A suspension and drive mechanism for a steerable wheel of a vehicle, comprising a wheel support assembly supporting the wheel having a rolling axis and a wheel width defined by inner and outer wheel edges. Front and rear upper control arms coupled between a chassis and the wheel support assembly, and front and rear lower control arms between the chassis and the wheel support assembly. The front and rear upper control arms being coupled to the wheel support assembly above the rolling axis and inboard of the wheel inner edge, and front and rear lower control arms being coupled to the wheel support assembly below the rolling axis and inboard of the wheel inner edge. The control arms are angled so as to establish a virtual steering pivot axis for the wheel support assembly, the virtual steering pivot axis extending transverse of the rolling axis and located within the width of the wheel. The virtual steering pivot axis location varies according to a steering angle of the wheel support assembly as controlled by the steering arm. An electric drive unit arranged within the wheel for driving thereof, and at least one of the virtual pivots that lie on said virtual steering pivot axis lies within the volume occupied by the electric drive unit during at least one point in the steering travel of said wheel.

A suspension and drive mechanism for a steerable wheel of a vehicle, comprising a wheel support assembly supporting the wheel having a rolling axis and a wheel width defined by inner and outer wheel edges. Front and rear upper control arms coupled between a chassis and the wheel support assembly, and front and rear lower control arms between the chassis and the wheel support assembly. The front and rear upper control arms being coupled to the wheel support assembly above the rolling axis and inboard of the wheel inner edge, and front and rear lower control arms being coupled to the wheel support assembly below the rolling axis and inboard of the wheel inner edge. The control arms are angled so as to establish a virtual steering pivot axis for the wheel support assembly, the virtual steering pivot axis extending transverse of the rolling axis and located within the width of the wheel. The virtual steering pivot axis location varies according to a steering angle of the wheel support assembly as controlled by the steering arm. An electric drive unit arranged within the wheel for driving thereof, and at least one of the virtual pivots that lie on said virtual steering pivot axis lies within the volume occupied by the electric drive unit during at least one point in the steering travel of said wheel.

A suspension apparatus configured to support a wheel of a vehicle includes an in-wheel motor. The suspension apparatus includes a suspension member extending substantially in a front and rear direction of the vehicle and coupled to a carrier at a plurality of coupling portions spaced apart from each other in an up and down direction. The carrier holds the in-wheel motor. A reference point of an upper one of the plurality of coupling portions is located on an inner side of a reference point of a lower one of the plurality of coupling portions in a widthwise direction of the vehicle.

The present disclosure generally relates to an omni-direction wheel system and methods for controlling the omni-direction wheel system. The omni-direction wheel system includes a plurality of suspension systems that operate independently of one another. Each suspension system may include an electromagnetic steering hub configured to rotate a wheel 360 degrees about a vertical axis based on a polarity of an electromagnetic signal applied to the electromagnetic steering hub. The suspension system may further include an in-wheel motor configured to rotate with the wheel and drive the wheel about a horizontal axis.

Generally, a suspension system for a wheel of a vehicle is disclosed. The system may include at least one pair of arms each including a first arm and a second arm. Each of the first arm and the second arm of the at least one pair of arms may have a first end adapted to be rotatably connected to a wheel interface and a second end adapted to be rotatably connected to a reference frame of the vehicle, while the first arm and the second arm may be set across each other and define a mobile steering axis at a virtual intersection therebetween such that the mobile steering axis moves with respect to the reference frame when the wheel interface changes its steering angle relative to the reference frame.

A wheel suspension (1) for a wheel (23) of a vehicle, in particular the rear wheel of a utility vehicle, driven by an electric or pneumatic motor (2), having a swing arm (3) which is mounted pivotably around a pivot axis (7) on the vehicle in a first region (4) and is supported on the vehicle in a second region (8), wherein a third region (10) of the swing arm (3) carries a part of the motor (2) which is rotationally fixed in relation to the swing arm (3) in order to transmit a torque to the wheel using a rotating part of the motor (2).

An electric wheel drive system, an electric generator, a hybrid internal combustion electric vehicle, and associated methods are described that include sleeve bearings rotating on support cylinders. Fluid pumps provide lubrication and cooling. Examples include hydraulic cylinders for steering one or more electric wheel drive systems independently. Suspension is also provided to individual electric wheel drive systems independently in some examples.

The present disclosure generally relates to an omni-direction wheel system and methods for controlling the omni-direction wheel system. The omni-direction wheel system includes a plurality of suspension systems that operate independently of one another. Each suspension system may include an electromagnetic steering hub configured to rotate a wheel 360 degrees about a vertical axis based on a polarity of an electromagnetic signal applied to the electromagnetic steering hub. The suspension system may further include an in-wheel motor configured to rotate with the wheel and drive the wheel about a horizontal axis.

Provided is a steering function equipped hub unit (1) including: a hub unit body (2); a unit support member (3) configured to be provided to a knuckle (6) and to support the hub unit body (2) such that the hub unit body is rotatable about a turning axis (A) extending in a vertical direction; and a steering actuator (5) configured to rotate the hub unit body (2) about the turning axis (A), wherein the steering actuator (5) includes a motor (26) and a linear motion mechanism (25) configured to convert a rotary output from the motor (26) into a linear motion, the linear motion mechanism (25) includes a feed screw mechanism (33) of a sliding screw type including a nut part (36) and a threaded shaft (36), and a surface hardening layer is provided on at least a threaded surface of one or both of the nut part (35) and the threaded shaft (36).

An independent suspension for vehicles, in particular for the transport of people and/or materials, including a hub defining a rotation axis of the vehicle wheel, an electric motor, operatively connected to the hub and configured to put the hub in rotation. The electric motor extends along a development axis thereof parallel to the rotation axis of the hub.