JP2000016040A - Suspension structure for in-wheel motor type vehicle - Google Patents

Abstract

PROBLEM TO BE SOLVED: To provide a suspension structure for an in-wheel motor type vehicle provided with excellent impact absorption property and high rigidity for stable traveling. SOLUTION: To an impact applied to a drive wheel 11 by irregularities on a road surface, a lower arm 20 oscillates to displace the drive wheel 11 up and down, and a leaf spring 30 regulates it from making quick displacement to absorb the impact. In the meanwhile, to torsional force or axial direction force by acceleration, deceleration or the like, pairs of hinges 16A, 16A connecting both ends of the lower arm 20 to respective parts are disposed having an interval in an axial direction, so high rigidity can be exhibited to prevent inclination of the lower arm 20 in other directions than vertical. Comfortable and stable traveling can thus be secured.

Description

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

[0001]

The present invention relates to a suspension structure for an in-wheel motor vehicle.

[0002]

2. Description of the Related Art In the field of electric vehicles in which technological development has been remarkable in recent years, in-wheel motor vehicles having a power motor in the wheels of drive wheels have been developed.

[0003]

By the way, in this in-wheel motor type vehicle, a space for a power motor must be secured, so that the conventional suspension structure cannot be applied as it is. On the other hand, there is a demand for an in-wheel motor type suspension that can sufficiently absorb the impact applied to the wheels and has high rigidity for stable traveling.

The present invention has been made in view of the above circumstances, and an object of the present invention is to provide a suspension structure of an in-wheel motor vehicle having excellent shock absorption and high rigidity for stable running.

[0005]

According to one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a vehicle for driving a driving wheel for driving each driving wheel in a pair of driving wheels provided on both sides of a vehicle body. In a suspension structure of an in-wheel motor type vehicle equipped with a motor, a leaf spring in the form of a leaf spring for relaxing displacement of each drive wheel in the vertical direction is interposed between the two power motors, and is connected to the vehicle body. A rigid arm is inserted between each power motor and the vehicle body, and both ends of the rigid arm are spaced apart in the front-rear direction in the power motor and the vehicle body, respectively. The drive wheel is connected to the power motor and the vehicle body via a pair of hinges which can be connected at two places where the drive wheel is opened, and the drive wheel is supported so as to be vertically displaceable. A.

The invention according to claim 2 is characterized in that, in the suspension structure of the in-wheel motor type vehicle according to claim 1, the pair of hinges are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axle of the drive wheels.

According to a third aspect of the present invention, in the suspension structure of the in-wheel motor type vehicle according to the first or second aspect, the leaf springs are provided at two places in the vehicle body spaced apart in the vehicle width direction. It is characterized by being fixed.

According to a fourth aspect of the present invention, in the suspension structure for an in-wheel motor vehicle according to any one of the first to third aspects, the suspension base of the vehicle body to which the leaf spring and the rigid arm are connected is provided. It is characterized in that it is unitized by a separate structure attachable to other parts of the vehicle body.

[0009]

According to the suspension structure of the in-wheel motor type vehicle of the first aspect, the rigid arm swings and the drive wheel is displaced up and down in response to an impact on the drive wheel due to unevenness of the road surface. In addition, the shock is absorbed by regulating the leaf spring so as not to cause a sudden displacement. On the other hand, with respect to torsional force or longitudinal force acting on the power motor, etc., a pair of hinges connecting both ends of the rigid arm and each part are arranged at intervals in the longitudinal direction. Therefore, high rigidity can be exhibited so that the rigid arm does not incline in directions other than up and down. With these, comfortable and stable running is ensured.

According to the suspension structure of the in-wheel motor type vehicle of the present invention, since a pair of hinges for connecting both ends of the rigid body arm and each part are symmetrical with respect to the axle, the force transmitted from the drive wheels is evenly rigid. Acting on the arm, the support of the driving wheel by the rigid arm is further stabilized.

According to the suspension structure of the in-wheel motor type vehicle of the third aspect, the leaf spring is stably supported by the vehicle main body by being fixed at two places spaced apart in the vehicle width direction, and provides a shock. Can be absorbed.

According to the suspension structure of the in-wheel motor type vehicle of the present invention, one unit is completed by assembling the drive wheel to the suspension base via the leaf spring and the rigid arm, and the other unit is completed. And the electric vehicle is assembled.

[0013]

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENTS An embodiment of a suspension to which the present invention is applied will be described below with reference to FIGS. As shown in FIG. 1, the suspension 10 is a single unit including a pair of drive wheels 11, 11 connected to both sides of a suspension base 40 via a lower arm 20, a leaf spring 30, and the like, which will be described in detail below. . Then, the suspension base 40 is provided with a pair of side rails 50A, 50A of the vehicle body of the electric vehicle.
A, for example, is a pin and welded configuration.

