Wheel drive system for automated guided vehicles (AGV)

eWheel – Overview

The eWheel from b-drives transports large loads safely and autonomously in confined spaces. As the most compact wheel drive system on the market, it easily adapts to your design requirements. Despite its compact size, eWheel offers impressive power density and high efficiency, which maximizes vehicle availability.

Our assembly concept enables quick wheel changes – loosening three screws is all that is needed to change the wheel in seconds. A modern BLDC motor with redundant encoders ensures a reliable drive, and the overload capacity is evident during acceleration and on inclines.

And the best thing is: our innovative wheel drive system sets a cost benchmark for AGV drive systems.

eWheelUnitSMLXL
Construction lengthmm109199219238
Maximum speedm/s0,7-3,01,0-3,71,0-3,71,0-3,7
Maximum torqueNm29-9021-5435-9035-100
Nominal voltageV24/4824/4824/4848
Motor protection classIP00IP54IP54IP54
Wheel protection classIP69IP69IP69IP69
Wheel diametermm140/160/200140/160/200140/160/200140/160/200
Parking brake with
emergency stop function (motor)
Nm1-31-31-31-3
Redundant feedback with
Hall sensors and
incremental encoder
✓✓✓✓
Payload per wheelkg500kg500kg500kg500kg
Wheel materialVulkollan® 92° Shore AVulkollan® 92° Shore AVulkollan® 92° Shore AVulkollan® 92° Shore A
Options
Functional safety
STO PL e
✓✓✓✓
Safety encoder attachmentx✓✓✓
Application-specific wheel surface✓✓✓✓
Attachment to the vehiclefrom the vehicle exterior/interior or above the drive using a
mounting bracket
from the vehicle exterior/interior or above the drive using a
mounting bracket
from the vehicle exterior/interior or above the drive using a
mounting bracket
from the vehicle exterior/interior or above the drive using a
mounting bracket

Product options

Our eWheel offers you full flexibility. In addition to the gearbox and motor,
  • drive control,
  • wheel tread,
  • Assembly flange,
  • and brake
vary. We can also support you with your individual functional safety requirements. Simply contact us to arrange a consultation!

control electronics

Double-axis controller
Voltage resistance up to 60V
Peak current up to 60A Bus interface
CANopen (other solutions with
ProfiNET/EtherCAT possible)
Functional safety STO according to PL e / up to SIL3

Complete system

Shortest overall length High overload
High power density
Low dead weight
High efficiency
500 kg load capacity per wheel.

wheel

3 different
wheel diameters
Standard wheel tread:
Vulkollan® 92° Shore A
Application-specific
wheel treads possible

Gearbox

Planetary gear
reduction ratios:
i = 11 / i = 20 / i = 30

BLDC motor

Sizes S/M/LXL
Redundant encoder system
High-resolution

brake

Holding brake with
emergency braking function. Choice
of braking torque:
1 Nm/ 2 Nm / 3 Nm

Wheel covering

Our standard wheel covering is made of Vulkollan® with a hardness of 92° Shore A. However, wheel coverings made of Vulkollan® 70° Shore A or other crowns are also conceivable and possible. Vulkollan® is a polyurethane traded by the company Covestro AG. Other materials and Shore hardnesses proven in intralogistics are also possible.

Assembly flange,

With our eWheel, we offer you the option of either mounting it yourself from the outside or from the inside of the vehicle.

This type of mounting is always provided and is part of our standard program.

You choose the mounting direction, whether you want to screw the eWheel on from the outside or the inside. On this basis, we then select the appropriate mounting flange during production.

In addition to our eWheel, we can also offer you a standardized mounting bracket to attach our eWheel conveniently under your vehicle chassis. This allows you to simply screw the AGV/AGV above our eWheel.

Drive controller

Our double-axis controller has STO (Safe Torque Off) in accordance with PL e and can therefore be a component of your functional safety concept for your AGV. The controller is voltage-resistant up to 60V with a peak current of 60A. Our standard interface for the double-axis controller is CANopen. You therefore need one dual-axis controller for two eWheels per AGV.

Do you have any questions or would you like advice?

We will be happy to answer any questions you may have and look forward to hearing from you.

You can reach us Mon – Thu from 8 am to 5 pm and Fri from 8 am to 2 pm.

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