Electric steering and drive system for a vehicle with wheel side steering system

• US 7,461,710 B2
• Filed: 05/17/2003
• Issued: 12/09/2008
• Est. Priority Date: 05/21/2002
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: RENK AG (RENK GmbH)
• Original Assignee: RENK AG (RENK GmbH)
• Inventors: Walter, Alexander, Witzenberger, Max, Egen, Thomas
• Primary Examiner(s): Silbermann; Joanne
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stabley; Michael R
• Application Number:
  US10/515,091
• Publication Number:
  US 20050284672A1
• Time in Patent Office: 2,033 Days
• Field of Search: 180/6.5, 180/65.5, 180/9.1
• US Class Current: 180/9.1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2009 for braking
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 15/2036 Electric differentials, e.g. for supporting steering vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/44 Wheel Hub motors, i.e. integrated in the wheel hub
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/46 Wheel motors, i.e. motor connected to only one wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/421 Speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2240/423 Torque
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/52 characterised by DC-motors
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 7/12 for vehicles propelled by dc motors
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/04 by means of separate power sources
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/16 the additional power supply being supplied mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/72 Electric energy management in electromobility

Abstract

The invention relates to an electrical steering and drive system for a vehicle with wheel-based steering with at least two electrically driven axles, a mechanical coupling between the drive sides being provided on at least one driven axle in order to transmit power from one drive side to the other, and a purely electrical transmission of drive power being provided on the other driven axles.

Claims

1. An electrical steering and drive system for a vehicle with wheel-based steering having first and second drive sides, the system comprising:

at least two electrically driven axles;

a mechanical coupling between the drive sides being provided on at least one driven axle in order to transmit power from one drive side to the other; and

an electrical transmission of drive power on the other driven axles.

2. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 1, wherein the mechanical coupling comprises:

at least one differential gear mechanism;

a steering motor;

and a shaft.

3. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 1, wherein the electrical transmission of drive power is adapted to transmit steering power from one drive side to the other.

4. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 1 wherein both an electric driving motor and an electric steering motor are provided on the mechanical coupling.

5. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 2 wherein both an electric driving motor and an electric steering motor are provided on the mechanical coupling.

6. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 3 wherein both an electric driving motor and an electric steering motor are provided on the mechanical coupling.

7. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 1, wherein electric motors which are integrated into the wheel hub are provided on all the driven axles.

8. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 2, wherein electric motors which are integrated into the wheel hub are provided on all the driven axles.

9. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 3, wherein electric motors which are integrated into the wheel hub are provided on all the driven axles.

10. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 4, wherein electric motors which are integrated into the wheel hub are provided on all the driven axles.

11. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 5, wherein electric motors which are integrated into the wheel hub are provided on all the driven axles.

12. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 6, wherein electric motors which are integrated into the wheel hub are provided on all the driven axles.

13. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 1, wherein at least one element for distributing torque, to which a plurality of wheels of one side of the vehicle can be coupled, is provided on the mechanical coupling.

14. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 1, wherein at least one element for compensating for rotational speed, to which a plurality of wheels of one side of the vehicle can be coupled, is provided on the mechanical coupling.

15. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 2, wherein at least one element for distributing torque, to which a plurality of wheels of one side of the vehicle can be coupled, is provided on the mechanical coupling.

16. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 2, wherein at least one element for compensating for rotational speed, to which a plurality of wheels of one side of the vehicle can be coupled, is provided on the mechanical coupling.

17. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 3, wherein at least one element for distributing torque, to which a plurality of wheels of one side of the vehicle can be coupled, is provided on the mechanical coupling.

18. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 3, wherein at least one element for compensating for rotational speed, to which a plurality of wheels of one side of the vehicle can be coupled, is provided on the mechanical coupling.

19. The electrical steering and drive system according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is selected from the group consisting of a wheeled vehicle and a crawler vehicle.