DESC:CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
The present application claims priority from Indian Provisional Patent Application No. 202321039858 filed on 11/06/2023, the entirety of which is incorporated herein by a reference.
TECHNICAL FIELD
Generally, the present disclosure relates to housing of powertrain of electric vehicles. Particularly, the present disclosure relates to an end cover for an integrated powertrain housing.
BACKGROUND
The electric vehicle(s) (EVs) are currently experiencing a growing demand due to lack of fossil fuels and due to carbon dioxide emissions from exhaust in conventional internal engine vehicles. The electric vehicles purely utilize an electric driving motor which runs on electric energy stored in the battery to power an electric vehicle.
The motor is supplied with power from the battery pack to produce a motive force which is further transferred to the driving wheels of the vehicle. The electric motors are capable of producing instant torque output and hence provide high acceleration to the vehicle. However, due to instantaneous high-power output, the battery efficiency of the vehicle is reduced. In other words, the electric power stored in the battery pack of the electric vehicle is not efficiently delivered to the wheels of the electric vehicle.
To efficiently drive the wheels of the vehicle, transmission systems have been introduced to the electric vehicles. The transmission system mechanically optimizes the power being delivered to the wheels of the electric vehicle, leading to better range of the vehicle and enhanced control over the power of the vehicle. However, introduction of transmission system to the electric vehicle poses multiple challenges. It is difficult to prognose the transmission unit before any failure as the components are closed and cannot be visually inspected. Such inability to inspect the components makes it difficult to determine the present condition of the components and to predict the failure of the transmission unit or powertrain. Moreover, in the integrated powertrains, in case of failure, it is difficult to determine whether the failure is caused due to the motor or the transmission unit.
Therefore, there exists a need for an improved solution that overcomes one or more problems as set forth above.
SUMMARY
An object of the present disclosure is to provide an end cover for an integrated power train housing.
In accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an end cover for an integrated power train housing. The end cover comprises a dry section, and a wet section configured to accommodate lubricant required for lubricating a powertrain, wherein the wet section comprises a see-through section.
The present disclosure provides an end cover for an integrated powertrain housing. The end cover disclosed by the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of enabling inspection of the components of the powertrain. The end cover disclosed by the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of determining oil levels inside the powertrain. The end cover disclosed by the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of enabling prognostic of the powertrain. The end cover disclosed by the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of determining type of failure.
In accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure, there is provided an integrated powertrain housing of an electric vehicle to securely enclose a motor, a transmission unit and a clutch assembly. The housing comprises a first member, a second member, and an end cover, securely mounted on the second member.
Additional aspects, advantages, features and objects of the present disclosure would be made apparent from the drawings and the detailed description of the illustrative embodiments constructed in conjunction with the appended claims that follow.
It will be appreciated that features of the present disclosure are susceptible to being combined in various combinations without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the appended claims.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
The summary above, as well as the following detailed description of illustrative embodiments, is better understood when read in conjunction with the appended drawings. For the purpose of illustrating the present disclosure, exemplary constructions of the disclosure are shown in the drawings. However, the present disclosure is not limited to specific methods and instrumentalities disclosed herein. Moreover, those in the art will understand that the drawings are not to scale. Wherever possible, like elements have been indicated by identical numbers.
Embodiments of the present disclosure will now be described, by way of example only, with reference to the following diagrams wherein:
Figure 1 illustrates a front sectional view of an end cover for an integrated power train housing, in accordance with an aspect of the present disclosure.
Figure 2 illustrates an exploded view of the integrated powertrain housing, in accordance with another aspect of the present disclosure.
In the accompanying drawings, an underlined number is employed to represent an item over which the underlined number is positioned or an item to which the underlined number is adjacent. A non-underlined number relates to an item identified by a line linking the non-underlined number to the item. When a number is non-underlined and accompanied by an associated arrow, the non-underlined number is used to identify a general item at which the arrow is pointing.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION
The following detailed description illustrates embodiments of the present disclosure and ways in which they can be implemented. Although some modes of carrying out the present disclosure have been disclosed, those skilled in the art would recognize that other embodiments for carrying out or practicing the present disclosure are also possible.
The description set forth below in connection with the appended drawings is intended as a description of certain embodiments of an end cover for an integrated powertrain housing and is not intended to represent the only forms that may be developed or utilized. The description sets forth the various structures and/or functions in connection with the illustrated embodiments; however, it is to be understood that the disclosed embodiments are merely exemplary of the disclosure that may be embodied in various and alternative forms. The figures are not necessarily to scale; some features may be exaggerated or minimized to show details of particular components. Therefore, specific structural and functional details disclosed herein are not to be interpreted as limiting, but merely as a representative basis for teaching one skilled in the art to variously employ the present invention.
