With Motor In Or Moveable With Wheel Patents (Class 180/65.51)
  • Patent number: 9751409
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a motor unit configured to drive a wheel, the motor unit including motor coils; a control system including an inverter; a temperature sensor configured to sense temperature of the motor coils or the inverter; and a limiter configured to, if the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is equal to or greater than a motor coils temperature threshold, reduce a motor current of the motor unit until a derivative dTmc/dt of the sensed temperature with time drops to zero or below, or to, if the temperature sensed by the temperature sensor is equal to or greater than an inverter temperature threshold, limit a current command to the inverter until a derivative dTic/dt of the sensed temperature with time drops to zero or below. The limiter is further configured to stop reducing a motor current of the motor or limiting the current command to the inverter.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 31, 2014
    Date of Patent: September 5, 2017
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventor: Takayoshi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 9731947
    Abstract: Wheel drive apparatuses are provided on left and right wheels of a forklift and drive the respective wheels. Each of the wheel drive apparatuses includes a brake on the inside of a vehicle body of the forklift. The brake includes a brake shaft, friction plates, and a brake cover. The brake cover is removable from the wheel drive apparatus while the wheel drive apparatuses are mounted on the vehicle body. The friction plates are assembled with the brake shaft so as to be movable in an axial direction, and are removable from the wheel drive apparatus, while the wheel drive apparatuses are mounted on the vehicle body, by sliding along the brake shaft toward the inside of the vehicle body in the axial direction when the brake cover has been removed.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 12, 2014
    Date of Patent: August 15, 2017
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventors: Taizo Yamamoto, Koji Moritani, Masayuki Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 9705378
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to prevent lubricant oil of a speed reduction unit from moving to an electric motor side and besides to prevent an eccentric load from acting on bearings supporting an input shaft. In a drive device for an electric vehicle including: a speed reduction unit including an input shaft driven by output of an electric motor; a hub unit rotationally driven by an output member of the speed reduction unit; and a housing accommodating the electric motor and the speed reduction unit, the configuration is made such that a partition for partitioning an accommodation section into respective accommodation spaces of the electric motor and the speed reduction unit is provided in the housing, and an oil seal member is placed between a peripheral edge portion of a center hole of the partition and a rotor support member the electric motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 11, 2017
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Suzuki, Aiko Ishikawa, Tomoaki Makino
  • Patent number: 9602035
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a driving apparatus which performs vector control based on an output current of an inverter. The driving apparatus of the present invention includes a vector controller (11) for transforming three-phase output currents of an inverter (10) into a torque current and a magnetization current, and controlling the torque current and the magnetization current. The vector controller (11) includes a torque-voltage control section (21) for determining a torque-voltage command value based on a deviation between a torque-current command value and the torque current, a magnetization-voltage output section (23) for outputting 0 as a magnetization-voltage command value, a target-magnetization-current determination section (26) for determining a magnetization-current command value based on a deviation between a torque-voltage command value and a target-output-voltage value, and a target-output-voltage determination section (27) for determining the target-output-voltage value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 21, 2017
    Assignee: EBARA CORPORATION
    Inventors: Kenta Tsukakoshi, Masakazu Komai
  • Patent number: 9581176
    Abstract: Both a hydraulic motor and an electric motor are provided for driving an upper swing structure. When the amount of electricity stored in a capacitor is appropriate, the upper swing structure is driven by both the hydraulic motor and the electric motor. When the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor exceeds an appropriate value, the mode is changed over to a mode in which the upper swing structure is driven only by the hydraulic motor, and an assist electric generation motor is assist-driven or engine-driven to thereby rapidly return the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor to an appropriate range. The capacity of the capacitor can be reduced, and the amount of electricity stored in the capacitor can be managed without losing the operability of swing motion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 19, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 28, 2017
    Assignee: HITACHI CONSTRUCTION MACHINERY CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Shiho Izumi, Manabu Edamura, Kouichi Shibata, Manabu Sugiura, Takatoshi Ooki
  • Patent number: 9562603
    Abstract: A drive assembly is disclosed, including a housing cylinder with a cap end, an attachment end with a first attachment surface, and gear teeth disposed around an inner circumference to form at least one ring gear. A planetary gear set may be surrounded by the housing cylinder and includes at least one sun gear and at least one set of planet gears. An output interface may include an interface body and an annular attachment lip with a second attachment surface. The housing cylinder may be attached to the attachment lip for operation of the drive assembly via the second attachment surface contacting the first attachment surface, with the cap end of the housing cylinder extending axially past an axial end of the attachment lip. Rotational power may be transmitted from the planetary gear set to the output interface via the gear teeth and the contact between the attachment surfaces.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 29, 2015
