Locking structures for hub motors, hub motors and electric devices

Abstract

This invention provides a locking structure for a hub motor, a hub motor, and an electric device, including: a rotating component, a connecting seat, a locking tongue, and a locking actuation unit; the rotating component is connected to the motor rotor assembly of the hub motor and rotates with the motor rotor assembly, and includes multiple slots; the connecting seat is connected to the motor stator assembly of the hub motor; the locking tongue is rotatably connected to the connecting seat, and the locking actuation unit is connected to the connecting seat and driven by the locking tongue, enabling the locking tongue to rotate, thereby extending into or retracting from a slot. This invention achieves locking and unlocking by engaging the locking tongue with the slots of the rotating component, thus realizing braking of the hub motor. The overall structure is compact and occupies little space, providing sufficient braking torque when locked to meet actual operating conditions.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] This utility model relates to the field of motor technology, specifically to a locking structure for a hub motor, a hub motor, and an electric device. Background Technology

[0002] Currently, in-wheel motors on the market are divided into in-wheel direct drive motors and in-wheel geared motors. These motors require sufficient torque to drive. Because the market demands that in-wheel motors have braking capabilities, motors with brakes have emerged, such as in-wheel direct drive motors with brakes, and in-wheel geared motors with brakes.

[0003] Patent document CN217063494U discloses a hub motor and a mobility scooter having the same. The brake assembly includes a main housing, an electromagnet, a moving coil, and a first friction plate. The electromagnet is disposed inside the main housing. The moving coil is fixed relative to the housing so as to be pivotable relative to the motor shaft. The electromagnet has a de-energized state and an energized state. In the de-energized state, the first friction plate abuts against the moving coil. In the energized state, the first friction plate separates from the moving coil by the magnetic force of the electromagnet.

[0004] This type of brake assembly requires the hub motor to sacrifice a significant amount of space to install the brake. At the same time, the friction pads will undergo elastic deformation, and the combined effect of friction will result in an extremely uneven distribution of contact pressure between the friction pads and the moving disc. This can easily cause uneven wear of the friction pads, brake vibration, braking noise, and other phenomena, seriously affecting braking performance. Utility Model Content

[0005] In view of the deficiencies in the prior art, the purpose of this utility model is to provide a locking structure for a hub motor, a hub motor, and an electric device.

[0006] According to the present invention, a locking structure for a hub motor includes: a housing-rotating component, a connecting seat, a locking tongue, and a locking actuation unit;

[0007] The rotating component with the housing is connected to the motor rotor assembly of the hub motor and rotates with the motor rotor assembly. The rotating component with the housing includes multiple slots.

[0008] The connecting seat connects to the motor stator assembly of the hub motor;

[0009] The latch is rotatably connected to the connecting seat, and the lock execution unit is connected to the connecting seat and driven by the latch, which can drive the latch to rotate so that it extends into or exits from the slot.

[0010] Furthermore, the rotating component is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the motor rotor assembly.

[0011] Furthermore, the rotating component has an annular extension extending to one side, and the extension has multiple slots on the side facing the extension direction, the multiple slots being evenly distributed on the circumference of the extension.

[0012] Furthermore, the number of slots is 18.

[0013] Furthermore, the connecting seat has a connecting hole with a square groove, through which it is sleeved onto the shaft of the motor stator assembly.

[0014] Furthermore, the lock execution unit is driven to connect to the lock tongue through a transmission structure, the transmission structure including a cam, the cam being connected to the lock tongue via a connecting rod or a spring.

[0015] Furthermore, the locking tongue is rotatably connected to the connecting seat via a fixing pin.

[0016] Furthermore, the lock execution unit is electrically connected to the controller of the hub motor and an external host controller.

[0017] According to the present invention, a hub motor is provided, including the aforementioned locking structure for the hub motor.

[0018] An electric device according to this utility model includes the aforementioned hub motor.

[0019] Compared with the prior art, the present invention has the following beneficial effects:

[0020] This invention achieves locking and unlocking of the hub motor by engaging a locking tongue with a slot in a rotating component, resulting in a compact overall structure with minimal space requirements. It provides sufficient braking torque when locked to meet practical operating conditions. Furthermore, this invention is not limited to power-off locking; it can be controlled by an external host controller for locking and unlocking, offering flexibility in application. Attached Figure Description

[0021] Other features, objects, and advantages of this invention will become more apparent from the following detailed description of non-limiting embodiments with reference to the accompanying drawings:

[0022] Figure 1 This is a 3D view of the lock unit;

[0023] Figure 2 A diagram of the lock unit;

[0024] Figure 3 This is a schematic diagram of the installation of the rotating component;

[0025] Figure 4 This is a schematic diagram of the connector installation.

