Integrated drive unit having an electric drive and a mechanical brake

Abstract

A drive and deceleration unit has a mechanical brake and an electric drive. The mechanical brake and the electric drive are provided as a unit for acting on a single wheel connection. A method provides for the open-loop and/or closed-loop control of such a drive and deceleration unit.

Claims

1. A drive and deceleration unit, comprising: a mechanical brake; and an e-drive, wherein the mechanical brake and the e-drive are provided as a unit for acting on a single wheel connection, the e-drive in generator mode exclusively brakes when a braking action corresponding to the brake request is achievable thereby, and the mechanical brake additionally brakes when the braking action corresponding to the brake request cannot be achieved by the e-drive alone.

2. The drive and deceleration unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a common control device both for controlling the mechanical brake and for controlling the e-drive.

3. The drive and deceleration unit as claimed in claim 2, wherein the control device controls the drive and deceleration unit so that the braking action can be applied to the wheel connection either by: the mechanical brake alone, the e-drive alone, or a combination of the mechanical brake and the e-drive.

4. The drive and deceleration unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a gear integrated in the unit.

5. The drive and deceleration unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the gear is part of the e-drive, and/or a final gear stage is formed as a component of the mechanical brake.

6. The drive and deceleration unit as claimed in claim 4, wherein the gear is a planetary gear.

7. The drive and deceleration unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the mechanical brake is a drum brake or disk brake and is activatable pneumatically, hydraulically or electromotively.

8. The drive and deceleration unit as claimed in claim 7, wherein the unit is provided for use in a utility vehicle or in a rail vehicle.

9. The drive and deceleration unit as claimed in claim 1, further comprising: a wheel connection provided as a rigid shaft or as a shaft which is decoupled from vibrations, wherein the drive and deceleration unit is provided for assembly on a vehicle chassis.

10. The drive and deceleration unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive and deceleration unit is provided for direct assembly on a wheel.

11. The drive and deceleration unit as claimed in claim 1, wherein a rotor of the e-drive is formed as a component of the mechanical brake.

12. A method for controlling a drive and deceleration unit having a mechanical brake, an e-drive and a control device, the method comprising: (i) exclusively braking by the e-drive in generator mode when a braking action corresponding to the brake request is achievable thereby; and (ii) additionally braking via the mechanical brake when the braking action corresponding to the brake request cannot be achieved by the e-drive alone.

13. The method as claimed claim 12, further comprising: when exclusive braking by the e-drive in generator mode is sufficient to fulfill the brake request, additionally braking via the mechanical brake in a final braking section before the vehicle is at a standstill.

14. The method as claimed in claim 13, further comprising: in an event of an emergency brake request, immediately additionally activating the mechanical brake without checking whether the braking action corresponding to the brake request is achievable by the e-drive in generator mode alone.

15. The method as claimed in claim 12, further comprising: when the energy converted into current by the e-drive in generator mode cannot be used, additionally braking via the mechanical brake.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(1) FIG. 1 shows the conventional arrangement of a drive unit and a brake unit with their connection to a wheel according to the prior art, as already explained in the introductory section.

(2) FIG. 2 shows an exemplary embodiment of the configuration according to the invention

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

(3) The description below of FIG. 2 discusses, in particular, the differences from the arrangement shown in FIG. 1. FIG. 2 also shows a schematically illustrated wheel 2. A drive and deceleration unit 1 according to the invention is furthermore illustrated. In contrast to two connections 23, 24 according to the prior art (see FIG. 1), only a single connection 21 is provided between the wheel 2 and the drive and deceleration unit 1. An e-drive 11 is arranged centrally within the drive and deceleration unit 1. The embodiment shown here has an optional gear 13, which is arranged adjacent to the brake 12 and to the e-drive 11. If the wheel 2 is to be driven, the torque generated by the e-drive 11 is conducted via the gear 13 and, from there, by the connection 21 to the wheel 2. Although the option of a direct torque transmission from the gear 13 to the connection 21 is not illustrated in FIG. 2, it can still take place. FIG. 2 should simply be seen as a basic illustration which demonstrates an example of a basic arrangement of the various components.

(4) If the wheel 2 is to be braked, a brake force must be applied to the connection 21 by the drive and deceleration unit 1. This occurs exclusively by means of the e-drive 11 in generator mode if the brake force request can be fulfilled thereby. However, if the braking action of the e-drive 11 in generator mode is insufficient, a braking force is additionally applied by the mechanical brake 12.

(5) To control or regulate the interaction between the e-drive 11 and the mechanical brake 12, the drive and deceleration unit 1 has a control device 14 integrated therein. The control device 14 has, amongst other things, safety functions such as ABS and ESP functionality (in utility vehicles) or wheel slide protection (in rail vehicles).

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

(6) 1 Drive and deceleration unit 11 E-drive 12 Brake 13 Gear 14 Control device (of the drive and deceleration unit 1) 2 Wheel 21 Connection between wheel 2 und drive and deceleration unit 1 23 Connection between wheel 2 und e-drive unit 3 (prior art) 24 Connection between wheel 2 und brake unit 4 (prior art) 3 E-drive unit (prior art) 31 E-drive (prior art) 32 Control device (prior art) 33 Connection between e-drive 31 and control unit 32 4 Brake unit (prior art) 41 Brake (prior art) 42 Brake control (prior art) 43 Connection between brake 41 and brake control 42