Drive arrangement for earth moving machines

• US 5,188,193 A
• Filed: 08/01/1991
• Issued: 02/23/1993
• Est. Priority Date: 04/03/1989
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Bischofshofen GmbH (Liebherr-International AG)
• Original Assignee: Liebherr-Werk Bischofshofen GmbH (Liebherr-International AG)
• Inventors: Schroeder, Klaus
• Primary Examiner(s): HILL, MITCHELL
• Application Number:
  US07/739,793
• Time in Patent Office: 572 Days
• Field of Search: 180/233, 180/242, 180/243, 180/244, 180/245, 180/246, 180/294, 180/374, 180/375, 180/377, 180/378, 180/379, 180/380, 180/382, 180/383, 180/385, 180/305
• US Class Current: 180/242
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/3411 of the Z-type
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/00 Component parts of dredgers or soil-shifting machines, not restricted to one of the kinds covered by groups E02F3/00 - E02F7/00 laying-out or take-up devices for trailing electric cables B66C
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0833 Improving access, e.g. for maintenance, steps for improving driver's access, handrails
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/0866 Engine compartment, e.g. heat exchangers, exhaust filters, cooling devices, silencers, mufflers, position of hydraulic pumps in the engine compartment
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/202 Mechanical transmission, e.g. clutches, gears clutches per se F16D, gears per se F16H
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 47/02 the fluid gearing being of the volumetric type

Abstract

A drive arrangement for earth moving machines of simplified structure which allows ready access to the various parts thereof for servicing. The arrangement includes a controlled hydrostatic motor dispersed between a fluid power pump associated with the internal combustion engine of the machine and which is connected through its drive shaft to the universal drive shaft of the machine at a point between the rear wheel driving axle and the universal joint associated therewith.

Claims

1. In an improved drive arrangement for an earth moving machine having front and rear wheel driving axles provided with differentials having universal joints which are connected together by a universal joint shaft, a brake system, a steering system, an internal combustion engine having a fluid power pump which is driven by said engine, the improvement comprising:

a controlled hydrostatic motor connected to said universal joint shaft.

said pump connected to said controlled hydrostatic motor,

a drive shaft connected between said pump and said universal joint shaft.

2. A drive arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the hydrostatic motor is a swash plate motor.

3. A drive arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the swash plate motor acts as a reserve pump.

4. A drive arrangement according to claim 2 wherein the swash plate motor projects towards the rear of the earth moving machine, being flange-mounted on the housing of the differential of the rear wheel axle and drives a crown wheel in said differential.

5. A drive arrangement according to claim 4 wherein the swash plate motor acts as a reserve pump.

6. A drive arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the hydrostatic motor is flange-mounted on the differential of the rear axle.

7. A drive arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the hydrostatic motor acts as a reserve pump.

8. A drive arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the hydrostatic motor projects towards the rear of the earth moving machine, being flange-mounted on the housing of the differential of the rear wheel axle and drives a crown wheel in said differential.

9. A drive arrangement according to claim 8 wherein the hydrostatic motor acts as a reserve pump.

10. A drive arrangement according to claim 1 including a housing enclosing the differential of the rear wheel axle and a gear box flange-mounted on said housing projecting towards the rear of the earth moving machine, said gear box having an output shaft connected through a bevel wheel with a crown wheel of said differential and driving said crown wheel, and the hydrostatic motor is flange-mounted on a rear end of said gear box and drives said output shaft of said gear box.

11. A drive arrangement according to claim 10 wherein the gear box includes multi-speed epicyclic gearing.

12. A drive arrangement according to claim 11 wherein the hydrostatic motor is a swash plate motor.

13. A drive arrangement according to claim 10 wherein the hydrostatic motor is a swash plate motor.

14. A drive arrangement according to claim 1 wherein the internal combustion engine is mounted in the earth moving machine with the fan of said engine facing towards the front of said machine and the fluid power pump facing towards the rear of said machine.