Wheel module for a motor vehicle and corresponding motor vehicle

Abstract

Wheel module (10) for a motor vehicle, with - a wheel (12), - a wheel guide (14) for guiding the wheel (12), wherein the wheel guide (14) in turn comprises a wheel support unit (16) for supporting the wheel (12), which includes an electric drive motor (30) and / or a braking device, - Lines (34, 36) designed as electrical lines (36) and / or pneumatic lines and / or hydraulic lines and / or cooling lines (34), as well as - a mounting system (38) for mounting the lines (34, 36) on the wheel guide (14) with several mounting elements (40, 42, 44), characterized in that at least one kink protection element (50) is arranged on at least one of the mounting elements (40, 42, 44) to protect the corresponding line(s) (34, 36) from kinking.

Description

[0001] The invention relates to a wheel module for a motor vehicle, comprising (i) a wheel, (ii) a wheel guide for guiding the wheel, wherein this wheel guide in turn comprises a wheel support unit for mounting the wheel, which has an electric drive motor and / or a braking device, (iii) lines which are designed as electrical lines and / or pneumatic lines and / or hydraulic lines and / or cooling lines, and (iv) a mounting system for mounting the lines on the wheel guide with several mounting elements.

[0002] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle with one or more such wheel modules.

[0003] Integrating electric drive into individual wheels and combining individually driven and steerable wheels (wheel modules) opens up new possibilities for vehicle maneuverability in confined spaces. For example, even the smallest parking spaces can be accessed by parking perpendicular to the direction of travel. This is made possible by an electric steering actuator integrated into the wheel module, allowing a steering angle of up to 90° in either direction. In other words, such a wheel module enables very large steering angles, which can be used, for example, for parking. The combination of this extreme maneuverability with the electric drive makes this type of wheel module particularly suitable for vehicles primarily used in urban traffic, including autonomous vehicles for city driving.

[0004] An autonomous vehicle, or self-driving vehicle, is a motor vehicle that can drive, steer, and park without the intervention of a human driver (highly automated driving or autonomous driving). A special type of autonomous vehicle is the autonomous passenger transport vehicle, also known as a people mover or autonomous people mover. In this context, autonomous means that none of the passengers are controlling the vehicle; rather, the passenger transport vehicle is self-driving or automatically controlled. The passengers are therefore generally "only" passengers.

[0005] A wheel module of the type mentioned above is known, for example, from German patent application DE 10 2018 117 376 A1. This patent application discloses a wheel module for a motor vehicle, comprising (i) a wheel and (ii) a wheel guide for guiding the wheel, which in turn comprises (a) a wheel carrier unit for mounting the wheel, which includes an electric drive motor and / or a braking device, (b) a wheel fork supporting the wheel carrier unit, (c) a spring-damper unit, and (d) at least part of a bearing unit for mounting the wheel module on a vehicle body of the motor vehicle, wherein the wheel module further comprises (iii) electrical lines and (iv) a mounting system for holding the lines on the wheel guide with several mounting elements. The patent application also mentions motor vehicles with such wheel modules.

[0006] In principle, extremely large steering angles and a substantial amount of suspension travel from the spring-damper unit can be achieved with such wheel modules. However, one limiting factor is not explicitly addressed in this document: the routing of the necessary lines, for example, for the electric drive motor and / or the braking system. These lines must be routed to the vehicle body without restricting the steering and / or suspension travel and without posing a safety risk.

[0007] DE 10 2018 125 009 A1 discloses a charging station for electric vehicles comprising a housing, a cable gland, at least one charging cable, and a cable holder. The charging cable is provided with an annular or sleeve-shaped retaining element, which is inserted into the cable holder to fix the cable to the charging station. The focus of the invention is on the mechanical guidance or retention of the charging cable by means of the retaining element attached to the cable. Further technical measures or functions beyond the specific design of the cable holder are not apparent from the information provided therein (Abstract / Claim 1).

[0008] DE 10 2017 202 386 A1 discloses a conductor element for transmitting electric current, comprising at least one single conductor and a shield surrounding the single conductor over at least a certain length for electrical and / or magnetic shielding. Furthermore, a grommet, formed from an electrically conductive plastic and surrounding the shield over at least a certain length, is provided, which is electrically connected to the shield. The grommet has a receptacle in which at least one wall section of a housing can be received. The document thus deals in particular with the grommet formed from conductive plastic and electrically coupled to the shield for housing penetration.

