Vertical Electric Motor Arrangement for Vehicle Center of Gravity
Find Innovative SolutionsGenerate Solutions
Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric vehicles with horizontally arranged motor output shafts face challenges in lowering the center of gravity, securing upper compartment capacity, and increasing crash stroke for passenger protection.
Innovation Solution
The vehicle incorporates a differential mechanism with three rotating elements in a collinear configuration, where the electric motor's rotor axis extends vertically, and the motor is positioned lower than power transmission members, allowing for increased crash stroke and compartment capacity without compromising vehicle design or drivability.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Volume of moving object
If the motor diameter is increased to provide larger capacity, then the motor position becomes higher and the center of gravity rises, but lowering the center of gravity is required for vehicle stability
Solution Approach 1:
The patent changes the motor arrangement from horizontal (vehicle width direction) to vertical (vehicle height direction). By orienting the rotor axis vertically and positioning the motor in the height direction rather than width direction, the invention allows large-diameter motors to be installed without increasing the vehicle's width-based center of gravity, thus resolving the contradiction between motor capacity and center of gravity position
Solution Approach 2:
Instead of arranging the motor horizontally with the output shaft extending in the vehicle width direction, the patent inverts this arrangement by extending the rotor axis in the vehicle height direction. This inversion allows the motor to be positioned lower in the vehicle structure, maintaining low center of gravity even with larger motor diameter
2Device complexity
If the motor is arranged horizontally to match vehicle width direction, then the motor structure is simplified, but the crash stroke is reduced and passenger space protection is compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The patent repositions the motor from a horizontal arrangement (affecting width direction) to a vertical arrangement (affecting height direction). This dimensional change allows the motor to be positioned lower and forward, creating sufficient crash stroke distance in the vehicle length direction while protecting the passenger space, without significantly increasing structural complexity
3Ease of manufacture
If the motor is positioned higher to accommodate larger diameter, then motor installation is simplified, but upper compartment capacity is reduced
Solution Approach 1:
By changing the motor arrangement from horizontal to vertical orientation, the patent enables the motor to be positioned in the height direction rather than occupying horizontal space. This allows the upper compartment (front compartment upper side) to maintain its capacity while the motor can be installed at an appropriate lower position for vehicle stability
Data Source
AI summary
Provided is a vehicle in which an electric motor is disposed such that a rotational axis of a rotor of the electric motor is located to one side, from the center of the front-back direction, relative to: a second power transmission member that is disposed on a power transmission path between a first rotating element and one wheel LWf; a third power transmission member that is arranged on a power transmission path between a third rotating element and the other wheel; or a differential mechanism.