Drive system for rigid axle
The rigid axle motorization system with a central shaft, electric motor, and clutch allows independent control of each wheel, enhancing operational flexibility and efficiency, and providing redundancy for continued propulsion.
Patent Information
- Application Number
- PCT/EP2024/083698
- Authority / Receiving Office
- WO · WO
- Patent Type
- Applications
- Current Assignee / Owner
- Priority Date
- 2023-11-30
- Filing Date
- 2024-11-27
- Publication Date
- 2025-06-05
AI Technical Summary
Existing rigid axle drive systems for mobility devices lack independent control of the two wheels attached to the axle, limiting their operational flexibility and efficiency.
A rigid axle motorization system featuring a central shaft with at least one electric motor and a clutch, allowing for independent control of each wheel through the opening and closing of the clutch, and optionally incorporating two motors or two clutches for enhanced control and redundancy.
Enables independent power management of each wheel, optimizing traction and efficiency during straight-line driving and turns, while also providing redundancy for continued propulsion in case of motor failure.
Smart Images

Figure EP2024083698_05062025_PF_FP_ABST
Abstract
Description
[0001] Description
[0002] Title of the invention: Rigid axle motorization system
[0003] The present invention relates to a rigid axle drive system, and more particularly to a rigid axle drive system with a coupling device for a mobility device.
[0004] Drive systems for rigid axles are already known. The drive is provided, for example, by an electric motor. However, these known systems do not allow for independent control of the two wheels attached to the axle.
[0005] The invention therefore aims to overcome these drawbacks of the prior art by proposing an improved rigid axle motorization system.
[0006] For this purpose, the present invention proposes an axle for a mobility device comprising two wheels, a central shaft, at least one electric motor and at least one clutch, the motor and the clutch being arranged on the central shaft.
[0007] This configuration makes it possible to simply power an axle electrically. The axle's motorization is thus independent.
[0008] According to one embodiment of the invention, the central shaft is formed by two transmission shafts, each transmission shaft being associated with a wheel.
[0009] According to one embodiment of the invention, the clutch is controlled to enable it to be opened and / or closed.
[0010] According to one embodiment of the invention, the motor is a concentric motor arranged around the axle shaft.
[0011] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reducer is a concentric reducer arranged around the axle shaft.
[0012] According to one embodiment of the invention, the axle comprises two electric motors, the clutch being arranged between the two motors.
[0013] According to one embodiment of the invention, the axle comprises two clutches, the motor being arranged between the two clutches.
[0014] The invention also relates to a mobility device comprising at least one axle according to the invention.
[0015] According to one embodiment of the invention, the mobility device comprises two axles each comprising at least one motor. According to one embodiment of the invention, the mobility device comprises two axles each comprising two motors.
[0016] Other aims, characteristics and advantages of the invention will be better understood and will appear more clearly on reading the description given below, with reference to the appended figures, given by way of example and in which:
[0017] [Fig. 1] is a representation of a motorization system according to a first embodiment of the invention,
[0018] [Fig. 2] is a representation of a motorization system according to another embodiment of the invention,
[0019] [Fig. 3] is a representation of a motorization system according to another embodiment of the invention,
[0020] [Fig. 4] is a representation of a motorization system according to another embodiment of the invention,
[0021] [Fig. 5] is a representation of a motorization system according to another embodiment of the invention,
[0022] [Fig. 6] is a representation of a motorization system according to another embodiment of the invention.
[0023] Figure 1 illustrates a rigid axle 1 of a mobility device 10 according to one embodiment of the invention.
[0024] Mobility device 10 is a device with at least two wheels, for example a motorcycle, a motor vehicle, a passenger motor vehicle, a trailer or a caravan. The device has at least one rigid axle and, for example, two axles
[0025] In the context of the invention, the rigid axle 1 comprises two wheels 2, a central shaft 3, at least one electric motor 4 and at least one clutch 5. The motor 4 and the clutch are arranged on the shaft 3. Each of the wheels 2 is arranged at a different end of the shaft 3.
[0026] According to one embodiment, the central shaft 3 is formed by two transmission shafts 31, each transmission shaft 31 being associated with a wheel 2.
[0027] According to one embodiment of the invention, the clutch 5 is controlled to enable it to be opened and / or closed. In the open mode, the clutch is disconnected, which allows the operation of the elements arranged on either side to be separated. In the closed mode, the clutch is connected, which allows the elements arranged on either side to operate together.
[0028] According to one embodiment of the invention, the motor 4 comprises a reducer 41 with at least one output.
[0029] According to one embodiment of the invention, the motor 4 is a concentric motor arranged around the shaft 3 of the axle 1. Such a motor allows the axle to be more compact.
