Hub drive and method of using same

• US 7,726,426 B2
• Filed: 12/12/2006
• Issued: 06/01/2010
• Est. Priority Date: 02/21/2003
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Lockheed Martin Corporation (Martin Marietta Corporation)
• Inventors: Clemens, David A., Chun, Wendell H., Stinchcomb, Jon T., Beck, Michael S., Dunne, John C., Banks, Dean
• Primary Examiner(s): PHAN, HAU VAN
• Application Number:
  US11/559,988
• Publication Number:
  US 20070084664A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,267 Days
• Field of Search: 180/242, 180/65.8, 180/305, 180/292, 180/308, 180/369, 180/372, 254/328, 254/344, 254/361, 475/274, 475/269, 475/301, 475/304, 475/337, 475/347, 310/67.R, 310/67.A, 310/75.B
• US Class Current: 180/65.8
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/02 characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/046 with planetary gearing having orbital motion
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/356 having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel B60K7/00
• 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 28/16 responsive to, or preventing, skidding of wheels brake control systems for vehicle drive stability B60T8/1755; arrangements responsive to a speed condition for adjusting wheel braking force B60T8/32; control of vehicle driving stability otherwise than by controlling the propulsion unit only B60W30/02; preventing wheel slippage by reducing power in rail vehicles B61C15/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/00 Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel roller-skate driving mechanisms A63C17/12
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 7/0007 the motor being electric
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 1/062 acting on transmission parts
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2520/28 Wheel speed
• CPC Class Codes: B60W 2530/10 Weight
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/002 characterised by being of the low ground pressure type
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/10 with more than four wheels tractors of the low ground pressure type B62D49/002
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 61/12 with variable number of ground engaging wheels, e.g. with some wheels arranged higher than others, or with retractable wheels for manoeuvring purposes only B60S
• CPC Class Codes: B64G 1/16 Extraterrestrial cars

Abstract

A hub drive includes an in-hub motor and a shifting in-hub transmission coupled with the motor. A hub drive wheel assembly includes a wheel comprising a hub, an in-hub motor, and a shifting in-hub transmission having an input attached to the motor and an output attached to the wheel. A vehicle includes a chassis, a wheel comprising a hub, an in-hub motor, and a shifting in-hub transmission having an input attached to the motor and an output attached to the wheel for rotating the wheel with respect to the chassis. A method includes providing a shifting transmission and a motor coupled with the transmission in a hub of a wheel, providing electrical power to the motor, and rotating the motor with the electrical power. The method further includes rotating the transmission with the motor and rotating the wheel with the transmission.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a chassis;

a wheel comprising a hub;

an in-hub electric motor; and

a shifting in-hub transmission having an input attached to the motor and an output attached to the wheel for rotating the wheel with respect to the chassis.

2. A vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the motor comprises a variable reluctance motor.

3. A vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the transmission is capable of preventing transmission of power therethrough.

4. A vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the transmission is capable of rotating independently of rotation by the motor.

5. A vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the transmission further comprises an epicyclic gear train.

6. A vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the motor comprises a stator and a rotor and the transmission comprises:

a sun gear coupled with the rotor;

a plurality of planetary gears engaged with the sun gear;

a planetary gear carrier for holding the planetary gears in place and for providing an output for the transmission; and

a ring gear engaged with the plurality of planetary gears.

7. A vehicle, according to claim 6, further comprising:

a shift drum;

a shift motor for linearly actuating the shift drum;

a ring gear dog ring;

at least one first shift lever biased against the shift drum for selectively engaging the ring gear dog ring with the ring gear depending upon the position of the shift drum;

a planetary carrier dog ring; and

at least one second shift lever biased against the shift drum for selectively engaging the planetary carrier dog ring with the planetary gear carrier depending upon the position of the shift drum.

8. A vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the motor is capable of being backdriven to brake the hub drive.

9. A vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the motor and the transmission are capable of rotating in two directions.

10. A vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the hub drive is capable of being operated while immersed.

11. A vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the hub drives of the vehicle are capable of withstanding at least one of a non-palletized air-drop and a rollover of the vehicle.

12. A vehicle, according to claim 1, wherein the vehicle is capable of skid steering.

13. A method, comprising:

providing a shifting transmission and a motor coupled with the transmission in a hub of a wheel;

providing electrical power to the motor;

rotating the motor with the electrical power;

rotating the transmission with the motor; and

rotating the wheel with the transmission.

14. A method, according to claim 13, further comprising shifting the transmission between a low speed mode and a high speed mode.

15. A method, according to claim 13, wherein shifting the transmission further comprises:

linearly actuating a shift drum; and

pivoting at least one of a plurality of shift levers biased against the shift drum.

16. A method, according to claim 15, wherein pivoting the at least one of the plurality of shift levers further comprises pivoting a first shift lever to engage a ring gear dog ring with a ring gear of the transmission.

17. A method, according to claim 15, wherein pivoting the at least one of the plurality of shift levers further comprises pivoting a first shift lever to disengage a ring gear dog ring from a ring gear of the transmission.

18. A method, according to claim 15, wherein pivoting the at least one of the plurality of shift levers further comprises pivoting a second shift lever to engage a planetary carrier dog ring with a planetary gear carrier of the transmission.

19. A method, according to claim 15, wherein pivoting the at least one of the plurality of shift levers further comprises pivoting a second shift lever to disengage a planetary carrier dog ring from a planetary gear carrier of the transmission.

20. A method, according to claim 13, wherein rotating the motor and rotating the transmission are accomplished while submersed.

21. A method, according to claim 13, further comprising coupling a plurality of the transmissions, a corresponding plurality of the motors, and a corresponding plurality of the wheels with a vehicle.

22. A method, according to claim 21, further comprising dropping the vehicle from an aircraft.

23. A method, according to claim 21, further comprising:

rotating a first group of the wheels, coupled with a first side of the vehicle, in a first direction; and

rotating a second group of the wheels, coupled with a second side of the vehicle, in a second direction, opposite the first direction.

24. A method, according to claim 13, further comprising coupling a plurality of the transmission with a vehicle and shifting the plurality of transmission in a staggered fashion.

25. A method, according to claim 13, further comprising reversing a rotational direction of the motor to reverse a rotational direction of the transmission and the wheel.