Claims:We claim:

1. A wheel hub motor (100) for a vehicle, said wheel hub motor (100) comprises a shaft (108), a stator mounted on said shaft (108), a rotor positioned around said stator and mounted to an inner periphery of a rim (110), and a casing (122) adapted to enclose said stator and said rotor, said shaft (108) extends outside of said casing (122) from either sides, said shaft (108) further comprises a bore (118), said bore (118) adapted to route a wire harness (114) from within said casing (122) to an exterior of said casing (122), characterized by :-
an outlet port (116) of said bore (118) located after a mounting portion (120) on said shaft (108), said mounting portion (120) abuts with a chassis (106) of said vehicle.

2. The wheel hub motor (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bore (118) is oblique to an axis of said shaft (108).

3. The wheel hub motor (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said bore (118) is parallel to an axis of said shaft (108).

4. The wheel hub motor (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said outlet port (116) is between an end of said shaft (108) and said mounting portion (120).

5. The wheel hub motor (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein said casing (122) comprises a first side cover (102), second side cover (112) and a brake housing (104) provided on at least one of said first side cover (102) and said second side cover (112).

6. The wheel hub motor (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said brake housing (104) and any one of said first side cover (102) and said second side cover (112) are integrated as a single component.

7. The wheel hub motor (100) as claimed in claim 5, wherein said brake housing (104), any one of said first side cover (102) and said second side cover (112), and said rim (110) are integrated as a single component.

8. The wheel hub motor (100) as claimed in claim 1, wherein a position sensor is mounted on said stator.
, Description:Complete Specification:
The following specification describes and ascertains the nature of this invention and the manner in which it is to be performed:

Field of the invention:
[0001] The present invention relates to a wheel hub motor for a vehicle.

Background of the invention:
[0002] A wheel hub motor comprises a motor assembled inside the wheel of the vehicle. A tire is positioned over a rim of the wheel. The wheel hub motor provides compact design for fitting a motor to the vehicle.

[0003] According to a patent literature 890/DEL/2012, a wiring structure for motor shaft of electric vehicle is disclosed. A wiring structure for a motor shaft of an electric vehicle is relatively simple and is capable of protecting a wire connected to a motor stator. The electric vehicle has a propulsive in-wheel drive motor disposed in a wheel. The drive motor has a motor shaft serving as an axle, the motor shaft having opposite ends non-rotatably fixed to a vehicle frame assembly by axle supports, a stator fixed to the motor shaft in the wheel, a rotor fixedly disposed in the wheel, and a wire extending through the motor shaft and connected to the stator. The motor shaft has a through hole defined therein inwardly of one of the ends of the motor shaft and inwardly of the axle supports, and the wire extends through the through hole and is connected to the stator.

Brief description of the accompanying drawings:
[0004] An embodiment of the disclosure is described with reference to the following accompanying drawing,
[0005] Fig. 1 illustrates a section view of wheel hub motor, according to an embodiment of the present invention, and
[0006] Fig. 2 illustrates a section view of wheel hub motor with different outlet port, according to an embodiment of the present invention.

Detailed description of the embodiments:
[0007] Fig. 1 illustrates a section view of wheel hub motor, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The wheel hub motor 100 comprises a shaft 108, a stator (not shown) mounted on the shaft 108, a rotor (not shown) positioned around the stator and mounted to an inner periphery of a rim 110, and a casing 122 adapted to enclose the stator and the rotor. The shaft 108 extends outside of the casing 122 from either sides. The shaft 108 further comprises a bore 118. The bore 118 is a through hole or a channel. The bore 118 is adapted to route a wire harness 114 from within the casing 122 to an exterior of the casing 122. The wheel hub motor 100 is characterized by an outlet port 116 of the bore 118 located after a mounting portion 120 on the shaft 108. The mounting portion 120abuts with a frame or chassis 106 of the vehicle. The mounting portion 120 is that area of the shaft 108, over which the chassis 106 of the vehicle rests or is mounted. In other words, the mounting portion 120 is defined by the common area between the chassis 106 and the shaft 108. The chassis 106 may also comprises a swing arm of the vehicle.

