Gm Global Technolgoy Operations, Inc.

Other

Joseph R Littlefield

Alan G Holmes

Pete R Garcia

Rebecca K Risko Cattell

Jonathan Boyd

Brendan M Conlon

Craig S Ross

Vijay A Neelakantan

Lawrence A Kaminsky

Min-Joong Kim

Donald L Dusenberry

Anthony P Tata

Michael O Harpster, Jr

Edward A Rapa, Jr

An electric drive unit clutch for an automobile includes a first rotatable shaft, a one-way clutch fixedly mounted onto the first rotatable shaft, a dog clutch slidingly mounted onto the first rotatable shaft and adapted to rotate with the first rotatable shaft, a clutch ring positioned between the one-way clutch and the dog clutch, and a second rotatable shaft rotatable engaged with the clutch ring, wherein the clutch ring is adapted to transfer rotational motion from the second rotatable shaft through the one-way clutch and the dog clutch to the first rotatable shaft.

Electric drive unit clutch

A final drive assembly for a vehicle drive axle having first and second axle-shafts that are configured to rotate about a common first axis. The final drive assembly includes a first gear-set configured to be operatively connected to the first axle-shaft. The final drive assembly also includes a second gear-set configured to be operatively connected to the second axle-shaft. The final drive assembly additionally includes an electric motor configured to provide an electric motor torque input to each of the first and second gear-sets and arranged on a second axis that is parallel to the first axis.

Multi-axis final drive assembly

A differential drive system includes an electric motor for generating an electric motor torque and an input planetary gear-set operatively connected to the electric motor to receive the electric motor torque. The input planetary gear-set has first, second, and third members. The first member receives the electric motor torque, the second member provides a first input torque in a first rotational direction in response to the electric motor torque, and the third member provides a second input torque in a second rotational direction, opposite the first direction, in response to the electric motor torque. The system also includes a first output gear-set operatively connected to the input planetary gear-set, and providing a first output torque in response to the first input torque. The system additionally includes a second output gear-set operatively connected to the input planetary gear-set and providing a second output torque in response to the second input torque.

Planetary differential drive system

A vehicle powertrain includes first and second power sources and a transmission assembly having first and second input members and an output member. The transmission assembly also includes a first multiple node planetary gear-set connected to both input members and a second multiple node planetary gear-set connected to the output member. The transmission assembly additionally includes a transmission housing retaining the first and second gear-sets. Furthermore, the transmission assembly includes a first torque-transmitting device for connecting one second gear-set node to the transmission housing and a second torque-transmitting device for connecting one first gear-set node to one second gear-set node. One first gear-set node is directly and continuously connected to one second gear-set node. The first and second power sources are connected to the first gear-set, and the first power source is connected to the first gear-set node not directly and continuously connected to the second gear-set.

Motor vehicle powertrain

A powertrain includes an electric motor and a first planetary gear stage having a first rotatable member drivingly connected to the electric motor and at least one second rotatable member. A second planetary gear stage includes a third rotatable member drivingly connected to the at least one second rotatable member and includes at least one fourth rotatable member. One of the third rotatable member and the at least one fourth rotatable member is connected to an output member. A passive one-way clutch and a selectable one-way clutch are associated with at least one of the first and second planetary gear stages for varying operation of the first and second planetary gear stages based upon an operation state of the selectable one-way clutch and a direction of rotation of the electric motor.

Two ratio electric drive unit

A vehicle powertrain includes first and second power sources and a transmission assembly having first and second input members and an output member. The transmission assembly also includes a first planetary gear-set connected to the first input member and a second planetary gear-set connected to the second input and the output members. The transmission assembly additionally includes a transmission housing retaining the first and second gear-sets. Furthermore, the transmission assembly includes a first torque-transmitting device for connecting one first gear-set node to the housing and a second torque-transmitting device for connecting a first gear-set node not connected to the housing to one second gear-set node. One first gear-set node is directly and continuously connected to one second gear-set node. The first power source is operatively connected to a node of the first gear-set and the second power source is operatively connected to a node of the second gear-set.

