DRIVE AND ASSOCIATED METHOD

• US 20150203134A1
• Filed: 01/02/2015
• Published: 07/23/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/21/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc. (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Original Assignee: Regal Beloit America, Inc. (Regal Rexnord Corp.)
• Inventors: Brandemuehl, Robert Leslie, Filzen, Scott Ernest, Weir, Sarah Josephine
• Granted Patent: US 9,695,896 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 1/02 comprising more than one electric motor
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/36 for driving tandem wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/062 acting on transmission parts
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2121/04 acting on a piston-type actuator, e.g. for liquid pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/36 Helical cams, Ball-rotating ramps
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 2125/66 Wedges
• CPC Class Codes: F16D 65/18 adapted for drawing members together , e.g. for disc brakes

Abstract

A motorized vehicle has a plurality of left wheels and right wheels. The vehicle includes a first motor adapted for powering at least two of the plurality of left wheels and a second motor adapted for powering at least two of the plurality of right wheels, The vehicle also includes a first power transferring device for transferring power from the first motor to a left wheel, a second power transferring device for transferring power from the second motor to a right wheel, a third power transferring device for transferring power from the first left wheel to a second left wheel, and a fourth power transferring device for transferring power from the first right wheel to a second right wheel. The vehicle also includes a first braking mechanism for the first of the left wheels and a second braking mechanism for the second of the left wheels.

Claims

1. A motorized. vehicle, the vehicle having a plurality of left wheels and a plurality of right wheels, the vehicle comprising:

a first motor adapted for powering at least two of the plurality of left wheels

a second motor adapted for powering at least two of the plurality of right wheels

a first power transferring device for transferring power from the first motor to a first of the plurality of left wheels

a second power transferring device for transferring power from the second motor to a first of the plurality of right wheels

a third power transferring device for transferring power from the first of the plurality of left wheels to a second of the plurality of left wheels

a fourth power transferring device for transferring power from the first of the plurality of right wheels to a second of the plurality of right wheels;

a first braking mechanism operably associated with the first of the plurality of left wheels; and

a second braking mechanism operably associated with the second of the plurality of left wheels.

2. The motorized vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a third braking mechanism operably associated with the first of the plurality of right wheels.

3. The motorized vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a fourth braking mechanism operably associated with the second of the plurality of left wheels.

5. The motorized vehicle of claim 1:

further comprising a first speed reduction device positioned between the first power transferring device and the first of the plurality of left wheels; and

wherein the speed reduction device includes a housing, an adapter mounted to the housing, and a crown gear mounted to the adapter.

6. The motorized vehicle of claim 1;

further comprising a first speed reduction device positioned between the first power transferring device and the first of the plurality of left wheels;

further comprising a second speed reduction device positioned between the first speed reduction device and the first of the plurality of left wheels.

7. The motorized vehicle of claim 6, wherein the first braking mechanism is positioned between the first speed reduction device and the second speed reduction device.

8. The motorized vehicle of claim 6, wherein the first braking mechanism is positioned between the second speed reduction device and the first of the plurality of left wheels.

9. The motorized vehicle of claim 6, further comprising a kingpin operably connected to at least one of the first speed reduction device and second speed reduction device, at. least one the first speed reduction device and second speed reduction device defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the kingpin, the cavity defining a chamber for containing a fluid for assisting in moving the kingpin from a locked position to an unlocked position.

11. The motorized vehicle of claim 1, farther comprising:

a first speed reduction device operably associated with a first of the plurality of la;

wheels;

a second speed reduction device positioned between the first speed reduction device and the first of the plurality of left wheels;

a first sump operably associated with the first speed reduction device; and

a second sump operably associated with the second speed reduction device.

4. The motorized vehicle of claim I, wherein the first braking mechanism is positioned between the third power transferring device and the first of the plurality of left wheels.

10. The motorized vehicle of claim I, further comprising a speed reduction device, the speed reduction device having a plurality of components, the components adapted to provide a first configuration adapted for cooperation with at least one of the plurality of left wheels and the components adapted to provide a second configuration adapted for cooperation with at least one of the plurality of right wheels.

12. A motorized vehicle, the vehicle having a plurality of left wheels and a plurality of right wheels, the vehicle comprising:

a first speed reduction device operably associated with a first of the plurality of left wheels;

a second speed reduction device positioned between the first speed reduction device and the first of the plurality of left wheels;

a first sump operably associated with the first speed reduction device;

and a second sump operably associated with the second speed reduction device.

13. The motorized vehicle of claim 12, further comprising:

a connector for connecting the first speed reduction device to the second speed reduction device; and

a boot seal operably connected to at least one of the first speed reduction device and second speed reduction device for sealing the connector.

14. The motorized vehicle of claim 12, wherein said first speed reduction device comprises:

housing;

an adapter mounted to the housing; and

a crown gear, the crown mounted to the adapter.

15. The motorized vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a kingpin operably connected to at least one of the first speed reduction device and second speed reduction device, at least one the first speed reduction device and second speed reduction device defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the kingpin, the cavity defining a chamber for containing a fluid for assisting in moving the kingpin from a locked position to an unlocked position.

16. A motorized vehicle, the vehicle having a plurality of left wheels and a plurality of right wheels, the vehicle comprising:

a first speed reduction device operably associated with a first of the plurality of left wheels;

a second speed reduction device positioned between the first speed reduction device and the first of the plurality of left wheels; and

a connector for connecting the first speed reduction device to the second speed reduction device.

17. The motorized vehicle of claim 16, further comprising a boot seal operably connected to at least one of the first speed reduction device and second speed reduction device for sealing the connector.

18. The motorized vehicle of claim 16, further comprising a kingpin operably connected to at least one of the first speed reduction device and second speed reduction device, at least one the first speed reduction device and second speed reduction device defining a cavity for receiving at least a portion of the kingpin, the cavity defining a chamber for containing a fluid for assisting in moving the kingpin from a locked position to an unlocked position.

19. The motorized vehicle of claim 16:

further comprising a first speed reduction device positioned between the first power transferring device and the first of the plurality of left wheels; and

wherein the speed reduction device includes a housing, an adapter mounted to the housing, and a crown gear mounted to the adapter.

20. The motorized vehicle of claim 16, wherein said first speed reduction device comprises:

a housing;

an adapter mounted to the housing; and

a crown gear, the crown mounted to the adapter,