[0009] DE 1781850 discloses a strain relief device for electrical connectors, in which a strain relief sleeve made of elastic material is arranged on the connector housing. At the free end of the sleeve, a thin-walled, elastic end plate with a bore is provided, the diameter of which is slightly smaller than the smallest cable diameter intended for the connector. This elastically clamps the inserted cable, thus reducing strain at the connector exit. The document focuses on this design of the sleeve for the mechanical strain relief of the cable.

[0010] DE 10 2018 107 358 A1 discloses a wheel module for a motor vehicle, in particular for multi-track passenger cars, comprising a wheel, a steering rod rotatably mounted on a support frame, a fork leg connected to the steering rod to form a pivot point radially offset from the wheel, a swing arm pivotally connected to the fork leg and the wheel, and a shock absorber connecting the swing arm to the fork leg. The shock absorber, optionally with an integrated suspension spring, is axially offset from the wheel and arranged next to the wheel. This enables a large steering angle in a compact installation space. The document thus relates to a compact arrangement of the chassis components in the area of ​​the wheel and their kinematic coupling for steering and spring / damper functions.

[0011] DE 10 2014 100 621 A1 discloses a chassis for a vehicle, in particular a road-bound motor vehicle, with at least one wheel and a wheel bearing device for the rotatable mounting of the wheel. The wheel bearing device has two or more curved guide elements by means of which the wheel is rotatably mounted about its axis of symmetry. The curved guide elements are connected to each other via one or more guide rods of the wheel bearing device. The aim is a compact design with low mass.

[0012] The object of the invention is to provide a wheel module and a corresponding motor vehicle in which the desired steering and / or suspension travel is fully available and safe operation is ensured.

[0013] The problem is solved according to the invention by the features of independent claims 1 and 10. Preferred embodiments of the invention are specified in the dependent claims, each of which can individually or in combination represent an aspect of the invention.

[0014] In the wheel module according to the invention for a motor vehicle, comprising a wheel and a wheel guide for guiding the wheel, which in turn includes a wheel support unit for mounting the wheel, which has an electric drive motor and / or a braking device, wherein the wheel module further comprises lines designed as electrical lines and / or pneumatic lines and / or hydraulic lines and / or cooling lines, as well as a mounting system for holding the lines on the wheel guide with several mounting elements, it is provided that at least one kink protection element is arranged on at least one of the mounting elements to protect the corresponding line(s) from kinking. In this way, the aforementioned lines are guided in a defined manner in the area of ​​the mounting elements and kinking is prevented at larger steering angles, in particular of 90° or more, of the wheel module and / or during spring movement.

[0015] The cables are primarily connecting cables for components of the wheel or wheel module. Typically, these connecting cables run from fixed points on the wheel guide, determined by the positions of the mounting elements, to an area near a bearing unit that secures the wheel module to the vehicle body. The risk of cable kinking is particularly high in the vicinity of these fixed points, making the placement of kink protection elements at these locations especially important.

[0016] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one kink protection element comprises a support part for bracing against the retaining element and at least one flexible guide part for guiding the corresponding cable. In this way, maximum kink protection is combined with high flexibility.

[0017] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the at least one kink protection element, or at least the at least one flexible guide part of this kink protection element, is designed as a kink protection grommet that completely surrounds the corresponding cable on the retaining element. Kink protection grommets are known from other fields of application and have proven effective there.

[0018] Preferably, the wheel guidance system further comprises a wheel fork supporting the wheel carrier unit, a spring-damper unit, and at least part of a bearing unit for mounting the wheel module on a vehicle body of the motor vehicle. Such a design is known, for example, from the aforementioned DE 10 2018 117 376 A1 and has proven successful with such wheel modules.

[0019] The design specifically provides that the retaining elements hold the lines to the wheel guide in such a way that at least one line loop is formed, enabling the spring-damper unit to move over a predetermined spring travel and / or the wheel guide and wheel to rotate over a predetermined steering angle range. This at least one line loop is a predefined loop. In this way, the aforementioned lines are routed in a defined manner, and contact with moving parts, such as the rotating wheel, is avoided. Furthermore, a desired steering angle, in particular a minimum of 135°, of the wheel module and / or the compression and rebound movement of the strut are enabled.

[0020] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, a retaining element is arranged on the wheel fork. This retaining element is typically the central retaining element of the mounting system.

[0021] It is particularly preferred that another retaining element is arranged on the wheel carrier unit or the swingarm. This other retaining element is typically arranged on the swingarm. The resulting cable loop between the central retaining element and the other retaining element runs, in particular, in a substantially horizontal plane and enables the compression and rebound movement of the spring-damper unit.

