U.S. patent application number 11/080368 was filed with the patent office on 2006-01-26 for wheel provided with driving means.
Invention is credited to Adrianus Johannes Heinen.
Application Number | 20060016628 11/080368 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 34120086 |
Filed Date | 2006-01-26 |
United States Patent
Application |
20060016628 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Heinen; Adrianus Johannes |
January 26, 2006 |
Wheel provided with driving means
Abstract
The invention relates to a wheel provided with electric driving
means in the wheel, the electric driving means comprising a rotor
and a stator coaxially within the rotor and connectable to a
vehicle, with an air gap provided between said rotor and said
stator, wherein said wheel is provided with an air gap controlling
bearing.
Inventors: |
Heinen; Adrianus Johannes;
(Apeldoorn, NL) |
Correspondence
Address: |
Daniel H. Golub
1701 Market Street
Philadelphia
PA
19103
US
|
Family ID: |
34120086 |
Appl. No.: |
11/080368 |
Filed: |
March 15, 2005 |
Related U.S. Patent Documents
|
|
|
|
|
|
Application
Number |
Filing Date |
Patent Number |
|
|
10795803 |
Mar 8, 2004 |
|
|
|
11080368 |
Mar 15, 2005 |
|
|
|
10619926 |
Jul 15, 2003 |
|
|
|
10795803 |
Mar 8, 2004 |
|
|
|
10205405 |
Jul 26, 2002 |
|
|
|
10619926 |
Jul 15, 2003 |
|
|
|
Current U.S.
Class: |
180/65.1 |
Current CPC
Class: |
B60K 2007/0092 20130101;
Y02T 10/70 20130101; B60K 17/30 20130101; B60K 11/02 20130101; Y02T
90/16 20130101; B60L 2220/50 20130101; B60L 8/003 20130101; B60L
2220/44 20130101; B60L 15/20 20130101; B60L 2240/423 20130101; B60L
50/60 20190201; B62D 5/0418 20130101; B60L 2220/46 20130101; Y02T
10/72 20130101; B60K 2007/0038 20130101; B60L 2250/16 20130101;
Y02T 10/7072 20130101; Y02T 10/64 20130101; B60K 7/0007 20130101;
H02K 7/14 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
180/065.1 |
International
Class: |
B60K 1/00 20060101
B60K001/00 |
Foreign Application Data
Date |
Code |
Application Number |
Jan 26, 2001 |
WO |
PCT/NL01/00054 |
Oct 17, 2003 |
NL |
NL 1024565 |
Mar 7, 2003 |
NL |
NL 1022873 |
Jan 26, 2000 |
NL |
NL 1014182 |
Claims
1. Wheel provided with electric driving means in the wheel, the
electric driving means comprising a rotor and a stator coaxially
within the rotor and connectable to a vehicle, with an air gap
provided between said rotor and said stator, wherein said wheel is
provided with an air gap controlling bearing that maintains the air
gap in a working range during operation of the wheel.
2. Wheel according to claim 1, wherein said air gap controlling
bearing is provided between said rotor and said stator.
3. wheel according to claim 1, wherein said air gap controlling
bearing is provided next to said air gap.
4. Wheel according to claim 1, wherein said air gap controlling
bearing is provided in proximity of the circumference of said
stator.
5. Wheel according to claim 1, wherein said air gap controlling
bearing directly connects said rotor and said stator.
6. Wheel according to claim 1, wherein said air gap controlling
bearing is provided axially in line with said air gap.
7. Wheel according to claim 1, wherein said air gap controlling
bearing circumferentially connects said rotor and said stator.
8. Wheel according to claim 1, wherein said stator is mounted on a
cover plate for mounting said wheel to a vehicle, and said air gap
controlling bearing is provided between said cover plate and said
rotor.
9. Wheel according to claim 8, wherein said air gap controlling
bearing is provided at the radial outside of said cover plate.
10. Wheel according to claim 8, wherein said air gap controlling
bearing is provided within the circumferential edge of said cover
plate.
11. Wheel according to claim 8, wherein said cover plate comprises
a collar reaching axially in the wheel, and said air gap
controlling bearing is provided between said collar and said
rotor.
12. Wheel according to claim 8, wherein said cover plate is
provided with a mounting flange for mounting said wheel to a
vehicle.
13. Wheel according to claim 1, wherein said rotor is provided with
permanent magnets, and said coaxial stator is provided with
windings.
14. Wheel according to claim 1, wherein said rotor is connected to
a central shaft, and said stator is situated between the central
shaft and the rotor.
15. Wheel according to claim 1, wherein said wheel further
comprises a lid mounted to rotor and central shaft for connecting
rotor and central shaft.
16. Wheel according to claim 1, in which said coaxial stator is
provided with windings, and said windings of said stator are
mounted on a central carrier member which is mounted on said cover
plate.
17. Wheel according to claim 14, wherein said central carrier
member is mounted to said cover plate by means of clamping
members.
18. Wheel according to claim 1, wherein the working range has a
maximum of about 2 mm.
19. Wheel according to claim 18, wherein said central carrier
member is connected to said mounting bush.
20. Wheel according to claim 1, characterised in that the electric
driving means comprising control, measuring and operating means in
the wheel for operating the electric driving means and data
communication means in the wheel.