[0026] Figure 5 A cross-sectional view of an intelligent lockable hub motor;

[0027] Figure 6 An exploded view of an intelligent lockable hub motor;

[0028] In the picture:

[0029] 1-Motor stator assembly; 2-Motor rotor assembly; 3-Left end cover; 4-Output shaft end cover; 5-Cover plate; 6-PCB board; 7-Magnet; 8-Oil seal; 9-Bearing; 10-Mounting gasket; 11-Nut; 12-Screw; 13-Screw; 14-Screw; 15-Wire harness; 16-Sealing gasket; 17-Shaft; 18-Stator core; 19-PCB bracket; 20-Retaining ring; 21-Locking unit;

[0030] 2100 - Groove; 2101 - Connecting seat; 2102 - Locking tongue; 2103 - Fixing pin; 2106 - Locking actuation unit; 2107 - Rotating component with housing; 2108 - Cam. Detailed Implementation

[0031] The present invention will now be described in detail with reference to specific embodiments. These embodiments will help those skilled in the art to further understand the present invention, but do not limit the present invention in any way. It should be noted that those skilled in the art can make several changes and improvements without departing from the concept of the present invention. These all fall within the protection scope of the present invention.

[0032] like Figure 1 and Figure 2 As shown, this utility model provides a locking structure for a hub motor, including: a rotating part 2107, a connecting seat 2101, a locking tongue 2102, and a locking execution unit 2106.

[0033] like Figure 3 As shown, the housing-rotating component 2107 is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the motor rotor assembly 2, and rotates with the motor rotor assembly 2. The housing-rotating component 2107 has an annular extension to one side, and multiple slots 2100 are opened on the side of the extension facing the extension direction. The multiple slots 2100 are evenly distributed on the circumference of the extension.

[0034] like Figure 4As shown, the connecting seat 2101 has a connecting hole with a square slot, through which it is sleeved onto the shaft 17 of the motor stator assembly 1. The locking tongue 2102 is rotatably connected to the connecting seat 2101 via a fixing pin 2103. The locking actuation unit 2106 drives the locking tongue 2102 via a transmission structure, which includes a cam 2108 connected to the locking tongue 2102 via a connecting rod or spring. The locking actuation unit 2106 can drive the locking tongue 2102 to rotate, thereby extending into or retracting from a slot 2100. The locking actuation unit 2106 is electrically connected to the controller of the hub motor and an external upper-level controller, and is used to receive control from the hub motor controller and the external upper-level controller.

[0035] The more slots there are, the more contact points between the locking tongue and the slots, theoretically resulting in better braking performance, a wider braking angle, and a smaller braking angle. However, too many slots can lead to structural complexity and increased space requirements. Secondly, the number of slots affects the structural strength of rotating components; too many slots may weaken the parts. Furthermore, too few slots may lead to unreliable locking, while too many may increase the probability of failure. To balance these issues, an optimal number of slots was chosen:

[0036] To ensure sufficient braking force, 18 slots provide just over 1.5 times the motor's maximum torque (safety redundancy). Fewer slots (e.g., 12) would result in insufficient braking force and an inadequate braking angle. While more slots (e.g., 24) offer greater braking force but a smaller braking angle, they are practically unnecessary, limiting structural support space and wasting space. To improve responsiveness, the latch needs to engage with the slots to lock the motor. The 18 slots are appropriately distributed, allowing for a smaller latch movement angle (360° ÷ 18 = 20°), resulting in a locking speed 40%-50% faster than 24 or 12 slots. Furthermore, to save space and improve space utilization, given the limited internal space of the motor, 18 slots occupy 30% less space than 24 slots, freeing up more space for other critical components (such as sensors and circuit boards).

[0037] like Figure 5 and Figure 6 As shown, the present invention provides a hub motor, including the aforementioned locking structure for the hub motor. The hub motor includes a motor body and a locking unit 21, which is the aforementioned locking structure for the hub motor.

[0038] The motor stator assembly 1 includes a shaft 17 and a stator core 18. The stator core 18 is coaxially connected to the shaft 17. A left end cover 3 and an output shaft end cover 4 are respectively connected to the shaft 17 via bearings and located on both sides of the stator core 18. In this embodiment, the left end cover 3 is shown connected to the hub via screws 14 and a sealing gasket. The left end cover 3 is connected to the shaft 17 via a bearing 9. The shaft 17 has a first end and a second end. The first end is located inside the left end cover 3, and the second end passes through the output shaft end cover 4 and extends outward. An oil seal 8 is also provided at the position where it passes through the outside of the output shaft end cover 4 to prevent internal oil leakage. A mounting gasket 10 and a nut 11 are connected to the portion of the shaft 17 outside the motor body for mounting the intelligent lockable hub motor.

[0039] The motor body also includes a motor control unit. The left end cover 3 has an outwardly opening receiving space. The motor control unit is located within the receiving space and is sealed by a cover plate 5 connected to the outside of the left end cover 3 and screws 13. The motor control unit includes a PCB board 6 and a magnet 7. The PCB board 6 is connected to a PCB bracket 19 by screws 12. The PCB bracket 19 is connected to the first end of the shaft 17 and is electrically connected to the locking unit 21 and an external upper controller via a wiring harness 15 inside the shaft 17. The magnet 7 is connected to the inside of the cover plate 5. Its communication methods can include various protocols, such as CAN protocol and RS-485 protocol.

