Drive configuration for a skid steered vehicle

• US 20040116228A1
• Filed: 10/08/2003
• Published: 06/17/2004
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2001
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Qinetiq Limited (QinetiQ Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Qinetiq Limited (QinetiQ Group PLC)
• Inventors: Thompson, Robert W
• Granted Patent: US 7,074,151 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 475/28
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/046 with planetary gearing having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0092 the motor axle being coaxial to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0015 the motor being hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/14 differential power outputs being effected by additional power supply to one side, e.g. power originating from secondary power source
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/16 the additional power supply being supplied mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/02 Transfer gears for influencing drive between outputs
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/06 with gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/10 with orbital spur gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/30 using externally-actuatable means

Abstract

An electric drive configuration for a skid steered vehicle comprises: a pair of propulsion motors (74a, 74b), each with a motor shaft protruding from both ends of the motor and mounted on the same axis across the vehicle, each being coupled at the outer end to drive one of a pair of tracks or set of wheels of the skid steered vehicle; a control differential steep gear unit (73) positioned between the two propulsion motors and in driveable communication with the inner ends of the two motor shafts; and a steer motor (71) in driveable communication with the controlled differential (72), the steer motor (71) being controllable from zero speed giving straight line running in which both motor shafts are coupled to run at the same speed, to a range of speeds in both directions of rotation giving steering capability in both directions.

Claims

1. A drive configuration for a skid steered vehicle comprising:

a pair of drive members for engaging with a pair of tracks or wheels of the skid steered vehicle, at least one propulsion motor (74a, 74b) having a single through motor shaft (73a, 73b) carrying the motor rotor and protruding from the ends of the motor, a first end of the motor shaft (73a, 73b) being coupled to one of the pair of drive members and a second end of the motor shaft (73a, 73b) being coupled to a controlled differential device (72), and a steer motor (71) in driveable communication with the controlled differential device (72), the steer motor (71) being controllable from a zero speed to give straight line running to one or more different speeds in either or both directions of rotation enabling steering of the vehicle in at least one direction.

2. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is only a single propulsion motor, and a plain shaft or coupling is provided between the controlled differential and the second drive member.

3. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 1 comprising at least two propulsion motors.

4. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 1, 2 or 3 wherein the configuration is further provided with a transmission system comprising a pair of brakes (76a, 76b), a pair of gear reduction/change units (75a, 75b) and/or a pair of final drive units 77a, 77b each mounted symmetrically of the controlled differential (72) and preferably (but not essentially) on the same axis as the propulsion motor or motors (74a, 74b).

5. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 4 wherein the paired components of the transmission are linked by a linkage mechanism configured to provide substantially simultaneous gear changes and/or braking at the two sides of the vehicle.

6. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 5 wherein the linkage mechanism is mechanical.

7. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 5 wherein the linkage mechanism is electrical.

8. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 5 wherein the linkage mechanism is hydraulic.

9. A drive configuration as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the controlled differential comprises a pair of epicyclical gear trains.

10. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 9 wherein the epicyclical gear trains are arranged to form a double epicyclical controlled differential having a common planet carrier.

11. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 10 wherein the planet carriers are joined by a common shaft (43) passing through a pair of sun gears (44, 45).

12. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 11 wherein the steer motor is in driveable communication with the double differential steer gear unit via a set of bevel gears (46a, 46b, 46c) associated with the sun gears (44, 45).

13. A drive configuration as claimed in any preceding claim wherein the drive configuration is housed in a cylinder of a diameter approximately equal to that of the propulsion motor(s) 74a, 74b) with the steer motor (71) located adjacent and outside the cylinder.

14. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 13 wherein the cylinder extends the width of the hull of the vehicle.

15. A drive configuration as claimed in any preceding claim wherein one or more of the propulsion motor(s) (74a, 74b) and/or steer motor (71) is electrically driven.

16. A drive configuration as claimed in any of claims 1 to 15 wherein the one or more of the propulsion motor(s) 74a, 74b and/or steer motor (71) is hydraulically driven.

17. A skid steered vehicle incorporating an electric drive configuration as claimed in any preceding claim.

18. A skid steered vehicle as claimed in claim 16 wherein the vehicle is a tracked vehicle.

19. A skid steered vehicle as claimed in claim 16 wherein the vehicle is a wheeled vehicle.