Power-driven wheel for a military vehicle

• US 8,353,376 B2
• Filed: 10/06/2011
• Issued: 01/15/2013
• Est. Priority Date: 12/15/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oto Melara S.p.A. Con Unico Socio
• Original Assignee: Oto Melara S.p.A. Con Unico Socio
• Inventors: Sgherri, Roberto, Franceschi, Giuliano
• Primary Examiner(s): Shriver, II, J. Allen
• Assistant Examiner(s): Dolak, James M
• Application Number:
  US13/267,647
• Publication Number:
  US 20120025594A1
• Time in Patent Office: 467 Days
• Field of Search: 180/65.51, 180/65.1, 180/65.6, 180/371, 180/372, 475/5, 475/149, 152/416, 152/417, 417/233
• US Class Current: 180/65.51
• 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 2200/24 Military vehicles

Abstract

There is described a power-driven wheel for a military vehicle, having an axial-flow electric motor, and a hub connected functionally to the motor and rotating about an axis; the motor has an output member housed inside the hub; and the wheel has an epicyclic reducer interposed functionally between the hub and the output member.

Claims

1. A power-driven wheel comprising:

an axial-flow motor;

a hub in driven connection with said motor; and

a tire on said hub;

a fluidic connector connected to an inner tube of said tire and extending at least partly through said hub to permit inflation of said tire; and

a transmission interposed functionally between an output member of said motor and said hub, and housed inside said hub;

said transmission comprising an epicyclic reducer having a sun gear connected angularly to said output member of said motor, a ring gear fixed to a casing of said motor, at least two planet gears connected in rotary manner to said ring gear and to said sun gear, and a planet carrier connected in rotary manner to said planet gears and connected angularly to said hub;

said fluidic connector being housed at least partly inside said transmission and comprises;

a first conduit extending through said output member, and having an outwardly open end;

a second conduit connected fluidically to said first conduit and defined by said sun gear; and

a third conduit, which is connected fluidically to said second conduit, is open towards a chamber of said tire, and is defined by said planet carrier.

2. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the tire is angularly integral with the hub.

3. The wheel as claimed in claim 1, wherein the fluidic connector extends through the motor.

4. A military vehicle comprising a power-driven wheel as claimed in claim 1.