Dual-Motor Vehicle Corner Module With Redundant Steering Gearbox
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle corner modules for individual wheel steering face challenges in reliability, space efficiency, and adequate steering functionality, particularly in steer-by-wire systems, with conventional designs consuming significant space and lacking redundancy.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle corner module with two steering motors, each connected to a common gearbox, allowing flexible steering adaptation and redundancy, featuring a compact design with parallel motor axes, electromagnetic coupling for energy efficiency, and a shock suspension system for stability, enabling maintenance without disassembly.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a single steering motor is used in conventional steering arrangements, then the device complexity is reduced, but the reliability deteriorates because failure results in loss of steering capability
Solution Approach 1:
The steering system is segmented into two independent steering motors (first and second steering motors) that can operate independently or together. Each motor can individually actuate the wheel assembly, providing redundancy so that if one motor fails, the other can maintain steering capability. This segmentation directly resolves the contradiction by improving reliability through redundancy while managing complexity through modular design.
2Reliability
If two steering motors are used for redundancy, then the reliability is improved, but the space consumption increases due to voluminous assembly requirements
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the two steering motors into a shared housing structure where both motors are mounted on the same housing and share common components such as the pinion gear and gearbox. This combining approach allows the two motors to occupy overlapping or adjacent spaces efficiently, reducing the overall volume compared to having two separate steering assemblies. The shared housing and common mechanical elements directly address the space consumption issue while maintaining the reliability benefits of dual motors.
3Adaptability or versatility
If conventional axle steering link with fasteners and lever assemblies is used, then the steering functionality is adequate, but the device complexity and space consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the conventional axle steering link, fasteners, and lever assemblies from the steering mechanism. Instead, it uses a simplified direct-connection approach where the steering motors directly actuate the wheel assembly through a compact gearbox and pinion mechanism. This extraction of unnecessary components directly reduces device complexity while maintaining adequate steering functionality through the streamlined mechanical path.
4Duration of action of moving object
If one steering motor is used in normal operation, then the service life is extended, but the steering torque capacity is reduced compared to dual motor simultaneous operation
Solution Approach 1:
The patent implements a dynamic control system that can switch between single-motor and dual-motor operation modes based on steering demands. During normal operation, only one motor is activated to extend service life. When high steering torque is required (such as during emergency maneuvers or adverse conditions), the control system dynamically engages both motors simultaneously. This dynamic adaptability directly resolves the contradiction by extending service life under normal conditions while maintaining full torque capacity when needed.
Data Source
AI summary
A vehicle corner module for wheel-individual steering comprises a wheel portion, a vehicle portion and a steering mechanism. The steering mechanism comprises a steering motor and a gearbox. The steering motor is configured to rotate the wheel portion about a steering axis relative to the vehicle portion by way of the gearbox. The reliability and service life of such a vehicle corner module is to be increased. For this purpose, it is provided that the steering mechanism comprises two steering motors, each of which is configured to rotate the wheel portion about the steering axis relative to the vehicle portion by way of the common gearbox. Furthermore provided is a vehicle comprising at least one, preferably two or four, such vehicle corner modules.