Assembly of a wheel hub on a wheel hub carrier for a vehicle, wheel hub power device for a vehicle, and vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to an assembly (11) of a wheel hub (32) on a wheel carrier (12) for a vehicle, in which the wheel hub (32) is rotatably supported on the wheel carrier (12) via a wheel hub bearing (34), at least one wheel (36) of the vehicle can be fixed to the wheel hub in a rotationally fixed manner, the assembly comprising at least one environmental sensor (46) at least partially arranged in the wheel hub (32), by means of which at least a part of the environment (44) of the vehicle can be detected.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The invention relates to an assembly of a wheel hub on a wheel hub carrier for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a wheel hub power unit for a motor vehicle. The invention also relates to a motor vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. Background Art

[0002] WO2013 / 114027A1 discloses a parking assistance system for a vehicle, which has a sensor, by means of which the distance between the sensor and an obstacle can be detected. Here, the sensor is positioned on the wheel of the vehicle. Summary of the invention

[0003] The object of the present invention is to provide a wheel hub unit and a motor vehicle in such a way that at least a part of the surroundings of the motor vehicle can be detected in a particularly simple manner.

[0004] A first aspect of the invention relates to an assembly of a wheel hub on a wheel carrier for a vehicle, in particular for a motor vehicle, which can be configured, for example, as an automobile, in particular as a passenger car. In the finished state, the vehicle comprises a body, in the form of a self-supporting vehicle, for example, wherein the wheel carrier is at least indirectly, in particular, movably held on the body by at least one wheel control arm or by a plurality of wheel control arms. The wheel carrier is in particular at least indirectly held on the body in an elastic and / or damping manner, so that relative movements between the wheel carrier and the body are elastically damped and / or damped by means of springs and / or damping mechanisms, or can be elastically damped and / or damped by means of springs and / or damping mechanisms. The wheel carrier is in particular held on the body in a manner that it can be moved relative to the body, for example, in the vehicle height direction, so that, for example, the wheel carrier can be moved at least linearly relative to the body in the vehicle height direction. Thus, the wheel carrier can, for example, be elastically compressed and rebounded relative to the body. It is also conceivable that the wheel carrier can be swung relative to the body about a swivel axis, also referred to as a control arm axis, and can thus be steered. This is particularly true if a steerable or steerable wheel can be held or is held on the vehicle body by means of a wheel carrier. The wheel carrier and the wheel held at least indirectly on the wheel carrier can then be pivoted relative to the vehicle body about a pivot axis and thus steered, whereby, for example, a bend or a change of direction of the vehicle can be initiated, for example, by the driver of the vehicle. To this end, the driver actuates, for example, a steering device arranged in the interior of the vehicle, such as a steering wheel, in particular so that the driver moves the steering device relative to the vehicle body, in particular pivots it about a pivot axis.

[0005] In this assembly, the wheel hub is rotatably supported on the wheel carrier via a wheel hub bearing. Here, the vehicle wheel, which is constructed separately from the wheel hub and is arranged in addition to the wheel hub, can be fixed on the wheel hub in a relatively rotationally fixed manner. Therefore, when using a wheel hub, the wheel is rotatably supported on the wheel carrier or can be supported on the wheel carrier. The wheel is a ground-contacting element by which the vehicle can be supported on the ground at the bottom or at the bottom in the vehicle height direction in its completely manufactured state. If the vehicle is driven along the ground, the wheel rolls along the ground or on the ground when the vehicle is supported on the ground at the bottom in the vehicle height direction by the wheel.

[0006] In order to be able to detect at least a part of the environment of the vehicle in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner, at least one environment sensor is provided according to the invention, which is arranged at least partially in the wheel hub and by means of which at least the above-mentioned part of the environment of the vehicle can be detected. Thus, the environment sensor, also referred to as sensor for short, can be integrated into the vehicle in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner. Usually, the environment sensor is integrated into a corresponding body of the vehicle, which is designed, for example, as a self-supporting body.

