Armored vehicle drive train

• US 4,607,562 A
• Filed: 08/28/1984
• Issued: 08/26/1986
• Est. Priority Date: 07/21/1978
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: James C. Leblanc
• Original Assignee: James C. Leblanc
• Inventors: LeBlanc, James C.
• Primary Examiner(s): BENTLEY, STEPHEN
• Application Number:
  US06/644,945
• Time in Patent Office: 728 Days
• Field of Search: 89/36.08, 89/36.13, 89/40.03, 114/270, 180/54.1, 180/55, 180/56, 180/68.1, 180/68.2, 180/68.3, 180/233, 180/240, 180/244, 180/245, 180/246, 180/247, 180/291, 180/292, 180/905
• US Class Current: 89/40.03
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 23/00 Combined superstructure and frame, i.e. monocoque constructions having impact absorbing means B62D21/15; superstructure or monocoque structure sub-units or parts or details thereof B62D25/00 ; characterised by the material thereof B62D29/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/26 Peepholes; Windows; Loopholesmanufacture or composition of glass C03; Covers therefor informative reference: transparent bullet-proof laminates F41H5/0407; layered products essentially comprising glass B32B17/06
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/00 Armoured or armed vehicles general vehicle aspects B60; armoured or armed ships B63G; armoured or armed aircraft B64D; mounting guns, e.g. machine guns, on vehicles F41A23/00
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/02 Land vehicles with enclosing armour, e.g. tanks endless-track vehicles, steering thereof B62D ; vehicles for placing portable or sectional bridges E01D15/127; vehicles carrying floating bridges E01D15/22

Abstract

A vehicle generally consisting of a body of monocoque construction, front and rear axle assemblies provided with brakes, wheels and tires, suspension systems mounted on the axle assemblies for supporting the body on the axle assemblies, a steering system, an engine mounted in the body between the axle assemblies and adjacent both a side of the body and the rear axle assembly, a transmission mounted on the body rearwardly of the engine, a chain assembly for transmitting drive from the transmission downwardly and laterally, means for transmitting drive from a lower end of the chain assembly forwardly to the rear axle assembly, a cooling system for the engine mounted in the body and control means mounted on the body for operating the engine and transmission.

Claims

1. An armored vehicle comprising:

a body of monocoque construction having a longitudinal centerline,

front and rear axle assemblies operatively connected to said body, each of said axle assemblies being provided with wheels and tires,

a suspension system operatively connecting said axle assemblies to said body and supporting said body on said axle assemblies,

a driver'"'"'s station disposed at a forward location in said body,

an engine mounted in said body between said axle assemblies and on one side of said centerline, said engine having a rearwardly disposed engine output means,

a transmission mounted in said body rearwardly of said engine and operatively connected to said engine output means, said transmission having a rearwardly disposed transmission output means,

a first transmitting means for transmitting drive from said transmission output means downwardly and laterally,

a second transmitting means for transmitting drive from a lower end of said first transmitting means forwardly to said rear axle assembly,

a steering system mounted on said body and operatively connected to said front axle assembly, said steering system including a steering gear assembly mounted on said body and disposed laterally of said driver'"'"'s station away from said centerline and on the side of said centerline opposite said engine,

a mounting means for mounting said steering gear assembly adjacent said front axle assembly and including a means passing through said body at a location lateral of said driver'"'"'s station and operatively connecting said steering gear assembly to said front axle assembly,

a cooling system for said engine mounted in said body, and

a control means mounted in said body and operatively connected to said engine and to said transmission.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein,

said steering gear assembly has an arm portion projecting generally laterally toward said centerline supporting a steering wheel at said driver'"'"'s station.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 further comprising:

a turret rotatably mounted on said body forward of said engine and rearward of said driver'"'"'s station, and

a support structure secured to said turret and depending therefrom into said body.

4. The vehicle according to claim 2 further comprising:

a personnel passageway within said body laterally adjacent said engine and communicating with said driver'"'"'s station.

5. The vehicle according to claim 2 further comprising:

a third transmitting means for transmitting drive from said rear axle assembly to said front axle assembly to provide four-wheel drive.

