Patent ID: 6276475
Filing Date: 2001-08-21
Classification: B62M

Abstract:
An electric motor and drive hub arrangement for driving a vehicle wheel, said drive hub arrangement including a fixed axle support that is fixed to the associated vehicle, an electric motor contained within said drive hub and a reduction transmission for driving said drive hub from an output shaft of said electric motor, said electric motor being comprised of a rotor formed with said output shaft and carrying a plurality of spaced permanent magnets, and a stator comprised of a plurality of circumferentially spaced armature coils cooperating with said permanent magnets to effect rotation of said output shaft, said fixed axle support being comprised of a pair of spaced apart axle portions, each of said axle portions having an outer end part adapted to be affixed in fixed relationship to the vehicle, said electric motor stator being fixed against rotation relative to said axle portions, each axle portion further having an inner end part that forms a journal for said drive hub, said inner end parts being spaced axially from each other to define a gap therebetween, said electric motor being positioned within said drive hub with said output shaft rotatably journaled in the area between said inner end parts of said axle portions, said electric motor output shaft driving said drive hub through said reduction transmission, said reduction transmission being supported at least in part between said inner end parts of said axle portions.