Heavy Vehicle Driving Assembly with Independent Wheel Hub Motors
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Solution Overview
Problem
Heavy vehicles face challenges in reducing ground clearance without interfering with axle shafts, which affects suspension performance and transportation capacity, while also seeking to simplify and reduce the overall dimensions of the vehicle while maintaining sturdiness and reliability.
Innovation Solution
The driving assembly for heavy vehicles incorporates a suspension arm with a rotatable shaft, an electric motor, and a gear transmission system that allows for independent control of wheel rotation, eliminating the need for an automotive differential and enabling closer ground clearance by laterally spacing the driving assemblies from the central structure, thus enhancing loading capacity and suspension performance.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If traditional axles with automotive differentials are used, then the vehicle can transmit driving force to the wheels, but the height of the vehicle from the ground must be increased, which worsens suspension performance and reduces transportation capacity
Solution Approach 1:
The patent divides the traditional integrated axle-differential unit into separate independent modules. Each wheel hub is equipped with its own electric motor and gear transmission system, eliminating the need for a central automotive differential. This segmentation allows each wheel to be independently controlled and positioned, reducing the overall vehicle height while maintaining reliable driving force transmission to all wheels.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the mechanical automotive differential system with independent electric motor-driven gear transmissions at each wheel hub. This substitution eliminates the complex mechanical differential mechanism that required significant vertical space, thereby reducing vehicle height from ground while maintaining the ability to transmit driving force to the wheels through simpler, more compact electric-gear systems.
2Productivity
If the height of the vehicle from the ground is reduced, then suspension performance and transportation capacity are improved, but the axle shafts may interfere with the bottom of the vehicle
Solution Approach 1:
By segmenting the drive system into independent wheel hub modules with integrated motors and gear transmissions, the patent eliminates the need for long axle shafts that extend horizontally under the vehicle bottom. Each motor is mounted directly at the wheel hub, removing the intermediate axle shaft components that would interfere with the vehicle bottom at reduced ground clearance.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent merges the motor, gear transmission, and wheel hub into a single integrated assembly. This consolidation eliminates the need for separate axle shafts that would otherwise need to connect the differential to the wheels. The merged design allows the drive components to be positioned closer to the ground without creating interference issues, as there are no extended axle shafts protruding into the space under the vehicle bottom.
3Reliability
If traditional axles and automotive differentials are used, then driving force can be transmitted to the wheels, but the dimensions of the vehicle are increased and the structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The patent segments the traditional centralized differential system into multiple independent wheel hub modules. Each module contains its own electric motor and gear transmission, eliminating the need for complex connecting mechanisms, axle shafts, and a central differential housing. This segmentation simplifies the overall vehicle structure by removing unnecessary intermediate components while maintaining reliable driving force transmission to each wheel independently.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent replaces the complex mechanical automotive differential system with simpler electric motor-driven gear transmissions at each wheel hub. This substitution eliminates the need for differential gears, axle shafts, and associated mounting structures, significantly reducing vehicle structural complexity while maintaining the ability to transmit driving force to all wheels through independent electric-gear units.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This configuration allows for reduced ground clearance, increased loading capacity, improved suspension performance, and a simpler, more compact vehicle structure without interference between the driving assemblies and the frame, while maintaining reliability and sturdiness.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor (18), which has a stator (19) carried in a fixed position by the suspension arm (15) and a rotor (20) coupled to the shaft (16) for driving the latter in rotation about the axis C
Implementation Method 2
a gear transmission system that allows for independent control of wheel rotation
Data Source
Figure 1
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AI summary
A driving assembly (12; 12') for a heavy vehicle (1) includes a suspension arm (15, 15'), which can be coupled to a frame (2) of the vehicle (1), a shaft (16), which is carried by the suspension arm (15, 15') so as to rotate around its axis (C) and has an axial end 17 to be connected to a wheel hub (13) of the heavy vehicle (1), and an electric motor (18) having a stator portion (19), which is fixed to the suspension arm (15; 15'), and a rotor portion (20), which is coupled to the shaft (16) in order to cause the rotation thereof.