Drive configuration for a skid steered vehicle

• US 7,074,151 B2
• Filed: 04/17/2002
• Issued: 07/11/2006
• Est. Priority Date: 04/17/2001
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Qinetiq Limited (QinetiQ Group PLC)
• Original Assignee: Qinetiq Limited (QinetiQ Group PLC)
• Inventors: Thompson, Robert W
• Primary Examiner(s): LEWIS, TISHA D
• Application Number:
  US10/474,349
• Publication Number:
  US 20040116228A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,546 Days
• Field of Search: 475/19, 475/28, 475/29, 475/201, 475/204, 475/205, 475/223, 475/224, 475/225, 475/230, 180 626- 63, 180/6.38, 180/6.44, 180/6.48, 180/6.5, 180/6.62, 188/65.5
• US Class Current: 475/225
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/046 with planetary gearing having orbital motion
• 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: B60K 7/0015 the motor being hydraulic
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/14 differential power outputs being effected by additional power supply to one side, e.g. power originating from secondary power source
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/16 the additional power supply being supplied mechanically
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2048/02 Transfer gears for influencing drive between outputs
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/06 with gears having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/10 with orbital spur gears
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 48/30 using externally-actuatable means

Abstract

An electric drive configuration for a skid steered vehicle comprises: a pair of propulsion motors (74a, 74b), each with a motor shaft protruding from both ends of the motor and mounted on the same axis across the vehicle, each being coupled at the outer end to drive one of a pair of tracks or set of wheels of the skid steered vehicle; a control differential steep gear unit (72) positioned between the two propulsion motors and in driveable communication with the inner ends of the two motor shafts: and a steer motor (71) in driveable communication with the controlled differential (72), the steer motor (71) being controllable from zero speed giving straight line running in which both motor shafts are coupled to run at the same speed, to a range of speeds in both directions of rotation giving steering capability in both directions.

Claims

1. A drive configuration for a skid steered vehicle comprising:

a pair of drive members for engaging with a pair of tracks or wheels of the skid steered vehicle, at least one propulsion motor having a single through motor shaft carrying a rotor of the motor and protruding from the ends of the motor, a first end of the motor shaft being coupled to one of the pair of drive members and a second end of the motor shaft being coupled to an output of a controlled differential device, and a steer motor in driveable communication with an input of the controlled differential device, the steer motor being controllable from a zero speed to give straight line running to one or more different speeds in either or both directions of rotation enabling steering of the vehicle in at least one direction.

2. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 1 wherein there is only a single propulsion motor, and a plain shaft or coupling is provided between the controlled differential and the second drive member.

3. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 1 wherein there are at least two propulsion motors.

4. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 1 wherein the configuration is further provided with a transmission system comprising one or more of a pair of brakes, a pair of gear reduction/change units and a pair of final drive units each mounted symmetrically of the controlled differential.

5. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 4 wherein the paired components of the transmission are linked by a linkage mechanism configured to provide substantially simultaneous gear changes and/or braking at the two sides of the vehicle.

6. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 5 wherein the linkage mechanism is mechanical, electrical or hydraulic.

7. A skid steered vehicle incorporating the drive configuration as claimed in claim 1.

8. A skid steered vehicle as claimed in claim 7 wherein the vehicle is a tracked or wheeled vehicle.

9. A drive configuration for a skid steered vehicle comprising:

first and second drive members for engaging with respective tracks or wheels at opposite sides of the vehicle;

a first propulsion motor disposed inboard of the first drive member and arranged to drive a first shaft coaxial with a rotor of such motor;

a second propulsion motor disposed inboard of the second drive member and arranged to drive a second shaft coaxial with a rotor of such motor;

a controlled differential device disposed between the first and second propulsion motors; and

a steer motor coupled to the controlled differential device to provide steering input to the configuration through the controlled differential device, the first shaft being coupled at one end to drive the first drive member and coupled at its other end to a first output of the controlled differential device and the second shaft being coupled at one end to drive the second drive member and coupled at its other end to a second output of the controlled differential device.

10. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 9 wherein the controlled differential device comprises a pair of epicyclical gear trains.

11. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 10 wherein the epicyclical gear trains are arranged to form a double epicyclical controlled differential having a common planet carrier.

12. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 11 wherein the planet carriers are joined by a common shaft passing through a pair of sun gears.

13. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 9 wherein the drive configuration is housed in a cylinder of a diameter approximately equal to that of the propulsion motors with the steer motor located adjacent and outside the cylinder.

14. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 13 wherein the cylinder extends across the width of the hull of the vehicle.

15. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 9 wherein one or more of the propulsion motor(s) and/or steer motor is electrically or hydraulically driven.

16. A skid steered vehicle incorporating the drive configuration as claimed in claim 9.

17. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 9 wherein the controlled differential device comprises a pair of epicyclical gear trains each comprising a sun gear, planet gears carried by a planet carrier, and an annulus;

the planet carriers being interconnected so as to rotate in common; and

wherein said first and second shafts are coupled to the controlled differential device trough respective said annuli.

18. A drive configuration for a skid steered vehicle comprising:

first and second drive members for engaging with respective tracks or wheels at opposite sides of the vehicle;

a controlled differential device comprising a pair of epicyclical gear trains each comprising a sun gear, planet gears carried by a planet carrier, and an annulus;

the planet carriers being interconnected by a shaft passing through the sun gears such that the planet carriers rotate in common;

first and second propulsion motors each coupled between a respective sold drive member and a respective said annulus; and

a steer motor coupled to impart relative rotation between said sun gears in opposite directions.

19. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 18 wherein said sun gears are coupled to said steer motor through respective spur gear trains, one such train comprising a gear to reverse the direction of rotation of the respective sun gear in relation to the other sun gear.

20. A drive configuration as claimed in claim 18 wherein said sun gears are coupled to said steer motors through respective bevel gears coupled to a common bevel gear.

21. A skid steered vehicle incorporating the drive configuration as claimed in claim 18.