A powertrain includes a drive unit that can be modular and is adaptable to be used as an all-electric drive unit, an input power-split drive unit, or an input and compound power-split drive unit. The drive unit includes a first planetary gear set that has a sun gear member, a ring gear member, and a carrier member all rotatable about a first axis of rotation. The drive unit includes a first electric machine operable as a motor and having a rotor connected to rotate in unison with the sun gear member about the first axis of rotation. A first brake is selectively engageable to ground the ring gear member, a first clutch is operatively connected to the ring gear member, and an output member is connected to rotate in unison with the carrier member about the first axis of rotation. Multiple drive units can be used on a vehicle.

Powertrain including modular drive unit

An electric vehicle drive system includes an electric motor, first and second planetary gear sets, including sun gear, carrier and ring gear members, first and second output shafts, and a housing. The members of the first planetary gear set are connected with the electric motor, the first output shaft, and a member of the second planetary gear set. The members of the second planetary gear set are connected with the first planetary gear set, the housing, and the second output shaft. The first planetary gear set provides differential reduction and the second planetary gear set provides reversal and reduction. Optional clutches can provide the function of a limited slip differential and distribute torque preferentially to one output shaft or the other.

Electric vehicle drive using combined differential and reduction gearing

A dog clutch for a vehicle transmission includes a driving member configured to rotate about an axis and including a cavity extending radially from the axis, a driving tooth slidably movable within the radially extending cavity, a driven member coaxially surrounding the driving member and including a radially inward extending driven tooth, an actuator coaxially positioned within the driving member and movable along the axis to selectively engage the driving tooth with the driven tooth, and a biasing member radially inwardly biasing the driving tooth into contact with the actuator.

Dog clutch for a vehicle transmission

A planetary gear set assembly for a transmission includes a planet carrier, a sun gear, a ring gear, a bearing plate, and a thrust bearing placed between the sun gear and the bearing plate. The bearing plate is retained by the planetary gear carrier and includes a plurality of lubrication features for providing a lubrication path from an input shaft through the thrust bearing and bearing plate to the pinion shafts.

Planetary gear set bearing retainer

A radially applied dog clutch for a vehicle transmission. The clutch includes a driving member configured to rotate about an axis and including a cavity extending radially from the axis, a driving tooth slidably movable within the radially extending cavity, a driven member coaxially surrounding the driving member and including a radially inward extending driven tooth, and a synchronizer coaxially positioned between the driving member and the driven member.

Synchronizer for radially applied dog clutch for a vehicle

A clutch assembly having a first clutch member, a second clutch member axially slidable in a first axial direction to engage the first clutch member and in a second axial direction to disengage from the first clutch member, a spring biasing the second clutch member in one of the axial directions, a piston actuatable to move the second clutch member in the other of the axial directions, thereby overcoming a biasing force of the spring, and a latching device to selectively lock the piston in at least one of the first axial direction and second axial direction. The latching device includes a selectively retractable locking pin. The piston has an external surface defining a slot to receive the locking pin, thereby locking the piston in the first position or the second position. A method of operating the clutch assembly is provided.

Clutch assembly having a hydraulically actuate piston and latching device

A dog clutch for a vehicle transmission includes a driving member configured to rotate about an axis and including a cavity extending radially from the axis, a driving tooth slidably movable within the radially extending cavity, a driven member coaxially surrounding the driving member and including a radially inward extending driven tooth axially aligned with the driving tooth, an actuator shaft coaxially positioned within the driving member and movable along the axis, a retainer on the actuator shaft, a bullet actuator coaxially mounted on the actuator shaft, and a biasing member coaxially mounted on the actuator shaft and positioned between the bullet actuator and the retainer.

Radially applied dog clutch with bi-directional ratcheting for a vehicle transmission

A power-split hybrid powertrain for a vehicle includes a first power-source configured to generate a first output torque, a second power-source configured to generate a second output torque, and a transmission assembly having a transmission input member. The powertrain also includes a planetary gear-set having first, second, and third nodes, wherein each of the three nodes is operatively connected to a separate one of the first power-source, second power-source, and transmission input member. The powertrain additionally includes a housing configured to retain the planetary gear-set. Also, the powertrain includes a first torque-transmitting device configured to selectively connect to the housing the node that is operatively connected to the first power-source. Furthermore, the powertrain includes a second torque-transmitting device configured to selectively connect the node that is operatively connected to the first power-source to the node that is operatively connected to the second power-source.

Growing community of inventors

Sterling Heights, MI, United States of America

Joseph R Littlefield