Electric four-wheel drive system and front wheel drive vehicle provided with the same

• US 9,254,744 B2
• Filed: 10/10/2014
• Issued: 02/09/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 12/05/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Original Assignee: Hyundai Motor Company (Hyundai Motor Group)
• Inventors: Joeng, Ji Yoel
• Primary Examiner(s): Hurley, Kevin
• Assistant Examiner(s): STABLEY, MICHAEL R
• Application Number:
  US14/512,031
• Publication Number:
  US 20150158384A1
• Time in Patent Office: 487 Days
• Field of Search: 180/242
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/34 for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles arrangement or mounting of control devices for changing number of driven wheels B60K23/08
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2260/28 Four wheel or all wheel drive
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/15 with additional electric power supply with capacitors charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/40; with batteries charged by engine-driven generators B60L50/61
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/16 with provision for separate direct mechanical propulsion
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

An electric four-wheel drive (4WD) system is for a front wheel drive vehicle including an active roll control apparatus includes a driving module configured to generate a rotational power using electrical energy and to supply the rotational power to rear wheels. A hydraulic generator is connected with the driving module and configured to generate a hydraulic pressure using the rotational power of the driving module and to supply the hydraulic pressure to the active roll control apparatus.

Claims

1. An electric four-wheel drive (4WD) system for a front wheel drive vehicle including an active roll control apparatus, the electric 4WD system comprising:

a driving module configured to generate a rotational power using electrical energy and to supply the rotational power to rear wheels; and

a hydraulic generator, which is connected with the driving module, configured to generate a hydraulic pressure using the rotational power of the driving module and to supply the hydraulic pressure to the active roll control apparatus;

wherein the hydraulic generator comprises a pump connected to the driving module, and wherein the pump comprises;

a pump body of which a pump chamber is formed therein;

a rotation shaft rotatably mounted to the pump body, the rotation shaft receiving an output of the driving module; and

an impeller connected to the rotation shaft, the impeller generating a hydraulic pressure within the pump chamber.

2. The electric 4WD system of claim 1, wherein the driving module comprises:

a motor; and

a reduction structure connected to the motor.

3. The electric 4WD system of claim 2, wherein the rotation shaft is connected with an output shaft of the reduction structure through a belt.

4. The electric 4WD system of claim 2, wherein the motor is an inline motor distributing the rotational power thereof to both rear wheels.

5. The electric 4WD system of claim 1, wherein the pump communicates with a valve block of the active roll control apparatus.

6. The electric 4WD system of claim 1, wherein the driving module is configured to receive an electric power from a battery and to operate according to a control signal from an electronic control unit (ECU).

7. The electric 4WD system of claim 1, further comprising:

a pair of actuators mounted to a front wheel stabilizer and a rear wheel stabilizer, respectively, receiving the hydraulic pressure.

8. A front wheel drive vehicle comprising:

an active roll control apparatus; and

an electric 4WD system configured to supply an electric power to rear wheels of the vehicle;

wherein the electric 4WD system comprises;

a driving module configured to generate a rotational power using electrical energy and supplying the rotational power to the rear wheels; and

a hydraulic generator, which is connected with the driving module, configured to generate a hydraulic pressure using the rotational power of the driving module and to supply the hydraulic pressure to the active roll apparatus;

wherein the hydraulic generator comprises a pump connected to the driving module, and wherein the pump comprises;

a pump body of which a pump chamber is formed therein;

a rotation shaft rotatably mounted to the pump body, the rotation shaft receiving an output of the driving module; and

an impeller connected to the rotation shaft, the impeller generating a hydraulic pressure within the pump chamber.

9. The front wheel drive vehicle of claim 8, wherein the driving module comprises:

a motor; and

a reduction structure connected to the motor.

10. The front wheel drive vehicle of claim 8, wherein the rotation shaft is connected with an output shaft of the reduction structure through a belt.

11. The front wheel drive vehicle of claim 8, wherein the motor is an inline motor distributing the rotational power thereof to both rear wheels.

12. The front wheel drive vehicle of claim 8, wherein the pump communicates with a valve block of the active roll control apparatus.