ELECTRICAL POWER GENERATOR HUB COVER

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrically generating hubcap (30) comprising: - an aesthetic part (31) rotationally linked with said wheel hub, - a dynamic part (38) mounted freely to rotate about an axis (39) fixed relative to the aesthetic part (31), said dynamic part (38) comprising an alternator rotor associated with an alternator stator mounted on the axis (39), and - a coupling device (45) mounted between the dynamic part (38) and the aesthetic part (31) capable of selectively assuming: - a coupled state in which the dynamic part (38) is rotationally linked with the aesthetic part (31), and - an uncoupled state in which the dynamic part (38) is free to rotate relative to the aesthetic part (31) such that a rotation of the alternator rotor relative to the alternator stator generates an electric current to recharge a battery. Figure 2

Description

Title of the invention: ELECTRICAL ENERGY GENERATING HUB COVER

[0001] The present invention relates to a hub cover generating electrical energy. The invention finds a particularly advantageous application with electric motor vehicles such as cars, trucks, construction machinery, buses, or tractors. The invention can however also be implemented with hybrid or thermal vehicles.

[0002] In a manner known per se, an electric motor vehicle comprises a rotating electrical machine mounted on a set of wheels, in particular the front set of wheels. A speed reducer makes it possible to make the high rotational speed of the rotating electrical machine compatible with the rotational speed of the wheels.

[0003] The rotating electrical machine is capable of transforming electrical energy from the battery into mechanical energy to provide traction for the vehicle. The rotating electrical machine is also capable of operating in a generator mode in which the electrical machine transforms, in particular during a regenerative braking phase, kinetic energy of the motor vehicle into electrical energy to recharge the battery.

[0004] The invention aims in particular to optimize the recovery of kinetic energy by integrating an alternator inside a wheel hub cover of a motor vehicle.

[0005] More specifically, the invention relates to an electrical energy generating hub cover for a vehicle comprising: - an aesthetic part intended to cover at least a central part of a wheel hub and to be linked in rotation with said wheel hub, - a dynamic part mounted free to rotate around an axis fixed relative to the aesthetic part, said dynamic part comprising an alternator rotor associated with an alternator stator mounted on the axis, and - a coupling device mounted between the dynamic part and the aesthetic part capable of selectively taking: - a coupled state in which the dynamic part is rotationally linked with the aesthetic part, and - an uncoupled state in which the dynamic part is free to rotate relative to the aesthetic part, so that rotation of the alternator rotor relative to the alternator stator generates an electric current to recharge a battery.

[0006] The invention thus makes it possible to recover additional electrical energy during particular driving phases of the motor vehicle, in particular braking or deceleration phases but also during driving phases at constant speed.

[0007] According to one embodiment of the invention, the coupling device comprises spring electromagnets.

[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the spring electromagnets are carried by the dynamic part.

[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the spring electromagnets are configured in such a way that when said spring electromagnets are not electrically powered, said spring electromagnets bear against a wall of the aesthetic part so that the coupling device is in the coupled state and when said spring electromagnets are electrically powered, the springs of the electromagnets are compressed so that the coupling device is in the uncoupled state.

[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, a control module is configured to control a sending of current from a battery to the electromagnets in order to ensure a current supply to said electromagnets, so that the current sent by the battery to the electromagnets is sent only for a few milliseconds while the coupling device goes into the uncoupled state and the dynamic part starts rotating, thereafter the maintenance of the current of the electromagnets being ensured by a part of the electric current generated by the dynamic part and the alternator stator.

[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, a control module is configured to control a maintenance of the power supply to the electromagnets by a portion of an electric current produced by the alternator.

[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, a control module is configured to switch the coupling device from the coupled state to the uncoupled state when a driver releases an accelerator pedal, or when the driver presses a brake pedal, or when a vehicle speed becomes greater than a threshold speed or periodically during a journey at constant speed.

[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the aesthetic part comprises a decorative motif and / or a logo.

[0014] The invention also relates to an assembly comprising a wheel provided with a hub and a hub cover as previously defined.

[0015] The invention further relates to a motor vehicle comprising an assembly as previously defined.

[0016] The invention will be better understood upon reading the following description and examining the accompanying figures. These figures are given for illustrative purposes only but in no way limiting the invention.

[0017] [Fig. 1] is a schematic representation of a motor vehicle equipped with hub covers generating electrical energy according to the invention;

[0018] [Fig.2] is a rear perspective view of an electrical energy generating hub cover according to the invention;

[0019] [Fig.3] is a front view of an electrical energy generating hub cover according to the invention.

[0020] [Fig.4a][Fig.4b] are schematic sectional representations of an electrical energy generating hub cover according to the invention having respectively a coupling device in the coupled state and in the uncoupled state.