    Date of Patent: February 7, 2017
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Darren J. Ziskovsky, Steven R. Fliearman, Kyle K. McKinzie, Jeffrey S. Turner
  • Patent number: 9553493
    Abstract: Provided is a rotating electric machine the interior of which can be suitably cooled. A coolant supply means of the rotating electric machine supplies a cooling fluid to the bottom of a tubular member from a location closer to one end of a rotary shaft than the bottom, and the bottom of the tubular member is equipped with through-holes that run in the axial direction of the rotary shaft, with the cooling fluid being supplied to the interior of the tubular member through the through-holes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 24, 2017
    Assignee: HONDA MOTOR CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Seiichi Mogi, Shinji Fujimoto, Takaaki Kuwabara, Shingo Kato
  • Patent number: 9534649
    Abstract: A friction brake device has a brake rotor which rotates around a rotation axis, brake pads as rotating friction members which rotate around an autorotation axis parallel to the rotation axis, rotational torque transmission devices which mutually transmit rotational torques between the brake rotor and the brake pads without depending on the friction force between the brake rotor and the brake pads, and pressing devices which press the brake pads against the brake rotor. The pressing devices press the brake pads against the brake rotor by way of non-rotating friction members which are supported so as not to rotate around the autorotation axis.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 7, 2012
    Date of Patent: January 3, 2017
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventor: Hiroshi Isono
  • Patent number: 9511661
    Abstract: A driven wheel unit includes an electric motor coupled to a two-speed, three stage planetary drive assembly and has a width dimensioned for traveling between rows of crop. A wheel hub is supported on an outer surface of a fixed housing by large diameter wheel bearings surrounding both a motor-containing cavity and an adjacent cavity containing first and second planetary stages. Nested radially and surrounding the two planetary stages are two SAHR disc clutches including pistons engaging inner and outer surfaces of a compact piston guide member. The third stage planet carrier defines a cap and is fixed to an axially outer end of the wheel hub. A third stage ring gear has an outside diameter approximately equal to that of the wheel bearings and has an inside diameter fixed to the housing by a planar, annular wheel bearing retainer plate that is fixed to an end of the housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2015
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: DEERE & COMPANY
    Inventors: Douglas K. Brownell, Eric Vilar, Kyle K. McKinzie, Reginald M. Bindl
  • Patent number: 9511660
    Abstract: An electric vehicle axle mechanism comprising: at least one vehicle axle; a gear mechanism connected to the vehicle axle; an electric motor that comprises a rotor and that is connected to the gear mechanism for transmitting a torque to the at least one vehicle axle; a position sensing device for ascertaining a rotor position of the rotor; an electronic power unit that is connected to the electric motor for supplying electrical energy to the electric motor, wherein the electronic power unit furthermore comprises an evaluating device for evaluating the signals of the position sensing device and is connected to an evaluating device that is embodied as a separate device, wherein the position sensing device is integrated at least in part in the electronic power unit or the evaluating unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 19, 2014
    Date of Patent: December 6, 2016
    Assignee: Robert Bosch GmbH
    Inventors: Martin Braun, Thomas Winter
  • Patent number: 9500273
    Abstract: A plurality of circumferential fins 22g are formed on an outer peripheral surface of a motor casing 22a, and a plurality of fins 22f are formed on an outer surface of a motor rear cover 22d. Lubricant circulates in a motor-casing oil passage 55 provided in the motor casing 22a, a motor-rear-cover oil passage 56 provided in the motor rear cover 22d, and a speed reduction portion B. This lubricant is cooled when flowing in the motor-casing oil passage 55 and the motor-rear-cover oil passage 56. Thus, an in-wheel motor drive device 21 is efficiently cooled.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 11, 2011
    Date of Patent: November 22, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Suzuki, Ken Yamamoto, Tetsuya Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9434218
    Abstract: A tire inflation apparatus includes a housing coupled for co-rotation with a vehicle wheel, which includes a rim and a tire. The apparatus also includes a pendulum coupled to the housing for relative rotation therewith, a mechanically actuated pump coupled to the housing and operated in response to relative rotation between the housing and the pendulum, a valve positioned downstream of the pump and movable between a closed position in which pressurized air generated by the pump is prevented from being transferred to an air chamber between the rim and the tire, and an open position in which the pressurized air may be transferred to the air chamber, an electrically powered actuator coupled to the valve for moving the valve to at least one of the open and closed positions, and a generator operable to convert rotational kinetic energy of the wheel to electrical energy to power the actuator.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2016
    Assignee: ACCURIDE CORPORATION
    Inventor: Jeffrey Root
  • Patent number: 9421846
