VEHICLE DRIVE UNIT AND VEHICLE WITH A VEHICLE DRIVE UNIT

Abstract

A vehicle drive unit for a vehicle for omnidirectional driving of the vehicle. The vehicle drive unit includes a vehicle platform, a drive platform, and at least two wheels arranged on the drive platform, one drive unit being provided per wheel to drive the wheel. A controllable self-locking steering actuator is arranged between the drive platform and the vehicle platform. The steering actuator is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and is used to rotate the vehicle platform and the drive platform relative to one another, the steering actuator allowing a temporary blocking of the rotation. At least three pivoting wheels are arranged on the vehicle platform for vehicle stabilisation, each being rotatable about its own wheel axis and about its own vertical axis. A vehicle having a vehicle drive unit is also provide.

Claims

1. A vehicle drive unit for a vehicle for omnidirectional driving, the vehicle drive unit comprising: a vehicle platform; a drive platform; at least two wheels arranged on the drive platform, each said wheel having a drive unit; a controllable, self-locking steering actuator which is operatively arranged between the drive platform and the vehicle platform, the steering actuator being configured to cause a rotational movement of the vehicle platform relative to the drive platform when activated and also being configured for a temporary blocking of said rotational movement; and at least three pivoting wheels arranged on the vehicle platform for vehicle stabilization, each of said pivoting wheels being rotatable about a wheel axis thereof and being pivotable about vertical axis thereof.

2. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the steering actuator comprises a screw drive and a motor.

3. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 2, wherein the screw drive is a ball screw drive, a planetary screw drive, a planetary roller screw drive, a roller screw drive, or a worm gear.

4. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive unit of each of the wheels is a differential drive.

5. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 1, wherein wheel axes of the wheels are oriented coaxially.

6. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 5, wherein the steering actuator is oriented perpendicular to the wheel axes, and the wheels are pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the steering actuator.

7. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle platform and the drive platform are arranged coaxially with respect to one another.

8. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 7, wherein the drive platform is arranged coaxially on an inside of the vehicle platform.

9. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 1, further comprising power electronics arranged on the drive platform.

10. A vehicle having the vehicle drive unit according to claim 1.

11. A vehicle drive unit for a vehicle for omnidirectional driving, the vehicle drive unit comprising: a vehicle platform; a drive platform; at least two drive wheels arranged on the drive platform, each said drive wheel having a drive unit; a controllable, self-locking steering actuator which is operatively arranged between the drive platform and the vehicle platform, the steering being configured to cause a rotational movement of the vehicle platform relative to the drive platform when activated and also being configured for a temporary blocking of said rotational movement; and at least three stabilizing wheels arranged on the vehicle platform configured for vehicle stabilization.

12. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 11, wherein the steering actuator comprises a screw drive and a motor.

13. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 12, wherein the screw drive is a ball screw drive, a planetary screw drive, a planetary roller screw drive, a roller screw drive, or a worm gear.

14. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 11, wherein the drive unit of each of the drive wheels is a differential drive.

15. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 11, wherein wheel axes of the drive wheels are oriented coaxially.

16. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 15, wherein the steering actuator is oriented perpendicular to the wheel axes, and the drive wheels are pivotable about a longitudinal axis of the steering actuator.

17. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 11, wherein the vehicle platform and the drive platform are arranged to rotate about a common axis.

18. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 17, wherein the drive platform is arranged inside of the vehicle platform.

19. The vehicle drive unit according to claim 11, further comprising power arranged on the drive platform.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0023] Additional advantages, details, and further developments of the present disclosure arise from the following description of a preferred embodiment, with reference to the drawings. In the figures:

[0024] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle drive unit according to the disclosure in a first operating state;

[0025] FIG. 2 shows the vehicle drive unit shown in FIG. 1 in a second operating state;

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the vehicle drive unit shown in FIG. 1 in a third operating state; and

[0027] FIG. 4 shows the vehicle drive unit shown in FIG. 1 in a fourth operating state.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0028] FIG. 1 shows a plan view of a preferred embodiment of a vehicle drive unit according to the disclosure in a first operating state. The vehicle drive unit can be installed in vehicles. The vehicle can drive omnidirectionally by means of the vehicle drive unit according to the disclosure. The vehicle drive unit comprises a vehicle platform 01 and a drive platform 02. The drive platform 02 is disk-like and the vehicle platform 01 is rectangular with a central circular recess 03 in which the drive platform 02 is arranged. In modified embodiments, the shape and arrangement of the drive platform and the vehicle platform can naturally be chosen differently. The two platforms 01, 02 are coaxial with respect to one another. Towed pivoting wheels 04 are arranged on the vehicle platform 01 in the corner regions. The vehicle platform 01 has four pivoting wheels 04, each of which can be rotated about its own wheel axis and pivoted about its own vertical pivot axis. Two differentially driven wheels 06, which have a common horizontal axis of rotation, are arranged on the drive platform 02. Drives or motors 07 for driving the wheels 06 are connected to the two wheels 06, wherein the two drives 07 are arranged on the drive platform 02 and can be controlled independently of one another. The drives 07 can also comprise a transmission and/or a clutch system.