While the disclosure is susceptible to various modifications and alternative forms, specific embodiment thereof has been shown by way of example in the drawings and will be described in detail below. It should be understood, however, that it is not intended to limit the disclosure to the particular forms disclosed, but on the contrary, the disclosure is to cover all modifications, equivalents, and alternatives falling within the scope of the disclosure.
The terms “comprise”, “comprises”, “comprising”, “include(s)”, or any other variations thereof, are intended to cover a non-exclusive inclusion, such that a setup, or system that comprises a list of components or steps does not include only those components or steps but may include other components or steps not expressly listed or inherent to such setup or system. In other words, one or more elements in a system or apparatus preceded by “comprises... a” does not, without more constraints, preclude the existence of other elements or additional elements in the system or apparatus.
In the following detailed description of the embodiments of the disclosure, reference is made to the accompanying drawings which are shown by way of illustration-specific embodiments in which the disclosure may be practiced. These embodiments are described in sufficient detail to enable those skilled in the art to practice the disclosure, and it is to be understood that other embodiments may be utilized and that changes may be made without departing from the scope of the present disclosure. The following description is, therefore, not to be taken in a limiting sense.
The present disclosure will be described herein below with reference to the accompanying drawings. In the following description, well-known functions or constructions are not described in detail since they would obscure the description with unnecessary detail.
As used herein, the term “integrated powertrain” refers to a powertrain system where the electric motor and gearbox are housed together in a single unit. This design offers several advantages over traditional EV layouts with separate motor and gearbox units. The integration increases the compactness, efficiency, performance, and cost-effectiveness of the powertrain.
As used herein, the terms “electric motor”, and “motor” are used interchangeably and refer to electric motors capable of being implemented in an industrial or automobile application, such as on the work machine or other vehicle
As used herein, the terms “transmission unit”, “transmission”, and “gearbox” are used interchangeably and refer to a mechanical device that manages the power delivered from a source to another part (like wheels). The transmission unit comprises transmission gears with different gear ratios to determine how the rotation speed and the torque are altered between input and output of the transmission unit.
As used herein, the term “clutch assembly” refers to a component responsible for smoothly connecting and disconnecting the motor’s power to the transmission unit. It may act as a bridge between the motor and the wheels.
As used herein, the term “housing” refers to a casing that encloses various components of the powertrain within itself. The housing performs functions including protection, lubrication containment, structural support, heat dissipation, and so on.
As used herein, the term “first member” refers to a component of the housing that accommodates the motor and the transmission unit within. The first member also mechanically supports the motor and the transmission unit. The first member may comprise a plurality of mounting points for secured mounting of the motor and the transmission unit.
As used herein, the term “second member” refers to a component of the housing that secures the motor and the transmission unit in the first member. The second member may also mechanically support the motor and the transmission unit at another end. The second member may also comprise pass-through sections for shafts of the motor and the transmission units. The pass-through sections may also act as mounting points for the shafts of the motor and the transmission unit. Furthermore, the second member may comprise a plurality of mounting points for secured mounting of the motor and the transmission unit.
As used herein, the term “end cover” refers to component of the housing that encloses all the components of the integrated powertrain.
As used herein, the term “dry section” refers to compartment that houses electrical components and does not comprise any fluids.
As used herein, the term “wet section” refers to compartment that houses mechanical components and comprises lubrication fluid.
As used herein, the term “see-through section” refers to a section that makes the components visible on the other side.
As used herein, the terms “plurality of fasteners” and “fasteners” are used interchangeably and refer to a mechanical means for joining two parts together. The fastener may include rivets, nuts and bolts, pins, screws, and so forth.
Figure 1, in accordance with an aspect describes front view of an end cover 100 for an integrated power train housing. The end cover 100 comprises a dry section 102, and a wet section 104 configured to accommodate lubricant required for lubricating a powertrain, wherein the wet section 104 comprises a see-through section 106.
The present disclosure provides an end cover 100 for an integrated powertrain housing 200. The end cover 100 disclosed by the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of enabling inspection of the components of the powertrain. The end cover 100 disclosed by the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of determining oil levels inside the powertrain. The end cover 100 disclosed by the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of enabling prognostic of the powertrain. The end cover 100 disclosed by the present disclosure is advantageous in terms of determining type of failure.
In an embodiment, the dry section 102 is configured to accommodate a wiring harness of the powertrain. Beneficially, the dry section 102 comprises sealant lining to prevent ingress of the lubricant in the dry section 102.
In an embodiment, the see-through section 106 is transparent and/or semi-transparent to allow light to pass through. Beneficially, the see-through section 106 allows visual inspection of the components inside the powertrain.
In an embodiment, the see-through section 106 is internally fixed on the wet section 104 of the end-cover 100. Beneficially, the see-through section 106 unique fixing arrangement to prevent misplacement of the see-through section 106.
In an embodiment, the see-through section 106 comprises oleophobic coating on an internal surface. Beneficially, the oleophobic coating prevents the settling of the lubricant on the see-through section 106 to keep the see-through section 106 visually clear.
