Abstract: An electric motor vehicle having a plurality of motors mounted thereon as a driving force source includes a detector for detecting the vehicle speed; a detector for detecting the load applied to the wheels; a calculating device for selecting a detected value of either one of these detectors and for determining driving force command values for respective motors corresponding to the wheels on the basis of the detected value selected and driving force values required of the electric motor vehicle; and a controller for controlling the driving forces of the motors on the basis of the driving force command values of the calculating device.

Abstract: A collision-preventing apparatus for an electric motor vehicle in which wheels are driven by electric motors and the electric motors are subjected to braking such as regenerative braking or dynamic braking. The apparatus includes an obstacle sensor and a control unit for processing detected information supplied from the obstacle sensor and for outputting a brake actuation signal when the result of processing indicates a set of conditions predetermined to be dangerous, so as to apply brakes to the electric motors.

Abstract: In a wheel supporting apparatus, a strut type suspension has an upper end supported by a vehicle frame and a lower end supported by the vehicle frame through a lower arm. The wheel supporting apparatus comprises a wheel supporting part provided at the lower end of the strut type suspension, and supporting the wheel to allow relative rotation to the strut type suspension. A center axis of the strut type suspension is disposed parallel to a rotation axis of the relative rotation of the wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle steering apparatus includes a steering mechanism adapted to transmit a steering angle of a steering wheel through a link mechanism to a wheel. The vehicle steering apparatus includes an angle increasing gear set disposed between the link mechanism and the wheel for increasing the steering angle of the steering wheel to be transmitted to the wheel. The angle increasing gear set and the wheels are supported by a vehicle frame through a suspension. The angle increasing gear is formed of an internal gear wheel connected to the link mechanism and an external gear wheel connected to the wheel and meshing with the internal gear wheel.

Abstract: In a steering mechanism wherein the turning angle of a steering wheel is transmitted to a wheel via a link mechanism employing a tire rod (3) and a knuckle arm (4), the link mechanism and the wheel (1) are coupled by a multiplying gear (2). Individual drive mechanisms are mounted independently on each wheel, and each wheel is driven independently to enable front-wheel independent drive, rear-wheel independent drive and four-wheel independent drive. Drive of an inner rear wheel is changed over at a steering angle in the vicinity of 90.degree. to effect control of steering. A steering angle multiplied twofold or more can be obtained in simple fashion via the multiplying gear (2) even for a steering angle of about 45.degree. using the conventional link mechanism. In the drive of each wheel, drive of the inner rear wheel is halted in the vicinity of the 90.degree. steering angle, so that locking of the inner front wheel can be avoided.

Abstract: A wiring and piping arrangement for a vehicle motor comprises a wheel motor connected to a wheel, a wheel support member connected to a vehicle frame through a damper, an internal gear rotatably supported on the wheel support member, and a pivot fixed to a casing of the wheel motor. The pivot is provided with an external gear meshing with said internal gear. The arrangement further comprises a wiring and/or piping for the wheel motor extended through an interior or said pivot. Since the wirings and pipings are extended through the pivot for a steering operation of the wheel motor, the wiring and/or piping are required to have slacks or extra lengths which allow only the vertical movement of the wheel, and are not required to have the slacks for allowing the lateral movement of the wheel.

Abstract: An electric vehicle is equipped with four electric motors, one for driving each of the four wheels, load sensors for detecting the loads applied to the wheels, and a control unit. The control unit determines the driving forces distributed to the wheels upon regeneration according to the loads applied to the wheels in such a way as to improve safety.

Abstract: A steering safety mechanism for an automotive vehicle includes a steering shaft, a steering rack for turning a tire in response to rotation of the steering shaft, a steering motor for rotating the steering shaft or oscillating the steering rack leftward and rightward, and an electronic control unit for controlling the motor. The motor is rotated in a direction which limits rotation of the steering shaft in dependence upon vehicle velocity and steering angle, or vehicle velocity alone. This makes it possible to prevent the vehicle from skidding sideways and rolling over when the driver turns the steering wheel too sharply.

Abstract: A motor driving device provided with a decelerator according to the present invention is so structured that a motor rotational shaft 6a and an output rotational shaft 9 are coaxially disposed within a casing 1 thereof, and planetary gears 18, 19, 20, 21, and 22 connect the two rotational shafts 6a and 9.According to the present invention, a special wall disposed between the motor rotational shaft 6a and the output rotational shaft 9 and for supporting the two rotational shafts 6a and 9 becomes needless to be provided for the casing 1. As a result, the overall length of the casing 1 can be reduced and the shape of the casing 1 can be simplified. Furthermore, the power of the electric motor 6 can be effectively transmitted to the output rotational shaft 9 by the planetary gear decelerating device so that the driving device can output large torque.