In-Wheel Motor Housing Layout for Reduced Scrub Radius
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing in-wheel motors protrude toward the vehicle side, increasing the scrubbing radius and applying a large reaction force to the steering mechanism, leading to deteriorated steering controllability and ride comfort, especially on rough roads.
Innovation Solution
The in-wheel motor is partially disposed inside the wheel and supported by a suspension device, featuring a stator housing with a recess and a hub bearing mounting portion, allowing the motor to be accommodated within the wheel, reducing the axial length and scrubbing radius, and incorporating a brake device and inverter device within the housing recess.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the in-wheel motor is disposed to protrude toward the vehicle side from the center line, then the motor can be accommodated within the wheel, but the scrubbing radius increases and steering operability deteriorates
Solution Approach 1:
The patent applies dimensionality change by transitioning from a two-dimensional planar arrangement to a three-dimensional spatial configuration. The stator housing includes a folded portion that creates a three-dimensional recess structure, allowing the motor to be accommodated within the wheel while maintaining the king-pin shaft at the tire center line. This spatial arrangement resolves the contradiction by utilizing vertical space rather than horizontal protrusion.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent implements nesting by placing the motor components within the recess formed by the folded portion of the stator housing. The rotor is disposed inside the stator, and the hub bearing is mounted on the housing flat plate portion within the recess structure. This nested arrangement allows the motor to be accommodated within the wheel without protruding toward the vehicle side, thereby maintaining proper steering geometry.
2Ease of operation
If the motor is disposed inside the wheel, then the scrubbing radius is reduced, but the motor structure becomes more complex
Solution Approach 1:
The stator housing is designed with multi-functionality, serving both as the motor housing and as the structural component that accommodates the motor within the wheel. The folded portion creates a recess that simultaneously provides motor mounting space and maintains the king-pin shaft position. This multi-functional design reduces the need for additional separate components, thereby managing structural complexity while achieving the desired compact arrangement.
Solution Approach 2:
The stator housing is segmented into distinct functional portions: the housing annular portion, the housing flat plate portion, and the folded portion. This segmentation allows each component to perform its specific function efficiently while contributing to the overall compact structure. The folded portion specifically creates the recess needed for motor accommodation, separating the housing functions into manageable segments that reduce overall structural complexity.
Data Source
AI summary
This invention provides an in-wheel motor capable of increasing steering operability and ride comfort of a vehicle. A stator 21 of an in-wheel motor 20 comprises a stator housing 21a and a stator housing cover 21b. The stator housing 21a is formed of a tubular-shaped housing annular portion 21a1, a housing flat-plate portion 21a2, a fold-back portion 21a3, and a flange portion 21a4. In the stator housing 21a, a housing recessed portion 211 is formed of the housing flat-plate portion 21a2 and the fold-back portion 21a3. The housing recessed portion 211 is provided with a hub bearing mounting portion 216 on which a hub bearing 26 is mounted. The stator housing cover 21b is provided with an upper arm attachment portion 217 and a lower arm attachment portion 218 for attaching an upper arm 31 and a lower arm 32 of a suspension device 30.