Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly includes a wheel support bearing and a power unit. The power unit is that of an outer rotor design in which a stator is located at an outer periphery of the wheel support bearing and a rotor is located radially outward of the stator. A radial extension of the entire power unit is sized to be radially inward of a peripheral section of a brake rotor. An entirety of the power unit, excluding a mount part thereof to a hub flange, is sized to be situated in an axial range between the hub flange and a mount surface, on an inboard side of the wheel support bearing. The rotor includes an outer shell magnetic body, which is made from soft magnetic material and forms an outer shell of the power unit, and permanent magnets that are provided to the outer shell magnetic body.

Abstract: A supplemental turning function-equipped hub unit includes: a hub unit body including a hub bearing; and a unit support member configured to be mounted through a suspension device, the unit support member supporting the hub unit body through rotation-permitting support components at two upper and lower portions of the hub unit body such that the hub unit body is rotatable about a supplemental turning axis. A supplemental turning force receiving part is provided on a side part of the hub unit body, which part is configured to receive a force that causes the hub unit body to rotate about the supplemental turning axis.

Abstract: A wheel support bearing assembly includes a wheel support bearing and a power unit. The power unit is that of an outer rotor design in which a stator is located at an outer periphery of the wheel support bearing and a rotor is located radially outward of the stator. A radial extension of the entire power unit is sized to be radially inward of a peripheral section of a brake rotor. An entirety of the power unit, excluding a mount part thereof to a hub flange, is sized to be situated in an axial range between the hub flange and a mount surface, on an inboard side of the wheel support bearing. The rotor includes an outer shell magnetic body, which is made from soft magnetic material and forms an outer shell of the power unit, and permanent magnets that are provided to the outer shell magnetic body.

Abstract: The retainer is provided so as to be prevented from being rotatable with respect to the rotary shaft, and rotation of the input-side rotary member is reduced in speed and transmitted to the output-side rotary member through intermediation of the balls which engage with both of the ball engagement grooves. A raceway center line of the second ball engagement groove is formed of a wave-shaped curve. When a speed reduction ratio of the speed reducer is represented by “i”, the wave-shaped curve has such a shape that the balls which engage with the first ball engagement groove engage with the second ball engagement groove at a given rotation angle (?) of the input-side rotary member in a state in which the output-side rotary member is at a rotation angle (i?).

Abstract: A supplemental turning function-equipped hub unit includes: a hub unit body including a hub bearing; and a unit support member configured to be mounted through a suspension device, the unit support member supporting the hub unit body through rotation-permitting support components at two upper and lower portions of the hub unit body such that the hub unit body is rotatable about a supplemental turning axis. A supplemental turning force receiving part is provided on a side part of the hub unit body, which part is configured to receive a force that causes the hub unit body to rotate about the supplemental turning axis.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle including wheels, and a steering module configured to steer the wheels in one of two mutually opposite right and left directions, or in one and the other of the two mutually opposite right and left directions, respectively. In the vehicle, a caster angle is set within the range of ±3 degrees relative to a kingpin angle. Though each wheel usually forms a camber angle when steered, by setting in the wheel the caster angle beforehand within the above range, the wheel does not or is less likely to form the camber angle because the camber angle and the caster angle cancel each other. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the steering angles of the wheels from being restricted, and to prevent the deterioration of steering operability.

Abstract: The retainer is provided so as to be prevented from being rotatable with respect to the rotary shaft, and rotation of the input-side rotary member is reduced in speed and transmitted to the output-side rotary member through intermediation of the balls which engage with both of the ball engagement grooves. A raceway center line of the second ball engagement groove is formed of a wave-shaped curve. When a speed reduction ratio of the speed reducer is represented by “i”, the wave-shaped curve has such a shape that the balls which engage with the first ball engagement groove engage with the second ball engagement groove at a given rotation angle (?) of the input-side rotary member in a state in which the output-side rotary member is at a rotation angle (i?).

Abstract: The power transmission device includes an input shaft that rotates about its axis together with a vehicle wheel. A driving gear is arranged coaxially with the input shaft so as to rotate about the axis of the input shaft together with the input shaft. A driven gear meshes with the driving gear, and configured to transmit a rotational force to an output shaft connected to a regenerative energy converter. A wheel bearing for the vehicle wheel supports the input shaft such that the input shaft is rotatable about its axis relative to the driven gear.