21. Wheel according to claim 1, in which the wheel comprises a rim
which coaxially at the inner side is provided with a rotor provided
with permanent magnets and which rotor and rim are connected to a
central shaft, and a coaxial stator provided with windings which
stator is situated between the central shaft and the rotor and
being connectable to a vehicle.
22. Wheel according to claim 1, in which the stator is provided
with windings, wherein the stator is divided into at least two
groups of electrically and physically separated windings and each
group comprising at least two windings each having its own control
and measuring system, which control and measuring systems are
operated by an operating system which is also situated in the
wheel.
23. Wheel according to claim 20, comprising means for exchanging
data with the control, measuring and operating system of other,
similar wheels.
24. Wheel according to claim 20, in which the control system
comprises means for controlling the amperage through each winding
separately.
25. Wheel according to claim 20, in which the control systems of
the windings are connected to the operating system, in which
preferably the measuring systems comprise an encoder for measuring
the number of revolutions and the angular position of the rotor
with respect to the stator, and a current measuring device for
measuring the current through each of the windings, and in which
preferably the encoder is connected to the operating system and the
control systems are connected to the current measuring devices.
26. Wheel according to claim 20, in which the operating system is
connected to a central processing unit outside the wheel by means
of the data communication means.
27. Wheel according to claim 1, provided with cooling means,
preferably active cooling means, preferably fans in the wheel for
cooling the wheel, or means for water cooling.
28. Wheel according to claim 1, further comprising an assembly that
includes at least two wheels according to claim 1 and having data
communication means, in which the wheels are connected to a common
central data processing unit by means of the data communication
means for exchanging data with each other.
Description
CROSS-REFERENCE TO RELATED APPLICATIONS
[0001] The present application is a continuation-in-part of U.S.
patent application Ser. No. 10/795,803, field Mar. 8, 2004,
entitled "Wheel Provided With Driving Means," which is a
continuation-in-part of U.S. patent application Ser. No.
10/619,926, filed Jul. 15, 2003, entitled "Wheel Provided With
Driving Means," which is a continuation-in-part of U.S. patent
application Ser. No. 10/205, 405, filed Jul. 26, 2002, entitled
"Wheel Provided With Driving Means," which claimed foreign priority
based on International Application No. PCT/NL01/00054, filed Jan.
26, 2001, which in turn claimed priority based on Dutch Patent
Application No. NL 1014182, filed Jan. 26, 2000. Application Ser.
No. 10/795,803, filed Mar. 8, 2004, entitled "Wheel Provided With
Driving Means," also claimed foreign priority based on Dutch Patent
Application No. NL 1022873, filed Mar. 7, 2003 and Dutch Patent
Application No. NL 1024565, filed Oct. 17, 2003. All of the
above-referenced applications are hereby incorporated herein by
reference in their entirety.
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
[0002] The invention relates to a wheel provided with electric
driving means in the wheel as well as a method for co-ordinating
the number of revolutions of at least two of such wheels attached
to one vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0003] From the literature wheels provided with electric driving
means in the wheel are known. In particular wheels are known that
are provided with electro motors in the wheel. Examples of such
wheels can for instance be found in DE-A-2719736, DE-A-4404889,
FR-A-2561593, U.S. Pat. No. 4,585,085 and WO-A-95/16300.
[0004] One of the problems occurring in the known wheels is the
co-ordination between wheels when more than one driven wheel is
used in one vehicle.
[0005] Another problem occurring in the known wheels provided with
driving means is that control means are necessary. Such control
means are arranged outside the wheel in a vehicle. This renders the
building of an electronically driven vehicle a complex megatronic
venture. WO-A-95/16300 tries to solve this by arranging a part of
the control electronics within the wheel. Using several such driven
wheels in one vehicle is not possible however.
[0006] It is an object of the invention to provide an electrically
driven wheel of high efficiency.
[0007] An additional object of the invention is to provide a wheel
that is easy to mount.
[0008] Additionally it is an object to develop a wheel that offers
freedom of design of a vehicle.
[0009] Another object is a wheel that is simple to replace and to
demount.
[0010] Another object is offering a wheel provided with driving
means which in co-operation with other similar wheels can be
deployed in one vehicle.
[0011] Said problems are at least partially solved and at least a
part of the ad-vantages is achieved by means of the wheel according
to the invention.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0012] The invention relates to a wheel provided with electric
driving means in the wheel, the electric driving means comprising a
rotor and a stator coaxially within the rotor and connectable to a
vehicle, with an air gap provided between said rotor and said
stator, wherein said wheel is provided with an air gap controlling
bearing.
[0013] Additionally the invention relates to a method for
coordinating the number of revolutions of at least two wheel
provided with electro motors in the wheels an further provided with
control, measuring and operating means in the wheel for operating
the electric driving means and with data communication means in the
wheel, in which physically separated control systems control the
amperage in each winding of the electro motors, the control systems
in one wheel are operated by an operating system, a measuring
system supplies information regarding the magnetic field strength
to the control system and supplies the mutual position of the rotor
and stator to the operating system, and the operating systems of
the several wheels communicate one to the other by means of data
communication means via a central processing unit.
[0014] Because of the wheel according to the invention a driving
concept has been realised that is efficient, simple to mount and
can be integrated in a vehicle.
[0015] Because of the method according to the invention it is
possible to use several wheels provided with electric drive in one
vehicle.
