Electric Vehicle Lean Mechanism Using Drive Wheel Rotation

Solution Overview

Problem

Conventional electric vehicles with leaning capabilities for improved turning performance become large and complex due to dedicated actuators for body lean, complicating construction and increasing weight.

Innovation Solution

An electric vehicle design featuring support mechanisms that allow drive wheels to move vertically, enabling body lean through motor-driven wheel rotation, which adjusts the vehicle's position relative to the gravitational force and traveling surface, thereby simplifying construction while maintaining turning capabilities.

Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles

VSEngineering Contradiction Analysis

1Reliability

If a dedicated actuator device is added for leaning the vehicle body, then turning performance is improved, but device complexity and weight increase

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveturning performanceVSAvoidvehicle construction

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSDevice complexity

Solution Approach 1:

The drive wheels serve dual functions: propulsion and body leaning. By enabling the drive wheels to move vertically relative to the vehicle body through motor control, the system eliminates the need for a separate actuator device while maintaining turning performance. The motors that drive the wheels also control their vertical movement, making the drive system universal for both propulsion and leaning functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the function of the dedicated leaning actuator with the existing drive system. The drive wheels and their motors perform both propulsion and body leaning functions, combining what were previously separate systems into one integrated mechanism, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

2Reliability

If a dedicated actuator device is added for leaning the vehicle body, then turning performance is improved, but vehicle weight increases

Engineering Contradiction:

Improveturning performanceVSAvoidvehicle weight

Core Design Contradiction:

ReliabilityVSWeight of moving object

Solution Approach 1:

The drive wheels serve dual functions: propulsion and body leaning. By enabling the drive wheels to move vertically relative to the vehicle body through motor control, the system eliminates the need for a separate actuator device while maintaining turning performance. The motors that drive the wheels also control their vertical movement, making the drive system universal for both propulsion and leaning functions.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #6Universality (Multi-functionality)

Solution Approach 2:

The invention merges the function of the dedicated leaning actuator with the existing drive system. The drive wheels and their motors perform both propulsion and body leaning functions, combining what were previously separate systems into one integrated mechanism, thereby reducing overall device complexity.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #5Merging (Combining)

3Device complexity

If the vehicle uses a simplified construction without dedicated actuators, then device complexity is reduced, but the ability to change vehicle body position when stationary is limited

Engineering Contradiction:

Improvevehicle constructionVSAvoidvehicle body position adjustment

Core Design Contradiction:

Device complexityVSAdaptability or versatility

Solution Approach 1:

The invention makes the drive wheels dynamically adjustable in their vertical position relative to the vehicle body. By controlling the motors to rotate the drive wheels, the system enables the wheels to move vertically, which in turn changes the vehicle body's position and lean angle. This dynamic adjustment capability allows the vehicle to adapt its body position when stationary without requiring dedicated actuators.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #15Dynamics

Solution Approach 2:

The drive system serves itself by using the same motors that propel the vehicle to also control the vertical movement of the drive wheels and consequently the body position. The system leverages its existing propulsion capability to achieve position adjustment, eliminating the need for separate actuating mechanisms.

Inventive Principle:

Principle #25Self-service

Data Source

PatentEP2767464B1Electric vehicle

Publication Date: 2019.11.06 YAMAHA MOTOR CO LTD

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AI summary

An electric vehicle 1 capable of making a turn while leaning a vehicle body includes a front wheel, a pair of right and left rear wheels 35R, 35L provided separately from the front wheel, a support mechanism rockably supported by the vehicle body for supporting the pair of rear wheels 35R, 35L to be vertically movable, a pair of motors corresponding to the pair of rear wheels 35R, 35L, respectively, and a controller for controlling the motors to rotate at least one of the rear wheels 35R, 35L when the vehicle stands still. By rotating at least one of the rear wheels 35R, 35L when the vehicle stands still, a position of the vehicle body relative to the traveling surface changes and the position of the vehicle body relative to a direction of gravitational force also changes. Thus, according to this invention, the position of the vehicle body can be changed by a simplified construction when the vehicle stands still.