Wheel module for a motor vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to a wheel module of a motor vehicle, comprising: - a wheel (12); - a steering rod assembly (6) for transferring a steering movement to the wheel (12), which steering rod assembly is rotatably mountable on a support frame (8) of the motor vehicle and to which steering rod assembly a steering actuator (2) for introducing a steering movement is connected; wherein the steering actuator (2) is in the form of a linear actuator; and wherein the steering rod assembly (6) has a main rod (3) which is connected to the steering actuator (2) by means of a first connection region (17) and a steering rod (5) which is connected to the main rod (3) by means of an intermediate rod (4).

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a wheel module for a motor vehicle, by means of which the motor vehicle can be steered and / or driven and / or braked and / or damped by means of a spring / damper unit. Background Technology

[0002] A motor vehicle with a wheel module is known from CN 206679065 U, in which the wheels of the wheel module can rotate 90° about a vertical steering axis for parking the motor vehicle, even in a narrow parking space.

[0003] DE 10 2016 211 385 A1 describes a lateral steering device capable of achieving a steering angle of 90 degrees. The steering process is achieved by means of a steering actuator. For this purpose, a rotary steering actuator is used.

[0004] DE 10 2016 217 773 A1 describes a steering device with an actuator for a vehicle. The steering device is configured to apply an axial force to a connecting rod and interact with a corresponding tie rod. The corresponding tie rod is hinged to a corresponding steering rod, wherein the corresponding steering rod is operatively connected to a corresponding wheel carrier so as to steer the corresponding wheel of the vehicle axle according to the axial movement of the connecting rod.

[0005] DE 10 2004 038 409 A1 discloses a steering shaft with two dials located on a so-called removable piston. These components are coupled to a steering drive for control.

[0006] DE 10 2014 102 510 A1 discloses a wheel suspension with actuators for a motor vehicle. The actuators are arranged on a first side of the frame. Each individual suspension is configured to support a vehicle wheel and has a corresponding steering knuckle. Actuation of the steering actuator causes each corresponding steering knuckle to rotate.

[0007] For motor vehicles, there has always been a need to achieve a large steering angle within a small installation space. Summary of the Invention

[0008] The purpose of this invention is to provide a wheel module that allows for a large steering angle in a motor vehicle within a small installation space.

[0009] According to the invention, this objective is achieved by a wheel module of a motor vehicle, the wheel module including a wheel, a steering rod assembly for transferring steering motion to the wheel, the steering rod assembly being rotatably mounted on a support frame of the motor vehicle, and a steering actuator for introducing steering motion connected to the steering rod assembly; wherein the steering actuator is in the form of a linear actuator; and wherein the steering rod assembly has a main rod and a steering rod, the main rod being connected to the steering actuator via a first connecting region, and the steering rod being connected to the main rod via an intermediate rod.

[0010] In the wheel module according to the invention, a linear actuator is provided as a steering actuator. This offers advantages over the prior art: it requires less installation space and eliminates the cost-intensive use of backlash-free rotating gears. To simultaneously achieve a large steering angle and save installation space, the steering angle acts on the steering arm via the master rod and intermediate rod, resulting in inward rotation of the wheel module. This means that the linear motion of the steering actuator is converted into pivoting motion of the master rod and transmitted to the steering arm via the intermediate rod. Therefore, the steering arm performs pivoting motion, thereby causing the wheel module to rotate inward. Specifically, the steering actuator is designed only to actuate the wheels of the wheel module, such that each wheel module of a preferably motor vehicle can be actuated individually. Alternatively, the steering actuator can actuate two wheel modules via the described kinematics, and thus the steering angle on the vehicle axle formed by the two wheel modules can be adjusted.

[0011] To achieve the corresponding inward rotation, according to one embodiment of the invention, the steering actuator is rotatably mounted on a vehicle support frame or another component via one end of the actuator. The other end is connected to the master rod. The steering actuator is preferably designed as an electromechanical actuator. This means that the steering actuator has a motor for delivering electrically generated steering torque.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the main rod is indirectly and rotatably connected to a second connection area on the vehicle's support frame or another component.

