Vehicle drivetrain system

• US 10,690,226 B1
• Filed: 10/12/2018
• Issued: 06/23/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 10/12/2018
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Matthew T. Wanke
• Original Assignee: Matthew T. Wanke
• Inventors: Wanke, Matthew T.
• Primary Examiner(s): Wright, Dirk
• Application Number:
  US16/158,621
• Time in Patent Office: 620 Days
• Field of Search: None
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/165 provided between independent half axles B60K17/18, B60K17/20 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 10/06 including control of combustion engines
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/145 Haulage vehicles, trailing trucks
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/221 Tractors
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2037/045 comprising a separate gearing unit for shifting between high and low ratio range
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/02017 characterised by special features related to the manufacturing of the gear case, e.g. special adaptations for casting
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/02043 for vehicle transmissions
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/02056 for utility vehicles, e.g. tractors or agricultural machines
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2057/02069 for industrial applications
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2200/0069 the gear ratios comprising ten forward speeds
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 3/30 with driving and driven shafts not coaxial
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 37/082 and additional planetary reduction gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 47/04 the mechanical gearing being of the type with members having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 57/037 Gearboxes for accommodating differential gearings rotating cases for differential gearings F16H48/40

Abstract

A drivetrain assembly for a motor vehicle such as a tractor-trailer rig wherein the drivetrain assembly includes a transmission and a rear end differential that have gearing operable to lower the operational engine RPM'"'"'s of the vehicle. The transmission of the present invention includes a gearing ratio having a stepped percentage difference intermediate each gear. The final gear ratio of the transmission ranges between 0.47 to 1 and 0.63 to 1. A rear end gear ratio is present within the range of 3.08 to 1 to 3.90 to 1. The rear end gear ratio is approximately five and a half to six and a half greater than the ratio of the final gear of the transmission. The engine RPM'"'"'s of the vehicle are at a lower RPM when the transmission is in its final gear or speed resulting in less fuel injection cycles and improved fuel economy.

Claims

1. A vehicle drivetrain assembly that is disposed within a tractor trailer wherein the drivetrain assembly is configured to provide improved fuel economy for the tractor trailer at highway cruising speeds comprising:

a frame;

a combustible motor, said combustible motor operably coupled to said frame;

a transmission, said transmission being operably coupled to said combustible motor, said transmission having a plurality of gears or speeds, said transmission having a final gear or speed, wherein said final gear or speed within said transmission ranges from 0.47 to 1 to 0.49 to 1;

a rear end differential, said rear end differential operably coupled to said transmission via a drive shaft, said rear end differential having a gear disposed therein, wherein said gear disposed within said rear end differential ranges from 3.08 to 1 to 3.90 to 1 said rear end differential operably coupled with at least one drive wheel.

2. The vehicle drivetrain assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein each gear or speed within the transmission has a step percentage difference with respect to each other wherein the step percentage ranges from 0.17 to 0.19.

3. The vehicle drivetrain assembly as recited in claim 2, wherein the transmission and rear end differential produce lower RPM'"'"'s for said combustible motor the final gear or speed of the transmission.

4. The vehicle drivetrain assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein torque produced from the combustible motor is transferred to the at least one drive wheel when said transmission is placed in said final gear.

5. The vehicle drivetrain assembly as recited in claim 4, wherein said transmission has up to eighteen gears or speeds therein.