    Abstract: When there is a demand for a heating operation of a vehicle and when there is a remaining charging capacity in a main battery, an upper limit value of a charging state of the battery is changed to a level-up upper-limit value, which higher than an ordinary upper-limit value. And an operating mode of an engine is changed to an efficiency prioritizing mode. When there is no remaining charging capacity in the main battery, the upper limit value of the charging state is changed to the ordinary upper-limit value. And the operating mode of the engine is changed to a waste-heat prioritizing mode, an engine efficiency of which is lower than that of the efficiency prioritizing mode. According to such a control, it becomes possible to warm up the engine and the battery, even in the case that there is no remaining charging capacity because of high charging state in the battery.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 25, 2015
    Date of Patent: August 23, 2016
    Assignee: DENSO CORPORATION
    Inventor: Hiroaki Ono
  • Patent number: 9409491
    Abstract: A parking assist system for a vehicle includes a target position setting unit setting a vehicle target parking position on the basis of a coil type and position of a power transmitting unit. When the coil type is a composite coil having a configuration such that an annular coil wound to surround a first axis and a solenoid coil wound to surround a second axis intersecting with the first axis are serially connected, the target position setting unit sets the target parking position such that a center of a power receiving unit mounted on the vehicle is located at a predetermined distance from the first axis along the second axis. The solenoid coil is set at a position with respect to the annular coil such that the first axis extends through a side face center portion of the solenoid coil.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 29, 2013
    Date of Patent: August 9, 2016
    Assignees: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA, TOHOKU UNIVERSITY
    Inventors: Shinji Ichikawa, Masayuki Komatsu, Hidetoshi Matsuki, Fumihiro Sato, Tetsuya Takura, Hiroto Yamaguchi
  • Patent number: 9381802
    Abstract: A wheel assembly for an electric vehicle includes a wheel rim that is concentrically disposed about a central axis. A propulsion-braking module is disposed within an interior region of the wheel rim. The propulsion-braking module rotatably supports the wheel rim for rotation about the central axis. The propulsion-braking module includes a liquid cooled electric motor having a rotor rotatable about the central axis, and a stator disposed radially inside the rotor relative to the central axis. A motor-wheel interface hub is fixedly attached to the wheel rim, and is directly attached to the rotor for rotation with the rotor. The motor-wheel interface hub directly transmits torque from the electric motor to the wheel rim at a 1:1 ratio. The propulsion-braking module includes a drum brake system having an electric motor that rotates a cam device, which actuates the brake shoes.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 5, 2016
    Assignees: GM Global Technology Operations LLC, The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Joshua M. Figuered, Eduardo Herrera, Thomas M. Waligora, William J. Bluethmann, Logan Christopher Farrell, Chunhao J. Lee, Robert L. Vitale, Ross Briant Winn, Raymond Edward Eggleston, IV, Raymond Guo, Steven J. Weber, Lucien Q. Junkin, James Jonathan Rogers
  • Patent number: 9358874
    Abstract: An electric motor or generator system comprising a stator, a rotor, a first bearing, a first coupling device and a second coupling device, wherein the second coupling device includes a first coupling element arranged to be coupled to a vehicle and a second coupling element coupled to the rotor with a second bearing mounted between the first coupling element and the second coupling element to allow the rotor to rotate relative to the vehicle, wherein the first bearing is mounted between a surface of the stator and a surface of the rotor or the second coupling element to allow the rotor to rotate relative to the stator and the first coupling device is arranged to substantially preventing movement of the stator relative to the first coupling element in a first degree of freedom while allowing movement of the stator relative to the first coupling element in at least a second degree of freedom.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: PROTEAN ELECTRIC LIMITED
    Inventor: Alexander George Fraser
  • Patent number: 9362804
    Abstract: A drive device for an electric vehicle includes: a speed reduction unit including an input shaft driven by output of an electric motor; a hub unit rotationally driven by an output member of the speed reduction unit; and a housing accommodating the electric motor and the speed reduction unit. The drive device is provided with a power supply terminal box made up of: an accommodation recessed portion provided in a rear end surface of the housing; a power supply terminal provided inside the accommodation recessed portion; a communication hole in communication with the accommodation recessed portion and an interior of the housing; and a cover member for the accommodation recessed portion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 7, 2016
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Minoru Suzuki, Aiko Ishikawa, Tomoaki Makino
  • Patent number: 9308811
    Abstract: A drive device for motor vehicles including one or more electric motors, each of which is associated with at least one drive wheel rotatable on a steering knuckle and drives the wheel via a step-down gearbox. The gearbox is installed in the wheel hub of the respective drive wheel and a disconnect device for coupling and decoupling the respective electric motor from the respective gearbox is provided. The steering knuckle is formed as an axle tube in which a drive shaft is rotatably mounted, the drive shaft being able to be brought into a driving connection to the rotor of the electric motor at the inner end of the shaft and to the input of the gearbox at the outer end of the shaft when it is to perform driving.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 12, 2016
    Assignee: GOLDHOFER AKTIENGESELLSCHAFT
    Inventors: Thomas Boeer, Armin Baader
  • Patent number: 9289339
    Abstract: A personal mobility vehicle comprising a platform (10) on which a user of the vehicle can stand, ground-engaging wheels (14, 15, 16) on which the platform (10) is supported, motor drive means, motor control means (20), a column (11) extending upwards from the platform (10) and a leg or thigh support rest (18) mounted on the column.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 9, 2012
    Date of Patent: March 22, 2016
    Assignee: ROLLERSCOOT LTD.