[0008] Further, the casing 122 is adapted to rest on the shaft 108 through rotating members such as bearings, bushes etc. The shaft 108 is stationary and the rim 110 along with the casing 122 rotates through the rotating member on the shaft 108. The rotor comprises plurality of magnets which are positioned on the inner periphery of the rim 110. The magnets are fixed to a plate, and then the plate is fixed to the rim 110. The bore 118 is also provided with sealant to prevent ingress of water and any foreign material. The drawings and description for the stator and the rotor are avoided as being state of the art, however the same must not be understood in limiting manner.

[0009] The outlet port 116 being after the mounting portion 120 of the chassis 106 enables turns/bends/routing of the wire harness 114 without any stress or strain to a controller (not shown) of the wheel hub motor 100. The sharp bends near the mounting portion 120 is prevented, because of which the insulation wear out of the wire harness 114 is minimized. The routing of the wire harness 114 is made simpler. Further, the structure of the chassis 106 is also made simpler to mount on the shaft 108 of the wheel hub motor 100. In case of fault in the vehicle, the serviceability or reparability of the wire harness 114 is greatly increased due to ease of routing.

[0010] In one embodiment, the bore 118 is made oblique to an axis of the shaft 108. The outlet port 116 is between an end of the shaft 108 and the mounting portion 120. Thus, providing ample space for the necessary bolts or nuts, locking pin and other mechanical fixtures for the firm fitting of the chassis 106 and the wheel hub motor 100.

[0011] Fig. 2 illustrates a section view of wheel hub motor with different outlet port, according to an embodiment of the present invention. The bore 118 is made parallel to an axis of the shaft 108. The outlet port 116 is made through an end face of the shaft 108. The wire harness 114 is free to be routed to the controller through any direction.

[0012] In an embodiment, the casing 122 comprises a first side cover 102, a second side cover 112 and a brake housing 104. The brake housing 104 is provided on at least one of the first side cover 102 and the second side cover 112.

[0013] In accordance to another embodiment of the present invention, the brake housing 104 and any one of the first side cover 102 and the second side cover 112 are integrated as a single component. In other words, the brake housing 104 and any one of the first side cover 102 and the second side cover 112 are integrally formed as a single component. There is no use of bolts or fasteners. Similarly, in yet another embodiment, the brake housing 104, any one of the first side cover 102 and the second side cover 112, and the rim 110 are integrated as a single component. The brake housing 104 is provided for mounting of a drum brake (not shown) with a panel. The drum brakes are mounted on the shaft 108 without any bolts. The integrated structure provides simple structure, reduces the number of components required such as bolts, enables reduced processing involved in assembling the less number of components, etc.

[0014] The wheel hub motor 100 comprises a position sensor (not shown). The position sensor is mounted on to the stator. Specifically, the position sensor is mounted in a slot made on the stator. The wire harness 114 comprises electrical insulated cables from the stator and the position sensor. The position sensor is used to detect the rotor position, and based on the position the controller accordingly energizes coils of the stator for optimal control.

[0015] In accordance to an embodiment of the present invention, a vehicle with conventional drum brake system can be retained with the use of the wheel hub motor 100. Thus, the design of the wheel hub motor 100 enables the vehicle with Internal Combustion Engine to be converted to an Electric Vehicle with ease or without any major changes in the vehicle. The integrated brake housing 104 with any one of the first side cover 102 or the second side cover 112 enables easy assembly of brakes to the vehicle chassis 106, along with providing the advantages of easy servicing and repair / replacement.

[0016] It should be understood that embodiments explained in the description above are only illustrative and do not limit the scope of this invention. Many such embodiments and other modifications and changes in the embodiment explained in the description are envisaged. The scope of the invention is only limited by the scope of the claims.