[0013] The main rod preferably has a rotation axis located between the first and second connection areas, with an intermediate rod connected to this rotation axis. This means that the intermediate rod connects to the main rod along the rotation axis at the connection point. The position of the rotation axis is defined using the rod distance L from the rotation axis to the second connection area. Due to the offset connection of the intermediate rod, the transmission or reduction of motion between the main rod and the steering rod can be achieved via the rod distance. The smaller the selected rod distance, the larger the gear ratio.

[0014] According to one embodiment of the invention, the steering arm is pivotally connected to the center rod at the connection point and is non-rotatably connected to the vehicle's steering shaft.

[0015] The steering column assembly can preferably rotate through a steering angle α of at least 130°. This enables driving in particularly tight corners. It can even easily enable the vehicle to be driven not only substantially in the longitudinal direction, but also even in the lateral direction. This allows parking in particularly narrow parking spaces without requiring a longitudinal maneuvering distance.

[0016] According to one embodiment of the invention, an electrically driven wheel hub actuator is provided on or within the wheel. The wheel hub actuator can be integrated into the wheel and radially arranged within the tire, eliminating the need for additional installation space due to the wheel hub actuator. The wheel hub actuator allows the wheels of the wheel module to be driven individually. In particular, multiple wheel modules can be provided for multi-lane passenger vehicles, each of which can be driven individually by a corresponding wheel hub actuator. This achieves particularly high flexibility in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle and / or achieves a particularly small turning radius. The wheel hub actuator can also preferably be used to recover braking energy to generate electrical energy when the wheel is braked.

[0017] The present invention also relates to a motor vehicle, particularly a multirail passenger vehicle, having a support frame, a first wheel module, and a second wheel module. The first wheel module is connected to the support frame and can be designed and developed as described above. The second wheel module is offset relative to the first wheel module in a lateral direction and can be designed and developed as described above, wherein the first wheel module and the second wheel module are actuated independently of each other. Preferably, another pair of wheel modules offset in a longitudinal direction is provided, each of which can be designed and developed as described above. This achieves particularly high flexibility in the direction of travel of the motor vehicle and / or achieves a particularly small turning radius. Attached Figure Description

[0018] The following illustrations, using three accompanying drawings, depict exemplary embodiments of the present invention. In the drawings:

[0019] Figure 1 A schematic diagram illustrating the principle of the wheel module according to the present invention is shown.

[0020] Figure 2 A plan view of the steering rod assembly of the wheel module according to the present invention is shown, and

[0021] Figure 3 The diagram shows a steering rod assembly of a wheel module according to the invention in several states. Detailed Implementation

[0022] Figure 1The wheel module 1 shown in the diagram, for a motor vehicle designed as a multi-rail passenger car, has a steering actuator 2 in the form of a linear actuator. As can be seen from this view, a main rod 3 is connected to the steering actuator 2, an intermediate rod 4 is connected to the main rod, and a steering arm 5 is connected to a rotatable steering tie rod 14. These three rods 3, 4, and 5 form a steering rod assembly 6. The steering rod assembly 6 can be rotatably mounted directly or indirectly on a steering head bearing 7 on a support frame 8 of the motor vehicle. Furthermore, a fork arm 9 is provided connected to a connection point 10. A rocker arm 11 is pivotally connected to the connection point 10, wherein the rocker arm 11 is hinged at its other end and coaxially connected to a wheel 12. A shock absorber 13 is attached to the wheel 12 and / or the rocker arm 11, and a suspension spring is attached directly or indirectly to the wheel, the other end of which is attached to the steering rod assembly 6 and / or the fork arm 9. The wheel 12 can be driven and / or braked, in particular, by a wheel hub drive 14.

[0023] Still referencing Figure 2 For a more detailed explanation of the steering column assembly 6, the following is provided. The steering column assembly 6 includes a master column 3, a middle column 4, and a steering arm 5. The steering actuator 2 is rotatably connected at least indirectly to the frame 8 at a connection point 16 at one distal end 15. It is also conceivable to connect the steering actuator to another component of the vehicle. Furthermore, the steering actuator 2 is connected to the master column 3 via a first connection area 17 at the other end of the steering actuator.

