Military vehicle

• US 9,656,640 B1
• Filed: 05/28/2015
• Issued: 05/23/2017
• Est. Priority Date: 03/26/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Oshkosh Defense LLC (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Original Assignee: Oshkosh Defense LLC (Oshkosh Corporation)
• Inventors: Schmiedel, Gary, Verhoff, Don, Yakes, Chris, Messina, Rob, Wilkins, Brian, Schulte, Kent, Seffernick, Daniel R., Holda, Joseph, Peotter, Michael, McGraw, David, Seefeldt, Anthony, Pelko, Dave, Gander, Jesse, Reineking, Jerry, Steinke, Jesse
• Primary Examiner(s): Beck, Karen
• Application Number:
  US14/724,279
• Time in Patent Office: 726 Days
• Field of Search: 180312
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/04 fluid spring characteristics
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/07 Off-road vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60K 17/105 Units comprising at least a part of the gearing and a torque-transmitting axle, e.g. transaxles B60K17/14 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/14 using accumulators or reservoirs fed by pumps
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/16 using pumps directly, i.e. without interposition of accumulators or reservoirs
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/249 Hydraulic command of the control valve, hydraulic transmission to the brakes
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/581 both hydraulic and pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/583 using converters
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 13/66 Electrical control in fluid-pressure brake systems
• CPC Class Codes: B60T 7/20 specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of or overrunning by trailer inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/152 Front or rear frames
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/18 characterised by the vehicle type and not provided for in groups B62D21/02 - B62D21/17
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 24/00 Connections between vehicle body and vehicle frame B62D23/00, B62D33/077 take precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 33/0617 for tractors or off-the-road vehicles protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors B60R21/131
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 63/025 Modular vehicles superstructures for busses having modular sections B62D31/025
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 5/16 for ordnance or tanks F41H5/18 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/044 Hull or cab construction other than floors or base plates for increased land mine protection mounting of armoured plates F41H5/013
• CPC Class Codes: F41H 7/048 Vehicles having separate armoured compartments, e.g. modular armoured vehicles

Abstract

A vehicle includes a passenger capsule, a front module, an engine coupled to the front module, a rear module, a transaxle, and a plurality of interfaces. The passenger capsule includes a structural shell having a first end and a second end, and the front module is coupled to the first end of the passenger capsule and has a first longitudinal frame member, a second longitudinal frame member, and a front axle assembly. The rear module is coupled to the second end of the passenger capsule and includes a rear axle assembly. The transaxle is coupled to the rear module and the engine, and the transaxle includes a housing that defines a structural component of the rear module.

Claims

1. A vehicle, comprising:

a passenger capsule including a structural shell having a first end and a second end;

a front module coupled to the first end of the passenger capsule and including a first longitudinal frame member, a second longitudinal frame member, and a front axle assembly;

an engine coupled to the front module;

a rear module coupled to the second end of the passenger capsule and including a rear axle assembly;

a transaxle coupled to the rear module and the engine, wherein the transaxle includes a transfercase component and a differential component contained at least partially within a housing that defines a structural component of the rear module, wherein the rear axle assembly includes at least one of an upper control arm, a lower control arm, a spring, and a damper that is directly coupled to the transaxle; and

a plurality of interfaces coupling at least one of the front module and the rear module to the passenger capsule, wherein the plurality of interfaces are configured to fail during a blast event such that the at least one of the front module and the rear module separates from the passenger capsule and dissipates blast energy.

2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the passenger capsule comprises a monocoque hull structure that does not include frame rails.

3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first longitudinal frame member and the second longitudinal frame member extend below the passenger capsule such that a subset of the plurality of interfaces are disposed below an underside of the structural shell.

4. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a lift structure that comprises:

a first protrusion extending from the first longitudinal frame member and defining a first aperture; and

a second protrusion extending from the second longitudinal frame member and defining a second aperture, wherein the first aperture and the second aperture form a pair of front lift points.

5. The vehicle of claim 4, wherein the passenger capsule includes a second pair of protrusions extending from opposing lateral sides of the structural shell, the second pair of protrusions defining a pair of apertures that form a pair of rear lift points.

6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the second pair of protrusions extend backward from an edge of the passenger capsule, away from the lift structure, and along a length of the rear module.

7. A vehicle, comprising:

a passenger capsule including a structural shell having a first end and a second end;

a front module coupled to the first end of the passenger capsule and including a first longitudinal frame member, a second longitudinal frame member, and a front axle assembly;

a rear module coupled to the second end of the passenger capsule and including a rear axle assembly;

a transaxle including a transfercase component and a differential component contained at least partially within a housing that defines a structural component of the rear module, wherein the rear axle assembly includes at least one of an upper control arm, a lower control arm, a spring, and a damper that is directly coupled to the transaxle;

a plurality of interfaces coupling at least one of the front module and the rear module to the passenger capsule, wherein the plurality of interfaces are configured to fail during a blast event such that the at least one of the front module and the rear module separates from the passenger capsule and dissipates blast energy; and

a braking system, comprising;

a pump;

an actuator including a rod that extends through a brake housing to apply a biasing force to a brake and inhibit movement of the vehicle; and

a line coupling the pump to the actuator, wherein engagement of the pump provides a pressurized fluid flow through the line that overcomes the biasing force and releases the brake.

8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the passenger capsule comprises a monocoque hull structure that does not include frame rails.