External CV Joint Wheel-Drive Assembly for Larger Steering Angles
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing vehicle wheel-drive assemblies face challenges in reducing the distance between the motion actuator and the wheel while maintaining sufficient range of motion for vertical travel and steering, as shortening the drive axle requires greater angular tolerance from the CV joint, which may not be accommodated, and the steering angle is often limited by the CV-joint swing angle.
Innovation Solution
A wheel-drive assembly design where the outboard CV joint is mounted exteriorly to the wheel-hub, allowing a reduced distance between the motion actuator and the wheel, with the steering angle decoupled from the CV-joint swing angle, enabling greater steering flexibility.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Length of moving object
If the drive axle is shortened to reduce the distance between the motion actuator and the wheel, then the distance between motion actuator and wheel is reduced, but the CV joint requires greater angular tolerance which may not be accommodated
Solution Approach 1:
The patent positions the CV joint exteriorly to the wheel-hub along the longitudinal axis, creating a different spatial arrangement where the CV joint housing engages the wheel-hub from the outer side. This dimensional repositioning allows the drive axle to maintain sufficient length for angular movement while reducing the overall distance between the motion actuator and the wheel, as the CV joint no longer occupies internal space within the wheel-hub.
2Length of moving object
If the drive axle is shortened, then the distance between motion actuator and wheel is reduced, but the steering angle is limited by the CV-joint swing angle
Solution Approach 1:
By relocating the CV joint to an exterior position on the longitudinal axis of the wheel-hub, the patent decouples the steering rotation axis from the CV joint swing constraints. The wheel-hub can now rotate for steering purposes independent of the CV joint's angular limitations, as the exterior mounting position allows greater rotational freedom without compromising the drive axle length.
3Device complexity
If the CV joint is mounted interiorly to the wheel-hub, then the structural integration is compact, but the distance between motion actuator and wheel cannot be reduced further
Solution Approach 1:
Instead of mounting the CV joint interiorly to the wheel-hub as in conventional designs, the patent inverts the arrangement by mounting the CV joint exteriorly. The CV joint housing engages the wheel-hub from the outer side along the longitudinal axis, reversing the traditional inside-out mounting approach. This inversion enables further reduction of the distance between the motion actuator and the wheel while maintaining structural integration.
Data Source
AI summary
A wheel drive assembly for transferring propelling torque from a source shaft to a wheel, the source shaft receiving torque from a motion actuator. The wheel drive assembly includes a wheel-hub, adapted to have the wheel mounted thereon, the wheel-hub being arranged about a longitudinal axis, which is adapted to coincide with a rotation axis of the wheel. The wheel drive assembly further includes a drive axle and a constant velocity (CV) joint mounted onto an outer end of the drive axle. The CV joint connects the drive axle to the wheel-hub. An outermost surface of the CV joint is disposed outwardly of an outermost surface of the wheel hub, along the longitudinal axis of the wheel-hub.