Virtual Prototype Design Of Electromagnetic Clutch For Wheel Drive System

Electric vehicle (EV) is rapidly promoted by energy crisis. Early EVs often use motorto replace the combustion engine as taking "central drive" mode, which has a longtransmission chain with a lower transmission efficiency. Instead, wheel motor drive systemtakes "distributed driving" to greatly increase the efficiency. Therefore, wheel motor isrecognized as the most ideal form for pure EV drive in the coming generation. But, with arigid connection between hub and motor, it brings mechanical shock and electromagneticimpulsion inevitable, decreases the comfort level much more, especially in starting andbraking.This paper attempts to place a clutch between hub and motor, instead of rigidconnection with a flexible one, to relax the electromechanical shocks. Then a novel bistablepermanent magnet electromagnetic clutch is put forward, which is particularly suitable forthe hub’s narrow space. And virtual prototyping technology related to this clutch is used formodeling, assembling and demonstrating.First, this thesis elaborates the wheel motor drive technology and analysis someproblems in the application of clutch used in EV. The new electromagnetic clutch’scharacteristics are discussed, which should be sized finely to match the strictly-limitedspace in hub and be self-holding without any energy consuming no matter in touch ordetach steady state, also its operation principle is analyzed in detail.Secondly,3D design software SolidWorks is used for the clutch’s modeling andanalysis, and also integrates with the wheel motor direct drive system in the virtualenvironment. By local and overall adjustment or improvement, we can obtain the optimaldesign scheme to provide a better choice for prototype test or manufacture.Finally, Animator is used to make animation of the clutch system’s assemblingprocess and its working principle, and to show this principle with magic effect in wheeldrive system. This paper also use the powerful rendering function of PhotoWorks to changemodels’ material, color, transparency, etc, so as to optimize the clutch’s appearance andprovide reference for its future design.