[0024] The main rod 3 is also fixedly connected to the main frame 8 via the second connecting region 18, allowing the main rod to rotate at least indirectly. Furthermore, the main rod 3 has a rotation axis 19 located between the first connecting region 17 and the second connecting region 18, with the intermediate rod 4 connected to this rotation axis 19. This means the intermediate rod is connected to the main rod 3 along the rotation axis 19 at connection point 20. The position of the rotation axis 19 is defined by the rod distance L from the rotation axis 19 to the second connecting region 18. Due to the offset connection of the intermediate rod 4, the transmission or reduction of movement between the main rod 3 and the steering rod 5 can be achieved via the rod distance L. The smaller the selected rod distance L, the larger the gear ratio.

[0025] The intermediate rod 4 is pivotally connected to the steering rod 5 via the connector 21 and transmits the pivoting motion of the main rod 3 to the steering arm 5. The steering rod 5 is non-rotatably connected to the steering axle of the wheel 12.

[0026] The linear motion of the steering actuator 2 is converted into the pivoting motion of the master link 3 and transmitted to the steering lever 5 via the intermediate link 4. Therefore, the steering lever performs the pivoting motion. The pivoting motion of the steering lever 5 causes the wheel module 1 to rotate inward.

[0027] Figure 3The steering rod assembly 6 of wheel module 1 is shown in several states. Based on the selected arrangement of rods 3, 4, and 5, the main rod 3 moves approximately 90° from end position E1 to end position E2, resulting in a corresponding 155° movement of steering rod 5 from position B1 to position B2.

[0028] List of reference numerals

[0029] 1 Wheel Module

[0030] 2. Steering actuator

[0031] 3 Main rod

[0032] 4. Intermediate rod

[0033] 5. Steering rod

[0034] 6. Steering rod assembly

[0035] 7. Steering head bearing

[0036] 8 Support Frame

[0037] 9-arm

[0038] 10 Turning Points

[0039] 11 Joystick

[0040] 12 wheels

[0041] 13 Shock absorbers

[0042] 14 Wheel hub drive

[0043] 15. Distal end

[0044] 16 Connection Points

[0045] 17 First Connecting Area

[0046] 18 Second Connection Area

[0047] 19 Rotation axis

[0048] 20 connection points

[0049] 21 Connectors

[0050] 22 Steering Axle

[0051] L-bar distance

[0052] E1 end position

[0053] E2 end position

[0054] B1 Orientation

[0055] B2 direction.

Claims

1. A wheel module for a motor vehicle, comprising: Wheel (12) A steering rod assembly (6) for transferring steering motion to the wheels (12), the steering rod assembly being rotatably mounted on the support frame (8) of the motor vehicle. The steering actuator (2) for initiating steering motion is connected to the steering rod assembly (6). Its features are, The steering actuator (2) is in the form of a linear actuator, and wherein the steering rod assembly (6) has a main rod (3) and a steering rod (5), the main rod being connected to the steering actuator (2) via a first connection area (17), the steering rod being connected to the main rod (3) by means of an intermediate rod (4), the actuating force of the steering actuator being transmitted from the main rod of the steering rod assembly to the intermediate rod and then to the steering rod, the steering rod (5) being non-rotatably connected to the steering shaft (22) of the wheel (12) so that the linear motion of the steering actuator is converted into the pivoting motion of the main rod and transmitted to the steering rod via the intermediate rod.

2. The wheel module according to claim 1, wherein, The steering actuator (2) is rotatably mounted on the vehicle frame (8) using one end (15) of the steering actuator.

3. The wheel module according to claim 1, wherein, The steering actuator (2) is designed as an electromechanical actuator.

4. The wheel module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The main rod (3) is rotatably connected to the second connection area (18) in the vehicle's support frame (8).

5. The wheel module according to claim 4, wherein, The main rod (3) has a rotating shaft (19) disposed between the first connecting area (17) and the second connecting area (18), wherein the intermediate rod (4) is connected to the rotating shaft (19).

6. The wheel module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, The steering rod assembly (6) is capable of rotating at a steering angle α of at least 130°.

7. The wheel module according to any one of claims 1 to 3, wherein, An electrically driven wheel hub driver (14) is provided on or in the wheel (12).

8. A motor vehicle having a support frame (8), a first wheel module connected to the support frame (8), and a second wheel module offset in a lateral direction relative to the first wheel module, wherein the first wheel module and the second wheel module are wheel modules according to any one of claims 1 to 7, and are actuated independently of each other.

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