[0022] Alternatively or additionally, it is advantageous to arrange a further retaining element on the bearing unit or on a part of the wheel fork that is close to the unit. The resulting cable loop between the central retaining element and the further retaining element runs primarily in a substantially vertical plane and enables the steering movement to be realized within a desired steering angle range.

[0023] According to a further preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel guide further comprises a rocker arm between the wheel fork and the wheel carrier unit, wherein the spring-damper unit is pivotally connected between the wheel fork and the rocker arm. In this way, the spring-damper unit is arranged in the area of ​​the wheel fork-wheel carrier unit and not in an area of ​​the wheel module's mounting on the vehicle body.

[0024] The cables, or at least a portion thereof, are primarily connecting cables for the electric drive motor and / or the braking system. These connecting cables may include not only electrical cables but also pneumatic, hydraulic, cooling, and / or other types of cables. It is advantageous that the connecting cables are electrical cables, particularly high-voltage cables (HV cables), and / or hydraulic and / or cooling lines.

[0025] According to yet another preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel guide further comprises a steering actuator for adjusting the steering angle of the wheel via the wheel fork. Such a steering actuator is known in principle from the aforementioned publication DE 10 2018 117 376 A1.

[0026] According to a preferred embodiment of the invention, the wheel guide for adjusting the height of the vehicle body further comprises a leveling unit. Such a leveling unit is also known in principle from the aforementioned publication.

[0027] The motor vehicle according to the invention is provided to have one or more such wheel modules. The motor vehicle is, in particular, a self-propelled motor vehicle. Advantageously, the motor vehicle is a two-track motor vehicle.

[0028] According to a preferred embodiment of the motor vehicle according to the invention, this motor vehicle is designed as an autonomous passenger transport vehicle. An autonomous passenger transport vehicle is also referred to as an (autonomous) people mover. In this context, autonomous means that none of the transported persons controls the vehicle, but rather that the passenger transport vehicle is self-controlled or automatically controlled.

[0029] The invention is now explained by way of example with reference to the accompanying drawings, using a preferred embodiment as an illustration, wherein the features shown below can represent an aspect of the invention, either individually or in combination. The drawings show: Fig. 1: A wheel module for a motor vehicle according to a preferred embodiment of the invention in a side view, Fig. 2: the in Fig. 1 Wheel module shown for a motor vehicle in a front view and Fig. 3: A detail of the wheel module showing an arrangement of the retaining element, connecting cable and kink protection element of the wheel module.

[0030] The Fig. Figure 1 shows a wheel module 10 for a motor vehicle, for example, a self-driving vehicle such as a so-called people mover, in a side view. This wheel module 10 comprises, in addition to a wheel 12, a wheel guide 14 for guiding the wheel 12. The wheel guide 14 has the following components: a wheel carrier unit 16 for mounting the wheel 12, a bearing unit 18 for mounting the wheel module 10 in a vehicle body of the motor vehicle in a manner that enables steering movement, as well as a wheel fork 20, a swing arm 22 which is pivotally mounted on the wheel fork 20 at a pivot point 24, and a [missing information] Fig. The spring-damper unit 26, shown in detail in Figure 2, provides the corresponding spring travel (double arrow 28). The spring-damper unit 26 is sometimes also referred to as a shock absorber. The swingarm 22 is arranged between the wheel fork 20 and the wheel carrier unit 16, with the spring-damper unit 26 pivotally connected between the wheel fork 20 and the swingarm 22. Such a design is known, for example, as the classic design of a motorcycle front wheel.

[0031] The wheel fork 24 is typically rotated for steering purposes by a steering actuator (not shown) via a steering axle (not shown). This steering axle is usually rotatably mounted in the bearing unit 18, through which the wheel module 10 is attached to the vehicle body. The bearing unit 18 for mounting the wheel module 10 can, for example, be a leveling unit.

[0032] The wheel guide 14 also includes an electric drive motor 30, which in this example is designed as a wheel hub motor 32. The drive motor 30, designed as a wheel hub motor 32, serves both to drive and support the wheel 12. Both components form a wheel drive unit.

[0033] The wheel module 10 is further equipped with several lines 34, 36, which in this example are connecting lines 34, 36 for the drive motor 30. These include cooling lines 34 and electrical lines 36, which connect the drive motor 30 to corresponding components. The electric drive motor 30 is cooled by the coolant in the cooling lines and supplied with electrical energy via the electrical lines 36. These electrical lines 36 are typically high-voltage lines.

