Zf Friedrichshafen Ag

Michael Griesbach

Thorsten Müller

A shaft grounding device (X) for the electrical grounding of a shaft () with respect to a housing () includes an electrically conductive rectangular ring () arranged in a rectangular groove () formed in the shaft (). The rectangular ring () is in electrically conductive contact with the housing () via a metallic sleeve (). A preloading device presses the rectangular ring () axially against the rectangular ring groove () and radially outward against the sleeve ().

Shaft grounding device and electric drive unit comprising such a device

A shaft grounding arrangement (X) includes a housing (GG), a shaft (W, GW, DS, DS) supported in the housing (GG), a shaft grounding device (E) for establishing an electrically conductive contact (SK) between the shaft (W, GW, DS, DS) and the housing (GG), and a covering element (C) fixedly connected to the shaft (W, GW, DS, DS) for protecting the shaft grounding device (E) against environmental influences. The covering element (C) at least partially surrounds the shaft grounding device (E). The shaft grounding device (E) is fixedly connected to the housing (GG). The electrically conductive contact (SK) is formed by a sliding contact between contact elements (EK) of the shaft grounding device (E) and a surface of the covering element (C). A transmission (G) may include the shaft grounding arrangement (X) of this type, and an electric axle drive (EA) may include the transmission (G).

Shaft grounding arrangement, transmission, and electric axle drive

A transmission (G) for a motor vehicle includes a housing (GG), a shaft (W, GW, DS, DS) mounted in the housing (GG) and protruding from the housing (GG), a radial shaft seal (DR) having a sealing lip for sealing an oil space (NR) within the housing (GG) with respect to an exterior, a shaft grounding device (E) arranged on an exterior side of the radial shaft seal (DR) for establishing an electrically conductive sliding contact (SK) between the shaft (W, GW, DS, DS) and the housing (GG), and a sleeve-shaped covering element (C) fixedly connected to the shaft (W, GW, DS, DS) for protecting the sliding contact (SK) against environmental influences. The shaft grounding device (E) is fixedly connected to the housing (GG). The covering element (C), together with the grounding device (E), forms a labyrinth sealing. An electric axle drive (EA) may include the transmission (G).

Transmission for a motor vehicle, and electric axle drive

An arrangement for mounting an output shaft () designed as a spider shaft of the planetary gear set of a transmission includes an axial needle bearing () arranged between an output-side spider plate () of the output shaft () and a housing () of the transmission, a radial needle bearing () for the radial mounting of the output shaft () in the housing (), a thrust washer () attached to the output shaft () with the aid of a snap ring (), and a shaft sealing ring () arranged on the side of the thrust washer () facing the output, into the interior space of which the thrust washer () and the snap ring () for attaching the thrust washer () extend.

Growing community of inventors

Langenargen, Germany

Michael Griesbach