An electric drive system including: a rotary motor system including a hub assembly, a first rotating assembly, a second rotating assembly, and a third rotating assembly, wherein the hub assembly defines a rotational axis about which the first rotating assembly, the second rotating assembly, and the third rotating assembly are coaxially aligned and are capable of independent rotational movement independent of each other; a multi-bar linkage mechanism connected to each of the first and third rotating assemblies and connected to the hub assembly and constraining movement of the hub assembly so that the rotational axis of the hub assembly moves along a defined path that is in a transverse direction relative to the rotational axis and wherein the multi-bar linkage mechanism causes the rotational axis of the hub assembly to translate along the defined path in response to relative rotation of the first rotating assembly and the third rotating assembly with respect to each other.

An electric motor including: a hub assembly defining a rotational axis; a magnetic rotor assembly; a first coil stator assembly; a second coil stator assembly; and a system of rotor bearings rotatably supporting each of the magnetic rotor assembly, the first coil stator assembly, and the second coil stator assembly on the hub assembly so that each of the magnetic rotor assembly, the first coil stator assembly, and the second coil stator assembly are rotatable about the rotational axis independently of each other.

An in-wheel motor drive device (10) includes: a wheel hub bearing portion (11); a motor portion (21) and a deceleration portion (31) disposed in an upwardly offset manner with respect to an axis of the wheel hub bearing portion (11); and a carrier (101) projecting downward to a position below the wheel hub bearing portion (11). A suspension connection portion (101c) is mounted on a lower end of the carrier (101), the suspension connection portion (101c) to be connected with a suspension device (116) so as to be directable in any direction. The suspension connection portion (101c) is disposed in an overlapping manner with the wheel hub bearing portion (11) with respect to a position in an axial direction of the wheel hub bearing portion (11).

A strut-type suspension apparatus, including: a steering knuckle rotatably holding a wheel; a shock absorber configured to damp a relative movement of the wheel and a vehicle body in an up-down direction; and an in-wheel motor unit including a motor, a speed reducer configured to transmit rotation of the motor while reducing a speed of the rotation, and a housing in which the motor and the speed reducer are housed, wherein the in-wheel motor unit is fixed to the steering knuckle while the shock absorber is fixed to the in-wheel motor unit, so that the shock absorber is connected to the steering knuckle via the in-wheel motor unit, wherein the housing includes a first bracket in which a through-hole is formed and a second bracket disposed under the first bracket, and wherein the shock absorber passes through the through-hole of the first bracket and is fastened to the second bracket.

Wheel assembles using integrated motors and speed reducers for electric vehicles are disclosed for providing improved structural efficiency. A wheel assembly may include a motor for providing power to a wheel, a leading or trailing type or similar suspension link, a caliper mounted to the suspension link and configured to engage a friction brake rotor on the wheel, and a synchronous belt mounted off-axis for implementing speed reducing. In certain embodiments, the respective components of the wheel assembly are nested to fit into a minimal volume. In other embodiments, the wheel assembly includes a motor that is not nested and that is configured to supply power to the wheel via a belt and pulley system.

An installation structure of an in-wheel motor unit including a motor, a speed reducer, and a housing, for installing the in-wheel motor unit on a carrier of a suspension apparatus such that the housing is sandwiched by and between the carrier and a bearing unit, wherein the bearing unit and the housing are fastened at first fastening positions, and the carrier and the housing are fastened at second fastening positions the number of which is the same as that of the first fastening positions, wherein each first fastening position and the corresponding second fastening position form a pair, so as to provide a plurality of fastening-position pairs, and wherein the first and second fastening positions of each pair are located at the same position or located close to each other when viewed in a wheel axis direction which is a direction in which a rotation axis of a wheel extends.

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.

A suspension device for a non-steered driving wheel including a wheel carrier having an in-wheel motor incorporated therein for driving the driving wheel, and a suspension arm pivotally supported on a vehicle body and connected to the wheel carrier by a connecting structure. The connecting structure includes a plate member fixed to the wheel carrier by fastening and a pair of elastic bushing devices attached to the plate member. The suspension arm has an open cross sectional portions for receiving portions of the plate member and the elastic bushing devices, and the elastic bushing devices are fixed to the open cross sectional portions at both ends.

A connecting structure connecting: (A) an in-wheel motor unit housed in a wheel and including a wheel holding member holding the wheel, a motor for driving the wheel, and a speed reducer configured to transmit, to the wheel, rotation of the motor while reducing a speed of the rotation; and (B) a strut-type suspension apparatus including a shock absorber connected at an upper end portion thereof to a body of a vehicle and at a lower end portion thereof to the in-wheel motor unit, the strut-type suspension apparatus being configured to suspend the wheel and the in-wheel motor unit, wherein the shock absorber is disposed so as to intersect a rotation axis of the wheel.

A wheel suspension for a wheel of an axle of a motor vehicle. A wheel hub, which is rotatably mounted in a wheel carrier, can be driven by an electric drive engine. The wheel carrier is rotatably mounted by at least one link about a pivot axis on the vehicle body. The electric drive engine and the link are rigidly connected to one another.