Wheel Bearing Generator Assembly for Easy Bearing Replacement
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional vehicle power units require the replacement of the entire unit when the wheel bearing is faulty, making the process difficult and costly.
Innovation Solution
A vehicle wheel bearing assembly with a removable outer ring and hub flange configuration allows for the easy replacement of the wheel bearing without replacing the motor, by detaching the outer ring from the stator and wheel bearing fixing member, enabling axial removal and reassembly of the wheel bearing.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Adaptability or versatility
If the wheel bearing is integrated with the motor in a conventional vehicle power unit, then the motor can provide drive assistance and power regeneration functions, but the entire power unit must be replaced when the wheel bearing is faulty, increasing replacement costs and work difficulty
Solution Approach 1:
The wheel bearing assembly is divided into separable components: the outer ring with motor stator, the inner ring with hub flange, and the rolling elements. The outer ring can be detached from the wheel bearing fixing member through the bearing axial direction, allowing the wheel bearing to be replaced independently while keeping the motor stator and other components. This segmentation enables selective replacement of only the faulty wheel bearing rather than the entire power unit.
2Reliability
If the entire vehicle power unit is replaced when the wheel bearing is faulty, then reliability is restored, but replacement costs increase and replacement work becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The faulty wheel bearing is extracted from the power unit by detaching the outer ring from the wheel bearing fixing member through the bearing axial direction. This extraction allows removal of only the necessary components (wheel bearing and outer ring) while leaving the motor stator, rotor, and other functional components intact. The extracted wheel bearing can be replaced with a new one, restoring reliability without replacing the entire complex power unit.
3Ease of repair
If the outer ring is removably fixed to the wheel bearing fixing member, then the wheel bearing can be easily replaced, but the structural integrity may be compromised
Solution Approach 1:
The connection between the outer ring and wheel bearing fixing member is designed to be dynamically changeable: firmly fixed during normal operation to maintain structural integrity, but readily detachable through the bearing axial direction when maintenance is needed. This dynamic characteristic allows the system to switch between strong connection for operation and easy disconnection for repair, resolving the contradiction between strength and ease of repair.
Data Source
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AI summary
Provided is a vehicle power unit as well as a vehicle wheel bearing assembly with a generator which allow a wheel bearing to be easily replaced and thereby can suppress the costs of replacement components. The vehicle power unit (1) includes: a wheel bearing (2) including an outer ring (4) and a hub axle (5) that includes a hub flange (7) and is rotatably supported by the outer ring (4) through a rolling element (6), the hub flange (7) being configured to be attached with a wheel and a brake rotor (12) of a vehicle; and a motor (3) or a generator (3) including a stator (18) located on an outer periphery of the outer ring (4) and a rotor (19) located on an outer periphery of the stator (18) and attached to the hub axle (5). The vehicle includes a knuckle (8) provided with a wheel bearing fixing member (24). The outer ring (4) or the stator (18) is removably fixed to the wheel bearing fixing member (24).