Invention Grant
- Patent Title: Selectable differential drive for a vehicle
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Application No.: US17984475Application Date: 2022-11-10
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Publication No.: US11766943B2Publication Date: 2023-09-26
- Inventor: Mason Verbridge , Cameron P. Williams , Khwaja Rahman , Henry Huang , Vinaey Kalyanaraman
- Applicant: RIVIAN IP HOLDINGS, LLC
- Applicant Address: US MI Plymouth
- Assignee: RIVIAN IP HOLDINGS, LLC
- Current Assignee: RIVIAN IP HOLDINGS, LLC
- Current Assignee Address: US MI Plymouth
- Agency: Haley Guiliano LLP
- Main IPC: B60K17/16
- IPC: B60K17/16 ; B60L15/20 ; B60K7/00 ; B60K17/02 ; B60W50/08

Abstract:
A drive system includes a first drive train and a second drive train coupled by a differential assembly. Each drive train include a motor, an output gear, and a clutch assembly that engages and disengages the output gear from respective halfshafts. The differential assembly is configured to couple the first and second halfshafts, and connect/disconnect the first output gear and the first halfshaft. The differential assembly includes, for example, side gears, a spider gearset, and an actuator for engaging and disengaging the differential casing from the first output gear. A control system is configured to actuate actuators of clutch assemblies and/or a differential assembly to achieve one or more drive modes for each drive axis. The control system determines the first drive mode, controls the clutch assemblies and differential assemblies, and controls one or more motors. The drive modes include, for example, torque vectoring, fully locked, single motor, and neutral.
Public/Granted literature
- US20230077890A1 SELECTABLE DIFFERENTIAL DRIVE FOR A VEHICLE Public/Granted day:2023-03-16
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