Abstract: A hydraulic wheel motor and pump are provided for use with a motor vehicle having a pair of mechanically driven wheels and a pair of non-mechanically driven wheels. The hydraulic pumps cooperate with the mechanically driven wheels, and the hydraulic motors are coupled to the non-mechanically driven wheels. The pumps and motors are diagonally connected to one another to create a four wheel drive vehicle. Also shown is an apparatus and method for independently controlling the tractive force of the vehicle wheels during a turning maneuver.

Abstract: In an axial piston motor or pump the cylinder barrel is mounted on a medial shaft which has a shoulder which axially bears against the front end of the rotor barrel. The rear end of the medial shaft is radially borne in a housing portion. The front portion of the medial shaft is provided with a bearing member of an axial thrust bearing for support on a respective axial thrust bearing member in the housing. On the rear end of the rotary barrel an axially selfthrusting control body is provided to seal the flow of fluid to and from the cylinders of the rotary barrel. The control body presses against the rotary barrel, the rotary barrel presses against the shoulder of the medial shaft and the thrust bearing member of the shaft bears on the thrust bearing member of the housing. As a result thereof the cylinders in the rotary barrel can be straight through bores. The manufacturing of the rotor barrel is thereby simplified and the flow acceleration losses of former bore type cylinders are prevented.

Abstract: A hydraulic wheel motor and pump are provided for use with a motor vehicle having a pair of mechanically driven wheels and a pair of non-mechanically driven wheels. The hydraulic pumps cooperate with the mechanically driven wheels, and the hydraulic motors are coupled to the non-mechanically driven wheels. The pumps and motors are diagonally connected to one another to create a four wheel drive vehicle.

Abstract: A road finishing machine comprising a diesel-hydraulically driven set of main wheels and at least one set of steerable wheels. An additional hydraulic companent is provided which transfers a driving force to the steerable wheels, and the peripheral speed of the steerable wheels is automatically adapted to that of the main wheels.

Abstract: A vehicle, in particular an agricultural one, for instance a combine harvester, has two axles (1, 2) drivable from two hydraulic motors (3, 4) switched in parallel, of which the one, non-steerable axle (1) is constantly drivable and the drive of the second steerable axle (2) may be connected or disconnected by means of clutch (11). In order to achieve a compact, stable and vibration-free auxiliary drive of the second steerable axle (2), the clutch (11), a planetary transmission (12) and a bevel drive pinion of an angle transmission (13) are arranged coaxially one behind the other between the associated hydraulic motor (4) and the axle (2). Due to this arrangement the hydraulic motor (4) of the second steerable axle (2) may be approximately half the size of the hydraulic motor (3) of the constantly driven axle (1). The clutch (11) and the planetary transmission (12) are combined to form a compact constructional unit (26) which is flange-connected to the axle housing ( 27) of the second, steerable axle (2).

Abstract: An inching system for use in a vehicle for performing work which permits the vehicle to be moved at reduced speeds while maintaining sufficient engine speed, and therefore, sufficient hydraulic fluid flow and pressure for actuating the work-performing apparatus. The inching system includes a control valve for controlling the amount of hydraulic fluid which a forward-reverse valve is able to direct to the rear drive means, an orifice through which hydraulic fluid flows from a source of hydraulic fluid to the control valve to restrict the flow of fluid to a level below that of the flow to the work-performing apparatus, and a variable inching valve for metering hydraulic fluid from the control valve so that fluid pressure available to the forward-reverse valve, and in turn, to the rear drive means, is progressively reduced. A pedal is provided in the cab of the vehicle to selectively actuate the variable inching valve to effect inching control.

Abstract: A front wheel drive speed control system for a vehicle having a main rear wheel drive and an assisting hydraulically powered front wheel drive. A hydraulic pump is connected by a hydraulic circuit to a hydraulic motor at each driven front wheel. A clutch assembly between the hydraulic motor and the associated wheel facilitates rotation of the driven front wheel. A speed sensing device is mounted to sense speed of the main rear wheel drive and each driven front wheel. A speed control system is connected to the speed sensing devices and to the hydraulic pump and is operable to terminate the pumps operation when the speed of the main rear wheel drive exceeds a predetermined speed and to resume assisting operation of the driven front wheel when the speed of the main rear wheel drive drops below a second predetermined speed.

Abstract: An improved hydraulic auxiliary drive system for driving the normally non-driven wheels of a vehicle is disclosed. A variable displacement motor having a tiltable swash plate operable between zero and full displacement positions drives the normally non-driven wheels and a variable displacement pump supplies pressure fluid to the motor. A spring biases the swash plate toward its zero displacement position and a servo mechanism is connected with the swash plate for tilting the same. A first supply delivers pressure fluid to the servo mechanism to tilt the swash plate toward its full displacement position and a second supply delivers pressure fluid to the servo mechanism to tilt the swash plate toward its zero displacement position. The first supply includes a pressure control valve to control the pressure thereof.

Abstract: A front wheel assist drive for a vehicle having a rear wheel main drive includes a hydraulic fluid pump. The pump is connected to a hydraulic motor. The motor is connected to an output shaft. An overrunning clutch is interposed between the motor and output shaft for selectively connecting the shaft to the motor when the motor is turning in a first direction. An output shaft is connected to a front wheel for driving the wheel in a first direction via the motor. A control is connected to the motor for preventing the motor from dynamically braking the vehicle when the wheel is driven in a reverse direction through the main drive.