[0007] Therefore, the appearance of the vehicle body, also referred to as the body design, in particular its structure or development, must usually be adapted to the integration of sensors into the vehicle body in a conventional manner. The aim here is usually to make the vehicle body in which the sensors are integrated present a favorable visual impression. The problem that arises from this, especially when considering the design of the vehicle body, is the selection of the corresponding installation position of the corresponding sensor. Unlike the situation, for example, in front sensors or rear sensors, in particular in front radars or rear radars, the open installation of side sensors, for example, which are designed as side radars (by means of which at least the part of the environment located to the left or right beside the vehicle in the transverse direction of the vehicle can be detected), can usually only be realized at the expense of the desired, favorable and classic design of the vehicle body. However, in particular for future vehicles and future applications, for example in the field of unmanned or autonomous driving, the use of side sensors is conducive to reliable operation and a wide range of functions.

[0008] Since it is provided according to the invention that the environment sensor is at least partially arranged in the wheel hub and is therefore at least partially accommodated in the wheel hub, the environment sensor can be installed at or in the vehicle without undesirably affecting the body of the vehicle or the appearance of the body of the vehicle. At the same time, the part of the environment that is located to the left or right beside the vehicle in the transverse direction of the vehicle can be detected particularly advantageously with the aid of the environment sensor. The vehicle body or the design of the vehicle body can in particular remain completely unaffected by the use of the environment sensor, since the environment sensor is not integrated into the vehicle body, but into the wheel hub. The assembly according to the invention makes it possible in particular to avoid compromises between the installation position of the sensor, the design of the vehicle body and the function or performance of the environment sensor. Although, for example, when integrating the sensor into the vehicle body, a new development is required for the integration of the corresponding sensor into the vehicle body for each vehicle derivative / series product, this can be avoided by the assembly according to the invention. In other words, the integration of the environment sensor is independent of the vehicle body and its design and can be used as the same component in all derivatives, in particular as a component of the wheel hub or wheel carrier.

[0009] It is possible that the environment sensor can be rotated together with the wheel hub relative to the wheel carrier. In this case, the environment sensor is connected to the wheel hub, for example, in a rotationally fixed manner. However, it is alternatively possible that the wheel hub is rotatable relative to the environment sensor and relative to the wheel carrier. In this case, the environment sensor is preferably held at least in a rotationally fixed manner on the wheel carrier and is thus prevented from rotating relative to the wheel carrier. The environment sensor is thus not rotatable together with the wheel hub relative to the wheel carrier, whereby at least a part of the environment can be detected particularly well.

[0010] It has been found to be particularly advantageous if the environment sensor is held directly on the wheel hub. This is to be understood in particular as meaning that the environment sensor directly contacts or touches the wheel hub. The environment sensor can thus be integrated into the wheel hub in a particularly space-saving manner and fastened to the wheel hub.

[0011] It is also particularly advantageous to hold the environmental sensor directly on the wheel carrier. This means in particular that the environmental sensor directly contacts or touches the wheel carrier. The environmental sensor can thus be integrated into the wheel hub in a particularly space-saving manner and be fixed to the wheel carrier and thus prevented from rotating relative to the wheel carrier.

[0012] In order to be able to integrate the surroundings sensor into the wheel hub particularly simply and advantageously in terms of installation space and cost, in a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the surroundings sensor is at least predominantly, in particular completely, arranged in the wheel hub, ie is accommodated in the wheel hub.

[0013] In a particularly advantageous embodiment of the invention, the environment sensor has at least one camera, by means of which an image of at least a portion of the environment can be captured and thus recorded. Alternatively or additionally, the environment sensor has a radar sensor and / or at least one ultrasonic sensor and / or at least one laser sensor and / or at least one lidar sensor. Thus, particularly good performance can be achieved in a cost-effective manner with respect to the detection of a portion of the environment.

[0014] Another embodiment is characterized in that the component has a wheel hub motor designed as an electric motor. The wheel hub motor comprises a stator and a rotor which can be driven by the stator and can therefore be rotated relative to the stator about an axis of rotation. The rotor comprises a hub which is rotatably supported on a wheel hub carrier via a wheel hub bearing, so that the wheel hub can be driven by the stator and can therefore be rotated relative to the wheel hub carrier about the axis of rotation. The rotor can therefore be rotated relative to the wheel hub carrier about the axis of rotation. In this embodiment, a synergy between the wheel hub motor and the sensor can be achieved or provided, so that a particularly purely electric drive of the wheel and therefore of the vehicle can be achieved in a particularly advantageous manner by means of the wheel hub motor. At the same time, at least a part of the environment can be advantageously detected.