[0034] The wheel module 10 further comprises a mounting system 38 for securing the connecting lines 34, 36 to the wheel guide 14. The mounting system 38 has several retaining elements 40, 42, 44 which hold the lines 34, 36 to the wheel guide 14 in such a way that two line loops 46, 48 are formed. Of the two line loops 46, 48, one line loop 46 enables the spring-damper unit 26 to spring over a predetermined spring travel, and the other line loop 48 enables the wheel guide 14 and the wheel 12 to rotate over a predetermined steering angle range. The two conductor loops 46, 48 are predefined conductor loops, which are defined by the positions of the retaining elements 40, 42, 44 on the wheel guide 14 and the length of the sections of the conductors 34, 36 forming the individual conductor loops 46, 48 and are adapted to the construction of the rest of the wheel module 10.

[0035] In this way, the aforementioned lines 34 and 36 are guided in a defined manner, and contact with moving parts, e.g., with the rotating wheel 12, is avoided. Furthermore, a desired steering angle of the wheel module 10, in particular of at least 135°, and / or the compression and rebound movement of the spring-damper unit 26 is enabled.

[0036] Anti-kink elements 50 are arranged on the retaining element 42 to protect the corresponding cables 34, 36 from kinking in the cable loop 48, i.e., in this example, in the upper cable loop. These anti-kink elements 50 allow the wheel guide 14 and the wheel 12 to rotate over the entire specified steering angle range without the risk of kinking of the cables 34, 36 in this cable loop 48. If kinking is also a concern in the other cable loop 46, i.e., in this example, the lower cable loop, anti-kink elements 50 can also be provided there.

[0037] The Fig. Figure 2 shows the wheel module 10 in a front view. In this view, the spring-damper unit 26 and its installation within the wheel guide 14 are clearly visible. The spring-damper unit 26 comprises a damper 52 and a spring 54. Furthermore, the retaining elements 40, 42, as well as the two cable loops 46, 48 of the lines 34, 36, are clearly visible in this perspective. They run on the side of the wheel guide 14 facing away from the wheel 12, with its wheel fork 20, swingarm 22, and spring-damper unit 26.

[0038] The Fig.Figure 3 shows a schematic detail of the wheel module 10 with an arrangement consisting of the retaining element 40, 42, 44, one of the lines 34, 36, and one of the anti-kink elements 50 of the wheel module 10. The line 34, 36 is clamped to / in the retaining element 42. The anti-kink element 50 has a support part 56 shaped as a support foot for bracing against the retaining element 40, 42, 44 and a flexible guide part 58 for guiding the corresponding line 34, 36. The support part 56 encloses a section 60 of the line 34, 36 that is at risk of kinking, directly at an outer edge 62 of the retaining element 40, 42, 44. The flexible guide section 58 directs the conductor 34, 36 away from the retaining element 40, 42, 44 in a relatively large arc. A corresponding "potential kinking area" is thus "mitigated" by the kink protection element 50.The kink protection element 50 is designed as a kink protection sleeve 64 that completely surrounds the corresponding line 34, 36 on the retaining element 42.

[0039] The following section describes important aspects of the use of such anti-kinking elements 50 in wheel module construction and their function in other words: In the case of components and subsystems of a wheel module 10 that perform relative movements with respect to each other, but are simultaneously connected by one or more connecting or other lines 34, 36 (whether designed as cables or hoses), it can happen that the respective line 34, 36 is subjected to excessively strong bending stresses due to the relative movement. These bending stresses occur particularly strongly in the immediate area of ​​the clamping on one of the retaining elements 40, 42, 44 and have a negative impact on the service life of the lines 34, 36.

[0040] By reducing the bending / kinking of the cable in the area immediately adjacent to the clamping / fastening of the cable to the component / subsystem through appropriate reinforcement, the service life of the cable can be significantly increased.

[0041] For this purpose, the base (support part 56) of the kink protection element 50 is designed with higher strength to reduce the kinking tendency of the cable 34, 36 in the clamping area. The strength of the kink protection element 50 decreases with increasing distance of the cable 34, 36 from the clamping point. The axial position of the kink protection element 50 can be secured by a friction-fit element (e.g., a cable tie – not shown here).