[0021] Identical, similar, or analogous elements retain the same reference from one figure to another.

[0022] [Fig.l] shows a motor vehicle 10 comprising a front wheel set 11 comprising front wheels 11.1, 11.2 and a rear wheel set 12 comprising rear wheels 12.1, 12.2. A powertrain 13 comprises a rotating electrical machine 15 mounted on the front wheel set 11. A speed reducer 16 is associated with the rotating electrical machine 15. The speed reducer 16 makes it possible to make the high rotational speed of the rotating electrical machine 15 compatible with the rotational speed of the vehicle wheels. The speed reducer 16 incorporates a speed differential.

[0023] A battery 23 is electrically connected to the rotating electrical machine 15.

[0024] The rotating electrical machine 15 is capable of transforming electrical energy from the battery 23 into mechanical energy to provide traction for the vehicle. The rotating electrical machine 15 is also capable of operating in a generator mode in which the rotating electrical machine 15 transforms mechanical energy into electrical energy enabling the battery 23 to be recharged, in particular during a regenerative braking phase.

[0025] For this purpose, an inverter 24 associated with the rotating electrical machine 15 is capable of transforming the DC voltage of the battery 23 into a polyphase voltage applied to the phases of the rotating electrical machine 15 in the case of operation in motor mode. The inverter 24 is also capable of transforming the polyphase voltage generated by the rotating electrical machine 15 into a DC voltage applied to the terminals of the battery 23 in the case of operation in alternator mode. The inverter 24 then has a voltage rectifier bridge function.

[0026] At least one wheel 11.1, 11.2, 12.1, 12.2, preferably all of the wheels of the motor vehicle comprise a hub cover 30 generating electrical energy shown in FIGS. 2, 3, 4a and 4b.

[0027] The hub cover 30 comprises an aesthetic part 31 intended to cover at least a central portion of a hub 32 of a wheel (see Figures 4a and 4b). The aesthetic part 31 comprises at least one disc-shaped portion. The aesthetic part 31 may comprise a decorative pattern and / or a logo, as shown in [Fig.3].

[0028] The aesthetic part 31 is intended to be connected in rotation with the wheel hub 32. For this purpose, the aesthetic part 31 comprises a fixing device 33 provided with tabs 35 arranged along a circumference of the aesthetic part 31. The tabs 35 are intended to cooperate by snap-fastening with a radially internal face of the wheel hub 32. The disc-shaped portion of the aesthetic part 31, the fixing device 33 and an axle 39 (or shaft 39) preferably form a single piece. The different elements can come from one piece or be attached to each other for fixing.

[0029] The hub cover 30 also comprises a dynamic part 38 mounted freely in rotation around the axis 39 fixed relative to the aesthetic part 31. The dynamic part 38 comprises an alternator rotor 41 associated with an alternator stator 42 mounted on the axis 39. The alternator stator 42 can be arranged around the axis 39 or integrated inside an internal volume of the axis 39. The dynamic part 38 preferably comprises permanent magnets. The alternator stator 42 is a single-phase or polyphase wound stator.

[0030] A coupling device 45 visible in Figures 2, 4a and 4b is mounted between the dynamic part 38 and the aesthetic part 31. The coupling device 45 is capable of selectively taking: - a coupled state in which the dynamic part 38 is rotationally linked with the aesthetic part 31, and - an uncoupled state in which the dynamic part 38 is free to rotate relative to the aesthetic part 31, so that a rotation of the alternator rotor 41 relative to the alternator stator 42 makes it possible to generate an electric current for recharging the battery 23.

[0031] According to a preferred embodiment, the coupling device 45 comprises spring electromagnets 46. The spring electromagnets 46 are carried by the dynamic part 38. Alternatively, the electromagnets 46 are carried by the aesthetic part 31.

[0032] The coupling device 45 is controlled by a control module 26 shown in [Fig.l].

[0033] The operation of the hub cover 30 generating electrical energy according to the invention is described below with reference to FIGS. 4a and 4b.

[0034] As illustrated in [Fig.4a], when the electromagnets 46 are not electrically powered, the spring electromagnets 46 bear radially against a wall of the aesthetic part 31, so that the coupling device 45 is in the coupled state. There is therefore no relative movement between the rotor alternator 41 and the alternator stator 42. No induced current is therefore produced by the alternator. The wall of the aesthetic part 31 against which the electromagnets 46 bear is a cylindrical face or a portion of a cylindrical face axially oriented relative to the axis 39. This cylindrical face may belong to the tabs 35 of the fixing device 33.

