Tire Wheel Assembly Curved Metal Spring In-Wheel Motor
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Solution Overview
Problem
In-wheel motor systems face challenges with increased mass below the spring, leading to decreased ground contact characteristics and riding comfort, requiring a tire/wheel assembly with high rigidity and low loss characteristics while maintaining lightweight and stable ground contact.
Innovation Solution
A tire/wheel assembly featuring a cylindrical annular structure with a rubber material layer and curved metal spring members connecting the annular structure to the electric motor, optimizing rigidity parameters and heat dissipation through a metal material configuration that includes stainless steel or aluminum alloys, ensuring low longitudinal rigidity and appropriate ground contact area with efficient power transfer.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Device complexity
If an in-wheel motor system is used to reduce vehicle mass and improve responsiveness, then power train compactness and drive control precision are improved, but mass below the spring increases leading to decreased ground contact characteristic and riding comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The tire structure is segmented into multiple independent steel belts arranged in different directions (radial and circumferential belts). This segmentation allows each belt layer to independently contribute to specific functions: circumferential belts provide longitudinal rigidity for power transfer, while radial belts provide lateral rigidity for ground contact stability, resolving the contradiction between compactness and ground contact characteristic.
Solution Approach 2:
Different regions of the tire structure are given different rigidity characteristics through localized belt arrangements. The circumferential steel belts are positioned to provide high rigidity in the longitudinal direction for power transfer, while radial steel belts provide lateral support for ground contact. This local differentiation allows the tire to simultaneously achieve power train compactness and maintain reliable ground contact characteristics.
2Speed
If the tire/wheel assembly rigidity is increased to improve power transfer responsiveness, then circumferential rigidity and responsiveness are improved, but vertical rigidity increases leading to degraded riding comfort
Solution Approach 1:
The tire structure employs asymmetric belt arrangements with different orientations and configurations. Circumferential steel belts are arranged to maximize longitudinal rigidity for rapid power transfer responsiveness, while radial steel belts are positioned to provide lateral flexibility for riding comfort. This asymmetric design allows independent optimization of responsiveness and comfort without mutual interference.
Solution Approach 2:
The steel belt structure provides dynamic rigidity characteristics that adapt to different operational conditions. Under circumferential loading (power transfer), the circumferential belts engage to provide high rigidity for responsiveness. Under vertical loading (road irregularities), the radial belts and tire casing work together to provide appropriate compliance for riding comfort, allowing the structure to dynamically adjust its effective rigidity.
3Strength
If air pressure is increased to improve structural rigidity, then vertical rigidity, horizontal rigidity, and circumferential rigidity all increase, but the ability to independently control each rigidity parameter is lost
Solution Approach 1:
The invention extracts the rigidity control function from the air pressure system and transfers it to the steel belt structure. The steel belts provide inherent structural rigidity that is independent of air pressure, allowing each belt layer to independently contribute to specific rigidity characteristics (longitudinal, lateral, circumferential) without being coupled through pressure changes. This separates the rigidity control function from the inflation system.
Solution Approach 2:
The tire combines steel belt materials with rubber compounds to create a composite structure with tailored mechanical properties. The steel belts provide high tensile strength and directional rigidity, while the rubber matrix provides flexibility and shock absorption. This composite construction enables independent control of different rigidity parameters through material selection and arrangement, rather than relying solely on air pressure adjustments.
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
The assembly achieves balanced rigidity for high responsiveness and reduced rolling resistance, effectively dissipating heat and maintaining riding comfort by suppressing viscoelastic energy loss and ensuring uniform ground contact pressure, thus enhancing cornering power and durability.
Implementation Method 1
a plurality of curved metal spring members provided between the annular structure and an electric motor disposed on the inner side of the annular structure that transfers rotation of a rotor of the electric motor to the annular structure
Implementation Method 2
a rubber material layer provided on a periphery of the annular structure
Data Source
AI summary
A tire/wheel assembly includes a cylindrical annular structure, a rubber material layer provided on a periphery of the annular structure and that faces a circumferential direction of the annular structure, and a plurality of curved metal spring members provided between the annular structure and an electric motor disposed on the inner side of the annular structure that transfers rotation of a rotor of the electric motor to the annular structure.