Steering device of independent drive wheel and independent drive module including same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2022073136-A1
Application number	US-202117458785-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 27, 2021
Priority date	Sep 9, 2020
Publication date	Mar 10, 2022
Grant date	—

Abstract

Provided is a steering device of an independent drive wheel, the steering device including a base frame coupled to a vehicle body; a drive device coupled to the base frame and driven to rotate an output shaft; a steering knuckle connecting the base frame and the wheel through an upper arm and a lower arm spaced apart from each other in the up/down direction; and a connecting device having one end connected to the output shaft of the drive device and the other end, which extends in the longitudinal direction, connected to a steering knuckle below the upper arm to transmit the driving force of a drive device to rotate the steering knuckle in the same direction as the extending longitudinal direction.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A steering device of an independent drive wheel, comprising:
a base frame coupled to a vehicle body; a drive device coupled to the base frame and configured to rotate the output shaft; a steering knuckle connecting the base frame and the wheel through an upper arm and a lower arm vertically spaced apart from each other; and a connecting device having a first end connected to the output shaft and a second end extending in a longitudinal direction of the connecting device, wherein the second end of the connecting device is connected to the steering knuckle and configured to transmit a driving force from the drive device to rotate the steering knuckle in the longitudinal direction of the connecting device.

2 . The steering device of claim 1 , wherein the connecting device is connected to the steering knuckle or the output shaft of the drive device and spaced apart from the steering knuckle in a direction traversing the longitudinal direction of the connecting device.

3 . The steering device of claim 1 , wherein the connecting device includes:
a first coupling portion coupled to the output shaft of the drive device and extending in a direction traversing the longitudinal direction of the connecting device; an extending portion having a first end rotatably coupled to the first coupling portion in a direction crossing the longitudinal direction of the connecting device and extending to the wheel; and a second coupling portion rotatably coupled to a second end of the extending portion in a direction traversing a longitudinal direction of the extending portion, coupled to the steering knuckle, and spaced apart from the steering knuckle in a direction traversing the longitudinal direction of the extending portion.

4 . The steering device of claim 1 , wherein the connecting device is configured such that a displacement of the connecting device in the longitudinal direction thereof is allowed but an axial rotation of the connecting device with respect to the longitudinal direction thereof is prevented.

5 . The steering device of claim 1 , wherein the connecting device having a first end including a cylinder extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting device and a second end including a rod extending in the longitudinal direction of the connecting device, inserted into the cylinder and moving in the longitudinal direction of the connecting device.

6 . The steering device of claim 5 , wherein:
the rod includes a protrusion protruding outward from an outer surface of the rod, and the cylinder has a groove configured to engage the protrusion located corresponding to a location of the protrusion of the cylinder.

7 . The steering device of claim 5 , wherein the connecting device further includes a bearing positioned on a contact surface between the cylinder and the rod and configured to move together with the rod.

8 . The steering device of claim 1 , wherein the connecting device further includes a damping device configured to absorb vibrations or shocks in the longitudinal direction.

9 . The steering device of claim 1 , wherein the steering knuckle includes:
a first knuckle arm extending from the wheel and connected to the lower arm; and a second knuckle arm vertically spaced apart from the first knuckle arm, extending from the wheel and connected to the upper arm.

10 . The steering device of claim 9 , wherein:
the second end of the connecting device is connected to the first knuckle arm, the second knuckle arm has a through-groove passing through the connecting device, and the connecting device is configured to rotate within a connecting groove according to rotating of the output shaft.

11 . The steering device of claim 9 , wherein the connecting device is spaced apart from and extends in a direction of a line extending between an end of the first knuckle arm and an end of the second knuckle arm.

12 . The steering device of claim 1 , wherein the steering knuckle is connected to the lower arm and the upper arm by a ball joint.

13 . An independent drive module including a steering device of an independent drive wheel, the independent module comprising:
a base frame connected to a vehicle body; a drive device connected to the base frame and configured to rotate the output shaft; a lower arm having an end connected to the base frame; an upper arm having an end connected to the base frame and vertically spaced apart from the lower arm; a steering knuckled connected to the upper arm and the lower arm; and a connecting device having a first end connected to the output shaft and a second end extending in a longitudinal direction of the connecting device, wherein the second end of the connecting device is connected to the steering knuckle and configured to transmit a driving force from the drive device to rotate the steering knuckle in the longitudinal direction of the connecting device.

14 . The independent drive module of claim 13 , comprising a shock absorber having a first end rotatably connected to the lower arm and a second end rotatably connected to the base frame.

15 . The independent drive module of claim 13 , wherein the end of the lower arm is rotatably coupled to the base frame, and the end rotatably coupled to the base frame.

Assignees

• Hyundai Mobis Co Ltd

Inventors

• Min Kyongwon

Classifications

• B62D7/146 Primary

  characterised by comprising means for steering by acting on the suspension system, e.g. on the mountings of the suspension arms · CPC title

• B62D7/18

  Steering knuckles; King pins · CPC title

• B62D7/14 Primary

  the pivotal axes being situated in more than one plane transverse to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle, e.g. all-wheel steering · CPC title

• B60G3/20

  all arms being rigid · CPC title

• B62D7/166

  substantially perpendicular, e.g. between tie-rod and steering knuckle · CPC title