Trailer Maneuvering Drive With Sensorless Brushless Motor Control
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Solution Overview
Problem
Existing maneuvering drive systems for vehicles without their own drive, such as trailers, are inefficient, weight-intensive, and space-consuming, often relying on sensor elements like hall-sensors to control motor rotation, which complicates design and operation.
Innovation Solution
A maneuvering drive system that employs brushless motors with external rotors and eliminates the need for direct rotor position sensors by controlling motor speed and direction based on electrical parameters like voltage and current, using a control device with a pre-processing unit and main processing unit to manage commutation without sensor feedback.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Measurement precision
If sensor elements like hall-sensors are used to directly detect rotor position, then control precision is improved, but device complexity and cost increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent extracts and eliminates the sensor elements (hall-sensors) from the motor system. Instead of using sensors to detect rotor position, the system uses sensorless control methods that infer rotor position from electrical parameters like current and voltage measurements, thereby simplifying the device structure and reducing cost while maintaining adequate control precision
Solution Approach 2:
The patent introduces electrical parameter measurements (current, voltage) as intermediary indicators to indirectly determine rotor position. Rather than directly measuring position with sensors, the system uses these electrical parameters as mediators to infer the rotor's angular position through control algorithms
2Ease of operation
If traditional maneuvering drive systems are used, then vehicle maneuverability is improved, but weight and space consumption increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent removes unnecessary heavy components from traditional maneuvering drive systems, particularly sensor elements and complex mechanical structures. By implementing a simplified brushless motor design without hall-sensors and with optimized magnetic circuits, the system maintains full maneuverability capabilities while significantly reducing overall weight
Solution Approach 2:
The patent changes key design parameters of the drive system, including using brushless motors with external rotors, optimizing magnetic flux paths, and implementing efficient gear ratios. These parameter changes enable the system to achieve the same maneuvering performance with reduced weight and smaller dimensions
3Ease of operation
If traditional maneuvering drive systems are used, then vehicle maneuverability is improved, but power losses increase
Solution Approach 1:
The patent replaces traditional mechanical sensor systems with an electrical field-based sensorless control system. By using electrical parameter measurements and computational algorithms instead of mechanical hall-sensors, the system reduces friction, contact wear, and associated energy losses while maintaining precise control capability
Solution Approach 2:
The patent optimizes electrical parameters including using brushless motor topology, optimizing winding configurations, and implementing efficient commutation strategies. These changes reduce resistive losses, magnetic losses, and improve overall power efficiency while maintaining maneuverability performance
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
This approach results in a more efficient, cost-effective, and space-saving design with reduced power losses, enabling easier maneuvering of trailers by eliminating the need for complex sensor systems and allowing for reliable operation with a high power-to-weight ratio.
Implementation Method 1
Each drive element is assigned an electrical drive motor, which is coupled to the drive element and is able to set the drive element into rotation
Data Source
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AI summary
The present invention relates to a maneuvering drive system (3) for a vehicle, in particular for a vehicle without its own drive, preferably for a trailer, comprising at least two, in particular exactly two drive units (4), which are designed to be attached to a vehicle in order to drive a wheel (2) of the vehicle, each drive unit (4) comprising a rotatably mounted drive element, which is designed and arranged such that it can be brought into abutment with a wheel (2) of the vehicle to drive the vehicle, an electrical drive motor (10) designed to set the drive element in rotation and having a plurality of conductors, wherein at least one control device (23) is provided, which control device (23) is arranged and designed such that it controls the speed and direction of rotation of the rotor of at least one drive motor (10) assigned thereto.