[0040] The aforementioned hub motors can be applied to various types of electric equipment, such as lawnmowers, commercial sweepers, or AGVs.

[0041] The working principle of this utility model is as follows:

[0042] Locking process:

[0043] Step 1: When the controller receives a locking command from the upper controller, or when the controller determines that locking is required, the controller sends a locking control signal to the locking execution unit 2106 of the locking unit 21.

[0044] Step 2: The lock execution unit 2106 drives the lock tongue 2102 to lock and detects the locking status.

[0045] The content for detecting the locked state includes:

[0046] Step 3: Check if the rotor has stopped rotating and check if the pressure on the latch is greater than or equal to the set threshold.

[0047] Step 4: If all judgment results are yes, the locking is determined to be successful and the locked status is reported. Otherwise, fault diagnosis is triggered and the output of the motor body is adjusted until the locking is successful.

[0048] Unlocking process:

[0049] Step 1: When the controller receives an unlocking command from the upper controller or receives a motor start signal, the controller sends an unlocking control signal to the lock execution unit 2106 of the lock unit 21.

[0050] Step 2: Lock execution unit 2106 drives the lock tongue 2102 to unlock.

[0051] Step 3: Detect the rotor rotation increment to determine whether the locking tongue has completely disengaged from the slot.

[0052] Step 4: If the result is yes, the unlock is successful and the unlock status is reported; otherwise, the emergency unlock process is initiated (application scenario: main controller failure or power interruption).

[0053] The emergency unlocking process includes:

[0054] Step 5: Activate the backup controller by supplying power from an external power source;

[0055] Step 6: Send an unlocking control signal to the lock execution unit 2106 of the lock unit 21 via the backup controller, or unlock manually;

[0056] Step 7: Based on the detected rotor rotation increment, provide feedback on whether the unlock status is active or the unlocking failed status.

[0057] In the description of this application, it should be understood that the terms "upper", "lower", "front", "back", "left", "right", "vertical", "horizontal", "top", "bottom", "inner", "outer", etc., indicate the orientation or positional relationship based on the orientation or positional relationship shown in the accompanying drawings. They are only for the convenience of describing this application and simplifying the description, and do not indicate or imply that the device or element referred to must have a specific orientation, or be constructed and operated in a specific orientation. Therefore, they should not be construed as limitations on this application.

[0058] The specific embodiments of this utility model have been described above. It should be understood that this utility model is not limited to the specific embodiments described above, and those skilled in the art can make various changes or modifications within the scope of the claims, which do not affect the substantive content of this utility model. Unless otherwise specified, the embodiments and features described in this application can be arbitrarily combined with each other.

Claims

1. A locking structure for a hub motor, characterized in that, include: The housing rotatable component (2107), the connecting seat (2101), the locking tongue (2102), and the lock actuation unit (2106); The rotating component (2107) is connected to the motor rotor assembly (2) of the hub motor and rotates with the motor rotor assembly (2). The rotating component (2107) includes multiple slots (2100). The connecting seat (2101) connects to the motor stator assembly (1) of the hub motor; The latch (2102) is rotatably connected to the connecting seat (2101). The lock execution unit (2106) is connected to the connecting seat (2101) and driven to drive the latch (2102), thereby driving the latch (2102) to rotate, so as to extend into or exit from one of the slots (2100).

2. The locking structure for a hub motor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The rotating component (2107) is fixedly connected to or integrally formed with the motor rotor assembly (2).

3. The locking structure for a hub motor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The shell-rotating component (2107) has an annular extension to one side, and the extension has multiple slots (2100) on the side facing the extension direction, and the multiple slots (2100) are evenly distributed on the circumference of the extension.

4. The locking structure for a hub motor according to claim 3, characterized in that, The number of slots (2100) is 18.

5. The locking structure for a hub motor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The connecting seat (2101) has a connecting hole with a square groove, and is sleeved on the shaft (17) of the motor stator assembly (1) through the connecting hole.

6. The locking structure for a hub motor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lock execution unit (2106) is driven to connect to the lock tongue (2102) through a transmission structure. The transmission structure includes a cam (2108), which is connected to the lock tongue (2102) through a connecting rod or a spring.

7. The locking structure for a hub motor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The locking tongue (2102) is rotatably connected to the connecting seat (2101) by a fixing pin (2103).

8. The locking structure for a hub motor according to claim 1, characterized in that, The lock execution unit (2106) is electrically connected to the controller of the hub motor and the external host controller.

9. A hub motor, characterized in that, Includes the locking structure for a hub motor as described in any one of claims 1-8.

10. An electric device, characterized in that, Including the hub motor as described in claim 9.

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