In an embodiment, the see-through section 106 is made of polycarbonate material. Alternatively, the see-through section 106 is made of any suitable material known to a person skilled in the art. Beneficially, the polycarbonate material provides required strength and rigidity to the see-through section 106.
In an embodiment, the end cover 100 encloses at least one of: a clutch assembly, a primary drive of a motor and a primary drive of a transmission unit. Beneficially, the end cover 100 provides ingress protection to the powertrain.
In an embodiment, the clutch assembly, the primary drive of the motor and the primary drive of the transmission unit are visible via the see-through section 106. Beneficially, the see-through section 106 enables visual inspection of the components of the powertrain.
In an embodiment, the end cover 100 is mounted on the integrated powertrain housing. The end cover 100 may be mounted on the integrated powertrain housing using a plurality of fasteners.
In an embodiment, the end cover 100 comprises the dry section 102, and the wet section 104 configured to accommodate lubricant required for lubricating the powertrain, wherein the wet section 104 comprises the see-through section 106. Furthermore, the dry section 102 is configured to accommodate the wiring harness of the powertrain. Furthermore, the see-through section 106 is transparent and/or semi-transparent to allow light to pass through. Furthermore, the see-through section 106 is internally fixed on the wet section 104 of the end-cover 100. Furthermore, the see-through section 106 comprises oleophobic coating on the internal surface. Furthermore, the see-through section 106 is made of polycarbonate material. Furthermore, the end cover 100 encloses the at least one of: the clutch assembly, the primary drive of the motor and the primary drive of the transmission unit. Furthermore, the clutch assembly, the primary drive of the motor and the primary drive of the transmission unit are visible via the see-through section 106. Furthermore, the end cover 100 is mounted on the integrated powertrain housing.
Figure 2, in accordance with another aspect describes an integrated powertrain housing 200 of an electric vehicle to securely enclose a motor, a transmission unit and a clutch assembly. The housing 200 comprises a first member 202, a second member 204, and an end cover 100, securely mounted on the second member 204. The end cover 100 comprises a dry section 102, and a wet section 104 configured to accommodate lubricant required for lubricating a powertrain, wherein the wet section 104 comprises a see-through section 106.
In the description of the present invention, it is also to be noted that, unless otherwise explicitly specified or limited, the terms “disposed,” “mounted,” and “connected” are to be construed broadly, and may for example be fixedly connected, detachably connected, or integrally connected, either mechanically or electrically. They may be connected directly or indirectly through intervening media, or they may be interconnected between two elements. The specific meaning of the above terms in the present invention can be understood in specific cases to those skilled in the art.
Modifications to embodiments and combination of different embodiments of the present disclosure described in the foregoing are possible without departing from the scope of the present disclosure as defined by the accompanying claims. Expressions such as “including”, “comprising”, “incorporating”, “have”, “is” used to describe and claim the present disclosure are intended to be construed in a non- exclusive manner, namely allowing for items, components or elements not explicitly described also to be present. Reference to the singular is also to be construed to relate to the plural where appropriate.
Although embodiments have been described with reference to a number of illustrative embodiments thereof, it should be understood that numerous other modifications and embodiments can be devised by those skilled in the art that will fall within the spirit and scope of the principles of this disclosure. More particularly, various variations and modifications are possible in the component parts and/or arrangements of the subject combination arrangement within the scope of the present disclosure, the drawings and the appended claims. In addition to variations and modifications in the component parts and/or arrangements, alternative uses will also be apparent to those skilled in the art.
,CLAIMS:WE CLAIM:
1. An end cover (100) for an integrated power train housing, wherein the end cover (100) comprises:
- a dry section (102); and
- a wet section (104) configured to accommodate lubricant required for lubricating a powertrain,
wherein the wet section (104) comprises a see-through section (106).
2. The end cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the dry section (102) is configured to accommodate a wiring harness of the powertrain.
3. The end cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the see-through section (106) is transparent and/or semi-transparent to allow light to pass through.
4. The end cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the see-through section (106) is internally fixed on the wet section (104) of the end-cover (100).
5. The end cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the see-through section (106) comprises oleophobic coating on an internal surface.
6. The end cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the see-through section (106) is made of polycarbonate material.
7. The end cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end cover (100) encloses at least one of: a clutch assembly, a primary drive of a motor and a primary drive of a transmission unit.
8. The end cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the clutch assembly, the primary drive of the motor and the primary drive of the transmission unit are visible via the see-through section (106).
9. The end cover (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein the end cover (100) is mounted on the integrated powertrain housing.
10. An integrated powertrain housing (200) of an electric vehicle to securely enclose a motor, a transmission unit and a clutch assembly, wherein the housing (200) comprises:
- a first member (202);
- a second member (204); and
- an end cover (100), securely mounted on the second member (204).