    Inventor: Ian Gray
  • Patent number: 9283840
    Abstract: The present invention discloses a hollow output shaft for a corner system that allows flotation and traction in difficult field conditions to reduce wheel rutting. According to a preferred embodiment, a system is provided which includes a rectangular tube leg, a gearbox, a substantially square tube extension member, a gear motor, a fully keyed shaft and a pair of hub units.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2016
    Assignee: VALMONT INDUSTRIES, INC.
    Inventor: Benjamin Toman
  • Patent number: 9254741
    Abstract: An in-wheel assembly includes an in-wheel actuator and a wheel. The in-wheel actuator includes a driving motor, a decelerator which is disposed in the driving motor and configured to decrease a rotational speed received from the driving motor, and an output shaft which is configured to receive the rotational speed decreased by the decelerator. The wheel is configured to accommodate the in-wheel actuator in an inner space and is driven by the rotational speed of the output shaft to rotate.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 1, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 9, 2016
    Assignee: SAMSUNG ELECTRONICS CO., LTD.
    Inventors: Sung-Hyuk Park, Seong-Taek Lim, Jin-woo Cho
  • Patent number: 9252641
    Abstract: A power transmission device includes a motor including a rotor having a first axial side, a second axial side opposite the first axial side, a permanent magnet embedded therein and a stator, and configured to generate a rotational force. A reducer is configured to transmit the rotational force of the motor. A wet brake mechanism is provided on the first axial side of the rotor and is configured to brake the rotation of the motor. Spaces accommodating the motor, the reducer, and the wet brake mechanism communicate with each other so that lubricant oil can flow through the spaces. A leakage magnetic flux at a second axial end face on the second axial side of the rotor is greater than a leakage magnetic flux at a first axial end face on the first axial side of the rotor having the wet brake mechanism.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 2, 2016
    Assignee: SUMITOMO HEAVY INDUSTRIES, LTD.
    Inventor: Masayuki Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 9233683
    Abstract: A vehicle control apparatus configured to selectively establish one of a first drive state in which a vehicle drive force is generated primarily by a second motor/generator operated with an electric energy supplied from an electric-energy storage device while an engine is placed in a rest state, and a second drive state in which a first motor/generator is operated with a drive force of the engine, to generate an electric energy and in which the vehicle drive force is generated primarily by the second motor/generator operated with at least the electric energy generated by the first motor/generator. The vehicle control apparatus is further configured such that the vehicle drive force generated in the second drive state at a given value of an accelerator pedal operation amount ?acc is larger than that generated in the first drive state.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 24, 2015
    Date of Patent: January 12, 2016
    Assignee: TOYOTA JIDOSHA KABUSHIKI KAISHA
    Inventors: Ryoki Il, Akihiro Sato, Norihiro Yamamura, Akiko Nishimine, Tomoyuki Maruyama, Takeshi Miyagawa, Tomoaki Furukawa, Takeshi Kanayama, Tetsuo Hori, Koji Hayashi
  • Patent number: 9228652
    Abstract: A bicycle drive unit includes a housing, a motor, a crank axle, and at least one fin member. The motor is disposed within the housing. The crank axle is rotatably supported relative to the housing about a first rotational axis. The fin member is rotatably arranged relative to the housing. The fin member is operatively coupled to the crank axle to rotate and to generate an air flow within the housing in response to rotation of the crank axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 27, 2014
    Date of Patent: January 5, 2016
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Yusuke Nishikawa
  • Patent number: 9180771
    Abstract: An in wheel motor driving device which has a deceased axial dimension and includes aluminum alloy housings having a minimum wall thickness for reduced weight while retaining good assemblability. An in-wheel motor driving device includes: a motor section which has an output shaft; a wheel hub bearing section C; and a speed reducer section which connects the output shaft of the motor section and the wheel hub bearing section coaxially with each other. A housing outer circumferential portion of the motor section and a housing outer circumferential portion of the speed reducer section are integral with each other, being provided by one, outer circumferential member. An outboard-side end member is fixed to an outboard-side end of the outer circumferential member by means of bolts, and the wheel hub bearing section has its fixing ring fixed to the outboard-side end member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: November 10, 2015
    Assignee: NTN CORPORATION
    Inventors: Ryou Yukishima, Minoru Suzuki, Ken Yamamoto
  • Patent number: 9090142
    Abstract: A device for driving a rear wheel of an electric vehicle is provided. In one embodiment, the rear wheel driving device includes a motor for supplying rotational power, a gear group connected to a rotor of the motor, a final gear connected to the gear group, an output shaft connected to the final gear and rotating, a hub installed on an outer circumferential surface of the output shaft using a nut, a wheel connected to the hub, an axle housing connected to the hub using a hub bearing, a motor cover protecting the motor and mounting an output shaft bearing, and a trailing arm connected to the axle housing using an axle housing bolt and configured to mount the motor from an exterior side to an interior side of a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 26, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignee: HYUNDAI WIA CORPORATION
    Inventor: Sang Min Lee
  • Patent number: 9090154
    Abstract: Motorized hub for an electrically powered motor vehicle comprising a wheel hub mounted to rotate about a hub axis, and an electric traction unit comprising an external stator connected to a hub carrier and an internal rotor (31) whose axis of rotation is distant from the hub axis. The motorized hub comprises reduction means acting between shaft (33) of rotor (31), friction braking means, and a braking rotor secured to the hub. The reduction means comprise a drive pinion connected to the rotor (31) and a ring gear connected to the hub. A brake shaft passes through the hub carrier to connect the braking rotor to the hub. The reduction means comprise two reduction stages and the hub is mounted so that it can rotate via rolling-contact hub bearings positioned around a stub axle of the hub carrier, the brake shaft passing axially through a cavity of the stub axle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: July 28, 2015
    Assignees: COMPAGNIE GENERALE DES ETABLISSEMENTS MICHELIN, Michelin Recherche et Technique S.A.
