Active wheel carrier system and method
An active wheel carrier system and method are provided. The active wheel carrier system includes, in one example, a constant velocity (CV) joint, a wheel hub coupled to the CV joint and including a set of hub bearings, a hub carrier inner race coupled to the set of bearings, a hub carrier outer race, multiple roller elements interposed between the hub carrier inner race and the hub carrier outer race, a control swivel coupled to the hub carrier inner race, a camber-angle drive configured to independently rotate the hub carrier inner race about a first axis, and a toe-angle drive configured to independently rotate the hub carrier inner race about a second axis that is distinct from the first axis.
1 . An active wheel carrier system comprising:
a constant velocity (CV) joint;
a wheel hub coupled to the CV joint and including a set of hub bearings;
a hub carrier inner race coupled to the set of bearings;
a hub carrier outer race;
multiple roller elements interposed between the hub carrier inner race and the hub carrier outer race;
a control swivel coupled to the hub carrier inner race;
a camber-angle drive configured to independently rotate the hub carrier inner race about a first axis; and
a toe-angle drive configured to independently rotate the hub carrier inner race about a second axis that is distinct from the first axis.
2 . The active wheel carrier system of claim 1 , wherein the camber-angle drive is a camber-angle worm drive that includes:
a camber-angle worm screw threadingly engaged with a camber-angle worm gear that is coupled to the control swivel; and
a camber-angle actuator configured to rotate the camber-angle worm screw.
3 . The active wheel carrier system of claim 2 , wherein the toe-angle drive is a toe-angle worm drive that includes:
a toe-angle worm screw threadingly engaged with a toe-angle worm gear that is coupled to the control swivel; and
a toe-angle actuator configured to rotate the toe-angle worm screw.
4 . The active wheel carrier system of claim 3 , wherein the toe-angle worm gear is positioned vertically above the camber-angle worm gear.
5 . The active wheel carrier system of claim 3 , wherein the control swivel includes a shaft that extends through openings in the toe-angle worm gear and the camber-angle worm gear.
6 . The active wheel carrier system of claim 3 , wherein the toe-angle actuator and the camber-angle actuator are electric motors.
7 . The active wheel carrier system of claim 1 , wherein the multiple roller elements are spherical balls.
8 . The active wheel carrier system of claim 3 , wherein rotational axes of the camber-angle worm screw and the toe-angle worm screw are parallel to one another.
9 . The active wheel carrier system of claim 1 , wherein the set of bearings includes an inner ball bearing and an outer ball bearing.
10 . The active wheel carrier system of claim 1 , wherein the hub carrier outer race is configured to attach to a steering knuckle.
11 . A method for operation of an active wheel carrier system in a vehicle, comprising:
during vehicle operation, operating a camber-angle drive to alter a camber angle of a wheel independent from a toe angle of the wheel; and
operating a toe-angle drive to alter the toe angle of the wheel independent from the camber angle;
wherein the active wheel carrier system includes:
a constant velocity (CV) joint;
a wheel hub coupled to the CV joint and including a set of hub bearings;
a hub carrier inner race;
a hub carrier outer race;
multiple roller elements interposed between the hub carrier inner race and the hub carrier outer race;
a control swivel coupled to the hub carrier inner race;
the camber-angle drive configured to independently rotate the hub carrier inner race about a first axis; and
the toe-angle drive configured to independently rotate the hub carrier inner race about a second axis that is distinct from the first axis.
12 . The method of claim 11 , wherein operating the camber-angle drive includes operating a camber angle actuator to rotate a camber-angle worm screw that is threadingly engaged with a camber-angle worm gear that is coupled to the control swivel.
13 . The method of claim 12 , wherein the camber angle actuator is an electric motor.
14 . The method of claim 13 , wherein the hub carrier outer race is configured to attach to a steering knuckle.
15 . The method of claim 11 , wherein operating the toe-angle drive includes operating a toe angle actuator to rotate a toe-angle worm screw that is threadingly engaged with a toe-angle worm gear that is coupled to the control swivel.
16 . The method of claim 15 , wherein the toe angle actuator is an electric motor.
17 . An active wheel carrier system in an electric vehicle (EV), comprising:
a constant velocity (CV) joint;
a wheel hub coupled to the CV joint and including a set of hub bearings;
a hub carrier inner race;
a hub carrier outer race;
multiple roller elements interposed between the hub carrier inner race and the hub carrier outer race;
a control swivel that extends through an opening in the hub carrier outer race and is directly coupled to the hub carrier inner race;
a camber-angle drive configured to independently rotate the hub carrier inner race about a first axis; and
a toe-angle drive configured to independently rotate the hub carrier inner race about a second axis that is distinct from the first axis.
18 . The active wheel carrier system of claim 17 , wherein the camber-angle drive is a camber-angle worm drive that includes:
a camber-angle worm screw threadingly engaged with a camber-angle worm gear that is coupled to the control swivel; and
a camber-angle actuator configured to rotate the camber-angle worm screw.
19 . The active wheel carrier system of claim 17 , wherein the toe-angle drive is a toe-angle worm drive that includes:
a toe-angle worm screw threadingly engaged with a toe-angle worm gear that is coupled to the control swivel; and
a toe-angle actuator configured to rotate the toe-angle worm screw.
20 . The active wheel carrier system of claim 17 , wherein:
the multiple roller elements are spherical balls; and
the set of bearings includes an inner ball bearing and an outer ball bearing.