In-wheel Motor Power Cable Segmentation for Reduced Swinging Space
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional unsprung power supply apparatuses for in-wheel motor vehicles require complex structures to manage high-voltage electrical power lines, leading to increased space where power supply cables swing due to combined vertical and rotational movements.
Innovation Solution
The apparatus fixes part of the power supply cable to a non-rotating third link, which acts as a virtual kingpin axis, splitting the cable into vehicle body-side and motor-side cables to accommodate vertical and rotational movements separately, thereby reducing the total cable length and swinging space.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If the power supply cable is made long enough to accommodate both vertical movement and rotational movement, then the cable can maintain simple structure, but the space where the cable swings increases
Solution Approach 1:
The power supply cable is segmented into two separate cables: a first power supply cable fixed to the third link for vertical movement, and a second power supply cable connected to the in-wheel motor for rotational movement. This segmentation allows each cable to be optimized for its specific motion type, reducing the total cable length and swinging space while maintaining structural simplicity.
2Ease of manufacture
If a hollow pivot shaft structure is used to pass high-voltage electrical power lines, then wiring can be achieved, but the structure becomes complex
Solution Approach 1:
The electrical wiring function is extracted from the mechanical pivot shaft structure. Instead of using a hollow pivot shaft to pass power lines, the patent uses separate power supply cables that are independently routed and fixed to the third link, eliminating the need for a complex hollow shaft structure while maintaining wiring capability.
3Volume of moving object
If the power supply cable length is reduced to decrease swinging space, then the cable swing space decreases, but the cable cannot accommodate combined vertical and rotational movements
Solution Approach 1:
The motion accommodation function is segmented between two cables: the first cable accommodates vertical movement by being fixed to the third link, while the second cable accommodates rotational movement by being connected to the in-wheel motor. This segmentation allows each cable to be shorter and more specialized, reducing total swinging space while maintaining full motion adaptability.
Solution Approach 2:
The third link serves as an intermediary structure that is fixed to the vehicle body and couples with the in-wheel motor. By fixing the first power supply cable to this intermediary third link rather than directly to the motor or vehicle body, the system achieves separate accommodation of vertical and rotational movements with reduced cable lengths.
Data Source
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AI summary
The purpose of the present invention is to decrease a space where a power supply cable for an in-wheel motor swings while keeping a simple structure. A steering knuckle (5) is provided for turning and steering a tire (1), and has an in-wheel motor (4) and a third link (10). A virtual kingpin axis (6) is an axis passing through a knuckle side coupling point (10a) at which the third link (10) couples with the steering knuckle (5). In this in-wheel motor vehicle, a part of a power supply cable (12) that connects the in-wheel motor (4) and a power supply unit (14) on a vehicle body side is fixed to the third link (10) for wiring.