Electromechanical drive for track-laying vehicles

• US 6,358,176 B1
• Filed: 11/01/1999
• Issued: 03/19/2002
• Est. Priority Date: 11/03/1998
• Status: Expired

• Current Assignee: RENK AG (RENK GmbH)
• Original Assignee: RENK AG (RENK GmbH)
• Inventors: Nauheimer, Harald, Huf, Anton
• Primary Examiner(s): Marmor, Charles A
• Assistant Examiner(s): PANG, ROGER L
• Application Number:
  US09/430,943
• Time in Patent Office: 869 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.5, 180/65.6, 180/65.7, 475/151, 475/152, 475/286, 475/18, 475/149, 475/317, 475/320, 475/322, 475/900
• US Class Current: 475/149
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/046 with planetary gearing having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0038 the motor moving together with the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 2007/0092 the motor axle being coaxial to the wheel axle
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60Y 2200/25 Track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/108 with friction clutches
• CPC Class Codes: H02K 7/116 with gears

Abstract

An electromechanical drive for track-laying vehicles in which the two drive sides have no mechanical coupling and permits smaller overall lengths and overall diameters. As a result, the flexibility of the arrangement of the drive components compared is further increased. The drive includes an electric traction motor, at least one variable-speed mechanical gear unit, and at least one brake. At least one of these components is arranged inside the rotor of the electric motor, and the remaining components are arranged laterally at the electric motor in such a way as to lie coaxially in approximately one plane.

Claims

1. A drive for track laying vehicles, comprising:

an electric traction motor having a rotor;

a shiftable transmission having at least one variable speed mechanical gear stage connected to said rotor and having an output; and

at least one brake connected for acting directly on the output of the at least one variable speed mechanical gear stage for locking the output and thereby preventing rotation of the output during parking of the vehicle;

wherein at least one of said gear stage and said brake are arranged inside the rotor of the electric motor and the other of said gear stage and said brake are arranged laterally outside the electric motor so as to be arranged coaxially therewith and in substantially the same plane.

2. The drive in accordance with claim 1, wherein said electric traction motor is operable to allow brief operation close to a motor cut-off output.

3. The drive in accordance with claim 1, wherein said at least one brake is arranged proximate a radial outer side of said drive and comprises a radial outer diameter which is approximately the same as a radial outer diameter of said motor.

4. A drive for track laying vehicles comprising:

an electric traction motor having a rotor;

at least one brake;

a first epicyclic gear unit acting as a fixed stage;

a second epicyclic gear unit driven by said first epicyclic gear unit; and

a plurality of multiple-disc clutches operably connected to said second epicyclic gear and having an output shaft operably connected with said at least one brake;

wherein said electric traction motor comprises an external-rotor motor, and wherein one of said first and second epicyclic gears and one of said plurality of multiple-disc clutches are arranged one behind the other in an interior region of the external-rotor motor, and the other of said first and second epicyclic gears and another of said plurality of multiple-disc clutches are arranged to lie outside the external-rotor motor coaxially in a plane with said at least one brake in a radial direction from said external-rotor motor.

5. A drive for track laying vehicles comprising:

an electric traction motor having a rotor;

at least one brake;

a plurality of gear stages, and a plurality of clutches, wherein at least one gear stage and at least one clutch are arranged in an interior of the electric motor, and wherein at least another of said gear stages and said clutches in addition to said at least one brake are arranged coaxially with respect to each other an in the same plane outside said electric motor.