The drive wheel 11 includes a power motor 15 (hereinafter simply referred to as "motor 15") inside a wheel 12 on which a rubber tire 11A is fitted. The drive shaft 17 is directly connected to the wheel 12. It has a so-called in-wheel motor type structure. Further, the motor 15
The rear end of the motor housing 15 </ b> A that forms a flat cylindrical shape as a whole and forms an outer shell protrudes from the wheel 12 toward the suspension base 40.

A lower arm 20 extends between a lower portion of the rear end of the motor housing 15A and a lower portion of the suspension base 40. The lower arm 20 is
As shown in FIG. 2, a pair of rigid rods 20A, 20A are formed in an H-shape in which the lengthwise intermediate portions thereof are connected by a connecting portion 21. The rigid rods 20A, 20A
It is arranged symmetrically with respect to the drive shaft 17 of the motor 15 in the front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG. 2). One end of the lower arm 20 is swingably connected to both rigid bars 20A, 20A so as to sandwich a protruding portion 15B provided at a lower portion of the motor housing 15A from the front-rear direction. As a result, the lower arm 20 and the motor housing 15A are aligned with the hinges 16 arranged at an interval in the front-rear direction.
A and 16A are connected via a rubber bush. The other end of the lower arm 20 is connected to opposing walls 40A, 40A provided on the suspension base 40.
The end of each rigid rod 20A is sandwiched between (see FIG. 1) and is swingably connected thereto via a rubber bush.
Thereby, the lower arm 20 and the suspension base 4
0 and hinges 16C arranged at an interval in the front-rear direction.
It has a structure connected via 16C. further,
As shown in FIG. 1, a shock absorber 13 is inserted between the connecting portion 21 of the lower arm 20 and the upper portion of the suspension base 40, and regulates the sudden swing of the lower arm 20.

On the upper part of the suspension base 40, FIG.
As shown in FIG. 3, the upper arm 25 is located at a symmetric position in the front-rear direction (vertical direction in FIG.
And a leaf spring 30 are arranged. The upper arm 25 has a rod shape, one end of which is swingably connected to the rear side (upper side in FIG. 3) of the upper outer peripheral surface of the motor housing 15A via a bearing, and the other end of which is on the side of the suspension base 40. The part is swingably connected via a bearing. The upper arm 25 is shown in FIG.
As shown in the figure, the motor housing 15A is connected to the suspension base 40 so as not to be parallel to the drive shaft 17 of the motor 15 but to extend in the outer peripheral direction.

The leaf spring 30 is made of, for example, a plate-like leaf spring material, and extends between the motors 15. And both ends of the leaf spring 30
The width of the motor housing 15A is reduced, and the motor housing 15A is swingably connected to the front side of the upper outer peripheral surface via a bearing. The intermediate portion of the leaf spring 30 is fixed by two fixing portions 40B, 40B of the suspension base 40 which are provided at intervals in the vehicle width direction (the left-right direction in FIG. 3).

Next, the operation and effect of the suspension 10 according to the present embodiment having the above configuration will be described. When an impact is applied to the drive wheels 11 due to unevenness of the road surface during traveling of the electric vehicle, the following occurs. That is, the lower arm 2
0 and the upper arm 25 swing, and the drive wheel 11 is displaced up and down. At this time, the shock absorber 13 reduces sudden swing of the lower arm 20, and the leaf spring 30 elastically deforms up and down, and the reaction force of the leaf spring 30 causes the drive wheel 1 to move.
1 is attenuated. Thereby, the drive wheel 11
Is absorbed. Here, the leaf spring 30 is provided with two fixed portions 4 spaced apart in the vehicle width direction.
Since it is fixed at 0B and 40B, for example, torsional deformation and rattling other than elastic deformation in the vertical direction are regulated, and a shock can be stably absorbed. Moreover, since the impact is absorbed by both the leaf spring 30 and the shock absorber 13, the response for returning the drive wheel 11 to the normal alignment is good.

When the electric vehicle is accelerated or decelerated, a torsional force due to the reaction force of the driving torque and a horizontal force (a force directed upward and downward in FIGS. 2 and 3) due to a friction reaction force with the road surface are applied to the suspension 10. However, the pair of hinges 16A, 16A between the lower arm 20 and the motor 15 and the pair of hinges 16C, 16C between the lower arm 20 and the suspension base 40 are both spaced apart in the front-rear direction of the lower arm 20. Therefore, the lower arm 20 exhibits high rigidity so as not to tilt in a direction other than up and down. Moreover, since the lower arm 20 is symmetrical with respect to the drive shaft 17, the force transmitted from the drive wheel 11 acts on the lower arm 20 evenly, and the lower arm 20 supports the drive wheel 11 more stably. Further, in the suspension 10 of the present embodiment, since the upper arm 25 and the leaf spring 30 are also connected to the motor housing 15A at positions symmetrical with respect to the drive shaft 17, the lower arm 20 receives the force transmitted from the drive wheel 11 evenly.
And the support of the drive wheels 11 is further stabilized.

