Combat vehicle with diesel-electric drive mechanism and rear hatch

• US 5,915,292 A
• Filed: 08/19/1997
• Issued: 06/22/1999
• Est. Priority Date: 08/20/1996
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Firma Wegmann & Company GmbH
• Original Assignee: Firma Wegmann & Company GmbH
• Inventors: Abels, Frank O.
• Primary Examiner(s): Eldred, J. Woodrow
• Application Number:
  US08/914,361
• Time in Patent Office: 672 Days
• Field of Search: 89/36.08, 89/36.07, 180/65.3, 180/65.4, 180/69.6
• US Class Current: 89/36.08
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 2270/40 related to technical updates when adding new parts or software
• CPC Class Codes: B60L 50/61 by batteries charged by engine-driven generators, e.g. series hybrid electric vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/62 Hybrid vehicles
• 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
• CPC Class Codes: Y02T 10/7072 Electromobility specific charging systems or methods for batteries, ultracapacitors, supercapacitors or double-layer capacitors

Abstract

A combat vehicle with a rear hatch and a track powered by a diesel-electric drive mechanism in the rear. It is characterized in that the drive mechanism includes separate motors that drive the tracks and several current-generating diesel-electric aggregates, each in the form of a generator powered by an automobile diesel engine. The diesel-electric aggregates are positioned symmetrically to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and above the track cover, leaving a passage below the diesel-electric aggregates and between the inside of the vehicle and the hatch that can be heightened by moving at least part of the vehicle'"'"'s floor.

Claims

1. A combat vehicle comprising:

a rear portion having a rear hatch providing access to an inside of the vehicle having a floor;

two tracks having track covers thereover and powered by a diesel-electric drive mechanism in the rear portion of the vehicle;

wherein the drive mechanism includes a separate motor for each track and a plurality of current-generating diesel electric aggregates each comprising a generator powered by a diesel engine;

wherein the plurality of diesel electric aggregates are positioned symmetrically with respect to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle and above the track covers to leave a passage below the plurality of diesel electric aggregates and between the inside of the vehicle and the rear hatch that can be heightened by moving at least part of the floor of the vehicle.

2. The combat vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the diesel engines are turbodiesel engines.

3. The combat vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the plurality of diesel electric aggregates are in a housing at the rear portion of the vehicle, wherein the housing extends over substantially the whole width of the vehicle and is detachable therefrom.

4. The combat vehicle according to claim 1, wherein the inside of the vehicle includes a troop compartment and wherein said at least part of the floor extends from the troop compartment to the rear hatch and partway across the vehicle and swings down around an axis that extends horizontally across the vehicle at a front portion of said at least part of the floor.

5. The combat vehicle according to claim 4, wherein said at least part of the floor comprises two adjacent sections joined at an obtuse angle with respect to each other.

6. The combat vehicle according to claim 4, further comprising a hydropneumatic transmission for lifting the rear portion of the vehicle.