[0016] Preferably the wheel comprises a rim which coaxially at the
inner side is provided with a rotor provided with permanent magnets
and which rotor and rim are connected to a central shaft, and a
coaxial stator provided with windings which stator is situated
between the central shaft and the rotor and being connectable to a
vehicle. In that way the wheel is provided with an electro motor.
As a result a simple drive of the wheel is possible. Moreover no
transmission is needed, particularly no reducing transmission, in
which great power losses have appeared to occur.
[0017] More specifically the stator is divided into at least two
groups of electrically and physically separated windings and each
group comprises at least two windings each having its own control
and measuring system, which control and measuring systems are
situated in the wheel and the control and measuring systems are
operated by an operating system which is also situated in the
wheel. As a result a driving system is created that is integrated
in a wheel, in which the driving system is very robust and not very
sensitive to malfunctioning.
[0018] The wheel according to the invention more preferably
comprises means for exchanging data with the control, measuring and
operating system of other, similar wheels. As a result it is
possible to couple several wheels according to the invention to one
vehicle, because of which a powerful propulsion of the vehicle can
be realised. In order to make the data communication less sensitive
to malfunctioning, the means for exchanging data to the outside
preferably are optical communication means.
[0019] In order to let either several wheels or one wheel according
to the invention communicate with amongst others equipment outside
of the wheel, the measuring, control and operating systems of a
wheel communicate via a central processing unit outside the wheel.
In this way for instance several wheels of one vehicle are able to
communicate one to the other.
[0020] In order to further reduce the sensitivity to malfunctioning
of a wheel even more, the control system comprises means for
controlling the strength of electric current through each winding
separately. In this case a winding also means a coil. When a
current runs through the coil or winding this results in a magnetic
field.
[0021] The control systems of the windings are connected to the
operating system. Said operating system is hierarchically above the
control systems and orders each control system to set and maintain
a certain strength of electric current.
[0022] The wheel according to the invention is also provided with
measuring systems, in which the measuring systems comprise an
encoder for measuring the number of revolutions and the angular
position of the rotor with respect to the stator, and a current
measuring device for measuring the current through each of the
windings. As a result the current through each winding can be
accurately set and calibrated. Additionally the operating system is
able to operate the winding well, and set the phase on each winding
for an optimal working of the electric drive. Additionally the
measuring system is provided with means for measuring the mechanic
torque, preferably by means of strain gauges that are able to
measure the strain in material accurate to the nanometre. Such
means for measuring strain or torsion, deformation in metal in
general, as such are known to the expert. Comparison of mechanic
resulting torque and accommodated motor power give an idea of the
condition of the wheel.
[0023] For a good working, the encoder preferably is connected to
the operating system and the control systems are connected to the
current measuring devices. As a result a modular system is created
that is not very prone to malfunctioning.
[0024] The operating system is connected to a central processing
unit outside the wheel by means of the data communication means. As
a result the co-ordination with other systems in a vehicle is
possible.
[0025] In order to cool the driving means in case of an all to
great development of heat, the wheel is provided with cooling
means, and of so desired also with active cooling means, such as
fans. Additionally the wheel may be provided with means for water
cooling.
[0026] In order to render co-operation of several wheels according
to the invention in one vehicle possible, the operating systems in
the wheel preferably are provided with a "master" setting and a
"slave" setting, in which by means of the communication means the
central processing unit is able to have the operating system switch
from the "master" setting to the "slave" setting and vice versa.
For instance when taking bends either the power demand or the speed
of several wheels will vary. In order to make co-ordination one to
the other possible, the switch from the "master" setting to the
"slave" setting and vice versa is influenced by either the power
demand or the speed of the wheel. It is preferred here that the
wheel demanding the lowest power, i.e. the wheel having the highest
speed of revolution, has been set as "master".
[0027] In the method according to the invention it is preferred
that the central processing unit has the operating system of the
wheel demanding the lowest power function as "master", and has the
operating systems of the other wheel or other wheels, respectively,
operate as so-called "slave", in which each time the operating
system of the wheel demanding the lowest power acts as "master" and
the operating systems of the other wheels act as "slave". As a
result the driving system is easy to implement and control.
[0028] In order to anticipate future situations during driving
well, it is preferred that the central processing unit includes
data of the wheel struts regarding the angular position when
managing the operating systems of the wheels.
[0029] The invention further relates to an assembly of at least two
wheels according to the invention that are connected to a common
central data processing unit by means of data communication
means.
[0030] The invention further relates to a vehicle wheel having an
electro motor in it, in which the electro motor is a more than 8
pole, 3 or more phased, DC synchronous motor.
[0031] Additionally the invention relates to a wheel provided with
a housing mounted at a rotatable shaft, at the outside provided
with a rim with tyre and at the inside provided with permanent
magnets, and a housing mountable at a vehicle, rotatably connected
to the shaft, provided with control, measuring and operating means
and electric means for generating a magnetic field. Because of such
a structure the wheel is simple to replace and can be mounted in a
modular manner. Additionally a mechanic brake system is easy to
mount on the shaft as an extra safety provision.
[0032] Additionally the invention relates to a wheel provided with
electric driving means in the wheel, means for measuring the
mechanically delivered torque, means for measuring the torque by
measuring the electrically accommodated power and means for
comparing the mechanically delivered torque and the measuring to
the electric power. As a result it has appeared possible to
establish premature wear and malfunctions in the wheel, even before
an actual defect occurs. By means of the communication means a
(future) defect can be established even at a distance and possibly
be remedied.