[0042] Four main variants of the tuft-like kink protection element 50 are conceivable: Variant 1: By axially mounting the kink protection element 50, the sleeve of the kink protection sleeve 64 is closed in the axial direction. This ensures that the kink protection element 50 does not detach from the cable 34, 36 in the radial direction. However, with this variant, the kink protection element 50 must be attached during the assembly process of the cable 34, 36. Variant 2 By means of a kink protection element 50 with a straight slot in axial direction over the sheath, the kink protection element 50 can be installed at any time even after the installation of the line 34, 36 to be protected has already been completed. Variant 3 By means of a kink protection element 50 with a spirally circumferential slot over the sheath, the kink protection element 50 can be installed at any time even after the installation of the line 34, 36 to be protected has already been completed and at the same time offers increased safety against radial loosening. Variant 4 To further reduce the tendency of the conductor 34, 36 to buckle in the clamping area, the variants of the buckling protection element 50 described above are designed in particular with a support part 56, especially a support foot. This supports the bending moments acting on the conductor 34, 36 towards the housing of the respective holding element 40, 42, 44 and provides increased buckling protection. Reference symbol list 10 wheel module 12 wheel 14 Wheel guidance 16 wheel carrier unit 18 bearing unit (wheel module bearing) 20 wheel fork 22 Swingarm 24 pivot point 26 Spring-damper unit 28 Double Arrow (Spring Travel) 30 electric drive motor 32 Wheel hub motor 34 Line (cooling) 36 Line (high voltage) 38 Mounting system (multi-part) 40 first retaining element (on swing arm) 42 second retaining element (on fork) 44 third retaining element (top of fork) 46 first line loop 48 second line loop 50 anti-kink elements 52 dampers 54 spring 56 Support part 58 Guide section 60 Line section 62 edge 64 kink protection grommets

Claims

Wheel module (10) for a motor vehicle, comprising: - a wheel (12), - a wheel guide (14) for guiding the wheel (12), wherein the wheel guide (14) in turn comprises a wheel carrier unit (16) for mounting the wheel (12), which has an electric drive motor (30) and / or a brake device, - lines (34, 36) which are designed as electrical lines (36) and / or pneumatic lines and / or hydraulic lines and / or cooling lines (34), and - a mounting system (38) for mounting the lines (34, 36) on the wheel guide (14) with several mounting elements (40, 42, 44), characterized in that at least one kink protection element (50) is arranged on at least one of the mounting elements (40, 42, 44) to protect the corresponding line(s) (34, 36) from kinking. Wheel module according to claim 1, characterized in that the at least one anti-kinking element (50) has a support part (56) for supporting on the retaining element (40, 42, 44) and at least one flexible guide part (58) for guiding the corresponding line (34, 36). Wheel module according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the at least one kink protection element (50) or at least the at least one flexible guide part (58) of this kink protection element (50) is designed as a kink protection sleeve (64) circumferentially surrounding the corresponding line (34, 36) on the retaining element (40, 42, 44). Wheel module according to one of claims 1 to 3, characterized in that the wheel guide (14) further comprises a wheel fork (20) supporting the wheel carrier unit (16), a spring-damper unit (26) and at least a part of a bearing unit (18) for mounting the wheel module (10) on a vehicle body of the motor vehicle. Wheel module according to claim 4, characterized in that the retaining elements (40, 42, 44) hold the lines (34, 36) on the wheel guide (14) in such a way that at least one line loop (46, 48) is formed which enables the spring-damper unit (26) to spring over a predetermined spring travel and / or the wheel guide (14) and the wheel (12) to rotate over a predetermined steering angle range. Wheel module according to claim 4 or 5, characterized in that a retaining element (42) is arranged on the wheel fork (20) and / or a retaining element (44) is arranged on the bearing unit (18) or on a part of the wheel fork (20) near the unit. Wheel module according to one of claims 4 to 6, characterized in that the wheel guide (14) further comprises a rocker arm (22) between the wheel fork (20) and the wheel carrier unit (16), wherein the spring-damper unit (26) is pivotally connected between the wheel fork (20) and the rocker arm (22). Wheel module according to one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the lines (34, 36) or at least a part of the lines (34, 36) are connecting lines (34, 36) for the electric drive motor (30) and / or the braking device. Wheel module according to one of claims 1 to 8, characterized in that the wheel guide (14) further comprises a steering actuator for adjusting the steering angle of the wheel (12) via the wheel fork (20). Motor vehicle, in particular self-driving motor vehicle, with one or more wheel modules (10) according to one of claims 1 to 8 .

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