[0030] According to one embodiment of the invention, the reducer 41 is a concentric reducer arranged around the shaft 3 of the axle 1. Such a reducer 41 allows the axle to be more compact.
[0031] According to one embodiment of the invention, the motor 4 and the reducer are concentric and are arranged side by side around the shaft 3 of the axle 1. Such a configuration with a concentric motor and reducer allows the axle to be more compact.
[0032] According to one embodiment of the invention, the electric motor 4 is a wheel motor.
[0033] According to one embodiment, the clutch 5 is arranged between the motor 4 and one of the two wheels 2 on the shaft 3 of the axle 1.
[0034] This configuration with a 4-speed engine and a 5-speed clutch is used with the clutch closed when driving the machine in a straight line, and with the clutch open when driving in bends. Opening the clutch, that is to say disconnecting one of the wheels from the engine, allows you to manage the speed and optimize driving in bends.
[0035] According to one embodiment of the invention, the axle comprises two electric motors 4 [Fig. 2], the clutch 5 is arranged between the two motors 4. That is to say that the two motors 4 are arranged on either side of the clutch, and for example each on a transmission shaft 31 of the axle 1.
[0036] In this configuration with two motors 4 and one clutch 5, the clutch is closed when the machine is traveling in a straight line. When traveling in a turn, the clutch is open. The motors then adapt their torque to each wheel to optimize the rolling of the machine in a turn and to allow turning on the spot. Indeed, when turning on the spot it is necessary for the motors to operate in opposite directions, this is possible thanks to the opening of the clutch. In this configuration with two motors per axle, the system also makes it possible to compensate for the failure of one motor and to continue to provide propulsion. According to one embodiment of the invention, the axle comprises two clutches 5 [Fig. 3]. The motor 4 is arranged between the two clutches 5. That is to say that the two clutches 5 are arranged on either side of the motor 4, and for example, each on a transmission shaft 31 of the axle 1.
[0037] The invention also relates to a mobility device comprising at least two axles 1.
[0038] According to an embodiment of the invention illustrated [Fig. 4], when the mobility device comprises at least two axles 1, the motor 5 and reduction gear 41 assemblies of each axle 1 are mounted opposite to the clutch 5, when the axle only comprises a single motor. This configuration with two axles and one motor per opposite axle makes it possible to optimize cornering.
[0039] According to one embodiment of the invention, the machine comprises two axles comprising two motors 4 and at least one clutch 5.
[0040] According to one embodiment of the invention, when the machine has two axles 1, one of the two axles serves to lift the other illustrated [Fig. 6], This makes it possible to use only one axle at a time and thus save energy and limit wear on the wheels, or wheel tires. Lifting also makes it easier to maneuver the machine on slopes or climbs.
[0041] According to one embodiment of the invention, when the machine comprises two axles 1, the two axles 1 operate to move the machine 10 forward [Fig. 5] a) or only one of the two operates [Fig. 5] b) c).
[0042] The invention also relates to a trailer or caravan comprising at least one axle 1. Such a trailer or caravan with a motorized axle system with at least one electric motor allows the machine to move forward autonomously. For example, to be driven independently of the vehicle, which allows it to be maneuvered more easily, and in particular to be parked alone.
[0043] The presence of two 5 clutches for a trailer axle allows the engine to be completely disconnected, thus preventing it from having an overspeed when moving forward by towing with the vehicle.
[0044] The scope of the present invention is not limited to the details given above and allows embodiments in many other specific forms without departing from the scope of the invention. Therefore, the present embodiments should be considered by way of illustration, and may be modified without departing from the scope defined by the claims supported by the description.
Claims
CLAIM 1. Axle (1) for a mobility device (10) comprising two wheels (2(), a central shaft (3), at least one electric motor (4) and at least one clutch (5), characterized in that the motor (4) and the clutch are arranged on the central shaft (3).
2. Axle (1) according to claim 1, wherein the central shaft (3) is formed by two transmission shafts (31), each transmission shaft (31) being associated with a wheel (2).
3. Axle (1) according to claim 1 or 2 in which the clutch is controlled to allow its opening and / or closing.
4. Axle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 3, wherein the motor (4) is a concentric motor arranged around the shaft (3) of the axle 1.
5. Axle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 4, wherein the reducer (41) is a concentric reducer arranged around the shaft (3) of the axle (1).
6. Axle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, comprising two electric motors (4), the clutch (5) being arranged between the two motors (4).
7. Axle (1) according to one of claims 1 to 5, comprising two clutches (5), the motor (4) being arranged between the two clutches (5).
8. Mobility device (10) comprising at least one axle according to one of claims 1 to 7.
9. Mobility device (10) according to claim 8, comprising two axles (1) each comprising at least one motor.
10. Mobility device according to claim 8, comprising two axles (1) each comprising two motors (4).
Citation Information
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