IP Library Granted Patent US 11,368,076
Granted Patent B2
US 11,368,076 · App. 17/176,308 · Granted Jun 21, 2022

Multi-bar linkage electric drive system

Inventors: Ian W. Hunter (Lincoln, MA); Timothy A. Fofonoff (Lincoln, MA); Peter Madden (Reading, MA); Dean Ljubicic (Somerville, MA); Thomas Moriarty (Lexington, MA); Scott T. Purchase (Cambridge, MA)
Assignee: Indigo Technologies, Inc.
H02K16/04B60G1/00B60G3/01B60G3/20B60G7/001B60G17/015B60K7/0007H02K1/2793H02K1/28H02K7/006H02K7/075H02K7/086H02K7/116B60G3/207B60G2202/42B60G2204/182B60G2204/30B60G2204/421B60G2300/50B60G2500/30B60K17/043B60K2007/003B60K2007/0038B60K2007/0092B60L2220/44B60L2220/46B60Y2200/91H02K7/125H02K21/24H02K2201/18
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 11,368,076
App. No.
17/176,308
Granted
Jun 21, 2022
Kind
B2
Abstract

An electric drive system including: a rotary motor system including a hub assembly, a first rotating assembly, a second rotating assembly, and a third rotating assembly, wherein the hub assembly defines a rotational axis about which the first rotating assembly, the second rotating assembly, and the third rotating assembly are coaxially aligned and are capable of independent rotational movement independent of each other; a multi-bar linkage mechanism connected to each of the first and third rotating assemblies and connected to the hub assembly and constraining movement of the hub assembly so that the rotational axis of the hub assembly moves along a defined path that is in a transverse direction relative to the rotational axis and wherein the multi-bar linkage mechanism causes the rotational axis of the hub assembly to translate along the defined path in response to relative rotation of the first rotating assembly and the third rotating assembly with respect to each other.

Claims (12)

1. A drive system for a vehicle comprising:

a suspension arm;

a rotary motor coupled to the suspension arm such that the rotary motor is movable relative to the suspension arm, the rotary motor comprising:

a magnetic rotor assembly rotatable about a rotational axis;

a first coil stator assembly, rotatable about the rotation axis, to apply a first torque to the magnetic rotor assembly and the suspension arm, wherein the first coil stator assembly is configured to apply the first torque to the suspension arm via a first linkage; and

a second coil stator assembly, rotatable about the rotation axis, to apply a second torque to the magnetic rotor assembly, the second coil stator assembly being coupled to the first coil stator assembly such that movement of the first coil stator assembly causes movement of the second coil stator assembly;

a spindle that defines the rotational axis; and

a linear bearing that couples the spindle to the suspension arm.

2. The drive system of claim 1 wherein one end of the first linkage is coupled to the suspension arm at a first location and the linear bearing is coupled to the suspension arm at a second location different from the first location.

3. The drive system of claim 1 , wherein the rotary motor moves along a defined path.

4. The drive system of claim 1 , wherein the magnetic rotor assembly is configured to rotate in response to the first and second torques having the same magnitude and being applied to the magnetic rotor assembly along the same direction.

5. The drive system of claim 1 , wherein the rotary motor is configured to move along a defined path relative to the suspension arm in response to the first and second torques having the same magnitude and being applied to the magnetic rotor assembly in opposite directions.

Assignments (4)
SECURITY INTEREST Recorded Jan 21, 2026
From: INDIGO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
To: MASSACHUSETTS DEVELOPMENT FINANCE AGENCY
Reel/Frame 073538/0251 →
CHANGE OF NAME Recorded Sep 27, 2021
From: NUCLEUS SCIENTIFIC, INC.
To: INDIGO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 057616/0795 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2021
From: HUNTER, IAN W.; FOFONOFF, TIMOTHY A.; MADDEN, PETER G.; LJUBICIC, DEAN
To: NUCLEUS SCIENTIFIC, INC.
Reel/Frame 055605/0228 →
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Mar 16, 2021
From: MORIARTY, THOMAS; PURCHASE, SCOTT T.
To: INDIGO TECHNOLOGIES, INC.
Reel/Frame 055605/0284 →
Continuity (5)
Division 16575512 · Sep 19, 2019
Continuation 15701766 · Sep 12, 2017
Provisional Application 62512469 · May 30, 2017
Provisional Application 62393982 · Sep 13, 2016
Related Publication 20210167675A1 · Jun 3, 2021
Cited By (1)
US 12,489,350