Hub carrier comprising force and/or moment sensors

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12416537-B2
Application number	US-202117760117-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 10, 2021
Priority date	Feb 12, 2020
Publication date	Sep 16, 2025
Grant date	Sep 16, 2025

Abstract

A hub carrier is provided having: a central part for carrying a hub for a wheel of a vehicle; an outer frame adapted to connect the hub carrier to a suspension of the vehicle; at least three spokes interposed between the central part and the outer frame, the at least three spokes being rigidly connected to the central part. The at least three spokes have respective end elements connected to the outer frame and provide respective sliding spherical hinges for the at least three spokes. The hub carrier further includes at least three sensors configured for detecting force and/or moment components acting on the hub.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A hub carrier comprising:
a central part for carrying a hub for a wheel of a vehicle;
an outer frame for connecting said hub carrier to a suspension of said vehicle;
at least three spokes interposed between said central part and said outer frame,
said at least three spokes being rigidly connected to said central part,
said at least three spokes comprising respective end elements connected to said outer frame and providing respective sliding spherical hinges for said at least three spokes;
said hub carrier further comprising at least three sensors configured for detecting force and moment components acting on said hub.

2. The hub carrier according to claim 1 , wherein said at least three sensors are respectively located at said end elements and/or are respectively located on a body of said at least three spokes.

3. The hub carrier according to claim 2 , wherein said at least three sensors comprise at least one deformation sensor.

4. The hub carrier according to claim 2 , wherein said at least three sensors comprise at least one displacement sensor.

5. The hub carrier according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said end elements comprises a bushing of elastomeric material and/or polytetrafluoroethylene and/or other elastic material.

6. The hub carrier according to claim 1 , wherein at least one of said end elements comprises an elastic leaf joint, a leaf of said elastic leaf joint being transversally arranged with respect to a longitudinal axis of one of said at least three spokes.

7. The hub carrier according to claim 1 , wherein said sliding spherical hinges are configured for allowing sliding movements of each of said end elements at least in an axial direction with respect to said at least three spokes respectively, and further configured for allowing spatial rotations of each of said end elements.

8. The hub carrier according to claim 1 , wherein said outer frame further comprises an attachment for a brake caliper.

9. The hub carrier according to claim 1 , further comprising a connection element constrained to said central part and separated from said outer frame, said connection element further comprising an attachment for a brake caliper.

10. The hub carrier according to claim 9 , wherein said connection element is configured for transmitting to said central part a braking moment generatable by said brake caliper and detectable by said at least three sensors.

11. The hub carrier according to claim 1 , further comprising one or more junction elements adapted to connect said outer frame to said suspension.

12. The hub carrier according to claim 1 , wherein said at least three spokes are mutually arranged at angles of 120°.

13. The hub carrier according to claim 1 , wherein said central part is composed of a spindle configured for fitting one or more bearings of a hub.

Assignees

• Milano Politecnico

Inventors

• Mastinu Gianpiero
• Gobbi Massimiliano
• Ballo Federico Maria

Classifications

• G01M17/02

  Tyres · CPC title

• G01L5/04

  for measuring tension in flexible members, e.g. ropes, cables, wires, threads, belts or bands {(G01L5/0004 takes precedence)} · CPC title

• G01L3/22

  electrically or magnetically actuated · CPC title

• G01L1/2231

  the supports being disc- or ring-shaped, adapted for measuring a force along a single direction · CPC title

• B62D7/18

  Steering knuckles; King pins · CPC title