Dual electric motor four wheel drive personnel carrier

• US 20070114080A1
• Filed: 11/13/2006
• Published: 05/24/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/10/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Textron Specialized Vehicles Inc. (Textron Inc)
• Original Assignee: BB Buggies Inc.
• Inventors: Kaiser, Clenemts, Palermo, Joseph
• Granted Patent: US 8,469,133 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/65.100
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2200/22 Microcars, e.g. golf cars
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2220/42 with use of more than one motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/60 using power supplied by batteries in combination with fuel cells B60L50/75
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/64 Electric machine technologies in electromobility
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/70 Energy storage systems for electromobility, e.g. batteries

Abstract

Described is a battery powered, four-wheel, all-terrain vehicle, with independently operable, variable speed, bi-directional electric motors, one of which may selectively used to drive the front wheels of the vehicle, the other of which may be selectively used to drive the rear wheels of the vehicle. A front differential drive mechanism allows the front wheels to operate at different speeds. Front wheels of the vehicle are steerable through universal joints disposed between the front differential mechanism and each front wheel. A rear differential drive mechanism allow the rear wheels to rotate at different speeds. By selectively choosing whether to engage front and rear wheels and the direction they rotate, the vehicle may be operated as a four-wheel drive vehicle, a front-wheel drive vehicle, a rear wheel drive vehicle, with all four wheels disengaged, or even with front and rear wheels rotating in opposite directions.

Claims

1. A motorized personnel carrier comprising:

a. independently suspended left front wheel and right front wheel, operatively coupled to a first differential mechanism;

b. a pair of universal joints disposed between said left front wheel and said first drive mechanism;

C. left rear wheel and right rear wheel operatively coupled to a second drive mechanism;

d. first, reversably rotatable electric motor which is selectively engagable with said first drive mechanism;

e. second reversably rotatable electric motor which is selectively engagable with said second drive mechanism;

f. electric battery means; and

,

g. means to selectively control the power and polarity of the electrical power applied to each of said electric motors.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said first drive mechanism is comprised of differential gear mechanism making said left and right front wheels rotatable at different speeds.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said second drive mechanism is comprised of differential gear mechanism making said left and right wheels rear rotatable at different speeds.

4. The vehicle of claim 2 wherein the second drive mechanism is comprised of differential gear mechanism making all four wheels of the vehicle rotatable at different speeds.

5. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein each of said universal joints are comprised of a constant velocity joint.

6. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein said first drive mechanism is comprised of differential gear mechanism making said left and right front wheels rotatable at different speeds.

7. The vehicle of claim 5 wherein said second drive mechanism is comprised of differential gear mechanism making said left and right wheels rear rotatable at different speeds.

8. The vehicle of claim 6 wherein the second drive mechanism is comprised of differential gear mechanism making all four wheels of the vehicle rotatable at different speeds.