[0015] It has been shown to be advantageous here that at least one first cable is provided, via which the wheel hub motor can be supplied with electrical energy, more precisely with current. In order to drive the rotor by means of the stator, the wheel hub motor is supplied with electrical energy by means of the first cable. In this case, at least one second cable, which is designed separately from the first cable and is provided in addition to the first cable, is also provided, via which the environment sensor can be supplied with electrical energy, more precisely with current. Alternatively or additionally, the environment sensor can provide environment sensor data, which are also referred to as environment data and characterize the part of the environment detected by means of the environment sensor. The environment data can be received, for example, by an electronic computing device, in particular of a vehicle, so that then, for example, the vehicle can be operated by means of the electronic computing device according to the data and therefore according to the environment detected by means of the environment sensor. The electronic computing device can, for example, in particular operate the wheel hub motor according to the data and therefore according to the environment detected by means of the environment sensor, in particular control or regulate the vehicle. The electronic computing device is also referred to as a control device, for example, and / or can be a component of the vehicle. In this case, the cables are combined into a wiring harness. In this way, environmental sensors can be integrated into the vehicle particularly simply and cost-effectively, and the vehicle can be equipped with wheel hub motors particularly simply and cost-effectively, since, for example, the cables are laid simultaneously during the manufacture or assembly of the vehicle and can be laid concurrently with the laying of the wiring harness and thus with the assembly.

[0016] In order to be able to equip the vehicle with wheel hub motors and environmental sensors in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner, in a further embodiment of the invention it is provided that the cables run at least partially in a common sheath for the cables of the wiring harness and are held together by means of the sheath.

[0017] Another specific embodiment is characterized by at least one common circuit element for the environment sensor and the wheel hub motor, via which the wheel hub motor and the environment sensor can be supplied with electrical energy, or more precisely, with current. Furthermore, the above-described environment data of the environment sensor can be provided via this circuit element. The number of components and thus the costs, weight and installation space requirement can thus be kept particularly low, wherein a vehicle can be equipped with a wheel hub motor and a sensor.

[0018] A second aspect of the invention relates to a wheel hub powertrain for a vehicle, in particular a motor vehicle. The wheel hub powertrain comprises a wheel hub carrier and a wheel hub motor configured as an electric motor. The wheel hub motor comprises a stator and a rotor which can be driven by the stator and can therefore rotate relative to the stator. The rotor comprises a wheel hub which is rotatably supported on the wheel hub carrier via a wheel hub bearing. At least one wheel of the vehicle is fixed to the wheel hub in a non-rotatable manner or can be fixed to the wheel hub in a non-rotatable manner.

[0019] In order to be able to detect at least a part of the vehicle's surroundings in a particularly simple and cost-effective manner, at least one environment sensor is provided according to the invention, which is arranged at least partially in the wheel hub and by means of which at least the above-mentioned part of the vehicle's surroundings can be detected. Advantages and advantageous embodiments of the first aspect of the invention can be regarded as advantages and advantageous embodiments of the second aspect of the invention, and vice versa.

[0020] The third aspect of the present invention relates to a vehicle which is preferably configured as a motor vehicle, in particular as an automobile and particularly preferably as a passenger car, which comprises at least one component according to the first aspect of the present invention and / or at least one wheel hub power device according to the second aspect of the present invention. The advantages and advantageous designs of the first and second aspects of the present invention can be regarded as the advantages and advantageous designs of the third aspect of the present invention, and vice versa.

[0021] The vehicle according to the invention can be equipped with an electric drive and thus be designed as an electric vehicle, in particular as a battery electric vehicle. The vehicle can thus be driven, in particular purely electrically or exclusively electrically, by means of a wheel hub drive. The wheel carrier can be assigned to the front axle so that, for example, the wheel which is fixed in a rotationally fixed manner to the wheel hub or can be fixed in a rotationally fixed manner to the wheel hub is a front wheel. The wheel can be a steerable wheel or a steered wheel. It is also conceivable that the wheel carrier is assigned to the rear axle so that, for example, the wheel is designed as a rear wheel.