    Inventors: Patrick Marro, Daniel Walser
  • Patent number: 9085302
    Abstract: A modular robotic vehicle includes a chassis, driver input devices, an energy storage system (ESS), a power electronics module (PEM), modular electronic assemblies (eModules) connected to the ESS via the PEM, one or more master controllers, and various embedded controllers. Each eModule includes a drive wheel containing a propulsion-braking module, and a housing containing propulsion and braking control assemblies with respective embedded propulsion and brake controllers, and a mounting bracket covering a steering control assembly with embedded steering controllers. The master controller, which is in communication with each eModule and with the driver input devices, communicates with and independently controls each eModule, by-wire, via the embedded controllers to establish a desired operating mode. Modes may include a two-wheel, four-wheel, diamond, and omni-directional steering modes as well as a park mode.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: July 21, 2015
    Assignee: The United States of America as represented by the Administrator of the National Aeronautics and Space Administration
    Inventors: Christopher E. Borroni-Bird, Robert L. Vitale, Chunhao J. Lee, Robert O. Ambrose, William J. Bluethmann, Lucien Q. Junkin, Jonathan J. Lutz, Raymond Guo, Anthony Joseph Lapp, Justin S. Ridley
  • Patent number: 9079633
    Abstract: Uni-wheel personal mobility vehicle with self-balancing function is disclosed. This transportation device can be pedaled by a driving force provided by the driver's manpower and/or the in-wheel motor's electric power. The uni-wheel personal mobility vehicle with self-balancing function is equipped with an inertial sensing and control driving module, an in-wheel motor, and a steering mechanism consisting of a transmission pulley set, an idle pulley set, a transmission cable, and a spring set, therefore the personal mobility vehicle can simultaneously maintain its self balance when being propelled by driver's pedaling force or the in-wheel motor's electrical torque; moreover, the driver can also make the personal mobility electric vehicle change its direction by rotating a handlebar similar to steering a bicycle, wherein the rotation of the handlebar would simultaneously pull one side of the transmission cable via the transmission pulley set to steer the vehicle and maintain its lateral balance.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 6, 2014
    Date of Patent: July 14, 2015
    Assignee: National Tsing Hua University
    Inventors: Ting-Jen Yeh, Chun-Feng Huang, Jian-Hao Hong
  • Publication number: 20150144410
    Abstract: An electric motor or generator system comprising a stator, a rotor, a first bearing, a first coupling device and a second coupling device, wherein the second coupling device includes a first coupling element arranged to be coupled to a vehicle and a second coupling element coupled to the rotor with a second bearing mounted between the first coupling element and the second coupling element to allow the rotor to rotate relative to the vehicle, wherein the first bearing is mounted between a surface of the stator and a surface of the rotor or the second coupling element to allow the rotor to rotate relative to the stator and the first coupling device is arranged to substantially preventing movement of the stator relative to the first coupling element in a first degree of freedom while allowing movement of the stator relative to the first coupling element in at least a second degree of freedom.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 15, 2013
    Publication date: May 28, 2015
    Applicant: PROTEAN ELECTRIC LIMITED
    Inventor: Alexander George Fraser
  • Patent number: 9033838
    Abstract: A drive unit having a transmission, which has an input axis and an output axis, which are arranged parallel to one another and spaced apart. In a drive unit of this kind, provision is made for the transmission to be designed as a cartridge which forms a unit and is connected to a support element forming a component part of the drive unit. A drive unit embodied in this way allows quick and easy mounting of the transmission while allowing for the required transmission forces and transmission torques of the transmission. Moreover, the transmission can be embodied in a space-saving way.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: May 19, 2015
    Assignee: Dr. Ing. h.c. F. Porsche Aktiengesellschaft
    Inventors: Marc Kluge, Jörg Aniol, Arnd Langer, Dragan Dobric, Achim Gordner, August Schäffler, Kerstin Haubner
  • Patent number: 9027682