Abstract: The power transmission device includes an input shaft that rotates about its axis together with a vehicle wheel. A driving gear is arranged coaxially with the input shaft so as to rotate about the axis of the input shaft together with the input shaft. A driven gear meshes with the driving gear, and configured to transmit a rotational force to an output shaft connected to a regenerative energy converter. A wheel bearing for the vehicle wheel supports the input shaft such that the input shaft is rotatable about its axis relative to the driven gear.

Abstract: An in-wheel motor drive device is provided including a brake caliper which can be easily mounted in position and dismounted. The in-wheel motor drive device includes a hub to which the wheel body of a vehicle wheel is mounted, an electric motor arranged inside of the hub in the width direction of the vehicle so as to be coaxial with the hub, a motor housing in which are received the electric motor, and the brake caliper, which is arranged to clamp a brake disk through a pair of brake pads disposed on both sides of the brake disk. The brake caliper is fixed to the outer periphery of the motor housing by driving bolts radially inwardly, from radially outside, of the motor housing.

Abstract: A steering device is provided which allows the vehicle to move laterally and turn with a small radius, without using a complicated mechanism, and capable of stably controlling the steering angle during such modes. The steering device includes a pair of rack bars connected, respectively, to front right and front left vehicle wheels or rear right and rear left vehicle wheels, synchronizing gears disposed between the pair of rack bars, a synchronizing gear box retaining the synchronizing gears, a rack case fixed to the frame of the vehicle, and a fixing mechanism for fixing the synchronizing gear box to the rack case.

Abstract: A steering device includes tie rods connected to right and left wheels, and rack bars connected to the respective tie rods. The steering device is capable of simultaneously steering the right and left wheels to the right or left of the vehicle, by moving the rack bars to the right or left. A rack bar moving arrangement is provided which is capable of moving the rack bars in opposite directions by the same distance, and rack teeth are arranged along the opposite directions. The rack bar moving arrangement includes a synchronizing gear in mesh with the rack bars, and is configured to convert the movement of one of the rack bars in one of the opposite directions to the movement of the other of the rack bars in the other opposite direction, thereby steering the wheels in opposite directions.

Abstract: The present invention provides a vehicle including wheels, and a steering module configured to steer the wheels in one of two mutually opposite right and left directions, or in one and the other of the two mutually opposite right and left directions, respectively. In the vehicle, a caster angle is set within the range of ±3 degrees relative to a kingpin angle. Though each wheel usually forms a camber angle when steered, by setting in the wheel the caster angle beforehand within the above range, the wheel does not or is less likely to form the camber angle because the camber angle and the caster angle cancel each other. Therefore, it is possible to prevent the steering angles of the wheels from being restricted, and to prevent the deterioration of steering operability.

Abstract: A steering device is provided which allows the vehicle to move laterally and turn with a small radius, without using a complicated mechanism, and capable of stably controlling the steering angle during such modes. The steering device includes a pair of rack bars connected, respectively, to front right and front left vehicle wheels or rear right and rear left vehicle wheels, synchronizing gears disposed between the pair of rack bars, a synchronizing gear box retaining the synchronizing gears, a rack case fixed to the frame of the vehicle, and a fixing mechanism for fixing the synchronizing gear box to the rack case.

Abstract: An in-wheel motor drive device is provided including a brake caliper which can be easily mounted in position and dismounted. The in-wheel motor drive device includes a hub to which the wheel body of a vehicle wheel is mounted, an electric motor arranged inside of the hub in the width direction of the vehicle so as to be coaxial with the hub, a motor housing in which are received the electric motor, and the brake caliper, which is arranged to clamp a brake disk through a pair of brake pads disposed on both sides of the brake disk. The brake caliper is fixed to the outer periphery of the motor housing by driving bolts radially inwardly, from radially outside, of the motor housing.

Abstract: A steering device including tie rods connected to right and left wheels, and configured to steer the wheels, and rack bars connected to the respective tie rods, and, is capable of simultaneously steering the right and left wheels to the right or left of the vehicle, by moving the rack bars to the right or left. A rack bar moving arrangement is provided which is capable of moving the rack bars in opposite directions by the same distance, and rack teeth are arranged along the opposite directions. The rack bar moving arrangement includes a synchronizing gear in mesh with the rack bars, and configured to convert the movement of one of the rack bars in one of the opposite directions to the movement of the other rack bars in the other opposite directions, thereby steering the wheels in opposite directions.