IP Library Granted Patent US 8,453,774
Granted Patent B2
US 8,453,774 · App. 10/530,180 · Granted Jun 4, 2013

In-wheel motor system for a steering wheel

Inventor: Go Nagaya (Tokyo, JP)
Assignee: Kabushiki Kaisha Bridgestone
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Quick Facts
Patent No.
US 8,453,774
App. No.
10/530,180
Granted
Jun 4, 2013
Kind
B2
Abstract

An in-wheel motor system for mounting a direct drive motor to a steering wheel comprises a first knuckle 4 which is connected to the non-rotary side of a geared motor 3 by a connection member I 0 having elastic bodies and direct-moving guides for limiting movement to a vertical direction and locked in a steering direction by upper and lower suspension arms 5 a and 5 b and a second knuckle 7 which is connected to a steering rod 8 and fitted with a brake unit 9 and a wheel 2 through a hub 6 . This second knuckle 7 is connected to the above first knuckle 4 in such a manner that it can turn on a king pin axis J in the steering direction and to the output shaft of the above geared motor 3 by a connection shaft 20 having constant velocity joints 21 and 22 at both ends, thereby reducing an increase in steering torque.

Claims (8)

1. An in-wheel motor system for mounting a direct drive motor to a wheel, comprising

a first knuckle which is connected to an upper suspension arm, a lower suspension arm and a non-rotary side of the direct drive motor, and is locked in a steering direction; and

a second knuckle which is connected to a steering rod and to the first knuckle in such a manner that the second knuckle turns on a king pin axis in the steering direction and is fitted with a brake unit and the wheel.

2. The in-wheel motor system for a wheel according to claim 1 , wherein the non-rotary side of the motor is connected to the first knuckle by elastic bodies and dampers, or elastic bodies having a spring or damper function.

3. The in-wheel motor system for a wheel according to claim 2 , wherein the non-rotary side of the motor is supported by direct-moving guides and a buffer member in the vertical direction of a vehicle.

4. The in-wheel motor system for a wheel according to claim 3 , wherein the non-rotary side of the motor is supported by direct-moving guides and a buffer member in the horizontal direction of a vehicle in addition to the vertical direction.

5. The in-wheel motor system for a wheel according to any one of claims 2 to 4 , wherein the output shaft of the motor and a wheel support hub mounted to the second knuckle are interconnected by constant velocity joints.

6. The in-wheel motor system for a wheel according to any one of claims 2 to 4 , wherein the rotary portion of the motor and the wheel are interconnected by a flexible coupling having at least two direct-moving guides connected to each other in such a manner that their moving directions cross each other in the axial direction of the motor and a constant velocity joint coupling which has the center of its movement on a king pin axis and turns in the steering direction.

Assignments (1)
ASSIGNMENT OF ASSIGNOR'S INTEREST Recorded Apr 4, 2005
From: NAGAYA, GO
To: KABUSHIKI KAISHA BRIDGESTONE
Reel/Frame 017180/0480 →
Priority Claims (1)
JP 2002-290432 · Oct 2, 2002 · national
Continuity (1)
Related Publication 20060048978A1 · Mar 9, 2006