Abstract The outer rotor of a statorless electric drive motor and the drive wheel of an electric fork-lift truck or similar vehicle to be powered thereby are each directly connected to the outer motor case or housing. The housing is mounted for rotation with respect to the vehicle body. The central gear of a speed-reducing planetary gear set is affixed to the shaft of the inner rotor. The satellite or, alternatively, the annular ring gear of the set is directly connected to the rotatable motor housing, while the other of such annular or satellite gears is affixed to the body of the vehicle to immobilize such latter gear against rotation. Such an arrangement avoids the necessity of separate rotational connections among the inner and outer rotors and the drive wheel.
For use in an electrically powered industrial vehicle, an improved apparatus for transmitting motion from a statorless electric motor having inner and outer rotors to a vehicle road wheel affixed to an outer housing of the motor, which comprises means for affixing the outer rotor to the outer housing, means mounting the outer housing for rotation with respect to the vehicle body, a speed-reducing coupling interconnecting the inner rotor and the outer housing, whereby rotation of the inner rotor at a first speed causes the rotation of the road wheel at a second and slower speed, the speed-reducing coupling comprising in combination, a first central gear affixed to the shaft of the inner rotor, an annular gear surrounding and concentric with the first central gear, a first satellite gear in opposite radial engagement with the first central gear and the annular gear, means including a second central gear for directly converting orbital motion of the first satellite gear to rotational motion of the second central gear, a second satellite gear in opposite radial engagement with the second central gear and the annular gear, means for fixedly connecting the annular gear to the vehicle body, and means for converting orbital motion of the second satellite gear to rotational motion of the outer housing so that the road wheel rotates at the orbital speed of the second satellite gear when the inner rotor is driven.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
233 words
For use in an electrically powered industrial vehicle, an improved apparatus for transmitting motion from a statorless electric motor having inner and outer rotors to a vehicle road wheel affixed to an outer housing of the motor, which comprises means for affixing the outer rotor to the outer housing, means mounting the outer housing for rotation with respect to the vehicle body, a speed-reducing coupling interconnecting the inner rotor and the outer housing, whereby rotation of the inner rotor at a first speed causes the rotation of the road wheel at a second and slower speed, the speed-reducing coupling comprising in combination, a first central gear affixed to the shaft of the inner rotor, an annular gear surrounding and concentric with the first central gear, a first satellite gear in opposite radial engagement with the first central gear and the annular gear, means including a second central gear for directly converting orbital motion of the first satellite gear to rotational motion of the second central gear, a second satellite gear in opposite radial engagement with the second central gear and the annular gear, means for fixedly connecting the annular gear to the vehicle body, and means for converting orbital motion of the second satellite gear to rotational motion of the outer housing so that the road wheel rotates at the orbital speed of the second satellite gear when the inner rotor is driven.