Independently suspended steerable motor wheel apparatus
AssigneeGeneral Motors Corporation
InventorsLubomyr O. Hewko, Balkrishna R. Patel, Andrew L. Bartos
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A motor wheel apparatus having an integral reduction planetary gearset is steerable and adapted for use in a conventional independently sprung automotive suspension. The motor, gearset and wheel elements are mounted on a single steerable support member to minimize the tolerance stack up and to enable independent servicing of the motor and gearset elements. The output element of the gearset is supported solely by virtue of the gear meshes and a splined connection to the wheel, thereby permitting the output element to self-align with the wheel and isolating the wheel forces from the motor and gearset elements.
Claims6
An integral motor driven wheel apparatus for a motor vehicle comprising:
- a main support element pivotably mounted about a pair of nonparallel axes defined by upper and lower support structures of the vehicle;
- a gearset housing rigidly mounted to said main support element;
- a rotor cup member disposed radially about said housing and supported by said housing for rotation about a longitudinal axis thereof;
- motor means including a stator element rigidly supported on said main support element about said rotor cup member, and a set of permanent magnets secured to said rotor cup member in an area between said rotor cup member and said stator element;
- gearset means disposed within said housing including an input element, a reaction element, an output element, and means for drivingly connecting said rotor cup member to said input element of said gearset means;
- drive means rigidly mounted to said main support element for rotatably supporting a vehicle drive wheel;
- and
- coupling means for drivingly connecting the output element of said gearset means to said vehicle drive wheel.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.