[0033] Additionally the invention relates to a wheel provided with
electric driving means in the wheel, provided with at least two
galvanically separated motor windings, at least two galvanically
separated power modules and at least two galvanically separated
operating units for the power modules.
[0034] The invention moreover relates to a wheel strut provided
with vehicle attachment means for attaching the wheel strut to a
vehicle, and wheel attachment means for attaching a wheel to the
wheel strut, in which the wheel attachment means are rotatable
about the longitudinal axis with respect to the vehicle attachment
means and in which the wheel strut is provided with driving means
for rotating the wheel attachment means with respect to the vehicle
attachment means.
[0035] As a result such a wheel strut is easy to mount on a
vehicle, and the other means such a steering means for the vehicle
and drive for wheels can easily be coupled.
[0036] Preferably the vehicle attachment means and the wheel
attachment means are spring-mounted to each other along the
longitudinal axis by means of connection means.
[0037] Preferably the connection means comprise a splined shaft
which at one side is provided with a spline and on the other side
is provided with driving means for rotating the splined shaft, and
with a spline housing in which the splined shaft is situated and
which spline housing at the bottom side is provided with
accommodation means for a wheel shaft and attachment means for a
wheel, and in which the vehicle attachment means are formed by a
sleeve provided with means to connect the sleeve to a vehicle, in
which the spline housing with splined shaft is at least partially
accommodated in the sleeve, in which the spline housing and the
sleeve are spring-mounted to each other by means of spring means,
and the driving means are connected to the sleeve.
[0038] The structure that can be realised in this way is simple,
robust, and can be integrated well in and with existing vehicles
and production methods.
[0039] In order to attach a wheel the spline housing is provided
with a receiving sleeve for a shaft which is positioned
substantially perpendicular to the spline housing. As a result it
is possible to attach a wheel stably and securely.
[0040] Additionally the wheel strut comprises spring means for
buffing the vertical movement of the wheel attachment means with
respect to the vehicle attachment means.
[0041] Preferably the wheel strut is provided with means for
communicating with the driving means.
[0042] Preferably the wheel strut is provided with means for
communication with the operating means of a wheel according to the
above-mentioned first aspect of the invention. Preferably the
driving means of the wheel strut communicate with the operating
means of a wheel according to the invention by means of the central
processing unit.
[0043] Said aspects of the invention can, if so desired, be
combined. For instance a vehicle can be equipped with 2 or 4 wheel
struts according to one aspect of the invention, and 4 or more
wheels according to the invention. It is also possible for instance
that a fork-lift truck is equipped with only one or two wheels
according to the invention, but also with two wheel struts
according to the invention.
[0044] As a result of a high degree of automation the wheel strut
and the wheel according to the invention are particularly suitable
for use in fully automatically guided vehicles. Operation can also
take place by means of a joystick and so-called drive-by-wire, in
which the signals of for instance a joystick or steering wheel are
converted into (electric or optic) steering signals.
[0045] The invention additionally relates to a computer provided
with software for the operation of one or several wheels as
described, and/or for the operation of the wheel strut.
Additionally the invention relates to a data carrier provided with
such software.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0046] A number of specific embodiments of the invention will be
elucidated on the basis of the figures. The figures serve to
illustrate the invention. The invention, however, is not limited to
the specific embodiments shown.
[0047] FIG. 1 shows a wheel according to the invention.
[0048] FIG. 2 shows the wheel of FIG. 1 in cross-section.
[0049] FIG. 3 shows a cross-section of a wheel strut according to
another aspect of the invention.
[0050] FIG. 4 shows a diagram of a control and operating system of
a wheel according to the invention.
[0051] FIG. 5A shows a top view of a vehicle having wheels and
wheel struts according to the invention.
[0052] FIG. 5B shows a top view of the vehicle of FIG. 5A.
[0053] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the wheel
according to the invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS
[0054] FIG. 1 shows the wheel 1 according to the invention. In the
figure the wheel is provided with a tyre 2, which can be used in
several embodiments.
[0055] The tyre may for instance be a full rubber tyre for use in
low speed vehicles such as tractors, fork lift trucks or other
types of vehicles for cargo transport. The wheel diameter will
preferably be approximately 800 mm. The tyre may also be designed
as air pressure type for use in medium speed vehicles such as for
instance city taxis and medium heavy cargo transport in urban
areas.
[0056] The tyre 2 is mounted on rim 3, which is adapted to the
various types of tires. A lid 4 has been mounted to the rim 3,
which connects the rim to the central shaft 5.
[0057] At the inside of the rim 3 the rotor 6 is attached on which
at the inside the permanent magnets 7 have been glued. Said
permanent magnets 5 rotate along with the rim 2. The rim 3 with the
tyre 2, the rotor 6 with the permanent magnets on it and the other
parts attached to the rim, the lid 4 and the central shaft 5 are
the rotating parts of the wheel.
[0058] Within the permanent magnets 7 an iron package 8 with
windings 9 has been accommodated, with an air gap between the iron
package 8 with the windings and the permanent magnets 7.
