Hub motor arrangement or vehicle with hub motor arrangement

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9638285-B2
Application number	US-201514709916-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	May 12, 2015
Priority date	Nov 14, 2013
Publication date	May 2, 2017
Grant date	May 2, 2017

Abstract

A ride-on vehicle, such as for a child, includes a vehicle body and one or more wheels that support the vehicle body relative to a surface. At least one of the wheels includes a hub motor arrangement that provides a drive torque for propelling the vehicle. The hub motor arrangement includes a housing defining an interior space. An axle or other mounting element(s) define an axis of rotation of the housing. Preferably, the axle or other mounting element(s) do not pass completely through the housing. A motor drives the housing through a transmission. Preferably, the motor is a standard, compact motor that is positioned on the axis of rotation and can be laterally offset from a central plane of the housing. In some embodiments, a traction element is carried directly by the housing.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A hub motor arrangement, comprising:
a housing portion defining an interior space and an axis of rotation;
a first lateral support member;
a second lateral support member spaced from the first lateral support member along the axis of rotation;
a plurality of connecting shafts extending between the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member;
a plurality of planet gears, each planet gear being a double spur gear supported on a respective one of the plurality of connecting shafts;
a motor occupying a portion of the axis of rotation;
a sun gear driven by the motor and that drives a first gear portion of each of the plurality of planet gears; and
a ring gear driven by a second gear portion of each of the plurality of planet gears, wherein the ring gear drives the housing portion for rotation about the axis of rotation,
wherein a number of the planet gears is less than a number of the connecting shafts.

2. The hub motor arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the housing portion is supported for rotation relative to the plurality of connecting shafts by a plurality of bearings, each supported by a respective one of the plurality of connecting shafts.

3. The hub motor arrangement of claim 2 , wherein the number of the connecting shafts equals the number of the bearings.

4. The hub motor arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the number of planet gears is equal to one-half the number of connecting shafts.

5. The hub motor arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first lateral support member defines a pocket and the motor is positioned within the pocket.

6. The hub motor arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the ring gear is integrated with the housing portion.

7. The hub motor arrangement of claim 1 , further comprising a traction element that contacts the surface on which the vehicle is operated, wherein the traction element is carried indirectly by the housing portion.

8. The hub motor arrangement of claim 7 , further comprising a radially compliant member positioned between the housing and the traction element, wherein the radially compliant member is configured to transfer rotational force from the housing to the traction element and can compress in a radial direction to absorb impact.

9. The hub motor arrangement of claim 8 , wherein the radially compliant member comprises a plurality of generally radially extending elements that can compress or buckle in a radial direction.

10. The hub motor arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the housing portion defines a central plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation, wherein the motor is offset from the central plane along the axis of rotation.

11. The hub motor arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the first lateral support member defines at least one recess positioned adjacent the motor, wherein the at least one recess includes an opening passing through the first lateral support member to provide access to the motor.

12. The hub motor arrangement of claim 1 , wherein each of the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member defines a mounting portion for mounting the hub motor arrangement to an associated vehicle, wherein the first and second lateral support members are stationary with respect to the associated vehicle and the housing portion rotates relative to the first and second lateral support members.

13. The hub motor arrangement of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of connecting shafts define a circle having a diameter, and wherein the motor defines an outer peripheral surface that is located within the diameter.

14. A hub motor arrangement, comprising:
a housing portion defining an interior space and an axis of rotation;
a first lateral support member;
a second lateral support member spaced from the first lateral support member along the axis of rotation;
a plurality of connecting shafts extending between the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member;
a plurality of planet gears, each planet gear being a double spur gear supported on a respective one of the plurality of connecting shafts;
a motor occupying a portion of the axis of rotation;
a sun gear driven by the motor and that drives a first gear portion of each of the plurality of planet gears; and
a ring gear driven by a second gear portion of each of the plurality of planet gears, wherein the ring gear drives the housing portion for rotation about the axis of rotation, wherein the ring gear is integrated with the housing portion.

15. The hub motor arrangement of claim 14 , wherein the housing portion is supported for rotation relative to the plurality of connecting shafts by a plurality of bearings, each supported by a respective one of the plurality of connecting shafts.

16. The hub motor arrangement of claim 15 , wherein the number of the connecting shafts equals the number of the bearings.

17. The hub motor arrangement of claim 14 , wherein the number of planet gears is equal to one-half the number of connecting shafts.

18. The hub motor arrangement of claim 14 , wherein the first lateral support member defines a pocket and the motor is positioned within the pocket.

19. The hub motor arrangement of claim 14 , further comprising a traction element that contacts the surface on which the vehicle is operated, wherein the traction element is carried indirectly by the housing portion.

20. The hub motor arrangement of claim 19 , further comprising a radially compliant member positioned between the housing and the traction element, wherein the radially compliant member is configured to transfer rotational force from the housing to the traction element and can compress in a radial direction to absorb impact.

21. The hub motor arrangement of claim 20 , wherein the radially compliant member comprises a plurality of generally radially extending elements that can compress or buckle in a radial direction.

22. The hub motor arrangement of claim 14 , wherein the housing portion defines a central plane that is perpendicular to the axis of rotation, wherein the motor is offset from the central plane along the axis of rotation.

23. The hub motor arrangement of claim 14 , wherein the first lateral support member defines at least one recess positioned adjacent the motor, wherein the at least one recess includes an opening passing through the first lateral support member to provide access to the motor.

24. The hub motor arrangement of claim 14 , wherein each of the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member defines a mounting portion for mounting the hub motor arrangement to an associated vehicle, wherein the first and second lateral support members are stationary with respect to the associated vehicle and the housing portion rotates relative to the first and second lateral support members.

25. A hub motor arrangement, comprising:
a housing portion defining an interior space and an axis of rotation;
a first lateral support member;
a second lateral support member spaced from the first lateral support member along the axis of rotation;
a plurality of connecting shafts extending between the first lateral support member and the second lateral support member;
a plurality of planet gears, each planet gear being a double spur gear supported on a respective one of the plurality of connecting shafts;
a motor occupying a portion of the axis of rotation;
a sun gear driven by the motor and that drives a first gear portion of e

Assignees

• Razor Usa Llc

Inventors

• Huang Joey Chih-Wei

Classifications

• B60L50/60

  using power supplied by batteries (in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75) · CPC title

• B60K2007/0092

  the motor axle being coaxial to the wheel axle · CPC title

• B60Y2200/13

  Bicycles; Tricycles · CPC title

• F16H1/46 Primary

  Systems consisting of a plurality of gear trains each with orbital gears, {i.e. systems having three or more central gears} · CPC title

• B62K3/002

  without a seat, i.e. the rider operating the vehicle in a standing position, e.g. non-motorized scooters; non-motorized scooters with skis or runners · CPC title