Self-supporting drive module
A self-supporting drive module has a support component ( 1 ) in which at least one electric motor ( 2 or 3 or 6 ) is located. To facilitate the manufacturing process, the electric motor ( 2 or 3 or 6 ) is a prefabricated motor module having a separate motor housing ( 2 a or 3 a or 6 a ). The support component ( 1 ) can be a drive axle, with at least one drive wheel located on each end of the axle.
1. A self-supporting drive module, comprising:
a support component; and
at least one electric motor located in the support component, wherein the electric motor is a prefabricated modular motor having a separate motor housing, and wherein the motor housing is relatively thin-walled and non-load-bearing compared to the support component with respect to forces that are exerted externally on the drive module.
2. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the motor housing comprises a material that has high thermal conductivity.
3. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the motor housing comprises aluminum or an aluminum alloy.
4. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the motor housing is in surface contact with the support component.
5. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 3 , wherein the motor housing is in surface contact with the support component.
6. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 1 , including spaces formed between the inside of the support component and the outside of the motor housing, wherein coolant is located in the spaces.
7. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 3 , including spaces formed between the inside of the support component and the outside of the motor housing, wherein coolant is located in the spaces.
8. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 4 , including spaces formed between the inside of the support component and the outside of the motor housing, wherein coolant is located in the spaces.
9. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 6 , wherein the coolant is a liquid.
10. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 9 , wherein the coolant is hydraulic fluid.
11. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the support component is a drive axle, with a drive wheel located on each end of the drive axle.
12. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 11 , including two electric motors located in the drive axle as wheel motors, with each motor in the form of a motor module.
13. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 12 , including at least one additional electric motor located axially between the wheel motors, which additional electric motor is a modular motor and is provided for the drive of at least one hydraulic pump of a hydraulic work system and/or a steering system.
14. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 13 , wherein the additional electric motor is oriented at a right angle to the wheel motors.
15. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 1 , wherein the drive motor is located in an industrial truck.
16. The self-supporting drive module as claimed in claim 15 , wherein the industrial truck is a front-seat, counterweighted fork-lift truck having a lifting assembly fastened to a drive axle.