
Dual motor power unit shaft coupler
Xiaoduan Tang, Livonia, MI (US); David Allen Janson, Plymouth, MI (US); Steven Anatole Frait, Milan, MI (US); and Gregory Daniel Goleski, Rochester Hills, MI (US)
Assigned to FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed by FORD GLOBAL TECHNOLOGIES, LLC, Dearborn, MI (US)
Filed on Feb. 14, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/109,350.
Prior Publication US 2024/0271667 A1, Aug. 15, 2024
Int. Cl. F16D 27/118 (2006.01); B60K 1/02 (2006.01)
CPC F16D 27/118 (2013.01) [B60K 1/02 (2013.01)] 18 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. An apparatus comprising:
a first motor having a first output shaft;
a second motor having a second output shaft that is independent from the first output shaft; and
a coupler including—
a first spindle secured to the first output shaft,
a second spindle secured to the second output shaft,
a locker ring assembled to an outer ring with a spline connection, wherein the outer ring is secured to a first radially extending flange of the first spindle,
a locker carrier assembled to the second spindle with a thrust bearing disposed between the locker carrier and a second radially extending flange of the second spindle,
a housing non-rotatably supporting the locker carrier, wherein the housing includes a portion extending to a bearing on an opposite side of the first radially extending flange of the first spindle relative to the second radially extending flange to facilitate rotation of the first spindle;
a first set of teeth disposed on the locker ring,
a second set of teeth disposed on the second radially extending flange facing the first set of teeth; and
a coil carried by the locker carrier, wherein the coil is controlled by a controller to switch between an energized state wherein the coil shifts the locker ring relative to the outer ring via the spline connection to slide the first set of teeth into engagement with the second set of teeth to lock the first and second output shafts together and a deenergized state wherein a spring biases the first set of teeth out of engagement with the second set of teeth to disengage the first and second output shafts from each other.