    Abstract: A self charging electric vehicle includes a frame, at least one battery, a distribution box, an engine control unit, a plurality of drive axle systems, and a plurality of electric modules. The plurality of drive axle systems is positioned on the frame and a motor of each of the drive axle system is powered by the battery. A drive axle generator of each of the drive axle system re-charges the battery through the distribution box as the drive axle generator is selectively engaged with the motor by a clutch. The clutch is automatically operated by the engine control unit as the plurality of electric modules provides data back into the engine control unit so that the drive axle generator can be efficiently engaged with rotational motion of the motor.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 13, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Inventor: Daniel James Lambert
  • Patent number: 9027681
    Abstract: Embodiments of hybrid sensor-enabled and autonomous electric wheels can include a plurality of systems and devices integrated into a single compact hub unit that can be retrofitted into numerous types of two-wheeled bicycles. In one embodiment, an electrically motorized bicycle wheel can include a wheel rim, a wheel hub having an electric motor, a battery pack and a control unit configured to control a drive torque of the electric motor, and a plurality of wheel spokes connecting the wheel rim to the wheel hub. The electric motor, the battery pack and the control unit can be positioned within the wheel hub of the electrically motorized bicycle wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 3, 2010
    Date of Patent: May 12, 2015
    Assignee: Massachusetts Institute of Technology
    Inventors: Assaf Biderman, Carlo Ratti, Christine Louise Outram
  • Patent number: 9010471
    Abstract: A wheel bearing unit comprises an inner ring and an outer ring. The outer ring is mounted rotatably and is arranged concentrically with respect to the inner ring. The inner ring serves to receive a wheel and the outer ring serves for fastening to a wheel support of a motor vehicle. The wheel bearing unit has, between the inner ring and the outer ring, a first ball row and a second ball row which is arranged parallel to the first ball row. A follower is arranged in a rotationally fixed manner with respect to an outer side of the inner ring between the first ball row and the second ball row. The follower is connected directly or indirectly to a rotor of an electric machine in a torque-transmitting manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 20, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 21, 2015
    Assignee: Ford Global Technologies, LLC
    Inventors: Mohsen Lakehal-Ayat, Michael Seemann
  • Patent number: 8998230
    Abstract: Provided is a rear suspension mounting structure for an electric vehicle, which can reduce the overall weight and can enhance steering stability by forming a torsion beam and a trailing arm using different materials. In one embodiment, the rear suspension mounting structure includes a hub fastened to the center of a wheel, a trailing arm including a housing producing an internal space and an arm bush extending to one side of the housing, a torsion beam bolt-coupled to the arm bush through a coupling plate, a motor coupled to the internal space of the housing and supplying a driving force, a motor cover provided in the internal space of the housing, and a driving speed reducer provided at the outside of the motor cover in the internal space of the housing, wherein the torsion beam and the trailing arm are formed using dissimilar metals.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 23, 2013
    Date of Patent: April 7, 2015
    Assignee: Hyundai Wia Corporation
    Inventor: Eun Chang Lee
  • Publication number: 20150090507
    Abstract: A motor drive apparatus, mounted to a forklift and controlling at least one motor configured to rotate a drive wheel of the forklift, based on a speed command value indicative of a target speed of the forklift, includes a turn speed limit unit in which a speed limit curve configured to stipulate an upper limit value of a speed of the forklift is defined as a function of a turning angle of the forklift such that an angular velocity with respect to a center of rotation of the forklift does not exceed a threshold value, the turn speed limit unit being configured to limit the speed command value to be equal to or less than an upper limit value determined according to the speed limit curve and the turning angle, and a drive unit configured to drive the at least one motor according to the speed command value.