[0059] The iron package 8 with the windings 9 is mounted on the
central carrier member 11 and mounted on cover plate 17 by means of
clamping members 10 and 13. Said cover plate 17 has been provided
with a mounting flange (not shown, preferably a B5 flange of the
250 mm type) with which the wheel 1 is mounted to a vehicle. In the
clamping member 13 which is provided with an accommodation space,
the control electronics 20, amongst others consisting of IGBT's for
current control and programmable logical modules for the operating
system, have been accommodated. The iron package 8, the windings 9,
the clamping members, and the electronics are fixedly attached to a
vehicle by means of said flange and therefore are not a rotating
part.
[0060] The central shaft 5 is provided with a hardmetal mounting
bush 14 on which the bearings 23 of the wheel run. About the
central shaft 5 the encoders 21 have also been mounted for
measuring in what position the rotor 6 is situated with regard to
the windings 9. As a result the operating and control electronics
20 are able to control the exact phase of the voltage on each
winding 9 at any moment, so that said phases are optimally adjusted
to the position of the permanent magnets 7 with regard to each of
the windings 9.
[0061] In the figure lid 4 is provided with blades 15 and 15'. One
ring of the blades 15 has been mounted directly about the central
shaft, a second ring of blades 15' concentrically about the first
ring of blades 15. The blades 15' are open towards the most general
direction of rotation (clock-wise as seen from the vehicle side) of
the wheel 1. Said blades serve to guide air into the motor for
cooling. The blades 15 about the central shaft with the air inlet
openings are mounted opposite to the blades 15'. When driving the
vehicle, to which the wheel 1 has been mounted, the blades 15 will
guide air into the wheel 1, and blades 15' suck air out of the
wheel. As a result an air flow to the inside will be created, which
flows over a cooling body on the outer clamping member 10.
[0062] The blades function according to the principle of the
centrifugal pump. The number of blades 15 about the central shaft
is smaller than the number of blades 15' in order to give the air
expanded through heating more space and to be able to discharge it
more easily.
[0063] In addition to the passive cooling by means of the blades,
fans for active cooling may be present in the wheel 1. Said fans
may for instance be activated when the internal temperature exceeds
a certain value.
[0064] The various internal parts of the wheel may, because of the
nature of the structure according to the invention, be sealed off
liquid proof in a simple manner. As a result it is possible that in
addition to the passive cooling by means of blades and the active
cooling by means of the fans, the inside of the wheel is cooled by
means of liquid cooling. The cover plate 17 in any case seals off
the operating and control electronics 20 from the outside
world.
[0065] The rotor 6 can be made of aluminium and of steel, depending
on the speed and bearing power needed.
[0066] The rotor 6 is carrier of the permanent magnets 7, which
ensure the torque transmission. They also ensure the guidance of
the flux, which is necessary to have the magnets act as effectively
as possible and thus creating a magnetic connection with the
magnetic field which is generated in the stator. The stator is
formed by the iron package 8 with windings 9.
[0067] Apart from the air cooling in the motor, heat can also be
discharged by means of cooling ribs 24. In the production stage
they are integrated in a casting with the cover plate 17.
[0068] For the internal cooling of the electronics 20 a cooling
body is provided. Said cooling body of course serves to cool the
electronics but also has two additional functions, namely fixation
of the stator and sealing off of the water cooling which can be
used in larger power and higher voltages. In the figure the cooling
body is still separated from the clamping member, but in series
production this can become one structure part.
[0069] Clamping member 10 together with the clamping member 13 of
the electronics 20 ensures that the iron package 8 of the stator
gets clamped and thus cannot possibly slide in axial direction with
respect to the rotor 6. As a result the magnets 7 remain exactly in
their places with respect to the rotor 6 for optimal
efficiency.
[0070] The stator with windings 9 in FIG. 1 consists of 3 parts,
but preferably the iron package of the stator will be made of one
part. The windings 9 have been arranged around winding heads, which
windings are wound according to a fixed pattern so that an optimal
driving behaviour of the wheel 1 according to the invention is
achieved. Electric currents run through the windings 9, which
currents generate the magnetic forces that are needed to let the
rotor 6 rotate. The iron package 8 ensures an optimal guidance of
the flux. A well-chosen iron package 8 guarantees a high efficiency
of the wheel according to the invention.
[0071] A sealing ring ensures the separation between the internal
part of the air cooling and that part where the bearing of the
wheel according to the invention and the electronics is housed.
[0072] Furthermore a mounting bush 14 has been arranged as a
support for the bearings 23 (e.g., 2 double-row angle contact
bearings). Said mounting bush 14 has been designed in a high
quality type of steel. The steel mounting bush 14 transfers the
forces from the bearings on the central carrying member 11 and
prevents the rolling out of the central carrying member 11 by the
bearings 23. Bearings 25 ensure the absorption of both the axial
and radial forces and namely equally, so that during bends and
irregularities in the road surface a stable rotation of the rotor 6
is obtained. Said stable rotation is very important because for an
efficient working of the wheel according to the invention an air
gap of approximately 2 mm at a maximum preferably is present
between the rotor 6 and the stator. The bearings 25 function to
ensure that said air gap remains in a working range (e.g.,
approximately 2 mm or less) during a large number of operation
hours (10,000 hours at a minimum).
[0073] Splines have been arranged between the stator and the
central carrying member 11 so that said two members cannot possibly
rotate with respect to each other.
[0074] A retaining ring is pressed by the cover plate 17 and in
this way locks the bearings, which in their turn fixate the stator
with respect to the shaft. In this way it is guaranteed that rotor
6 and stator remain in the same position with respect to each
other.
