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EP-4739574-A1 - VEHICLE WHEEL COMPRISING A DRIVE DEVICE AND A BRAKING DEVICE

EP4739574A1EP 4739574 A1EP4739574 A1EP 4739574A1EP-4739574-A1

Abstract

A wheel (1) rotatably mounted on an axle and comprising: - a rim (2) connected by a web (3) to a hub (4) pivotably received on the axle, and delimiting with the hub an annular space; - a radial flux electric motor (10) comprising a first stator (11) and a first rotor (12) which are arranged to generate a torque for the rotational driving of the wheel; - a magnetic brake (20) comprising a second stator (21) and a second rotor (22) which are arranged to generate a torque for the braking of the wheel, the electric motor and the magnetic brake extending one inside the other inside the annular space, of the first rotor and the second rotor one being adjacent to the rim and of the the first rotor and the second rotor the other being adjacent to the hub, the first stator and the second stator extending between the first rotor and the second rotor.

Inventors

  • KLIM, Graeme Peter Arthur
  • SANTER, Lucas Fernand Jean-Marie
  • ANTON ROSAIRO, Roshan

Assignees

  • Safran Landing Systems

Dates

Publication Date
20260513
Application Date
20240702

Claims (12)

  1. 1. Vehicle wheel (1), rotatably mounted on an axle (E), comprising: - an annular rim (2) connected by a web (3) to a hub (4) pivotally received on the axle, the rim delimiting with the hub an annular space closed by the web; - a radial flux electric motor (10) comprising a first stator (11) and a first rotor (12) arranged coaxially with the wheel to produce between them a first magnetic flux capable of generating a torque for driving the wheel in rotation; - a magnetic brake (20) comprising a second stator (21) and a second rotor (22) arranged coaxially with the wheel to produce between them a second magnetic flux capable of generating eddy currents generating a braking torque of the wheel; characterized in that the electric motor and the magnetic brake extend one inside the other inside the annular space, one of the first rotor and the second rotor being adjacent to the rim and the other of the first rotor and the second rotor being adjacent to the hub, the first stator and the second stator extending between the first rotor and the second rotor.
  2. 2. Wheel (1) according to claim 1, in which the first stator (11) and the second stator (21) are radially opposite each other.
  3. 3. Wheel (1) according to claim 2, wherein the first stator (11) extends inside the second stator (21).
  4. 4. Wheel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the magnetic brake (20) is radial flux.
  5. 5. Wheel (1) according to claim 4, in which the first stator (11) and the second stator (21) are mounted fixed on either side of a tubular support (30) extending coaxially around the hub (4), the support being immobile with respect to the axle (E).
  6. 6. Wheel (1) according to claim 5, in which the support (30) is composed of or coated with an iron-based material in order to limit or even eliminate crosstalk between the electromagnetic fields generated by the electric motor (10) and those generated by the magnetic brake (20).
  7. 7. Wheel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the first rotor (12) comprises permanent magnets capable of interacting with windings equipping the first stator (11).
  8. 8. Wheel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims, in which the second stator (21) comprises electromagnets capable of generating eddy currents in the second rotor (22) made of electrically conductive material.
  9. 9. Wheel (1) according to claim 8, in which the second rotor (22) is formed by the rim (2) made of electrically conductive material.
  10. 10. Wheel (1) according to claim 8, in which the second rotor (22) is formed by a local coating arranged on an internal periphery of said rim (2), the coating being made of electrically conductive material.
  11. 11. Landing gear (P) of an aircraft (A) comprising at least one wheel (1) according to any one of the preceding claims.
  12. 12. Aircraft (A) comprising at least one landing gear (P) according to claim 11.

Description

VEHICLE WHEEL COMPRISING A DRIVE DEVICE AND A BRAKING DEVICE The present invention relates to the braking and ground movement of a vehicle and, more particularly, to a wheel comprising a braking device and a drive device. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION In the field of aviation, it is now planned to equip aircraft wheels with rotary drive members to allow aircraft to move on the ground without using their powertrains. It is also known to equip aircraft wheels with a brake intended to selectively slow down and stop said aircraft when they are moving on the ground. The brake is generally friction brake so that it requires the replacement of wear elements whose friction, during braking, generates particularly polluting dust particles. An aircraft wheel typically comprises a rim connected by a web to a hub which is mounted for rotation on an axle carried by a lower end of a landing gear. However, in the case of electric vertical take-off and landing (eVTOL) aircraft, the wheels are traditionally small (between 6 and 10 inches) so it is very difficult to integrate both a drive unit and a brake. Furthermore, the landing gears of eADAVs are generally fixed, i.e. not movable between a retracted and a deployed position as is the case for larger aircraft. Increasing the size of the wheels to integrate a drive unit and a brake would therefore tend to increase the forces of drag exerted on the landing gear during flight, and therefore reduce the flight autonomy of the eADAV. However, climate change is a major concern for many legislative and regulatory bodies around the world. Indeed, various restrictions on carbon emissions have been, are being or will be adopted by various states. In particular, an ambitious standard applies both to new types of aircraft but also to those currently in circulation requiring the implementation of technological solutions in order to make them compliant with the regulations in force. Civil aviation has been mobilizing for several years now to make a contribution to the fight against climate change. Technological research efforts have already made it possible to significantly improve the environmental performance of aircraft. All players in the sector are constantly working to improve energy efficiency. The Applicant takes into consideration the impact factors in all phases of design and development to obtain less energy-intensive, more environmentally friendly aeronautical components and products whose integration and use in civil aviation have moderate environmental impacts with the aim of improving the energy efficiency of air transport. Consequently, the Applicant is constantly working to reduce its climate impact by using methods and operating virtuous development and manufacturing processes and minimizing greenhouse gas emissions to the minimum possible in order to reduce the environmental footprint of its activity. This sustained research and development work concerns both new generations of engines aircraft, the lightening of aircraft, in particular through the materials used and the lightened on-board equipment, the development of the use of electrical technologies to ensure propulsion, and, essential complements to technological progress, aeronautical biofuels. SUBJECT OF THE INVENTION The aim of the invention is to propose a wheel integrating a drive device and a braking device making it possible to at least partially overcome the aforementioned drawbacks. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION For this purpose, according to the invention, a vehicle wheel is provided which is rotatably mounted on an axle. The wheel comprises: - an annular rim connected by a web to a hub pivotally received on the axle, the rim delimiting with the hub an annular space closed by the web; - a radial flux electric motor comprising a first stator and a first rotor arranged coaxially with the wheel to produce between them a first magnetic flux capable of generating a torque for driving the wheel in rotation; - a magnetic brake extending inside the annular space and comprising a second stator and a second rotor arranged coaxially with the wheel to produce between them a second magnetic flux capable of generating eddy currents generating a braking torque of the wheel. According to the invention, the electric motor and the magnetic brake extend one inside the other inside the annular space, one of the first rotor and the second rotor being adjacent to the rim and the other of the first rotor and the second rotor being adjacent to the hub, the first stator and the second stator extending between the first rotor and the second rotor. The electric motor and the magnetic brake are thus engaged one inside the other and occupy a relatively small volume. This results in a radial superposition of the electric motor and the magnetic brake which allows their integration inside the wheel without significantly increasing the drag forces which oppose the movement of said wheel. According to a particular characteristic of the invent