    Type: Application
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Publication date: April 2, 2015
    Inventors: Junichi Okada, Takumi Itoh, Kohei Kubo
  • Patent number: 8991532
    Abstract: A disassembled and assembled power module includes: a wheel shaft; a power module; a central shaft, arranged in the power module and passing through the wheel shaft; and an engaging unit, capable of fastening the central shaft to the wheel shaft. In an embodiment when the detachable power module is applied in an electric driven wheelchair, it enables the weight of the wheelchair to be reduced by simply detach and remove the detachable power from the wheelchair so that the electric driven wheelchair without the heavy power module can be carry and transport easily, and also the moving range of the electric driven wheelchair can be increased as its power module can be easily detached and replaced with another fully charged power module so that the range anxiety of the disabled person using the same or the assistant can be relieved.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 18, 2013
    Date of Patent: March 31, 2015
    Assignee: Industrial Technology Research Institute
    Inventors: Tseng-Te Wei, Yu-Yin Peng, Li-Ju Cheng
  • Patent number: 8983723
    Abstract: Braking/driving force control that includes: detecting a driver's operating state for causing the vehicle to run; detecting a vehicle body motional state while the vehicle is running; computing a target longitudinal driving force for causing the vehicle to run and motional state amounts for controlling a vehicle body behavior on the basis of the detected operating state and motional state; and computing driving or braking forces allocated to the wheels so as to achieve the computed target longitudinal driving force and target motional state amounts and that the braking/driving force generating mechanism causes the wheels to generate independently.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 20, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Etsuo Katsuyama
  • Patent number: 8973689
    Abstract: An electrically powered vehicle, for example a motorcycle. Disclosed is a vehicle (1) having a rider saddle (7) and a vehicle frame (10) having two frame profiles (11) extending up to a steering head (5) spaced away from each other and the vehicle (1) comprising at least one front wheel (3) guided at a front wheel guide (2) of the vehicle frame (10) and at least one rear wheel (17) guided at a rear wheel guide (13) and the vehicle having a electrically operated drive motor (30) as well as an electrical energy storage device (16) and a drive motor controller (41) and that between the drive motor (30) and a driving wheel a drive train is provided and that the energy storage device (16) is mountable between the frame profiles (11) above the drive motor (30) and the energy storage device (16) is releasably defined at a drive unit (28) mounting the drive motor (30).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 8, 2009
    Date of Patent: March 10, 2015
    Assignee: KTM Sportmotorcycle AG
    Inventors: Bernhard Plazotta, Alexander Rauscher
  • Patent number: 8961361
    Abstract: A wheel drive unit includes: a planetary gear mechanism including a planetary gear and an internally-toothed gear; a casing integrated with the internally-toothed gear, a wheel being attached to the casing, and the casing transmitting rotation of the internally-toothed gear to the wheel; a bearing nut configured to prevent axial movement of the casing; and an oil seal provided more toward an interior of a vehicle than the planetary gear mechanism and axially fixed with respect the casing. An inner diameter of the detachment prevention member is smaller than an outer diameter of the externally-toothed gear.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignee: Sumitomo Heavy Industries, Ltd.
    Inventor: Masayuki Ishizuka
  • Patent number: 8960354
    Abstract: A combination structure of bicycle frame and motor hub includes a bicycle frame, a motor hub, and an elongated axle. One can extend, from one side of the bicycle frame, the elongated axle through a through hole of the bicycle frame and the motor hub, and then with one hand, a tail end of the elongated axle can be fastened into an internal thread hole of the bicycle frame. This will facilitate assembly of the components of the motor hub and the bicycle frame. Besides, when screwing or unscrewing the elongated axle, since the elongated axle has passed through the through hole and the internal thread hole opposing each other at the bicycle frame, the motor hub will not fall accidentally, and convenience can be assured for maintenance staff during proceeding of maintenance work.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 13, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 24, 2015
    Assignees: Fairly Bike Manufacturing Co., Ltd., Mystromer AG
    Inventors: Sheng Shan Lin, Yu Chi Yu
  • Patent number: 8955627
    Abstract: An electric vehicle has simple structure allowing effective cooling of on-board batteries collectively disposed within a swing arm. The electric vehicle includes a swing arm that houses an electric motor that is swingably mounted to a vehicle body and drives a drive wheel WR, and batteries of a substantially rectangular parallelepiped. A wide case portion that houses the batteries is formed at a position toward a pivot shaft of the swing arm. Also, a protruding portion for forming an air reservoir space above the batteries is formed at a roof portion of the wide case portion. The batteries are disposed side by side in a front-rear direction of the vehicle body. The protruding portion, in a side view of the vehicle body, is substantially convex protruding upward across the batteries.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 11, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 17, 2015
    Assignee: Honda Motor Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Kaoru Hatanaka, Yoichi Taniguchi, Atsushi Yonehana
  • Patent number: 8950531
    Abstract: An internal motorized bicycle hub includes a hub axle, a motor, a first bearing, a second bearing, a spacer and a movement restricting section. The motor has a rotor and a stator. The first and second bearings rotatably support the rotor on the hub axle. The second bearing is axially spaced apart from the first bearing. Each of the first and second bearings includes an inner race attached to the hub axle, an outer race attached to the rotor, and a rolling element arranged between the inner and outer races. The spacer is arranged between the inner races. The movement restricting section restricts movement of the inner race of the first bearing in a direction of separating from the bearing of the second bearing. The spacer presses the bearing of the first bearing towards the movement restricting section.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 19, 2011
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: Shimano Inc.