6. The vehicle according to claim 2 wherein,

said suspension system, said axle assemblies and said second transmitting means are disposed on the exterior of said body, and

said vehicle further comprises a sealing means disposed between said body and said first transmitting means.

7. The vehicle according to claim 2 further comprising:

a third transmitting means for transmitting drive from said rear axle assembly to said front axle assembly to provide four-wheel drive, and

a disconnecting means for disconnecting drive to said front axle assembly.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein,

said cooling system includes a radiator mounted in said body, disposed substantially in a rear corner of said body and operatively connected to said engine.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein,

said mounting means includes said body having a sidewall and a horizontal member and said steering gear assembly being mounted directly on said horizontal member adjacent said sidewall.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein,

said transmission is directly coupled to said engine output means.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1 wherein,

said transmission is positioned at least in part over said rear axle assembly.

12. An armored vehicle comprising:

a body of monocoque construction having a longitudinal centerline,

front and rear axle assemblies operatively connected to said body, each of said axle assemblies being provided with wheels and tires,

a suspension system operatively connecting said axle assemblies to said body and supporting said body on said axle assemblies,

a steering system mounted on said body and operatively connected to said front axle assembly,

a driver'"'"'s station disposed in said body,

an engine mounted in said body between said axle assemblies on one side of said centerline, said engine having a rearwardly disposed engine output means,

a transmission mounted in said body rearwardly of said engine and operatively connected to said engine output means, said transmission having a rearwardly disposed transmission output means,

a first transmitting means for transmitting drive from said transmission output means downwardly and laterally toward said centerline,

a second transmitting means for transmitting drive from a lower end of said first transmitting means forwardly to said rear axle assembly,

said second transmitting means including a drive shaft having universal connections with said first transmitting means and said rear axle assembly,

a third transmitting means for transmitting drive from said rear axle assembly to said front axle assembly to provide four-wheel drive, said third transmitting means being positioned on the side of said centerline opposite said engine,

a disconnecting means for disconnecting drive to said front axle assembly,

said third transmitting means including a second drive shaft having universal connections with said rear axle assembly and said drive disconnecting means and a third drive shaft having universal connections with said drive disconnecting means and said front axle assembly,

said disconnecting means including a housing mounted on said body, a pair of coaxially-disposed disconnecting shafts journaled in said housing, said housing maintaining said disconnecting shafts coaxially, each of said disconnecting shafts having an inwardly disposed splined portion and an outwardly disposed portion universally connected to one of said second and third drive shafts, a coupler collar disposed within said housing and having internal splines slidably mounted on the splined portion of one of said disconnecting shafts, and a displacing means mounted on said body and operatively connected to said coupler collar for displacing said coupler collar axially into and out of engagement with the splined portion of the other of said disconnecting shafts correspondingly to engage and disengage said third drive shaft with and from said second drive shaft, said displacing means including a shifting means slidable in opposed openings in the interior of said housing, and a first connecting means positioned between said opposed openings and within said housing for connecting said shifting means to said coupler collar, and a second connecting means for connecting said first connecting means to said driver'"'"'s station,

a cooling system for said engine mounted in said body, and

a control means mounted in said body and operatively connected to said engine and to said transmission.

13. The vehicle according to claim 12 wherein,

said third transmitting means is spaced from said centerline and is parallel to said centerline.

14. The vehicle according to claim 12 wherein,

said first transmitting means comprises a drive chain assembly.

15. The vehicle according to claim 14 wherein said drive chain assembly comprises:

a housing secured to said transmission,

a first shaft journaled in said housing,

a drive sprocket mounted on said shaft and operatively connected to the output means of said transmission,

a second shaft journaled in said housing,

a driven sprocket mounted on said second shaft and operatively connected to said second transmitting means and

a chain operatively interconnecting the sprockets of said drive sprocket and said driven sprocket.

16. The vehicle according to claim 12 wherein,

said suspension system, axle assemblies and second transmitting means are all disposed on the exterior of said body, and

said vehicle further comprises a sealing means disposed between said body and said drive chain assembly.

