There is provided a hydrodynamic retarder including a bladed rotor and a bladed stator jointly forming a working chamber to be filled with working medium and discharged therefrom, a working medium container receiving working medium, and a control pressure application system pressurizing the working medium with a control pressure medium to displace the working medium from the working medium container into the working chamber to set a desired braking torque. A centrifugal separator separating the working medium from the control pressure medium, the centrifugal separator is connected in a flow-conductive manner to an outlet of the working medium container for the control pressure medium to be pressurized with the control pressure medium, the centrifugal separator is driven by the pressure of the control pressure medium, and the working medium container is assembled from at least two shells, where the first and/or the second shell encloses the centrifugal separator.

A hydrodynamic retarder having a rotor and a stator or a rotor and an oppositely running rotor, which together form a toroidal working chamber to filled with working medium, in order to transmit a torque by means of a hydrodynamic working chamber working medium circuit. An external working medium circuit has a heat exchanger that discharges heat from the working medium. The external working medium circuit is connected by a working medium inlet and a working medium outlet to the working chamber. The working medium inlet and outlet open to the working chamber at a torus outer diameter of the working chamber. A working medium feed line opens into the external working medium circuit. A core ring filling line is connected in working-medium-conducting fashion to the working chamber. The core ring filling line opens into a core ring of the working chamber radially within the torus outer diameter.

A hydrodynamic retarder having a rotor and a stator or a rotor and an oppositely running rotor, which together form a toroidal working chamber to filled with working medium, in order to transmit a torque by means of a hydrodynamic working chamber working medium circuit. An external working medium circuit has a heat exchanger that discharges heat from the working medium. The external working medium circuit is connected by a working medium inlet and a working medium outlet to the working chamber. The working medium inlet and outlet open to the working chamber at a torus outer diameter of the working chamber. A working medium feed line opens into the external working medium circuit. A core ring filling line is connected in working-medium-conducting fashion to the working chamber. The core ring filling line opens into a core ring of the working chamber radially within the torus outer diameter.

A drive train has a hydrodynamic retarder including a rotating bladed rotor and bladed stator, forming a working chamber for hydrodynamic transmission of power from rotor to stator, a power input feeding drive power to the retarder, and a synchronized separating clutch connected between power input and rotor. The clutch has two clutch halves, friction elements contacting each other and mechanical blocking elements. The friction elements equalize rotational speed between clutch halves, and the blocking elements form-lockingly connect the clutch halves. The clutch has an actuator displaceable along a displacement travel, over a first distance bringing the friction elements into mutual contact, and a second distance adjoining the first distance to synchronize the friction elements and rotational speed for locking with the blocking elements. At least one displacement sensor directly or indirectly detects displacement travel by the actuator and/or position of the actuator on the displacement travel.

A drive train has a hydrodynamic retarder including a rotating bladed rotor and bladed stator, forming a working chamber for hydrodynamic transmission of power from rotor to stator, a power input feeding drive power to the retarder, and a synchronized separating clutch connected between power input and rotor. The clutch has two clutch halves, friction elements contacting each other and mechanical blocking elements. The friction elements equalize rotational speed between clutch halves, and the blocking elements form-lockingly connect the clutch halves. The clutch has an actuator displaceable along a displacement travel, over a first distance bringing the friction elements into mutual contact, and a second distance adjoining the first distance to synchronize the friction elements and rotational speed for locking with the blocking elements. At least one displacement sensor directly or indirectly detects displacement travel by the actuator and/or position of the actuator on the displacement travel.

An electric machine comprising a rotor, a stator, and a fluid-based brake arrangement for said rotor, said fluid-based brake arrangement having a fluid circuit for transporting a brake fluid, said fluid circuit comprising a fluid channel arrangement having at least one radial fluid channel segment extending radially through a part of said rotor so as to allow for directing brake fluid from an inner radial rotor side to an outer radial rotor side, whereby, during rotation of said rotor about an axial centre axis, acceleration of brake fluid in said at least one radial fluid channel segment causes a reaction force exerting a braking torque on the rotor.

An electric drive device for a vehicle includes: a rotating machine that is used as a driving force source for traveling of the vehicle; a differential device configured to distribute power transmitted from the rotating machine to right and left driving wheels; and a retarder provided in a power transmission path between the rotating machine and the differential device and configured to generate a braking force. The retarder is either an electromagnetic retarder or a fluid retarder. The rotating machine and the retarder are arranged on opposite sides of an axis of the differential device in a front-rear direction of the vehicle in a plan view seen from above the vehicle, the axis of the differential device being parallel to a width direction of the vehicle.

An electric drive device for a vehicle includes: a rotating machine that is used as a driving force source for traveling of the vehicle; a differential device configured to distribute power transmitted from the rotating machine to right and left driving wheels; and a retarder provided in a power transmission path between the rotating machine and the differential device and configured to generate a braking force. The retarder is either an electromagnetic retarder or a fluid retarder. The rotating machine and the retarder are arranged on opposite sides of an axis of the differential device in a front-rear direction of the vehicle in a plan view seen from above the vehicle, the axis of the differential device being parallel to a width direction of the vehicle.

A method for controlling a motor vehicle, comprising: retrieving road gradient data relating to an expected travelling route of the motor vehicle; based on at least the retrieved road gradient data and on a motor vehicle mass, simulating a required value of a braking power related variable, which required value is needed to prevent a vehicle speed from increasing above a preset desired vehicle speed in an upcoming downhill slope; determining an available value of the braking power related variable of at least one auxiliary brake of the motor vehicle; and based on the determined available value and the simulated required value of the braking power related variable, controlling the vehicle speed and/or at least one brake actuator of the motor vehicle such that the vehicle speed does not increase above the preset desired vehicle speed in the upcoming downhill slope.

The invention relates to a drive device for a vehicle, comprising at least one electric machine, in particular an electric motor, having a rotor and a stator, a drive axle and a main service brake, the drive device being equipped with an additional service brake in the form of a fluid gap brake, comprising a fluid gap which is situated between the rotor and the stator and can be flooded with a fluid to achieve a braking effect. The invention also relates to a vehicle having a drive device having a fluid gap brake and to a method for braking a drive device by means of the fluid gap brake, characterized by the following method steps: —flooding the fluid gap with fluid from a reservoir by means of the flooding device; —emptying the fluid gap of fluid into a reservoir by means of the drainage device.