초록 ▼

A multi-speed hub drive wheel is provided which includes a wheel equipped with a hub; a star compound gear train having first and second stages; a motor disposed in the hub which drives the wheel by way of the star compound gear train; and a clutch which switches the hub drive wheel between a first

A multi-speed hub drive wheel is provided which includes a wheel equipped with a hub; a star compound gear train having first and second stages; a motor disposed in the hub which drives the wheel by way of the star compound gear train; and a clutch which switches the hub drive wheel between a first mode of operation in which the motor engages the first stage of the star compound gear train, and a second mode of operation in which the motor engages the second stage of the star compound gear train.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A multi-speed hub drive wheel, comprising: a wheel equipped with a hub;a star compound gear train having first and second stages;a motor disposed in said hub which drives said wheel by way of said star compound gear train; anda clutch which switches the hub drive wheel between a first mode of ope

1. A multi-speed hub drive wheel, comprising: a wheel equipped with a hub;a star compound gear train having first and second stages;a motor disposed in said hub which drives said wheel by way of said star compound gear train; anda clutch which switches the hub drive wheel between a first mode of operation in which the motor engages the first stage of the star compound gear train, and a second mode of operation in which the motor engages the second stage of the star compound gear train. 2. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 1, wherein said clutch switches the hub drive wheel between said first and second modes of operation, and a third mode of operation in which the motor does not engage the first or second stages of the star compound gear train. 3. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 1, wherein the first stage of the star compound gear train is equipped with a first pinion, wherein the second stage of the star compound gear train is equipped with a second pinion, wherein said motor engages the first stage of the star compound gear train by way of said first pinion, and wherein said motor engages the second stage of the star compound gear train by way of said second pinion. 4. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 1, wherein said motor is a switched reluctance motor. 5. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 4, wherein said motor is driven by a reconfigurable inverter to provide first and second operating regimes. 6. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 1, wherein said gear train comprises a plurality of gears, and wherein said plurality of gears are always in mesh. 7. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 6, wherein said plurality of gears are concentric about a central axis. 8. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 7, wherein the gear forces generated by said gear train are symmetric about said central axis. 9. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 1, wherein the hub drive wheel operates at a first speed when it is in said first mode of operation, and a second speed, distinct from the first speed, when it is in said second mode of operation. 10. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 1, wherein the hub drive wheel operates at first, second, third and fourth speeds when it is in said first mode of operation, and a second speed, distinct from the first speed, when it is in said second mode of operation. 11. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 1, wherein said clutch engages a first pinion gear disposed on a shaft of said star compound gear train when the hub drive wheel is in the first mode of operation, and wherein said clutch engages a second pinion gear disposed on said shaft when the hub drive wheel is in the second mode of operation. 12. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 1, wherein said clutch includes first and second clutches which switch the hub drive wheel between first, second, third and fourth modes of operation having respective first, second, third and fourth speeds associated therewith, wherein said gear train includes both a star compound gear and a reverted star compound gear, and wherein the last stage of said gear train includes at least three planet gears which drive an output internal gear which is supported on a cross-roller bearing. 13. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 12, wherein said clutch is disengaged from said first pinion gear when the hub drive wheel is in the second mode of operation, and wherein said clutch is disengaged from said second pinion gear when the hub drive wheel is in the first mode of operation. 14. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 1, wherein the first stage of the star compound gear train is equipped with a first pinion, wherein the second stage of the star compound gear train is equipped with a second pinion, wherein the clutch locks the motor to the pinion of the first stage of the star compound gear train when the hub drive wheel is in the first mode of operation, and wherein the clutch locks the motor to the pinion of the second stage of the star compound gear train when the hub drive wheel is in the second mode of operation. 15. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 14, wherein the clutch disengages the motor from the pinion of the first stage of the star compound gear train when the hub drive wheel is in the second mode of operation, and wherein the clutch disengages the motor from the pinion of the second stage of the star compound gear train when the hub drive wheel is in the first mode of operation. 16. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 15, wherein the second mode of operation of the hub drive wheel is a higher speed operation than the first mode of operation. 17. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 15, wherein the clutch places the motor in neutral between the first and second modes of operation. 18. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 17, wherein the motor does not drive either pinion when the clutch is in neutral. 19. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 15, wherein the star compound gear train provides a gear reduction of 5 to 10-to-1 when the hub drive wheel is in the first mode of operation. 20. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 19, wherein the star compound gear train provides a gear reduction of 10 to 25-to-1 when the hub drive wheel is in the second mode of operation. 21. An automobile comprising the multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 1. 22. An automobile comprising first, second and third multi-speed hub drive wheels of the type described in claim 1. 23. The multi-speed hub drive wheel of claim 1, wherein the motor does not engage the first stage of the star compound gear train when the hub drive wheel is in the second mode of operation.