17. The vehicle according to claim 16 wherein,

said sealing means comprises a flexible boot surrounding said second transmitting means and interconnecting said drive chain assembly and said body.

18. The vehicle according to claim 13 wherein,

said sealing means includes a flexible boot surrounding said first drive shaft and interconnecting said drive chain assembly and said body.

19. The vehicle according to claim 12 wherein,

said cooling system includes a radiator mounted in said body, disposed substantially in a rear corner of said body, and operatively connected to said engine.

20. An armored vehicle comprising:

a body of monocoque construction having a longitudinal centerline,

a front axle assembly provided with wheels and tires and operatively connected to said body,

a rear axle assembly provided with wheels and tires and operatively connected to said body,

a suspension system operatively connecting said front and rear axle assemblies to said body and supporting said body on said front and rear axle assemblies,

a steering system mounted on said body and operatively connected to said front axle assembly,

a driver'"'"'s station associated with said steering system and disposed at a forward location in said body,

an engine mounted in said body between said axle assemblies, having its center of gravity positioned forward of said rear axle assembly, and having a rearwardly disposed engine output means,

a transmission mounted in said body rearward of said engine, operatively connected to said engine output means, and having a rearwardly disposed transmission output means,

said transmission being disposed at least in part over said rear axle assembly,

a first transmitting means for transmitting drive from said transmission output means downwardly and laterally across said longitudinal centerline,

a second transmitting means positioned on one side of said longitudinal centerline for transmitting drive from a lower end of said first transmitting means forwardly to said rear axle assembly,

a personnel passageway within said body positioned at least in part generally lateral of said engine and providing access for personnel within said body from said driver'"'"'s station to generally the aft end of said body, and

a cooling system for said engine mounted in said body.

21. The vehicle according to claim 20 wherein,

said engine is positioned so that its center of gravity is on the side of said longitudinal centerline opposite said one side of said longitudinal centerline.

22. The vehicle according to claim 20 wherein,

said suspension system, said front and rear axle assemblies and said second transmitting means are disposed on the exterior of said body, and

said vehicle further comprises a sealing means disposed between said body and said first transmitting means.

23. The vehicle according to claim 20 further comprising:

a third transmitting means for transmitting drive from said rear axle assembly to said front axle assembly to provide four-wheel drive, and

a disconnecting means associated with said third transmitting means for disconnecting drive to said front axle assembly.

24. The vehicle according to claim 20 further comprising,

a third transmitting means positioned on said one side of said centerline, and spaced and parallel to said centerline, for transmitting drive from said rear axle assembly to said front axle assembly to provide four-wheel drive.

25. The vehicle according to claim 20 further comprising:

a turret rotatably mounted on said body forward of said engine and rearward of said driver'"'"'s station, and

a support structure secured to said turret and depending therefrom into said body.

26. The vehicle according to claim 20 further comprising:

a turret rotatably mounted on said body forward of said engine and rearward of said driver'"'"'s station, and

a support structure secured to said turret and depending therefrom into said body,

said engine being positioned on the side of said longitudinal centerline opposite said one side of said longitudinal centerline,

a third transmitting means positioned on said one side of said centerline for transmitting drive from said rear axle assembly to said front axle assembly to provide four-wheel drive, and

said third transmitting means being spaced from said centerline and parallel to said centerline.

27. The vehicle according to claim 20 wherein,

said rear axle assembly comprises a rigid beam axle assembly.

28. The vehicle according to claim 20 wherein,

said body is of monocoque construction.

29. The vehicle according to claim 20 wherein,

said transmission has its center of gravity positioned rearward of said rear axle assembly.

30. The vehicle according to claim 20 wherein,

said second transmitting means is drivingly connected to said rear axle assembly at a position offset from said longitudinal centerline.

31. The vehicle according to claim 20 wherein,

said second transmitting means includes a top axle drive means positioned above said rear axle assembly for transmitting drive to said rear axle assembly.

32. The vehicle according to claim 20 further comprising:

an air inlet positioned on an upper, generally horizontal wall of said body.

33. The vehicle according to claim 20 wherein,

said transmission output means is positioned parallel to said longitudinal centerline.