[0029] Power electronics 08 are also attached to the drive platform 02. A steering actuator 09 is also attached to the drive platform 02. The steering actuator 09 is designed to be controllable and self-locking. The steering actuator 09 is rotatable about a longitudinal axis and is used to rotate the vehicle platform 01 and the drive platform 02 relative to one another and to temporarily block said rotation if this is desired for the driving situation. The steering actuator 09 comprises a DC motor 11 and a screw drive 12 in the form of a planetary roller screw drive or a ball screw drive. Furthermore, a control unit 13 is provided, which takes over the control of the individual elements. The operating principle of the steering actuator 09 is described below.

[0030] The operating state shown in FIG. 1 is when the vehicle drive unit is driving straight ahead, as symbolized by a direction-of-travel arrow. A longitudinal axis of the vehicle platform 01 and a longitudinal axis of the drive platform 02 lie one above the other. The axes of rotation of the wheels 06 and of the pivoting wheels 04 run parallel to one another and transverse to the direction of travel.

[0031] FIG. 2 shows the vehicle drive unit shown in FIG. 1 in a second operating state, in which the vehicle drive unit has been steered in an oblique direction of travel, approximately 45° relative to the straight-ahead driving shown in FIG. 1. In order to assume an oblique direction of travel, the drive platform 02 is rotated in the desired direction by means of the steering actuator 09. The position or orientation of the vehicle platform 01 remains unchanged, so it does not rotate. A defined angle is spanned between the longitudinal axis of the vehicle platform 01 and the longitudinal axis of the drive platform 02—here, for example, approximately 45°. When driving in the oblique direction of travel, the wheels 06 rotate at the same speed and the pivoting wheels 04 follow the movement in the oblique direction in their orientation. It is also conceivable that the wheels 06 cause the drive platform 02 to rotate and the steering actuator 09 counteracts this rotational movement to the same extent on the vehicle platform 01, such that the vehicle platform 01 retains its original orientation.

[0032] FIG. 3 shows the vehicle drive unit shown in FIG. 1 in a third operating state, in which the vehicle drive unit has been steered in a transverse direction of travel, approximately 90° relative to the straight-ahead driving shown in FIG. 1. In order to assume a transverse direction of travel, the drive platform 02 is rotated in the transverse direction by means of the steering actuator 09. The position or orientation of the vehicle platform 01 remains unchanged, so it does not rotate. An angle of 90° is spanned between the longitudinal axis of the vehicle platform 01 and the longitudinal axis of the drive platform 02. When driving in the transverse direction of travel, the wheels 06 rotate at the same speed and the pivoting wheels 04 follow the movement in the transverse direction with respect to their orientation. It is also conceivable that the wheels 06 cause the drive platform 02 to rotate and the steering actuator 09 counteracts this rotational movement about 90° on the vehicle platform 01, such that the vehicle platform 01 retains its original orientation.

[0033] FIG. 4 shows the vehicle drive unit shown in FIG. 1 in a fourth operating state, in which the vehicle drive unit performs a rotating movement relative to the straight-ahead driving shown in FIG. 1. The wheels 06 rotate at different speeds, such that a rotational movement of the drive platform 02 is initiated. The steering actuator 09 is deactivated or blocked so that it is prevented from rotating. By blocking the steering actuator 09, the rotating movement of the drive platform 02 is transferred to the vehicle platform 01, as a result of which the entire vehicle drive unit carries out the rotating movement. No angle is spanned between the longitudinal axis of the vehicle platform 01 and the longitudinal axis of the drive platform 02; the longitudinal axes lie one above the other. The pivoting wheels 04 rotate with the rotational movement and follow the movement.

[0034] According to the operating states shown in FIGS. 1 to 4, it can be seen that the vehicle drive unit according to the disclosure can advantageously be driven omnidirectionally, wherein fewer actuators are required than in known vehicle drive units.

LIST OF REFERENCE SIGNS

[0035] 01 Vehicle platform [0036] 02 Drive platform [0037] 03 Recess [0038] 04 Pivoting wheel [0039] 05 — [0040] 06 Wheel [0041] 07 Motor/drive [0042] 08 Power electronics [0043] 09 Steering actuator [0044] 10 — [0045] 11 DC motor [0046] 12 Screw drive [0047] 13 Control unit