Hub motor and steering solution

摘要

Embodiments of the invention describe vehicles including a wheel (e.g., a front wheel or wheels), a wheel hub, a motor included in the wheel hub to transmit power to the wheel, one or more rolling bearings to support the wheel hub and having one or more rolling elements to enable rolling of the wheel, and a steering axle placed within the wheel hub for steering the wheel. Embodiments also describe a wheel (e.g., a rear wheel or wheels), a wheel hub, a motor included in the wheel hub to transmit power to the wheel, and a swing arm assembly having a first and a second end, the first end rotatably coupled to a steering axle, the second end coupled to the motor. As described below, embodiments of the invention decrease volume necessary for a vehicle's drivetrain, while not adversely affecting the potential for vehicle interior volume and vehicle maneuverability.

主权项

1. An apparatus for use in a vehicle comprising:
a wheel comprising a front or a rear wheel; a wheel hub; one or more rolling bearings to support the wheel hub and having one or more rolling elements to enable spinning of the wheel; a steering axle placed within the wheel hub for steering the wheel and fixedly coupled to not spin relative to the wheel; a vertical axle, wherein the wheel is to rotate around the vertical axle, wherein the steering axle comprises a horizontal axle; a gyroscope-stabilizer, including a flywheel and a flywheel motor-generator to transfer energy to and from the flywheel; a capacitor bank including a battery; and a power controller to:
transfer energy from the flywheel motor-generator to the capacitor bank in response to detecting an input to increase the speed of the vehicle; andtransfer energy from a wheel drive motor of the vehicle to the capacitor bank in response to detecting an input to decrease the speed of the vehicle.