Motor integration assembly

Abstract

A motor integration assembly includes a supporting structure for connecting a transmission of a vehicle to a drivetrain of the vehicle, wherein the support structure includes a housing to receive a portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle. The motor integration assembly also includes a torque transfer unit for transferring torque from an electric machine to the portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A motor integration assembly, comprising:
 a supporting structure for connecting a transmission of a vehicle to a drivetrain of the vehicle, wherein the support structure includes a housing to receive a portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle; and   a torque transfer unit for transferring torque from an electric machine to the portion of the drivetrain of the vehicle.   
     
     
         2 . The motor integration assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electric machine is located in a portion of the vehicle for a four-wheel drive component. 
     
     
         3 . The motor integration assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor integration assembly is positioned in a location for a tail housing of the transmission of the vehicle. 
     
     
         4 . The motor integration assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electrical machine is located internal to the motor integration assembly. 
     
     
         5 . The motor integration assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electric machine is located external to motor integration assembly. 
     
     
         6 . The motor integration assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the supporting structure includes a multi-piece bracket. 
     
     
         7 . The motor integration assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the motor integration assembly is substantially aligned with the transmission and the drivetrain of the vehicle along an axis of rotation. 
     
     
         8 . The motor integration assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the torque transfer unit includes gearing for transferring torque from the electric machine to the drivetrain of the vehicle. 
     
     
         9 . The motor integration assembly of  claim 1 , wherein the electric machine converts electrical power to mechanical power. 
     
     
         10 . A hybrid-electric vehicle system, comprising:
 a transmission for providing torque to a drivetrain of the hybrid-electric vehicle;   an electric machine for providing torque to the drivetrain of the hybrid-electric vehicle; and   a motor integration assembly, comprising,
 a supporting structure for connecting the transmission of the hybrid-electric vehicle to the drivetrain of the hybrid-electric vehicle, wherein the support structure includes a housing to receive a portion of the drivetrain of the hybrid-electric vehicle, and 
 a torque transfer unit for transferring torque from the electric machine to the portion of the drivetrain of the hybrid-electric vehicle. 
   
     
     
         11 . The hybrid-electric vehicle system of  claim 10 , wherein the electric machine is located in a portion of the vehicle for a four-wheel drive component. 
     
     
         12 . The hybrid-electric vehicle system of  claim 10 , wherein the motor integration assembly is positioned in a location for a tail housing of the transmission of the vehicle. 
     
     
         13 . The hybrid-electric vehicle system of  claim 10 , wherein the electrical machine is located internal to the motor integration assembly. 
     
     
         14 . The hybrid-electric vehicle system of  claim 10 , wherein the electric machine is located external to motor integration assembly. 
     
     
         15 . The hybrid-electric vehicle system of  claim 10 , wherein the supporting structure includes a multi-piece bracket. 
     
     
         16 . The hybrid-electric vehicle system of  claim 10 , wherein the motor integration assembly is substantially aligned with the transmission and the drive electric of the vehicle along an axis of rotation. 
     
     
         17 . The hybrid-electric vehicle system of  claim 10 , wherein the torque transfer unit includes gearing for transferring torque from the electric machine to the drivetrain of the vehicle. 
     
     
         18 . The hybrid-electric vehicle system of  claim 10 , wherein the electric machine converts electrical power to mechanical power. 
     
     
         19 . A method of installing a hybrid-electric conversion system, comprising:
 replacing a tail housing of a transmission of a vehicle with a motor integration assembly for transferring torque from a combustion engine and an electric machine to a drivetrain of the vehicle.   
     
     
         20 . The method of  claim 19 , wherein the motor integration assembly utilizes connection points of the transmission used by the tail housing.