Wheel Hub Generator for Continuous EV Energy Harvesting
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional electric vehicles with regenerative brakes can only generate power when braking, limiting their ability to harness energy while in motion, such as rolling down a street.
Innovation Solution
An innovative system where an electric motor and generator are integrated into the wheel of a vehicle, with a static armature and a rotating magnetic field, eliminating intermediate parts and allowing direct power generation and consumption, extending the vehicle's range by using DC electricity produced during motion.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Use of energy by moving object
If regenerative brakes are used to generate power, then power can be generated during braking, but power generation is limited only to braking moments and cannot occur during normal motion
Solution Approach 1:
The patent inverts the conventional arrangement by placing the armature (rotating component) on the wheel hub and the magnetic field (stationary component) on the vehicle body, rather than the typical configuration. This inversion allows the generator to function continuously during vehicle motion, not just during braking, as the wheel rotation directly drives the armature through the stationary magnetic field.
Solution Approach 2:
The wheel hub is designed to serve dual functions: as a structural component supporting the wheel assembly and as a generator component with the armature. This multi-functionality allows the same component to provide both mechanical support and electrical power generation, enabling continuous energy harvesting during all phases of vehicle operation.
2Power
If conventional generator systems with intermediate parts are used, then power transmission can be achieved, but system complexity increases with multiple components
Solution Approach 1:
The patent merges the generator components directly into the wheel hub assembly, combining the armature, magnetic field, and power transmission functions into an integrated unit. This eliminates intermediate shafts, gears, and couplings that would otherwise be required to transmit power from a separate generator to the vehicle's electrical system.
Solution Approach 2:
The patent extracts the generator functionality from the traditional engine-driven configuration and relocates it directly to the wheel hub, removing the need for intermediate power transmission components. The armature is positioned to rotate with the wheel directly, taking out the intermediary mechanical linkages.
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 system enhances the range of electric vehicles by efficiently converting mechanical energy into electrical energy, reducing part complexity and increasing the vehicle's operational time without the need for intermediate components, applicable to all types of vehicles.
Implementation Method 1
an electric motor and generator are integrated into the wheel of a vehicle, with a static armature and a rotating magnetic field
Data Source
AI summary
An energy recovery system for a machine, and particularly a multi-wheeled vehicle, includes an energy generation component housed within one of said wheel assemblies, coupled to an energy storage component which selectively receives energy from said vehicle motion effect on said energy generation component and delivers said energy to a said energy storage component. In one embodiment, said energy generation is an electric generator, and said storage component is an electric battery.