Electric drive system including a stepper motor

US6812663B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC · US

Inventors

• Dennis A. Kramer · Troy, US
• Dale Bell · Ortonville, US
• Clive Harrup · Bromham, GB
• Mehmet Ciray · Glenwood, US
• Silvio M. Yamada · Gahanna, US
• Dean House · Pataskala, US
• David K. Platner · Shelby, US
• Dale Eschenburg · Rochester Hills, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Mar 26, 2003
• Grant date: Nov 2, 2004
• Expiry date: Mar 26, 2023

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60L2240/30
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A vehicle drive assembly includes an electric motor directly coupled to a rotatable member for driving a wheel, for example, without gear reduction assemblies between the motor output and the driven wheels. A multi-phase, high pulse current stepper motor is used as the motor in one example. A driven wheel is supported by a wheel mounting member in a conventional fashion. A rotatable member associated with the wheel mounting member is directly coupled to an output of the stepper motor. The stepper motor can selectively operate in several modes. A first mode provides driving torque to the vehicle wheels, a second mode provides a braking force and an optional third mode allows the stepper motor to serve as a parking brake.