[0075] A retaining sleeve keeps the hollow shaft encoder in its
place and also ensures that the inner ring of the bearings is
confined. The retaining sleeve in its turn is fixated on the
central shaft 5 by a nut and screw thread.
[0076] The central carrying member 11 supports the stator and is
blocked against rotation there by means of 3 spline connections
which are divided over the circumference in a regular pattern. In
the carrying member 11 recesses have been arranged in the surface
as a result of which during mounting openings are created through
which cooling liquid can be transported. Said cooling may be
necessary for higher voltages than 96V and larger capacities than
12 kW.
[0077] The clamping member 13 has a number of functions.
[0078] A: Together with clamping member 10 it clamps the central
carrying member 11 and the iron package 8, as a result of which the
stator is entirely confined.
[0079] B: It closes off the recesses that are meant to let the
cooling liquid pass through.
[0080] C: It forms an accommodation space or bowl in which the
electronics are housed.
[0081] Said accommodation space in its turn is closed off by the
cover plate 17. As a result the electronics 20 are completely
sealed off from the outside air, which guarantees a failure free
working of the wheel according to the invention.
[0082] The ring bearing 25 ensures additional support of the rotor
6, so that the air gap is guaranteed at all times.
[0083] During mounting, the cover plate 17 ensures correct
connection, sealing, and confinement of the entire structure. This
is also the attachment plate for the mounting of the wheel
according to the invention to a vehicle or a chassis and preferably
is provided with a norm flange B5 of the 250 mm type, as a result
of which the wheel can simply be fit in the existing concepts. By
means of the cooling ribs 24 extra heat is discharged during
driving.
[0084] The permanent magnets 7 are manufactured in such a shape
that they precisely fit into the rotor 6. After gluing at the
inside of the rim of the wheel the magnets form one unity together
with the rotor. The magnets preferably are rare earth magnets.
Preferably the permanent magnets have a magnetic field strength
larger than approximately 1 Tesla.
[0085] The encoder for hollow shaft 21 ensures that the way covered
can be measured, and also drives the electronics 20, so that a
computer or central processing unit knows in which position the
rotor 6 is situated with respect to the stator. This is of utmost
importance for a shock free rotation of the rotor.
[0086] The electronics and logic for operating the wheel, as well
as the power electronics has been arranged within the wheel
according to the invention. As a result it has become possible to
achieve a number of advantages.
[0087] One of the largest problems encountered at the moment by
manufacturers of electronically driven vehicles, is that all sorts
of components are spread over the vehicle that later on have to be
connected to each other again. As a result the manufacturing of
electronic vehicles is a time-consuming activity and therefore
costly as well. Additionally the production often takes place in
three consecutive stages as a result of which the production time
is relatively long.
[0088] FIG. 2 shows the wheel according to FIG. 1 in cross-section,
as a result of which special aspects of the embodiment of a wheel
according to the invention shown in FIG. 1 are further elucidated.
The reference numbers here have the same meaning as in FIG. 1. In
the cross-section it can clearly be seen how the rim 2, rotor 6,
permanent magnets 7 and the central shaft 5 are connected to each
other by means of lid 4. Furthermore it can clearly be seen how the
windings 9 and the iron package 8 (the stator), and the clamping
members 10, 13 with the electronics 20 are connected to the cover
plate 17. In the cross-section it can clearly be seen as a result,
how the electric driving means, in this case the electro motor, are
situated in the wheel 1. By placing an electro motor in such a way
it has appeared possible to achieve very high efficiency, up to 50%
higher than in the usual electrically driven vehicles. In
particular an electro motor as described in the FIGS. 1 and 2
results in a great advantage. For instance, the motor having
permanent magnets is capable of generating electricity itself when
in neutral, because the motor acts as a dynamo. Because of the
mounting of the motor in the wheel it is not necessary any more
either to use a transmission or a differential. The number of
revolutions of the motor need not be high either.
[0089] FIG. 3 shows the wheel strut which is another aspect of the
invention. The wheel stock 100 comprises a splined shaft 101, at
the one side provided with a spline 102 and at the other side
provided with driving means 103 for rotating the splined shaft 101.
The driving means preferably consist of an electro motor 103. The
splined shaft 101 is rotatably situated in a spline housing 104. At
the bottom side said spline housing 104 is provided with
accommodation means 105 for a wheel shaft 106. The spline housing
104 is at least partially accommodated in a sleeve 107 provided
with attachment means 108 for mounting the wheel strut 101 to a
vehicle. The spline housing 104 and the sleeve 107 are
spring-mounted to each other by means of a spring 109. The housing
of the electro motor 103 is connected to the sleeve 107. The spline
housing is provided with a shaft receiving sleeve 105 for a shaft
which is positioned substantially perpendicular to the spline
housing. The shaft receiving sleeve 105 is fixedly attached to the
spline housing 104.
[0090] The spring 109 is meant to buff the movement of the part
spline shaft-sleeve with respect to the part spline housing-shaft
receiving sleeve.
[0091] The sleeve 107 is provided with attachment means 108 for
attaching the wheel strut 100 to a vehicle. The attachment means
108 are formed by a support 108 which is a permanent part of the
structure and which is attached to the chassis or the structure
with 2 conical pins and in that way forms one unity with the
chassis or the structure of the vehicle.
