Wheel motor system

A wheel motor traction assembly for a light duty vehicle chassis comprising:

• a rotatable wheel having a radially outer tire support portion and a radially inner hub support portion, said portions being cooperatively configured to define a wheel cavity axially inwardly open with respect to the chassis and having inner and outer wheel parameters;
• a rotor in the wheel cavity between said parameters and removably connectable to said hub support portion for drivingly rotating the wheel;
• a non-rotatable stator in the wheel cavity between said parameters for drivingly rotating the rotor;
• and
• a non-rotatable motor housing configured to substantially close an inward end of the inwardly open wheel cavity and including a structural connector and an electrical connector, said structural connector and said electrical connector being adapted for connecting the wheel motor traction assembly to the chassis.

A wheel motor traction assembly for a light duty vehicle chassis adaptable for electric traction comprising:

• a rotatable wheel having a radially outer tire support portion and a radially inner hub support portion, said portions being cooperatively configured to define a wheel cavity axially inwardly open with respect to the chassis and having inner and outer wheel parameters;
• a rotor in the cavity between said parameters and removably connectable to said hub support portion for drivingly rotating the wheel;
• a non-rotatable stator in the cavity between said parameters for drivingly rotating the rotor;
• a non-rotatable motor housing configured to substantially close an inward end of the inwardly open wheel cavity and including an electrical connector, a suspension system structural connector configured for connecting the wheel motor traction assembly to a suspension system on the chassis and a steering system structural connector configured for connecting the wheel motor traction assembly to a steering system on the chassis, said connectors being adapted for connecting the wheel motor traction assembly to the chassis.

A wheel motor traction assembly for a light duty vehicle chassis adaptable for electric traction comprising:

• a motor including a non-rotatable stator and a rotor;
• a hub subassembly including a stub shaft, a hub rigidly connected to the stub shaft and mechanically coupled to the rotor such that the hub and stub shaft rotate with the rotor, a shaft housing and a shaft bearing, both operatively connected to the stub shaft, wherein the wheel and the rotor rotate about the shaft bearing;
• a wheel having a radially outer tire support portion and a radially inner hub support portion, said portions being cooperatively configured to define a wheel cavity axially inwardly open with respect to the chassis, and having inner and outer wheel parameters, wherein the wheel is removably connected to the hub such that the wheel is rotatable with the hub;
• a non-rotatable motor housing supporting the shaft housing and configured to substantially close an inward end of the inwardly open wheel cavity;
• a steering system structural connector operatively connected to the motor housing for connecting the wheel motor traction assembly to a steering link on the chassis, and a suspension system structural connector operatively connected to the motor housing for connecting the wheel motor traction assembly to a suspension system on the chassis;
• a brake disc in the wheel cavity mechanically coupled with the hub such that the brake disc is rotatable with the hub, and a brake caliper in the wheel cavity mounted on and fixed with respect to the motor housing and operably connectable to the brake disc;
• and
• a sealed power cable fitting operatively connected to the motor housing and to the stator and adapted for connecting the stator to a power cable on the chassis;
• wherein the stator and the shaft housing are operatively connected and stationary with respect to the motor housing, and wherein the stub shaft, the rotor, the hub and the wheel are rotatable with respect to the motor housing such that the shaft bearing serves as a bearing for the rotor and for the wheel, and the motor, the hub subassembly and the motor housing substantially fit within the inner wheel parameter and the outer wheel parameter.

A compact disc-like axial flux motor for assembly within a vehicle wheel cavity and comprising:

• a nonrotatable motor housing configured as a disc sufficiently expansive to close a wheel cavity and including a vehicle suspension control arm pickup portion on one side thereof, a brake caliper on the other side thereof, and a motor stator that is operatively connected to the motor housing, wherein the motor housing is sufficiently structural to at least partially support a vehicle chassis;
• a rotatable hub and shaft rotatably supported by the motor housing, wherein the hub is adapted for supporting a vehicle wheel;
• and
• a brake disc and motor rotor connected to the hub and shaft for rotation therewith;
• wherein the brake disc is operably connectable to the brake caliper and the motor rotor is operably connectable to the stator.