Abstract: A driveline assembly for a vehicle including at least one primary shaft rotatable about an axis. At least one reducer assembly is coupled with the at least one primary shaft. The reducer assembly includes a sun gear rotatable with the primary shaft. A plurality of planet gears are rotatable about the sun gear. A ring is positioned about the planet gears. A planet carrier is rotatably connected to a center of each of the planet gears. An output shaft is fixed to the planet carrier. A sliding clutch fixes the ring to a ground in a high torque position to provide a gear reduction, and fixes the ring to the planet carrier in a low torque position to provide a 1:1 gear ratio. A method for operating such a driveline assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A battery cell monitoring system and method of operating the system are provided. The system includes a plurality sense lines and a plurality of cell sense units that each include an active semiconductor device are electrically coupled to the sense lines for transferring a device current characteristic of a bias voltage based on an input device voltage applied thereto. A cell sense reader unit includes a voltage generator for outputting the input voltage to the cell sense units in an alternating fashion across each of the sense lines. The cell sense reader unit includes a current measuring device for sampling the device current output from the active semiconductor device as the input device voltage is alternated. The cell sense reader unit calculates the bias voltage and determines a cell voltage of each of a plurality of battery cells each connected to one of the cell sense units.

Abstract: A battery cell monitoring system and method of operating the battery cell monitoring system are provided. The system includes a sense line. A plurality of cell sense units each include a tank circuit having a center frequency and are electrically connected to the sense line. A cell sense reader unit electrically couples to the sense line and includes a variable frequency radio frequency generator for outputting a radio frequency signal having a signal frequency that is variable to the plurality of cell sense units. The cell sense reader unit measures an impedance of the sense line as the signal frequency varies and determines the center frequency of each of the cell sense units. The cell sense reader unit is also configured to determine a cell voltage of each battery cell electrically connected to one of the plurality of cell sense units based on the center frequency determined.

Abstract: An electric motor comprises a stator presenting a first surface. A rotor is rotatable relative to the stator. The rotor presents a rotor raceway disposed in spaced relationship with the first surface of the stator. The first surface of the stator defines a plurality of slots in spaced relationship with one another to define a plurality of spaced teeth between the slots. At least one electrical conductor is disposed in each of the slots and configured to selectively create a moving magnetic field for acting upon the rotor for providing rotational movement of the rotor. A portion of the at least one electrical conductor extends substantially into radial alignment with, or past the first surface of the stator to at least partially define a stator raceway of the stator for engaging the rotor raceway of the rotor during relative radial movement between the rotor and the stator.

Abstract: A system for controlling an electric motor including a rotor supported by a lubricant upon a stator with a plurality of stator poles and stator windings includes monitoring a radial position and rotor angle of the rotor by a controller. The system includes generating adjustments by the controller to cause the stator poles to apply a net radial force to the rotor. This net radial force may be used, for example to cause the rotor to be centered upon a central axis of the electric motor and may be particularly advantageous for a lubricant supported rotor. A motor drive provides an AC current to the stator windings as well as phase current adjustments of the electrical current in one or more of the stator windings to apply the net radial force to the rotor in a direction perpendicular to the drive axis.

Abstract: A disposable filter including an integrated sensor is provided for filtering a working fluid and monitoring the working fluid and/or the performance of the filter. The filter includes a housing with an inlet and an outlet with filter media disposed within the housing in a flow path defined between the inlet and the outlet. The integrated sensor is disposed within the housing, where the integrated sensor monitors a characteristic of the working fluid or other performance characteristic of the filter. The sensor assembly may include a communication module. The sensor assembly may include a RF tank circuit with a capacitor plate, which may be disposed adjacent a bypass structure that is disposed adjacent the outlet. Movement of a moveable part of the bypass structure in response to a pressure buildup will cause a shift in a resonant frequency of the tank circuit.

