Motorized Hub Coupling Mechanism for Hybrid Drive Torque
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing motorized hubs for electrically driven automotive vehicles face challenges in compatibility with existing suspension systems and wheels, require a compact and lightweight design to reduce costs, and struggle to achieve sufficient drive torque without increasing motor size or adding complexity with reduction means and braking systems.
Innovation Solution
A motorized hub with an external stator electric motor and internal rotor, featuring reduction means with a dog clutch and sliding member mechanism for coupling/uncoupling, allowing torque transmission between the motor and hub, and incorporating a disk brake for efficient energy use and compact design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Force
If reduction means are incorporated into the motorized hub to achieve sufficient drive torque, then the drive torque is sufficient, but the device complexity increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent combines the reduction means with the braking device into a single integrated unit. The reduction means include a pinion gear and toothed ring, while the braking device includes a brake disk and caliper, both mounted on the same hub structure. This merging allows torque multiplication and braking functions to coexist in a compact arrangement, achieving sufficient drive torque without proportionally increasing overall device complexity.
Solution Approach 2:
The hub structure serves multiple functions: it supports the wheel, accommodates the electric motor, houses the reduction means for torque multiplication, and integrates the braking device. This multi-functionality allows a single component (the hub) to perform what would traditionally require multiple separate components, thereby achieving sufficient drive torque while limiting the increase in device complexity.
2Use of energy by moving object
If electric motors are incorporated inside wheels to improve energy efficiency, then energy efficiency is improved, but the weight of the moving object increases
Solution Approach 1:
The patent employs a nested arrangement where the electric motor is positioned within the hub structure, the reduction means are nested within the motor housing, and the braking device is nested alongside these components. This nesting allows multiple heavy components (motor, reduction gears, brake) to share space efficiently, minimizing the overall volume and weight increase of the motorized hub while maintaining energy efficiency benefits.
3Ease of manufacture
If a compact design is adopted to reduce costs and improve ease of manufacture, then ease of manufacture is improved, but the drive torque may be insufficient
Solution Approach 1:
The reduction means are segmented into distinct components: a pinion gear connected to the motor shaft, an intermediate gear, and a toothed ring connected to the hub. This segmentation allows each component to be manufactured separately using standard gear manufacturing processes, improving ease of manufacture. The segmented design also enables efficient space utilization, maintaining compactness while achieving the necessary torque multiplication through the gear train.
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
Enables efficient torque transmission and braking while maintaining a compact, lightweight design, improving the compatibility and cost-effectiveness of electric drive systems in hybrid vehicles by allowing flexible coupling/uncoupling and energy recovery during braking.
Implementation Method 1
the coupling/uncoupling means comprise a dog clutch and sliding member mechanism
Implementation Method 2
incorporating a disk brake for efficient energy use
Data Source
AI summary
A motorized hub for electric powering of an axle of a hybrid drive automotive vehicle, said motorized hub comprising a hub designed to receive a wheel, the hub being mounted rotationally relative to a hub carrier about a hub axis, the motorized hub comprising an electric drive motor, the electric motor comprising an external stator connected to the hub carrier and an internal rotor whose axis of rotation is remote from the hub axis, the motorized hub comprising reduction means acting between the rotor of the electric motor and the hub, the motorized hub comprising coupling/uncoupling means capable of adopting a coupling position in which rotation of the electric motor is coupled to the rotation of the hub and an uncoupling position in which rotation of the electric motor is uncoupled from the rotation of the hub, the motorized hub being characterized in that the coupling/decoupling means are arranged between the reduction means and the hub.