[0022] The present invention also includes the improved solutions of the second and third aspects of the present invention, which have the features as described in conjunction with the improved solutions of the first aspect of the present invention. For this reason, the corresponding improved solutions of the second and third aspects of the present invention are no longer described here. The present invention also includes the combination of the various features of the described embodiments. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] The following describes embodiments of the present invention.

[0024] The single FIGURE shows a schematic, sectional perspective view of a wheel hub drive system according to the invention for a vehicle which is preferably designed as a motor vehicle, in particular a passenger car. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0025] The embodiments described below are preferred embodiments of the present invention. In the embodiments, the described components of the embodiments are respectively the features of the present invention that can be considered independently of each other, and they also improve the present invention independently of each other. Therefore, the present disclosure should also include the combinations of the features of the embodiments that are different from those shown. In addition, the described embodiments can also be supplemented by other features in the features already described of the present invention.

[0026] The single figure shows in a schematic perspective view an electric drive in the form of a wheel hub drive 10 for a vehicle, which in the illustrated embodiment is designed as a motor vehicle and preferably as a car, in particular a passenger car. The motor vehicle has a body in the finished state, which is designed, for example, as a self-supporting body. The body has a shell that can be visually and tactilely perceived by a person who is in the corresponding environment of the motor vehicle. In other words, the shell can be seen and touched by a corresponding person who is in the environment.

[0027] The wheel hub power unit 10 is designed as a motor vehicle that can be driven at least electrically or only electrically. For this purpose, the wheel hub power unit 10 includes a wheel hub carrier 12, which is movably held on the vehicle body by corresponding wheel control arms 14, which are also referred to as control arms for short. The wheel hub carrier 12 can be moved, for example, linearly relative to the vehicle body at least in the vehicle height direction, so that the wheel hub carrier can be elastically compressed and rebounded relative to the vehicle body. The vehicle height direction is indicated by a double arrow 16 in the figure. A spring and / or damping device 18 is assigned to the wheel hub carrier 12, which has a shock absorber 20, which is also referred to as an impact shock absorber and is configured as a hydraulic shock absorber, and a spring 22. The spring 22 is a mechanical spring and is configured as a coil spring, for example. The relative movement described above between the wheel hub carrier 12 and the vehicle body is elastically attenuated and / or buffered by means of the spring and / or damping device 18.

[0028] The wheel hub drive 10 further comprises a wheel hub motor 24 designed as an electric machine, which comprises a stator 26 and a rotor 28. The stator 26 is at least indirectly, in particular directly, fastened to the wheel hub carrier 12, so that there is no relative movement between the stator 26 and the wheel hub carrier 12. Here, the rotor 28 can be driven by the stator 26 and can therefore rotate relative to the stator 26 about an axis of rotation 30 and can therefore rotate relative to the wheel hub carrier 12 about the axis of rotation 30. The wheel hub motor 24 can be operated, for example, in a motor mode and can therefore be operated as an electric motor. In the motor mode, the wheel hub motor 24 is supplied with electrical energy, more precisely with electric current. Thus, the rotor 28 is driven by the stator 26 and can therefore rotate relative to the wheel hub carrier 12 about the axis of rotation 30. Furthermore, it is also conceivable that the wheel hub motor 24 can be operated in a generator mode and can therefore be operated as a generator. Here, the rotor 28 is driven by the kinetic energy of a moving motor vehicle, for example, traveling along the ground, and can therefore rotate relative to the stator 26 about the axis of rotation 30. Thus, for example, at least a portion of the kinetic energy of the motor vehicle is converted into electrical energy by means of a generator, which is provided by the wheel hub motor 24 and can be supplied to at least one electrical load and / or stored in a storage device, for example, designed as a battery, for storing electrical energy. The battery is, for example, a component of the motor vehicle. In motor operation, the wheel hub motor 24 is supplied with electrical energy stored in the battery, for example.