[0035] As illustrated in [Fig.4b], when a driver releases a pedal accelerator pedal, or when the driver presses a brake pedal, or when a vehicle speed becomes higher than a threshold speed, the control module 26 is configured to switch the coupling device 45 from the coupled state to the uncoupled state. For this purpose, the control module 26 controls a sending of current from the battery 23 to the electromagnets 46 in order to supply said electromagnets 46 with current, so that the current sent by the battery to the electromagnets 46 is sent only for a few milliseconds while the coupling device 45 switches to the uncoupled state and the dynamic part 38 begins to rotate, subsequently maintaining the current of the electromagnets 46 being ensured by a portion of the electric current generated by the dynamic part 38 and the alternator stator 42 as explained below.

[0036] When said electromagnets 46 are electrically powered, the springs of the electromagnets 46 are compressed, so that the dynamic part 38 is detached from the aesthetic part 31. By inertia effect, the dynamic part 38 will begin to rotate around the axis 39 which is fixed (in rotation and in translation) with the aesthetic part 31. The dynamic part 38 rotates at a rotation speed greater than the rotation speed of the aesthetic part 31 linked in rotation with the wheel hub 32.

[0037] The rotation of the alternator rotor 41 relative to the alternator stator 42 makes it possible to generate induced currents in the alternator stator 42 and therefore electrical energy which can be transferred to the battery 23 of the vehicle.

[0038] The control module 26 is configured to control a maintenance of the power supply of the electromagnets 46 by a portion of an electric current produced by the alternator.

[0039] As soon as the rotation of the dynamic part 38 stops naturally, the electromagnets 46 are no longer powered, and the coupling device 45 returns to the coupled state in which the dynamic part 38 is linked in rotation with the aesthetic part 31.

[0040] It should be noted that the generation of electrical energy can also occur outside of the deceleration phases (releasing the accelerator pedal or pressing the brake pedal). Indeed, during a journey with a constant speed (long straight road or motorway), the control unit 26 can periodically control the coupling and decoupling of the dynamic part 38 with the aesthetic part 31.

[0041] Alternatively, the coupling device 45 may take the form of a dog clutch device controlled by the control unit 26.

Claims

Claims

1. Hub cover (30) generating electrical energy for a vehicle characterized in that said hub cover (30) comprises: - an aesthetic part (31) intended to cover at least a central part of a wheel hub (32) and to be linked in rotation with said wheel hub (32), - a dynamic part (38) mounted free in rotation about an axis (39) fixed relative to the aesthetic part (31), said dynamic part (38) comprising an alternator rotor (41) associated with an alternator stator (42) mounted on the axis (39), and - a coupling device (45) mounted between the dynamic part (38) and the aesthetic part (31) capable of selectively taking: - a coupled state in which the dynamic part (38) is linked in rotation with the aesthetic part (31), and - an uncoupled state in which the dynamic part (38) is free in rotation relative to the aesthetic part (31),such that a rotation of the alternator rotor (41) relative to the alternator stator (42) makes it possible to generate an electric current for recharging a battery (23).,

2. Hub cover according to claim 1, characterized in that the coupling device (45) comprises spring electromagnets (46).

3. Hub cover according to claim 1 or 2, characterized in that the spring electromagnets (46) are carried by the dynamic part (38).

4. Hub cover according to claim 2 or 3, characterized in that the spring electromagnets (46) are configured in such a way that when said spring electromagnets (46) are not electrically powered, said spring electromagnets (46) bear against a wall of the aesthetic part (31) so that the coupling device (45) is in the coupled state and when said spring electromagnets (46) are electrically powered, the springs of the electromagnets (46) are compressed so that the coupling device (45) is in the uncoupled state.

5. Hub cover according to any one of claims 2 to 4, characterized in that a control module (26) is configured to control a sending of current from a battery (23) to the electromagnets (46) in order to ensure a supply of current to said electromagnets (46), so that the current sent by the battery (23) to the electromagnets (46) is sent only for a few milliseconds. the time that the coupling device (45) passes into the uncoupled state and that the dynamic part (38) begins to rotate, subsequently the maintenance of the current of the electromagnets (46) being ensured by a part of the electric current generated by the dynamic part (38) and the alternator stator (42).

6. Hub cover according to claim 5, characterized in that a control module (26) is configured to control a maintenance of the power supply of the electromagnets (46) by a part of an electric current produced by the alternator.

7. A hub cap according to any one of claims 1 to 6, characterized in that a control module (26) is configured to switch the coupling device (45) from the coupled state to the uncoupled state when a driver releases an accelerator pedal, or when the driver presses a brake pedal, or when a vehicle speed becomes greater than a threshold speed or periodically during constant speed travel.

8. Hub cover according to any one of claims 1 to 7, characterized in that the aesthetic part (31) comprises a decorative pattern and / or a logo.

9. Assembly comprising a wheel provided with a hub (32) and a hub cover (30) defined according to any one of the preceding claims.

10. Motor vehicle comprising an assembly defined according to claim 9.

Images