An electrified axle assembly includes a first and second motor, a first and second idler shaft, and one or more output shafts mechanically engaged with the first and/or second idler shafts and one or more axles. In some embodiments, the electrified axle assembly may include two output shafts, with each output shaft meshed with a corresponding one of the idler shafts and a corresponding one of the axles. In other embodiments, the electrified axle assembly may include a single output shaft meshed with each of the idler shaft and each axle. Additional single motor and single and dual speed embodiments are also disclosed.

Methods and systems for an electric drive axle of a vehicle are provided. An electric drive axle system includes, in one example, a gear train configured to rotationally attach to an electric motor-generator. The gear train includes an output shaft rotationally coupled to a first planetary gear assembly axially offset from an input shaft rotationally coupled to the electric motor-generator, the first planetary gear assembly configured to removably couple to a differential arranged co-axial with an axle.

Methods and systems for an electric drive axle of a vehicle are provided. An electric drive axle system includes, in one example, a gear train configured to rotationally attach to an electric motor-generator. The gear train includes an output shaft rotationally coupled to a first planetary gear assembly axially offset from an input shaft rotationally coupled to the electric motor-generator, the first planetary gear assembly configured to removably couple to a differential arranged co-axial with an axle.

Some embodiments are directed to a drive configuration for a skid-steered vehicle that has a pair of traction motors for rotationally driving opposite outputs of the drive configuration. The traction motors are operatively connected to the outputs via respective gearing arrangements for selectively varying gear reduction between each of the traction motors and the corresponding output. The drive configuration also has a steer differential in a torque connection with the first and second outputs of the drive configuration. The drive configuration additional has a steer motor operatively connected to the steer differential for selectively varying the rotational speed of the first and second outputs in use. Also, the traction and steer motors define a volume in which the gearing arrangements and steering differential are at least partially located.

Various improvements to axle assemblies are disclosed herein that are especially adapted for highly robust and compact configurations for use in front (i.e., steering) axle configurations.

A device includes a central sun gear with a rotation axis X, a ring gear extending about the axis X and the sun gear, and a planetary carrier supporting an annular row of planet gears arranged between the sun gear and the ring gear. Each of the planet gears may be rotationally guided by at least one bearing extending about a tubular support with an axis Y of the planetary carrier. The tubular support includes an inner cavity for receiving oil and substantially radial through-orifices for the passage of oil from the inner cavity to the at least one bearing. The least one bearing may include two bearings mounted coaxially and adjacently around the support. The bearings may include cages with substantially similar diameters of which the facing peripheral edges are shaped to guide the oil supplying the bearings radially outwards with respect to the axis Y.

A device includes a central sun gear with a rotation axis X, a ring gear extending about the axis X and the sun gear, and a planetary carrier supporting an annular row of planet gears arranged between the sun gear and the ring gear. Each of the planet gears may be rotationally guided by at least one bearing extending about a tubular support with an axis Y of the planetary carrier. The tubular support includes an inner cavity for receiving oil and substantially radial through-orifices for the passage of oil from the inner cavity to the at least one bearing. The least one bearing may include two bearings mounted coaxially and adjacently around the support. The bearings may include cages with substantially similar diameters of which the facing peripheral edges are shaped to guide the oil supplying the bearings radially outwards with respect to the axis Y.

A planetary gearset (6) has a sun gear (10) connected rotationally fixedly to an input shaft (8), a carrier (15) that carries planetary gears (11) and is connected rotationally fixedly to an output shaft (16), and a ring gear (14) fixedly connected to a housing (4) that encloses the planetary gearset (6). To reduce the noise emission from the planetary gearset with as little structural complexity as possible without reducing its efficiency due to pressure rings that are guided and slide against the planetary gears and the carrier, the sun gear (10), the planetary gears (11) and the ring gear (14) are provided with helical teeth and the input shaft (8) is at least indirectly supported on the housing (4), in both axial directions, by way of a single roller bearing (20).

A planetary gearset (6) has a sun gear (10) connected rotationally fixedly to an input shaft (8), a carrier (15) that carries planetary gears (11) and is connected rotationally fixedly to an output shaft (16), and a ring gear (14) fixedly connected to a housing (4) that encloses the planetary gearset (6). To reduce the noise emission from the planetary gearset with as little structural complexity as possible without reducing its efficiency due to pressure rings that are guided and slide against the planetary gears and the carrier, the sun gear (10), the planetary gears (11) and the ring gear (14) are provided with helical teeth and the input shaft (8) is at least indirectly supported on the housing (4), in both axial directions, by way of a single roller bearing (20).

Methods and systems are provided for operating a vehicle that includes a torque vectoring electric machine. In one example, torque output of a torque vectoring electric machine is adjusted to reduce driveline torque disturbances when the torque vectoring electric machine is activated. The torque output is adjusted in response to a speed difference between a wheel speed and a speed of the torque vectoring electric machine.