[0029] The wheel hub power plant 10 further comprises a wheel hub 32, which is a component of the rotor 28. The wheel hub 32 is rotatably supported on the wheel hub carrier 12 by at least one or exactly one wheel hub bearing 34, so that the wheel hub 32 can rotate relative to the wheel hub carrier 12 about the axis of rotation 30. The wheel hub bearing 34 comprises, for example, at least one rolling bearing or a plurality of rolling bearings, so that the wheel hub 32 is rotatably supported on the wheel hub carrier 12 with particularly low friction and therefore particularly low losses. The wheel hub 32 can together carry out the elastic compression and rebound movement of the wheel hub carrier 12 described above. Since the wheel hub 32 is held on the wheel hub carrier 12 and is rotatably supported on the wheel hub carrier 12 by the wheel hub bearing 34, the assembly 11 of the wheel hub 32 is arranged on the wheel hub carrier 12. In the assembly 11, the wheel hub 32 is rotatably supported on the wheel hub carrier 12 by the wheel hub bearing 34.

[0030] The wheel 36 of the motor vehicle is fixed to the wheel hub 32 in a non-rotatable manner or can be fixed to the wheel hub 32 in a non-rotatable manner. The wheel 36 can be a component of the wheel hub power unit 10. The wheel 36 comprises a rim 38 and a tire 40 mounted on the rim 38. The rim 38 has a central fixing area 42, via which the rim 38 is connected to the wheel hub 32 in a non-rotatable manner. Therefore, the wheel 36 is connected to the wheel hub 32 as a whole in a non-rotatable manner, so that the wheel 36 can rotate together with the wheel hub 32 about the rotation axis 30 relative to the wheel hub carrier 12 or can rotate together with the wheel hub 32 about the rotation axis 30 relative to the wheel hub carrier 12. Therefore, the wheel 36 can be elastically and / or dampedly supported on the vehicle body by the wheel hub 32 and the wheel hub carrier 12, or can be elastically and / or dampedly supported on the vehicle body by the wheel hub 32 and the wheel hub carrier 12.

[0031] Since the wheel hub 32 is a component of the rotor 28 and since the rotor 28 can be driven by the stator 26 in the manner described, and since the wheel 36 is or can be fixed in a rotationally fixed manner on the wheel hub 32 via the wheel rim 38, the wheel 36 can be driven by the rotor 28 and thus by the stator 26 via the rotor 28. Thus, the wheel 36 and thus the motor vehicle can be driven electrically. Thus, an electric drive of the motor vehicle can be realized by the wheel hub drive 10.

[0032] In order to be able to detect at least a part of the environment of the motor vehicle or wheel 36, which is denoted by 44 in the drawing, in a particularly simple and precise manner, the wheel hub power unit 10 has at least one environmental sensor 46 which is arranged at least partially, in particular at least predominantly or completely, in the wheel hub 32 and is also referred to as a sensor for short, by means of which at least the above-mentioned part of the environment 44 can be detected. For this purpose, the wheel rim 38 has, for example, at least one through-hole associated with the environmental sensor 46, which opens into the environment 44 on one side and opens to the environmental sensor 46 on the other side.

[0033] The environment sensor 46 can detect at least the above-mentioned part of the environment 44, for example, through a through hole, more precisely through a through hole of the wheel rim 38. The above-mentioned part of the environment 44 is arranged, for example, next to the wheel 36 in the transverse direction of the vehicle and thus to the left or right next to the motor vehicle. Since the environment sensor 46 is at least partially, in particular at least mainly or completely, arranged in the wheel hub 32, the environment sensor 46 is integrated into the wheel hub 32. Therefore, the sensor does not have to be integrated into the vehicle body and in particular into the housing, so that undesirable influences on the vehicle body and in particular on the housing due to the use of the environment sensor 46 can be avoided. In addition, the cooperation between the wheel hub motor 24 and the environment sensor 46 can be utilized so that the motor vehicle can be equipped with the wheel hub motor 24 and the environment sensor 46 in a cost-effective manner. For this purpose, for example, at least one first cable 48, which is particularly schematically shown in the drawing, is provided, by which the wheel hub motor 24 can be supplied with electrical energy, in particular for operating the wheel hub motor 24 in motor operation.