34. The vehicle according to claim 20 wherein,

said lower end of said first transmitting means is rearward of said rear axle assembly.

35. The vehicle according to claim 20 wherein,

said personnel passageway provides access within said body by personnel from said driver'"'"'s station generally to said engine and to the aft end of said body.

36. An armored vehicle comprising:

a body of monocoque construction having a longitudinal centerline,

a front and a rear axle assemblies operatively mounted on said body,

said rear axle assembly having an offset rear axle differential gear assembly disposed on one side of said centerline,

an engine mounted on said body on the other side of said centerline and rearward of said front axle assembly,

said engine being positioned so that its center of gravity is disposed forward of said rear axle assembly,

a transmission mounted on a rearwardly disposed end of said engine and having a rearwardly projecting output means,

said transmission having its center of gravity positioned generally rearward of said rear axle assembly,

a first transmitting means for transmitting drive from said transmission output means downwardly and laterally to said one side of said longitudinal centerline,

a second transmitting means operatively connecting said first transmitting means to said offset rear axle differential gear assembly for transmitting drive from said first transmitting means to said rear axle assembly,

said front axle assembly including an offset differential gear assembly disposed on said one side of said longitudinal centerline, and

a third transmitting means operatively connecting said rear axle differential gear assembly and said front axle differential gear assembly for transmitting drive from said rear axle assembly to said front axle assembly.

37. The vehicle according to claim 36 wherein,

said third transmitting means includes a selectively operable drive disconnecting means.

38. The vehicle according to claim 36 wherein,

at least a portion of said transmission is disposed generally forward of said rear axle assembly.

39. The vehicle according to claim 36 wherein,

said second transmitting means includes a top axle drive means positioned above said rear axle assembly for transmitting drive to said rear axle assembly, and

said top axle drive means has a rearwardly disposed connection means for connecting said rear axle assembly to said second transmitting means.

40. The vehicle according to claim 36 further comprising:

a cooling system for said engine mounted in said body and positioned laterally of said engine on the same side of said centerline as said engine,

said body including an upper, generally horizontal wall over said rear axle assembly, and

an air inlet operatively associated with said cooling system and positioned on said upper, generally horizontal wall.

41. The vehicle according to claim 36 wherein,

said first transmitting means is horizontally disposed.

42. An armored vehicle comprising:

a body of monocoque construction having a longitudinal centerline dividing said body in first and second sides,

a front axle assembly provided with wheels and tires and operatively connected to said body,

said front axle assembly having an offset front axle differential gear assembly disposed on said first side,

a rear axle assembly provided with wheels and tires and operatively connected to said body,

said rear axle assembly having an offset rear axle differential gear assembly disposed on said first side,

a suspension system operatively connecting said front and rear axle assemblies to said body and supporting said body on said front and rear axle assemblies,

a steeting system mounted on said body and operatively connected to said front axle assembly,

a driver'"'"'s station disposed in said body,

an engine mounted in said body between said front and rear axle assemblies, having its center of gravity positioned forward of said rear axle assembly and on said second side, and having a rearwardly disposed engine output means,

a transmission mounted in said body rearward of said engine, operatively connected to said engine output means, and having a rearwardly disposed transmission output means,

said transmission have its center of gravity positioned on said second side and rearward of said rear axle assembly,

a first transmitting means for transmitting drive from said transmission output means downwardly and laterally to said first side,

said first transmitting means having its lower end positioned rearward of said rear axle assembly and generally on said first side,

a second transmitting means positioned on said first side for transmitting drive from said lower end of said first transmitting means forwardly to said offset rear axle differential gear assembly,

a third transmitting means positioned on said first side operatively connecting said offset rear axle differential gear assembly and said front axle differential gear assembly for transmitting drive from said rear axle assembly to said front axle assembly, and

a cooling system for said engine mounted in said body.

43. The vehicle according to claim 42 wherein,

at least a portion of said transmission is disposed above said rear axle assembly.

44. The vehicle according to claim 42 wherein,

at least a portion of said transmission is disposed forward of said rear axle assembly.

45. The vehicle according to claim 42 wherein,

said first transmitting means is horizontally disposed.