Patent ID: 7420301

Claim:
An electric drive wheel assembly ( 20 ) for a vehicle, said assembly ( 20 ) comprising; a non-rotating spindle ( 26 ) having a first end ( 28 ) for attachment to the vehicle and a second end ( 30 ) spaced from said first end ( 28 ) along a rotational axis (R), an electric motor ( 22 ) concentric with said spindle ( 26 ) and including a stator ( 34 ) surrounding and secured to said spindle ( 26 ) and a rotor ( 36 ) concentric with said stator ( 34 ) and rotatable about said rotational axis (R) relative to said stator ( 34 ), said stator ( 34 ) and said rotor ( 36 ) extending a predetermined axial distance (D) along said rotational axis (R), a carrier ( 54 ) rotatably connected to said spindle ( 26 ) for rotation about said rotational axis (R), a wheel drive ( 52 ) attached to said carrier ( 54 ) for rotation therewith about said rotational axis (R), and a planetary gear system ( 62 ) disposed adjacent said carrier ( 54 ) and said wheel drive ( 52 ) for transmitting rotational movement of said rotor ( 36 ) to said carrier ( 54 ), said assembly ( 20 ) characterized by said wheel drive ( 52 ), said planetary gear system ( 62 ), and said carrier ( 54 ) being interconnected to define a gearbox unit ( 84 ) and said assembly ( 20 ) including a fastener ( 86 ) for removably attaching said gearbox unit ( 84 ) to said spindle ( 26 ) adjacent said second end ( 30 ) of said spindle ( 26 ).