Drive configuration for a wheeled machine

• US 5,379,857 A
• Filed: 07/13/1993
• Issued: 01/10/1995
• Est. Priority Date: 07/13/1993
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Caterpillar Incorporated
• Inventors: Niederhofer, Kent J.
• Primary Examiner(s): Culbreth, Eric D.
• Assistant Examiner(s): Zeender, F.
• Application Number:
  US08/090,866
• Time in Patent Office: 546 Days
• Field of Search: 180/233, 180/248, 180/344, 180/347, 180/374, 180/375, 180/376, 180/377, 180/379
• US Class Current: 180/248
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/34 for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles arrangement or mounting of control devices for changing number of driven wheels B60K23/08

Abstract

Construction equipment is often provided with the same size tires on both the front and the rear of the machine to maintain commonality of tire sizes and to simplify the drivetrain configuration. The present invention provides a smaller pair of tires on one end of a machine than the pair of tires that are positioned on the opposite end. In doing so, the overall height of the end of the machine having the smaller tires is reduced. This lowers the center of gravity of the machine to improve operating stability of the machine. In addition, the reduced height makes that portion of the vehicle more accessible and thereby enhances serviceability.

Claims

1. A wheel loader, comprising:

a frame;

a first drive axle supported by a front portion of the frame and being sufficient for mounting a first pair of tires on each of an opposite end thereof, said tires being of a first preselected diameter;

a second drive axle supported by a rear portion of the frame and being sufficient for mounting a second pair of tires on each of an opposite end thereof, said second pair of tires being of a second preselected diameter smaller than that of the first pair of tires;

a powertrain supported by the frame and having a drive output portion that is positioned between said first and second drive axles; and

a driveline extending between the drive output portion of the powertrain and each of the first and second axles to transmit driving rotation therebetween, said driveline being positioned along a plane that extends between the longitudinal centerlines of the first and second drive axles and is positioned at an angle with respect to a horizontal plane, said angle being substantially parallel to the frame.

2. The machine as set forth in claim 1 wherein the first drive axle includes a first differential having a first preselected drive ratio to transmit rotation from the driveline to the first pair of tires and the second drive axle includes a second differential having a second preselected drive ratio to transmit rotation from the driveline to the second pair of tires.