When the drive wheel 11 comes into contact with, for example, a curb on a road shoulder, a torsional force is applied to the suspension 10 in the horizontal direction (the direction of arrow A in FIG. 2). Again,
As in the case of the torsional force during acceleration / deceleration described above, the suspension 10 of the present embodiment can exhibit high rigidity.

As described above, according to the suspension 10 of the present embodiment, it is possible to sufficiently absorb the impact applied to the drive wheels 11 and to secure sufficient rigidity for stable traveling, thereby providing an in-wheel motor type electric vehicle. Comfortable and stable running is possible. Further, since the unit is formed into a unit, the efficiency of the assembling work can be improved.

Further, the suspension 10 of the present embodiment
According to this, the following effects can also be obtained. Since the upper and lower portions of the motor housing 15A are supported by the rigid arms, the work relating to the positioning of the suspension 10 is facilitated, and the accuracy in adjustment of compliance steer and the like can be improved. Specifically, in this embodiment, when the upper arm 25 is mounted at the position where the upper wheel 25 is mounted, both the driving wheels 11 are actuated when a force is applied from the front and rear direction of the driving wheel 11 when the vehicle is traveling, and the outer driving is driven when turning. Since the wheels 11 are adjusted to face the toe-in direction, the in-wheel motor type electric vehicle can run stably.

Hinge 16A of motor housing 15A
Are provided symmetrically in the front-rear direction with respect to the drive shaft 17, and forces are uniformly applied to the hinge portions 16 </ b> A, 16 </ b> A. However, in this embodiment, it is possible to adjust the compliance steer by changing the mounting position of the upper arm 25, and it is not necessary to change the rubber bush for each engagement position. Can be used.

The leaf spring 30 has an effect as a so-called stabilizer, which stabilizes traveling by preventing the vehicle from rolling.

<Other Embodiments> The present invention is not limited to the above embodiments. For example, the following embodiments are also included in the technical scope of the present invention.
In addition to the following, various changes can be made without departing from the scope of the invention. (1) In the above embodiment, when the load acting on the suspension is not so large, the upper arm 25 may be omitted.

(2) In the above embodiment, the hinge 16
Although the arrangement positions of A and 16B and the connection position of the upper arm 25 and the leaf spring 30 are symmetric with respect to the drive shaft 17, they may be arranged or connected at positions that are not symmetric with respect to the drive shaft 17.

(3) When connecting the upper arm 25 and the leaf spring 30 in the above embodiment, either a rubber bush or a bearing may be used.

(4) In the above embodiment, the lower arm 20 has an H shape, but may have another shape such as a ladder shape.

[Brief description of the drawings]

FIG. 1 is a perspective view of a suspension structure of an in-wheel motor vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention.

FIG. 2 is a bottom view of the same.

FIG. 3 is also a top view.

FIG. 4 is a front view of the same.

FIG. 5 is also a rear view.

[Explanation of symbols]

 DESCRIPTION OF SYMBOLS 10 ... Suspension 11 ... Drive wheel 12 ... Wheel 15 ... Power motor 16A, 16C ... Hinge 17 ... Drive shaft (axle) 20 ... Lower arm (rigid arm) 30 ... Leaf spring 40 ... Suspension base

Claims (4)

[Claims] 1. A suspension structure for an in-wheel motor type vehicle having a pair of driving wheels provided on both sides of a vehicle body and a driving motor for driving each driving wheel, wherein: A leaf spring in the form of a leaf spring for alleviating the vertical displacement of each drive wheel is inserted and fixed to the vehicle body, and between each power motor and the vehicle body. , A rigid arm is inserted, and both ends of the rigid arm are connected to the power motor and the vehicle body through a pair of hinges that can be connected at two locations spaced apart in the front-rear direction in each of the power motor and the vehicle body. A suspension structure for an in-wheel motor vehicle, wherein the drive wheel is connected to a motor and the vehicle body so that the drive wheel is vertically displaceably supported. 2. The suspension structure for an in-wheel motor vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the pair of hinges are arranged symmetrically with respect to the axle of the drive wheel. 3. The in-wheel motor type vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the leaf spring is fixed at two places in the vehicle body spaced apart in a vehicle width direction. Suspension structure. 4. The vehicle body, wherein a suspension base of the vehicle body to which the leaf spring and the rigid arm are connected is formed as a separate structure that can be attached to another portion of the vehicle body. The suspension structure for an in-wheel motor vehicle according to any one of claims 1 to 3.