# US 12,005,785 B2 · Vehicle power device and wheel bearing device equipped with generator > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,005,785 B2 - Document ID: US12005785B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/394,899 - Filed: 2021-08-05 - Published: 2021-11-25 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2019-02-08 - Assignees: Ntn Corporation - Applicants: Ntn Corporation - Inventors: Yuuji Yada; Kentaro Nishikawa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12005785B2 ## CPC - B60K 7/0007: {the motor being electric} - H02K 11/21: Devices for sensing speed or position, or actuated thereby (specially adapted for machines having non-mechanical commutating devices H02K29/06, H02K29/14) - B60B 27/0052: {the element being a brake disc} - B60B 27/0063: {the element being a brake caliper mount} - B60B 27/0073: {characterised by sealing means} - B60K 7/00: Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel - F16C 19/186: {with three raceways provided integrally on parts other than race rings, e.g. third generation hubs} - F16C 33/76: of ball or roller bearings - F16J 15/10: with non-metallic packing - H02K 5/10: with arrangements for protection from ingress, e.g. water or fingers - H02K 7/006: {Structural association of a motor or generator with the drive train of a motor vehicle} - H02K 7/102: with friction brakes - H02K 21/22: with magnets rotating around the armatures, e.g. flywheel magnetos - B60B 27/0015: {for driven wheels} - B60B 35/16: Axle housings - B60K 6/26: characterised by the motors or the generators - B60K 2007/0061: {the motor axle being parallel to the wheel axle} - B60Y 2200/91: Electric vehicles - B60Y 2200/92: Hybrid vehicles - B60Y 2400/60: Electric Machines, e.g. motors or generators - F16C 2326/02: Wheel hubs or castors - F16C 2380/26: Dynamo-electric machines or combinations therewith, e.g. electro-motors and generators - H02K 5/00: Casings; Enclosures; Supports - B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - B60B: VEHICLE WHEELS (making wheels or wheel parts by rolling B21H1/00, by forging, hammering or pressing B21K1/28); CASTORS; AXLES FOR WHEELS OR CASTORS; INCREASING WHEEL ADHESION - F16C: SHAFTS; FLEXIBLE SHAFTS; ELEMENTS OR CRANKSHAFT MECHANISMS; ROTARY BODIES OTHER THAN GEARING ELEMENTS; BEARINGS - F16J: PISTONS {(specially adapted for dampers F16F9/32)}; CYLINDERS; SEALINGS - B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY ## Abstract The vehicle power device includes: a wheel bearing; and an electric motor including a stator and a rotor. The vehicle power device includes a rotor casing that is a cover member covering the electric motor and a part of the wheel bearing, the part being located on an inboard side with respect to the hub flange, such that a separated space is defined inside the cover member. A seal member configured to prevent entry of moisture from a press-fitting part where a hub bolt is press-fitted into a bolt hole provided in the hub flange is disposed near the press-fitting part. The hub flange is formed with an annular groove coaxial with the hub bolt in an area where a head of the hub bolt comes into contact with an inboard-side surface of the hub flange, and the seal member having a ring shape is disposed in the annular groove. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle power device comprising: a wheel bearing including a fixed ring and a rotary ring rotatably supported by the fixed ring through rolling elements, the rotary ring including a hub flange configured to be attached with a wheel of a vehicle; and an electric motor including a stator attached to the fixed ring and a rotor attached to the rotary ring, and the vehicle power device further comprising: a cover member covering the electric motor and a part of the wheel bearing, the part being located on an inboard side with respect to the hub flange, such that a separated space is defined inside the cover member; and a seal member configured to prevent entry of moisture from a press-fitting part where a hub bolt is press-fitted into a bolt hole provided in the hub flange, the seal member being disposed at the press-fitting part or near the press-fitting part. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle power device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel bearing has an outer ring serving as the fixed ring and an inner ring serving as the rotary ring, the cover member is fixed to the hub flange of the inner ring, the cover member has a casing cylindrical part having a cylindrical shape and covering the electric motor and the part located on the inboard side with respect to the hub flange, and the stator is disposed on an outer periphery of the outer ring. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The vehicle power device as claimed in claim 2, wherein the cover member includes: a casing bottom part having a flat annular plate shape and fixed to a side surface of the hub flange; and the casing cylindrical part extending from an outer peripheral edge portion of the casing bottom part toward the inboard side, and further, the vehicle power device is provided with an inboard-side sealing member configured to seal a gap between an inboard-side end of the casing cylindrical part and a chassis frame component of the vehicle and with an outboard-side sealing member configured to seal a gap between the casing bottom part and the side surface of the hub flange. ### Claim 4 (depends on 2) The vehicle power device as claimed in claim 2, wherein a brake rotor is attached to the hub flange along with the wheel, the electric motor has a smaller diameter than that of an outer peripheral part of the brake rotor against which a brake caliper is pressed, and the electric motor is located within an axial range between the hub flange and an outboard-side surface of a chassis frame component of the vehicle. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle power device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal member is incorporated between a head of the hub bolt and an inboard-side end of the hub flange. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The vehicle power device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bolt hole has an inboard-side part provided with a tapered part having an increasing diameter toward the inboard side, and the seal member is incorporated between a head of the hub bolt and the tapered part. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The vehicle power device as claimed in claim 1, wherein a seal cap having a bottomed cylindrical shape and covering a surface of a head of the hub bolt is attached to the head of the hub bolt, and the seal member is incorporated to an opening edge portion of the seal cap. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The vehicle power device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal member is shaped as a ring made of a rubber material, a resin material, or a metal material. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The vehicle power device as claimed in claim 1, wherein the seal member is a liquid gasket. ### Claim 10 A generator-equipped wheel bearing device comprising: a wheel bearing including a fixed ring and a rotary ring rotatably supported by the fixed ring through rolling elements, the rotary ring including a hub flange configured to be attached with a wheel of a vehicle; and a generator including a stator attached to the fixed ring and a rotor attached to the rotary ring, and the generator-equipped wheel bearing device further comprising: a cover member covering the generator and a part of the wheel bearing, the part being located on an inboard side with respect to the hub flange, such that a separated space is defined inside the cover member; and a seal member configured to prevent entry of moisture from a press-fitting part where a hub bolt is press-fitted into a bolt hole provided in the hub flange, the seal member being disposed at the press-fitting part or near the press-fitting part.