# US 12,179,861 B1 · Electric portal wheel hub system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 12,179,861 B1 - Document ID: US12179861B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 18/219,882 - Filed: 2023-07-10 - Granted: 2024-12-31 - Earliest claimed: 2018-11-30 - Applicants: Robert P Thomas; Jordan Thomas - Inventors: Robert P Thomas; Jordan Thomas - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12179861B1 ## CPC - B62D 59/04: driven from propulsion unit on trailer - B60G 3/20: all arms being rigid - B60G 9/003: {the axle being rigidly connected to a trailing guiding device} - B60K 1/02: comprising more than one electric motor - B60K 7/0007: {the motor being electric} - B60K 17/043: {Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel} - B60L 1/003: {to auxiliary motors, e.g. for pumps, compressors} - B60L 50/60: using power supplied by batteries (in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75) - B60R 16/0231: {Circuits relating to the driving or the functioning of the vehicle (monitoring tyres B60C23/00; indicating overspeed B60K31/00; for dash boards B60K37/00, B60Q3/10; for indicating emergencies B60Q1/52; brake control systems B60T; registering or indicating the working of vehicles G07C5/00; measuring distance G01C, e.g. combinations of speed and distance G01C23/00; engine indicators G01L; measuring speed or acceleration G01P)} - H02K 7/116: with gears - B60G 9/00: Resilient suspensions of a rigid axle or axle housing for two or more wheels {(the axle being a part of a set of tandem axles B60G5/00-B60G5/065; with leaf springs B60G11/02-B60G11/08)} - B60G 11/27: wherein the fluid is a gas - B60G 2200/144: with two lateral arms forming a parallelogram - B60G 2200/31: with two trailing arms rigidly connected to the axle - B60G 2200/422: Driving wheels or live axles - B60G 2202/152: Pneumatic spring - B60G 2204/182: Electric motor on wheel support - B60G 2204/419: Gears - B60G 2300/0262: Multi-axle trucks - B60G 2300/042: Semi-trailers - B60G 2300/50: Electric vehicles; Hybrid vehicles - B60K 2007/0038: {the motor moving together with the wheel axle} - B60K 2007/0061: {the motor axle being parallel to the wheel axle} - B60L 2200/28: Trailers - B60L 2210/10: DC to DC converters - B60L 2220/14: Synchronous machines - B60P 3/20: Refrigerated goods vehicles (air treatment of goods space B60H; {air-conditioning means for freight cars, isothermic wagons B61D27/0027; superstructures for refrigerated goods vehicles B62D33/048}) - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) - 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 - B60L: PROPULSION OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (arrangements or mounting of electrical propulsion units or of plural diverse prime-movers for mutual or common propulsion in vehicles B60K1/00, B60K6/20; arrangements or mounting of electrical gearing in vehicles B60K17/12, B60K17/14; preventing wheel slip by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/08; dynamo-electric machines H02K; control or regulation of electric motors H02P); SUPPLYING ELECTRIC POWER FOR AUXILIARY EQUIPMENT OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES (electric coupling devices combined with mechanical couplings of vehicles B60D1/64; electric heating for vehicles B60H1/00); ELECTRODYNAMIC BRAKE SYSTEMS FOR VEHICLES IN GENERAL (control or regulation of electric motors H02P); MAGNETIC SUSPENSION OR LEVITATION FOR VEHICLES; MONITORING OPERATING VARIABLES OF ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES; ELECTRIC SAFETY DEVICES FOR ELECTRICALLY-PROPELLED VEHICLES - B60R: VEHICLES, VEHICLE FITTINGS, OR VEHICLE PARTS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR - H02K: DYNAMO-ELECTRIC MACHINES (dynamo-electric relays H01H53/00; conversion of DC or AC input power into surge output power {H03K3/53}) - B60P: VEHICLES ADAPTED FOR LOAD TRANSPORTATION OR TO TRANSPORT, TO CARRY, OR TO COMPRISE SPECIAL LOADS OR OBJECTS (vehicles with special provisions for transporting patients or disabled persons, or their personal conveyances A61G3/00) ## Abstract An electrical portal wheel hub system is coupled with a wheel of a vehicle and utilizes an electric motor/generator configured to drive the wheel or generate power through application of braking torque to the wheel, and may be coupled with two or more wheels of the vehicle, wherein generated power is provided to a portal hub battery. The portal hub battery may provide power to the electric motors, or to other electrical devices or batteries of the vehicle. The vehicle may include a trailer or non-driven wheels having a connecting axle and an electrical portal hub may be coupled to these otherwise, non-driven wheels. The vehicle may be an electric vehicle and the electrical portal wheel hub system may provide power to a vehicle battery that provides power to drive the wheels of the vehicle. A controller may control power from the portal hub battery to the electric motor/generators and or other battery and devices to provide energy efficiency. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A vehicle comprising: a) two wheels; b) a hub battery that is a rechargeable battery; c) an electronic control unit; d) an electrical portal wheel hub system comprising: i) an electrical portal hub coupled to each of said two wheels and each electrical portal hub comprising: a hub casing; an electric motor having a rotational axis; an input gear coupled with the electric motor and driven by said electric motor; wherein the input gear is coupled with the electric motor and a wheel of said two wheels and provides torque to drive said wheel; an output gear that is coupled with the input gear and wherein the output gear drives said wheel; a drive axle coupled with said electric motor; wherein the rotational axis of the electric motor is vertically offset a vertical offset distance from a rotational axis of said wheel; wherein the drive axle has a rotational axis that is vertically offset a vertical offset distance above the rotational axis of said wheel; wherein the electric motor is powered by said battery; wherein the input gear is driven by the electric motor; and wherein the electric motors provide electrical power to the hub battery to charge said hub battery, whereby the electric motors act as a generator. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first wheel is on a first side of said vehicle and the second wheel is on a second side of said vehicle. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electrical portal wheel hub system further comprises a power distribution unit that controls power from said battery to each of said electric motors. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electrical portal wheel hub system further comprises a power distribution unit comprising a plurality of electrical switches and coupled with the each of the electric motors to provide power or receive power from the electric motors. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electrical portal wheel hub system further comprises a power distribution unit comprising a plurality of electrical switches and coupled with the hub battery and the electronic control unit, wherein the electronic control unit provides instructions to the power distribution unit for distribution of power from the hub battery and to the electric motors. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The vehicle of claim 5, further comprising a CAN Bus that is coupled with the electronic control unit and provides low voltage communication to the electronic control unit. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the vehicle further comprises a vehicle battery, and wherein the electronic control unit provides instructions through said CAN Bus to the power distribution unit for distribution of power from the hub battery to said vehicle battery. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The vehicle of claim 7, where the power distribution unit is configured to distribute power to at least one of the hub battery and the vehicle battery. ### Claim 9 (depends on 5) The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the vehicle further comprises a secondary electrical device and wherein the electronic control unit provides instructions to the power distribution unit for distribution of power from the hub battery to said secondary electrical device. ### Claim 10 (depends on 5) The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the vehicle is a tractor-trailer having a tractor detachably attachable to a trailer and wherein the hub battery provides power to the tractor. ### Claim 11 (depends on 5) The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the vehicle is a tractor-trailer having a tractor detachably attachable to a trailer and a refrigeration unit and wherein the portal hub battery provides power to said refrigeration unit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a connecting axle and wherein at least one of the two wheels is coupled with the connecting axle. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the vehicle comprises a connecting axle and wherein the two wheels are coupled with the connecting axle on opposing ends of said connecting axle. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the vehicle further comprises: a) a trailing arm; b) a slider axle carriage configured to move with respect to the vehicle; c) a shock absorber extending between the trailing arm and a frame of said vehicle; and wherein the trailing arm is coupled to a slider axle carriage, and wherein the connecting axle is coupled to the trailing arm and the electric motor is coupled with the slider axle carriage. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14, wherein vehicle further comprising an air bag suspension between the trailing arm and the vehicle. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The vehicle of claim 14, wherein vehicle further comprising a load spring configured between the trailing arm and the vehicle. ### Claim 17 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electric motor provides a braking torque to said wheel when the electric motor acts as a generator. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the electric motor is a Permanent Magnet (PM) Synchronous topology motor. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) The vehicle of claim 1, where the electronic control unit is configured to drive a first wheel of the two wheels at a different speed than a second wheel of said two wheels. ### Claim 20 (depends on 6) The vehicle of claim 6, wherein the vehicle further comprises a secondary electrical device and wherein the electrical portal wheel hub system further comprises a DC/DC converted and wherein the secondary electrical device is a low voltage electrical device requiring a voltage input of 50V or less.