Abstract: A lubricant supported electric motor includes a stator presenting an stator raceway, and a rotor movable relative to the stator and presenting a rotor raceway disposed in spaced relationship with the stator raceway to define a gap therebetween. A lubricant is disposed in the gap for supporting the rotor relative to the stator. The stator defines at least one hydrostatic support chamber disposed in radially recessed relationship relative to the stator raceway and in fluid communication with the gap. The stator also defines a passageway disposed in fluid communication with the at least one hydrostatic support chamber for providing lubricant to the at least one hydrostatic support chamber and the gap. A flow restriction mechanism is disposed in fluid communication with the passageway for controlling and balancing a supply and pressure of the lubricant in the hydrostatic support chamber.

Abstract: A lubricant supported electric motor includes a stator and a rotor and a drive hub. The rotor is moveable relative to the stator and a gap is defined between the rotor and the stator. A lubricant is disposed within the gap to support the rotor relative to the stator and provide a bearing mechanism. The drive hub is coupled to the rotor such that rotation of the rotor causes rotation of the drive hub. The drive hub may be connected to the rotor via a coupler member that is torsionally stiff and axially and radially compliant. The stator may be fixed relative to a connection structure that extends radially within the stator. The connection member may support the drive hub for rotation. Lubricant is supplied via a passageway extending through the connection member into a chamber that includes the gap.

Abstract: A lubricant supported electric motor including a stator presenting a stator raceway, and a rotor extending along an axis and rotatable relative to the stator. The rotor presents a rotor raceway disposed in spaced relationship with the stator raceway to define a gap there between. A lubricant is disposed in the gap for supporting the rotor relative to the stator. The rotor includes a plurality of rotor poles arranged adjacent the rotor raceway in circumferentially spaced relationship with one another, and the stator includes a plurality of stator poles extending radially towards the rotor in circumferentially spaced relationship with one another along the stator raceway. A plurality of stator coil windings are wrapped around the plurality of stator poles and individually controllable for generating a magnetic force to center the rotor within the stator with carefully-timed adjustments to magnetic fields generated by the stator.

Abstract: A lubricant supported electric motor includes an outer stator and an inner stator each extending around an axis in radially spaced relationship with one another. A rotor is rotatably disposed between the inner and outer stators to define an inner gap extending radially between the rotor and the inner stator and an outer gap extending radially between the rotor and the outer stator. A lubricant is disposed in both of the inner and outer gaps for supporting the rotor radially between the inner and outer stators. The lubricant supported motor with a two-sided radial flux configuration results in improved rotor-to-stator system stiffness to allow the lubricant supported electric motor to be used in high shock and high vibration environments, while also providing high torque in a small and lightweight design package.

Abstract: A lubricant supported electric motor includes a stator presenting a stator raceway, and a rotor movable relative to the stator about an axis. The rotor presents a rotor raceway disposed in radially spaced and opposing relationship with the stator raceway to define a gap therebetween. A lubricant is disposed in the gap for supporting the rotor relative to the stator. The stator raceway includes a bearing structure comprised of a plurality of hydrodynamic surfaces aligned in parallel relationship along the stator raceway and a plurality of hydrostatic pockets disposed in radially recessed relationship relative to the hydrodynamic surfaces.

Abstract: A lubricant supported electric motor includes a stator presenting an outer raceway and a rotor extending along an axis and rotatably disposed within the stator. The rotor presents an inner raceway disposed in spaced relationship with said outer raceway to define at least one hydrostatic support chamber disposed therebetween. A lubricant is disposed in the hydrostatic support chamber for supporting the rotor within the stator. A monitoring port is disposed in fluid communication with the at least one hydrostatic support chamber, and a sensor is coupled with the monitoring port for monitoring an operating characteristic of the lubricant disposed in said at least one hydrostatic support chamber. This monitored operating characteristic is then used to determine a real-time operating condition of the lubricant supported electric motor.

Abstract: A lubricant supply system for an electric vehicle includes a lubricant supported electric motor and a lubricant supply line extending from a high pressure source to the lubricant supported electric motor for supplying lubricant to the lubricant supported electric motor. In one arrangement, at least one powertrain component is disposed in fluid communication with the lubricant supply line and fluidly connected in parallel with the lubricant supported electric motor for supplying lubricant to the powertrain component. In an alternative arrangement, the powertrain component is fluidly connected in series with and downstream from the lubricant supported electric motor for supplying lubricant from the lubricant supported electric motor to the powertrain component.