[0034] Furthermore, for example, at least one second cable 50 is provided, which is designed separately from the first cable 48 and is provided in addition to the first cable 48, by means of which the environment sensor 46 can be supplied with electrical energy, or more precisely, with current, in particular for operating the environment sensor 46. Alternatively or additionally, the environment sensor 46 can provide data, also referred to as environment data, via the cable 50, which characterize at least the part of the environment 44 detected by means of the environment sensor 46. In this case, the cables 48 and 50 are combined into a wiring harness 52. Thus, for example, the cables 48 and 50 can be laid simultaneously or together during the manufacture or assembly of the motor vehicle, so that the motor vehicle can be equipped with the wheel hub motor 24 and the environment sensor 46 in a simple and cost-effective manner. Preferably, the cables 48 and 50 are accommodated in a common sheath 54 of the cables 48 and 50 of the wiring harness 52, so that at least the corresponding longitudinal regions of the cables 48 and 50 extend in the sheath 54, in particular in the receiving space 56 defined by the sheath 54. The cables 48 and 50 are held together by the sheath 54. Cables 48 and 50 can thus be laid in a particularly simple and therefore cost-effective manner. It is also conceivable that ambient sensor 46 can provide data, for example, via cable 50 and thus receive data, for example, provided by an electronic computing device of the motor vehicle, via cable 50 .

[0035] In order to be able to particularly accurately detect at least a part of the environment 44, the environment sensor 46 has, for example, at least one camera and / or at least one radar sensor and / or at least one ultrasonic sensor and / or at least one lidar sensor and / or at least one laser sensor. In addition, the environment sensor 46 is held directly on the wheel hub 32, so that the environment sensor 46 directly contacts the wheel hub 32.

Claims

1. An assembly (11) of a wheel hub (32) on a wheel carrier (12) for a vehicle, in which the wheel hub (32) is rotatably supported on the wheel carrier (12) via a wheel hub bearing (34), and at least one wheel (36) of the vehicle can be fixedly fastened to the wheel hub in a rotationally fixed manner. It is characterized in that At least one environmental sensor (46) is provided, which is arranged at least partially in the wheel hub (32) and by means of which at least a part of the environment (44) of the vehicle can be detected. A wheel hub motor (24) designed as an electric motor is provided, the wheel hub motor having a stator (26) and a rotor (28) which can be driven by the stator (26) and can therefore rotate relative to the stator (26), the rotor comprising a wheel hub (32) which is rotatably supported on a wheel carrier (12) via a wheel hub bearing (34) and to which at least one wheel (36) of the vehicle can be fixedly fastened in a rotationally fixed manner. Features - at least a first cable (48) via which the wheel hub motor (24) can be supplied with electrical energy; and - at least one second cable (50) which is constructed separately from the first cable (48) and is provided in addition to the first cable (48), via which the environmental sensor (46) can be supplied with electrical energy and / or via which data can be provided by the environmental sensor (46), which data characterize the part of the environment (44) detected by means of the environmental sensor (46), wherein the first cable (48) and the second cable (50) are combined into a cable harness (52).

2. The assembly (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that The environmental sensor (46) is held directly on the wheel hub (32) or directly on the wheel carrier (12).

3. The assembly (11) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The environmental sensor (46) is mainly arranged inside the wheel hub (32).

4. The assembly (11) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The environmental sensor (46) is arranged completely inside the wheel hub (32).

5. The assembly (11) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The surroundings sensor (46) comprises at least one camera and / or at least one radar sensor and / or at least one ultrasonic sensor and / or at least one laser sensor.

6. The assembly (11) according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that The environmental sensor (46) includes at least one lidar sensor.

7. The assembly (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that The first cable (48) and the second cable (50) extend at least partially within a common harness (52) jacket (54) for the first cable (48) and the second cable (50), and the first cable and the second cable are held together by the jacket (54).

8. The assembly (11) according to claim 1, characterized in that At least one circuit element common to an environmental sensor (46) and a wheel hub motor (24) is provided, through which electrical energy can be supplied to both the wheel hub motor (24) and the environmental sensor (46), and through which data can be provided by the environmental sensor (46), the data representing a portion of an environment (44) detected by means of the environmental sensor (46).

9. A vehicle having at least one assembly (11) according to any one of claims 1 to 8.

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