    Inventor: Hiroyuki Urabe
  • Patent number: 8950528
    Abstract: An electric vehicle includes a motor unit to drive a wheel. The electric vehicle also includes a control system that controls the motor unit. The control system includes an inverter. The electric vehicle also includes a temperature sensor to sense temperature Tmc of the motor coils of the motor unit or a temperature sensor to sense temperature Tic of the inverter. The electric vehicle also includes a limiter to, if the temperature Tmc sensed by the sensor exceeds a motor coils temperature threshold, reduce a motor current of the unit until a derivative dTmc/dt of the sensed temperature Tmc with time t drops to zero or below, or to, if the temperature Tic sensed by the sensor exceeds an inverter temperature threshold, limit a current command to the inverter until a derivative dTic/dt of the sensed temperature Tic with time t drops to zero or below.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventor: Takayoshi Ozaki
  • Patent number: 8950532
    Abstract: The invention relates to a hub reduction gear (10) for a driving wheel (20) of a wheeled vehicle with a planetary gear unit, which has a sun gear (12) connectable to a drive shaft (38a, 38b), a carrier (14) for planet gears (16), which are in mesh with the sun gear (12), and a ring gear (18) being in mesh with the planet gears (16). The planet gear carrier (16) and the ring gear (18) are configured to be alternately connected to the driving wheels (20) of the vehicle and being alternately connectable to a body-fixed part (24). The invention also relates to a driveline for a multi shaft, wheel supported vehicle with a hub reduction gear (10) of planetary gear type at the driving wheels of the vehicle, wherein the planet gear carrier and the ring gear of the planetary gears on at least one side of the vehicle are configured to be alternately connected to the driving wheels of the vehicle and being alternately connectable to a body-fixed part of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 21, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 10, 2015
    Assignee: BAE Systems Hägglunds Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Assar Christensen
  • Patent number: 8944446
    Abstract: A swivel drive system, such as for providing a driving force for a vehicle, comprises multiple drive modules, with each drive module including a plurality of wheel assemblies mounted for rotation relative to an axis of the drive module, with each wheel assembly being separately rotatable relative to a respective axis of the wheel assembly. Simultaneous rotation of the wheel assemblies relative to the axis of the drive module and rotation of each wheel assembly about its own axis generates a driving force for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 7, 2013
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Inventor: Brent R. Cottingham
  • Patent number: 8944196
    Abstract: A wheel bearing apparatus incorporating an in-wheel motor has a connecting shaft. The connecting shaft has a disc portion, forming the planetary elements, and a shaft portion, axially extending from the disc portion, via a shoulder portion. The outer circumference of the shaft portion has a serration. The connecting shaft is inserted into the wheel hub until the disc portion abuts the inner member. A seal ring, formed of elastic material, is interposed between the inner member and the connecting shaft to shield the driving portion from the outside in a liquid-tight manner.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 28, 2012
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Tomoya Yamada, Syougo Suzuki
  • Patent number: 8944195
    Abstract: An electrical drive unit for a motor vehicle, with the drive unit including a wheel hub drive that drives a vehicle wheel. The wheel hub drive has a sealing element which is affected by friction and by means of which the interior of the wheel hub drive is sealed off from the surroundings in an airtight manner. A ventilation device is provided by which a pressure difference between the prevailing air pressure in the interior of the wheel hub drive and the prevailing air pressure of the surrounding air can be compensated by displacing volumes of air.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 1, 2010
    Date of Patent: February 3, 2015
    Assignee: Schaeffler Technologies GmbH & Co. KG
    Inventors: Raphael Fischer, Michael Bogner
  • Patent number: 8932166
    Abstract: An object of the present invention is to achieve improvements in the rotational accuracy of the input shaft and the durability of the bearings, and suppression of rotational noise, by improving the support structure of the input shaft of the speed reduction unit. Provided is a drive device for an electric vehicle, including: an electric motor; a speed reduction unit including an input shaft driven by output of the electric motor; and a hub unit rotationally driven by an output member of the speed reduction unit, wherein the input shaft of the speed reduction unit is supported by bearings provided at two locations in an axial direction, the drive device for an electric vehicle being configured such that the bearings at the two locations are attached together to the output member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 8, 2011
    Date of Patent: January 13, 2015
    Assignee: NTN Corporation
    Inventors: Minoru Suzuki, Tomoaki Makino
  • Patent number: 8925659
    Abstract: An electric utility vehicle with a frame, at least one drive motor mounted to the frame through a suspension assembly, a wheel mounted to the motor, and a steering assembly for steering the vehicle, wherein the steering assembly may be interchangeably reconfigured into a side driver configuration and a center driver configuration. The drive motor may be mounted at any one of four wheel positions. The suspension assembly may be interchangeably reconfigured as an independent A-arm suspension assembly and a trailing arm suspension assembly. The vehicle may include a controller coupled to the motor for independently supplying electrical power to each of two drive motors, such that during a turn an outside motor is supplied with more power than an inside motor. The controller may supply electrical power the drive motor according to a selected acceleration profile of at least two acceleration profiles.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2010
    Date of Patent: January 6, 2015
    Inventor: William F. Peters