Traction motor assembly with gear-interconnected wheel and output shaft

• US 9,752,652 B2
• Filed: 02/18/2016
• Issued: 09/05/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 02/18/2015
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Nidec Motor Corporation (Nidec Corporation)
• Inventors: Moore, William D., Johnson, Philip S.
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US15/047,244
• Publication Number:
  US 20160238105A1
• Time in Patent Office: 565 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/043 Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0038 the motor moving together with the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0046 the motor moving together with the vehicle body, i.e. moving independently from the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0061 the motor axle being parallel to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/40 Special vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 1/10 one of the members being internally toothed
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/02034 Gearboxes combined or connected with electric machines structural association with electric machines H02K7/116
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/02 Gearboxes; Mounting gearing therein
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/18 Means for mounting or fastening magnetic stationary parts on to, or to, the stator structures
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/185 to outer stators
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 1/276 Magnets embedded in the magnetic core, e.g. interior permanent magnets [IPM]
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/20 for measuring, monitoring, testing, protecting or switching rectifiers H02K11/04; power electronics H02K11/33
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/21 Devices for sensing speed or position, or actuated thereby specially adapted for machines having non-mechanical commutating devices H02K29/06, H02K29/14
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/22 Optical devices
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 11/33 Drive circuits, e.g. power electronics H02K11/38 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 15/03 having permanent magnets
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 2213/03 Machines characterised by numerical values, ranges, mathematical expressions or similar information
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 3/522 for generally annular cores with salient poles
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/161 radially supporting the rotary shaft at both ends of the rotor H02K5/165, H02K5/167, H02K5/173 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/1735 : radially supporting the rotary shaft at only one end of the rotor H02K5/1737 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/22 : Auxiliary parts of casings not covered by groups H02K5/06-H02K5/20, e.g. shaped to form connection boxes or terminal boxes
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 5/225 : Terminal boxes or connection arrangements specially adapted for submersible motors H02K5/132
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/02 : Additional mass for increasing inertia, e.g. flywheels
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/085 : radially supporting the rotary shaft at only one end of the rotor H02K7/086, H02K7/09 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 : with gears
• CPC Class Codes: Y02E 60/16 : Mechanical energy storage, e.g. flywheels or pressurised fluids
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 : Hybrid vehicles

Abstract

Electric motors are disclosed. The motors are preferably for use in an automated vehicle, although any one or more of a variety of motor uses are suitable. The motors include lift, turntable, and locomotion motors.

Claims

1. A mobile machine comprising:

a rotatable ground-engaging wheel including a hub; and

a motor assembly including a rotatable output shaft,

said output shaft including an output gear,

said hub presenting a wheel gear that drivingly intermeshes with the output gear, such that rotation of the output gear imparts rotation to the wheel,

said motor assembly including a motor case,

said motor case and said hub cooperatively defining a gear chamber in which the output and wheel gears intermesh,

said motor case and said hub cooperatively defining a seal interface that communicates with the gear chamber,

said interface comprising a labyrinth.

2. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 1,

said wheel including a wheel shaft fixed relative to the hub for rotational movement therewith,

said wheel shaft being laterally offset from the output shaft.

3. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 2,

said wheel including a tire circumscribing the hub.

4. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 2,

said wheel gear comprising a ring gear having a plurality of radially inwardly directed teeth defined about the hub in spaced relation to the wheel shaft,

said output gear comprising a pinion gear.

5. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 1,

said motor assembly including a rotor rotatable about a rotor axis,

said rotor including a rotor shaft extending along the rotor axis.

6. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 5,

said wheel being rotatable about a wheel axis,

said rotor axis being laterally offset from the wheel axis.

7. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 6,

said rotor shaft comprising the output shaft.

8. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 7,

said wheel including a wheel shaft fixed relative to the hub for rotational movement therewith,

said wheel shaft extending along the wheel axis.

9. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 8,

said hub and said wheel shaft being integrally formed.

10. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 8, further comprising:

a pair of bearings rotatably supporting the wheel shaft on the motor case.

11. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 1,

said motor assembly being devoid of gearing, such that the output gear and wheel gear define a single-stage gear transmission from the motor assembly to the wheel.

12. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 1,

said interface being filled with a lubricant that restricts migration of contaminants into the gear chamber.

13. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 1,

said motor case including a circumferential recess that extends axially inward relative to the wheel,

said hub including a circumferential wall that extends axially into the recess, with the recess and wall at least in part defining the labyrinth.

14. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 1,

said motor assembly including a motor that includes a rotor rotatable about a rotor axis,

said motor assembly including a controller configured to at least in part control operation of the motor,

said controller being positioned axially adjacent the motor.

15. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 14,

said rotor including a rotor shaft extending along the rotor axis,

said rotor shaft comprising the output shaft,

said output gear being adjacent one end of the output shaft, and said controller being adjacent an opposite end of the output shaft.

16. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 15,

said wheel being rotatable about a wheel axis,

said rotor axis being laterally offset from the wheel axis.

17. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 15,

said motor assembly including a controller case that defines a controller chamber in which the controller is at least substantially received,

said motor case defining a motor chamber in which the rotor is at least substantially received,

said controller case and said motor case being at least substantially axially aligned.

18. The mobile machine as claimed in claim 17,

said controller chamber and said motor chamber presenting at least substantially equal radial dimensions.