Abstract: A lubricant supported electric motor includes a stator presenting an outer raceway and a rotor extending along an axis and rotatably disposed within the stator. The rotor presents an inner raceway disposed in spaced relationship with the outer raceway to define a gap therebetween, and a lubricant is disposed in the gap for supporting the rotor within the stator. At least one of the outer raceway or the inner raceway is movable radially towards or away from the other to adjust the gap and optimize operation of the lubricant supported electric motor.

Abstract: A lubricant supported electric motor includes a stator presenting an outer raceway and a rotor extending along an axis and rotatably disposed within the stator to present an inner raceway disposed in spaced relationship with said the raceway to define a gap therebetween. A lubricant is disposed in the gap for supporting the rotor within the stator. At least one of the outer raceway or the inner raceway are profiled with a non-circular, cross-sectional shape for maintaining consistent support of the rotor over a wide range of operating speeds and dynamic situations encountered by the lubricant supported electric motor during operation.

Abstract: A driveline assembly for a vehicle including at least one primary shaft rotatable about an axis. At least one reducer assembly is coupled with the at least one primary shaft. The reducer assembly includes a sun gear rotatable with the primary shaft. A plurality of planet gears are rotatable about the sun gear. A ring is positioned about the planet gears. A planet carrier is rotatably connected to a center of each of the planet gears. An output shaft is fixed to the planet carrier. A sliding clutch fixes the ring to a ground in a high torque position to provide a gear reduction, and fixes the ring to the planet carrier in a low torque position to provide a 1:1 gear ratio. A method for operating such a driveline assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A control system for a driveline of a vehicle and method of operating the control system are provided. The system includes a base torque calculation module in communication with a plurality of vehicle controllers. The base torque calculation module determines and outputs a wheel torque command signal. A torque modulation module generates a periodic torque modulation signal based on the wheel torque command signal and a plurality of tire parameters. An adder module adds the periodic torque modulation signal to the wheel torque command signal and outputs a modulated wheel torque command signal to a wheel torque generator to linearize a tire characteristic of the plurality of tires of the vehicle. A slip and force determining module determines and outputs a plurality of slip estimates and estimated forces and a plurality of tire parameters to the torque modulation module, the plurality of vehicle controllers, and base torque calculation module.

Abstract: A driveline assembly for a vehicle including at least one primary shaft rotatable about an axis. At least one reducer assembly is coupled with the at least one primary shaft. The reducer assembly includes a sun gear rotatable with the primary shaft. A plurality of planet gears are rotatable about the sun gear. A ring is positioned about the planet gears. A planet carrier is rotatably connected to a center of each of the planet gears. An output shaft is fixed to the planet carrier. A sliding clutch fixes the ring to a ground in a high torque position to provide a gear reduction, and fixes the ring to the planet carrier in a low torque position to provide a 1:1 gear ratio. A method for operating such a driveline assembly is also provided.

Abstract: A system and method for cell balancing within a battery module includes local sensing and switching at each of the battery cells. A switching circuit is associated with each one of the battery cells to connect or functionally disconnected the battery cell from the battery module. A module controller generates one or more parameter threshold values as maximum operating values for each of the battery cells. Each cell has a cell controller associated therewith to monitor one or more cell parameters, which are communicated to a summing module via a shared monitoring line, averaged, and communicated to the module controller. The cell controllers each receive a parameter threshold value via a shared control line and command the associated switching circuit to functionally disconnect and to bypass the battery cell if the cell parameter exceeds the corresponding parameter threshold value. Methods of checking the battery module are also provided.

Abstract: A driveline assembly for an electric vehicle for driving a pair of wheels. The driveline assembly includes an electric motor having an output shaft. A differential is coupled with the output shaft and is configured to receive torque from the output shaft. A pair of primary shafts are each coupled with the differential and configured to receive torque from the differential. A pair of end reducers are each configured to receive torque from one of the primary shafts and provide a gear reduction and torque multiplying effect at a wheel output. A controller is connected to the electric motor and is configured to superimpose a torque fluctuation at the output shaft to counteract vibrations in the driveline assembly.