Hub Motor Suspension Layout for Sub-Frame-Free Mining Machines
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing mobile mining machines face challenges in providing an efficient, reliable, and agile suspension system that allows for easy maintenance and battery swapping, often requiring additional sub-frames and limited space for component installation.
Innovation Solution
A suspension arrangement comprising a suspension actuator and a hub motor arrangement, which includes a drive and a hub for the wheel, allowing the wheel to be connected to the hub motor arrangement, enabling adjustable height and stiffness, and eliminating the need for a sub-frame, thus facilitating better installation and maintenance practices.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a sub-frame (oscillation cradle) is used for suspension of axles and wheels, then suspension function is achieved, but device complexity increases and space inside centre frame is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the sub-frame (oscillation cradle) from the suspension system, directly connecting the hub motor arrangement to the centre frame. This removes the unnecessary intermediate component while maintaining the suspension function through the hub motor arrangement itself, thereby reducing device complexity and freeing up space inside the centre frame.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub motor arrangement is designed to serve multiple functions: it provides both the suspension function (replacing the sub-frame) and the drive function. By integrating these functions into a single component, the patent eliminates the need for separate sub-frame structures, reducing overall device complexity while maintaining reliable suspension performance.
2Reliability
If a sub-frame (oscillation cradle) is used for suspension, then suspension function is achieved, but space inside centre frame for component installation is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes the sub-frame structure from the suspension system, directly mounting the hub motor arrangement to the centre frame. This extraction eliminates the space-consuming intermediate component and restores valuable installation space inside the centre frame for other components, while the suspension function is maintained through the redesigned direct mounting arrangement.
3Reliability
If traditional suspension system with sub-frame is used, then suspension is provided, but maintenance accessibility and battery swapping are limited
Solution Approach 1:
By removing the sub-frame and its associated complex mounting structures, the patent creates a more open and accessible configuration. The hub motor arrangement can be directly accessed from outside the vehicle, significantly improving maintenance accessibility and enabling easier battery swapping operations without the obstruction of intermediate sub-frame structures.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent employs a modular hub motor arrangement that can be independently accessed and serviced. This segmentation of the suspension and drive functions into a self-contained unit that can be easily removed and replaced facilitates both maintenance and battery swapping operations, improving ease of repair compared to integrated sub-frame designs.
Data Source
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AI summary
A suspension arrangement for a mobile mining machine, wherein the suspension arrangement (1) comprises a suspension actuator (8) and a hub motor arrangement (9), comprising a drive and a hub (7) for a wheel of the mobile mining machine. The suspension actuator (8) comprises a first part (81) and a second part (82) configured movable relative with each other at least in one direction, wherein the first part (81) of the suspension actuator is configured to be connectable on a frame (2) of the mobile mining machine and the second part (82) is connectable to the hub motor arrangement (9), wherein a wheel (3, 4) of the mining machine is connectable to the hub (7) of the hub motor arrangement (9).