[0092] In order to protect the spring 109 from outside influences
it is enveloped by a distance sleeve 112 which at its upper side is
attached to sleeve 107. Said distance sleeve 112 consists of two
parts and is provided with small air outlet openings which buff the
springy action of the suspension like a shock absorber. They also
serve as end stop in case the vehicle is lifted with its wheels
from the ground. The lower part of the distance sleeve 115 is slid
into the upper part 113. The distance sleeve members 115 and 113
are closed off one to the other with the help of a quadring
114.
[0093] In order to rotate a wheel electro motor 103 is activated.
The rotation of the electro motor 103 is transmitted to splined
shaft 101. The rotation of the splined shaft is transmitted to
spline housing 104, as a result of which the wheel receiving sleeve
attached to it rotates and a steering movement can be made. The
electro motor can be provided with a transmission. The wheel strut
is also provided with control and operating means for the electro
motor. Additionally the wheel strut is provided with a so-called
encoder which record the angular position of the wheel attachment
means with respect to the vehicle attachment means. The wheel strut
is also internally provided with data communication means,
preferably optical data communication means. The encoder supplies
operation information to the operating means of the wheel strut.
The splined shaft 101 can also move up and down in the spline
housing, as a result of which springing becomes possible. The
vehicle attachment means can as a result move along the
longitudinal axis with respect to the wheel attachment means.
[0094] The spline housing 104 is the part of the wheel suspension
that rotates and moves up and down. A wheel can be attached to the
spline housing 104 by means of a B5 standard flange. A brake device
can be also mounted to the rear side by means of the central shaft
12/106. The central shaft 12/106 can also be equipped with a flange
on which a wheel in neutral can be attached whereas on the other
side disc brakes can be mounted. When the wheel according to the
invention is mounted this part can be left out.
[0095] The triangle support is a point of adhesion for a triangle.
Said triangle is available on the market and makes it possible to
increase the load of the spring leg from 1500 kg allowed load
bearing capacity to 4000 kg allowed load bearing capacity. By using
the triangle bending forces are no longer exerted on the
suspension.
[0096] An extended central shaft of a wheel according to the
invention is necessary for the mounting of a wheel and may also
serve to mount discs of a brake system.
[0097] The spring ensures a comfortable road holding of the vehicle
on which the wheel and the suspension have been mounted. In the 4
ton version with triangle the spring is indeed completely pressed
in but ensures a minimal spring pressure of 1500 kg when the
vehicle is positioned inclined and one of the wheels threatens to
come off the ground.
[0098] The rubber O-ring ensures the buffering of the spline
housing 104 in the unlikely event of the load becoming so high that
the spline housing 104 bumps against the support.
Description of the Electronic Control for Operating the Synchronous
Motor in the Wheel According to the Invention.
[0099] The electronic control for the wheel according to the
invention is built up modularly from several elements. The several
elements are hierarchically adjusted to each other. The following
elements can be distinguished.
1. Power Modules
[0100] At the lowest step IGBT main current modules have been used.
The structure present in said IGBT main current modules renders
them highly reliable in themselves already and guarantees a low
heat emission and an optimal efficiency. The main current modules
control the current through the windings. The windings are divided
into three groups, each having another phase. Per winding there are
two main current modules. The main current modules are driven by a
higher step, namely:
2. Current Regulators
[0101] At the second step 2 IGBT main current modules are connected
to a current regulator and driven by the current regulator.
Together with a separate current sensor working according to the
Hall principle (Hall sensor) they form an independent end step that
controls the current in the accompanying motor winding. In this
step the module and the current regulator are already galvanically
separated from the operating electronics. A current regulator
having two main current modules and Hall sensor are further called
4Q-modules. The main current modules with current regulator form a
control system. There is a control system per winding.
3. Vector Generator
[0102] The vector generator supplies an operating value to the
so-called 4Q-modules (step 1 and 2), which thus generate a magnetic
field vector by means of windings of the synchronous motor and thus
determine the moment of torque.
[0103] A so-called encoder or resolver, a measuring apparatus that
very accurately measures the angle or the number of revolutions,
makes the present position of the rotor with respect to the stator
known to the vector generator. The quick calculation of the rotor
position, which is derived from the sine/cosine signals of the
resolver and the feedback value connected to it, ensures an optimal
setting of the field vectors of the motor together with
programmable logic modules, the so-called FPGA's.
[0104] The entire function of the vector generator, due to the
combination of a micro processor and the FPGA's, can be programmed
entirely over an optical fibre cable. This means that new data or
changes needed for a special use can immediately be implemented (by
telephone or Internet) in the wheel according to the invention that
is already in operation. Said changes do not only regard the
software of the FPGA's, but also the hardware of the modules. It is
for instance possible to change the relation in the motor itself
when a winding or a module should fail so that the wheel can remain
functioning. The vector generator forms the operating system. The
encoder and the Hall sensors with the accompanying electronics in
the described embodiment form the measuring system.
4. CPU or Central Processing Unit
[0105] The first three stages are housed together in the wheel. The
CPU is situated outside the wheel and communicates with the several
wheels according to the invention that may be present on a car, by
means of an optical ring data bus line (ORDABUL). It is also able
to carry out calculations needed for the AGV's (automatic guided
vehicles) regarding the road covered, odometrics when taking bends
and diagnosing the complete driving concept. Each stage guards and
reports the data important for the operational situation to the
CPU. An error report is immediately reported to the stage above and
this one immediately reacts by taking the necessary measures,
before damage may arise. The stage above is able to activate an
emergency program, which reacts to the error in the correct manner.
As a result an error in one module hardly influences the entire
vehicle.
[0106] The modular system makes it possible to make a simple error
diagnosis and to quickly locate the relevant components without
having to subsequently perform complex adjusting or setting
activities.
[0107] An important difference with the usual control of
Asynchronous/synchronous motors is the fact that in a preferred
embodiment all motor windings are divided into three groups, each
preferably consisting of 30 independent windings, electrically
separated from each other and each winding being driven by its own
4Q-module. Here the 4Q-modules are merely connected to each other
by means of the power supply voltage, as a result of which the
following advantages arise:
[0108] 1: Only two phases of the normal 3-phase drive are guarded
and controlled.
[0109] The currents in the third phase are calculated from the
behaviour of the other two phases. This means a much greater
freedom in operating the electronics, and for instance in buffering
the failure of one or more modules.
[0110] 2: The current distribution can be adjusted exactly so that
each motor winding generates the same field strength. As a result
the actual moments of torque in each winding, generated by the
field, can be adjusted and are independent from the irregularities
in the electric variables of the separate windings.
[0111] 3: The magnetic tolerances of each winding can be calibrated
separately by means of the vector generator.
[0112] 4: When a 4Q-module fails or one of the windings has short
circuited, the motor can still remain operational. A fuse or relay
is able to separate the defect module or phase of the other 2
4Q-modules or phases without influencing them. In this way the
motor is still able to brake or, when several wheels are used, to
support them. The advantages of a stage-wise structure come to the
fore here in particular.
[0113] The functionality of the electronics described and their
connection is further elucidated in FIG. 4. By means of a block
diagram the connection is schematically shown here and the
hierarchy of wheels, wheel struts and other control and operating
means in an electrically driven vehicle, such as for instance a
remote or automatically controlled vehicle. A central processing
unit or computer 200 controls the overall exchange of data between
the several parts, and ensures the possible automatic control of
the vehicle. The computer 200 is connected to energy management
system 300, namely the batteries, possible generators, fuel cells
or solar panels, by means of data communication lines, for instance
optical data communication lines. Additionally the computer 200 is
connected to a display screen 400 on which the data are presented
regarding the status of the various systems. The central computer
200 is also connected to various sensors that supply information
regarding the vehicle position, possible obstacles, inside climate,
and the like. The central computer moreover is connected to for
instance two or more wheel struts 100 according to the invention.
The numbers in the figure here correspond to the parts already
described.
[0114] The central computer 200 is moreover connected to at least
one or more wheels 1 according to the invention. It can be seen
that the wheel comprises three groups of windings 9, 9/1 and 9/11,
control systems 32, 32/1 and 32/11 for each group, and measuring
systems 30, 30/1 and 30/11 for each group. Additionally the wheel
comprises the already described encoder 31, which supplies data
regarding the relative position of the rotor with respect of the
stator to the operating system 33 superior to it. In the figure the
three groups of the preferably in total at least 30 windings 9, 9/1
and 9/11 in a wheel 1 according to the invention are shown. The
windings 9 are preferably divided into three groups, each having
another phase .phi..sup.1, .phi..sup.2 and .phi..sup.3. The current
through each group of windings 9, 9/1 and 9/11 is measured by a
Hall sensor 30. The value measured is passed on to the control
system 32. The control system 32 controls the current through a
group of windings by means of 2 IGBT's. The control systems 32 are
operated by an operating system 33. Said operating system also
receives data from an encoder 31, which supplies angle information
about the rotor with respect to the stator. As a result the
operating system 33 is capable of choosing a good phase setting for
an optimised working. The operating system 33 is coupled to a
central processing unit 200 in a vehicle by means of data
communication means 34, preferably suitable for optical data
communication.
[0115] FIG. 5A shows a top view of a vehicle provided with four
wheels 1 according to the invention. Said wheels 1 are each
attached to a wheel strut 100 according to another aspect of the
invention that has also been described. Said wheel struts are each
provided with means in the wheel strut as a result of which each
wheel is able to rotate and in which way it is possible to drive
the vehicle. The vehicle is furthermore equipped with a central
processing unit 200 and batteries and control systems 300 for them.
In FIG. 5B a side view of the vehicle of FIG. 5A is shown.
[0116] FIG. 6 shows an alternative embodiment of the wheel
according to the invention. The reference numbers correspond as
much as possible to those in FIGS. 1 and 2. The vehicle side is
shown with arrow A. The wheel according to FIG. 6 is provided with
for instance water cooling. The inlet and outlet, respectively, of
the cooling liquid is indicated by number 30. The inlet and outlet
30 debouch in a space 31 around the shaft through which cooling
liquid circulates. In this embodiment the measuring, control and
operating means have been arranged in space 32. The electronics are
arranged with the print plates oriented towards a vehicle. The
cooling liquid, preferably water, mainly serves to cool the
windings.
[0117] It will be clear that the above description was merely
included to illustrate the working of an exemplary embodiment and
not to limit the scope of protection of the present patent
application. Variations and embodiments of the embodiments
elucidated in the description above that are evident to an expert
are also a part of the scope of protection of the present
invention.
* * * * *