Abstract: The invention provides a hydrostatic drive for vehicles, especially for the drive wheels of automotive heavy processing machines that have a drive for main drive wheels via a multispeed gear transmission and a drive for auxiliary drive wheels, wherein the drives for both the auxiliary drive wheels and the main drive wheels are hydrostatic. These hydrostatic drives each comprise an adjustable pump and an adjustable motor. A multispeed gear transmission is provided between the main drive motor and the main drive wheels and a clutch is provided between the adjustable motor and the auxiliary drive wheels. To obtain a higher travel speed, it is possible to disconnect the auxiliary drive and to switch, via a changeover valve, the delivery of the adjustable pump from the auxiliary drive to the main drive. Thereby is obtained the advantage that through the same control of both main and auxiliary drive wheels there is ensured a functional interplay of the drives.

Abstract: A hydrostatic-mechanical multiple-wheel drive for heavy vehicles with a multi-gear transmission for driving main driving wheels and hydrostatically operated additional driving wheels to be connected, as required, by themselves or when in one of the lower gears, including a variable displacement pump, driven directly proportionally to the speed of the main drive motor, for acting upon the additional driving wheels and an auxiliary pump acting as a filling and control pump, wherein, in order to control the speed with which the additional driving wheels are driven to that of the vehicle wheels, in particular to achieve synchronous running of these wheels, provision is made for orifices and/or throttles in the oil circuit of the auxiliary pump for varying the control pressure for the adjusting cylinder of the variable displacement pump so as to adjust these against the restoring force of the pump and of springs in the adjusting cylinder to the control pressure corresponding to the desired speed.

Abstract: The present invention is directed to a torque control with overspeed regulation and a method of controlling a hydrostatic drive for use in an auxiliary wheel drive of a vehicle which has both primary driven wheels and auxiliary driven wheels. The torque control permits maximum torque drive of the auxiliary wheels when the primary driven wheels slip but yet prevents overspeed operation of the auxiliary wheels. Preferably the torque control with overspeed regulation has both an aggressive control and a sensitivity control so that the auxiliary wheel drive can be selectively modulated with respect to the primary wheel drive.

Abstract: A standard cargo container is reconstructed into a readily transportable hospital unit for providing emergency treatment to injured survivors at a site of a major disaster, wherein the structural features embodied by the container contribute to its transportability to the disaster site (except, of course, instead of cargo, the container houses medical facilities and supplies), and subsequently at the site the container has surface transportability as a result of internal combustion engine-operated front wheels and hydraulically-operated rear wheels. The rear wheels also have the noteworthy operating mode of being extendable and retractable so as to maintain a horizontal orientation in the container during the loading and unloading thereof from a cargo-type aircraft.

Abstract: A self propelled combine having forward main drive wheels and rear steerable wheels. A hydrostatic drive including a variable displacement motor is arranged to drive the main drive wheels. An electronic-hydraulic control system is automatically operable to drive the rear steerable wheels in response to sensing preselected pressure and combine attitude values while automatically varying the displacement of the hydrostatic drive motor to minimize combine speed changes and to provide torque as required under varying loads imposed by hilly terrain or increasing amounts of grain collected in the grain tank of the combine.

Abstract: A hydraulic gear motor is supported by supporting structure secured to an axle adjacent a ground engaging wheel. The support structure is pivotally mounted upon a bolt or shaft extending upwardly from the supporting structure and the hydraulic motor, together with a sprocket driven thereby, is capable of vertical movement on the bolt or shaft and is held in the uppermost position by means of a detachable lock pin through the bolt or shaft. A length of sprocket chain is secured in the form of a circular track, to adjacent the rim of the wheel and concentric with the rotatable axis thereof. When the hydraulic motor and sprocket are in the uppermost position, the sprocket engages the inner surface of the chain whereby rotation of the sprocket, rotates the ground engaging wheel. A pivotal retaining bracket holds the hydraulic motor in the innermost position when the sprocket engages the chain.

Abstract: A variable displacement auxiliary front wheel drive system (10) is provided which includes a variable displacement fluid motor (12, 14, 16) for driving at least one vehicle wheel. The fluid motor (12, 14, 16) receives fluid under pressure from a supply source (30, 32) connected to a variable displacement pressure compensated pump which supplies fluid to a hydraulic system for the vehicle accessories. To render the variable displacement fluid motor (12, 14, 16) inoperative, a fluid control system (34, 36, 40) may be selectively operated to block fluid flow from the supply source (30, 32) to the variable displacement fluid motor (12, 14, 16) and to a pressure compensating system (44) for the fluid motor (12, 14, 16). With fluid from the supply source (30, 32) blocked, a plurality of spool valves (46, 48, 50) in the pressure compensating system (44) are drained.

Abstract: A hydraulic auxiliary drive system for the normally non-driven wheels of a vehicle to assist the main wheels. The auxiliary drive comprises at least one variable displacement motor having a swash plate for driving at least one of the non-driven wheels, a variable displacement pressure compensated pump supplying the motor with a constant pressure regardless of vehicle speed, a spring for biasing each motor swash plate toward zero displacement, a servo connected to the motor swash plate for varying the displacement of the motor, and a pressure source for supplying the servo. A manually operated pressure control includes a solenoid-controlled variable orifice for controlling the pressure level supplied to the servo to vary the torque output of the normally non-driven wheels. A control valve is positioned between the pump and motor for disengaging and reversing the auxiliary drive. Another embodiment includes a second servo connected to the motor swash plate for decreasing the motor displacement.

Abstract: A vehicle having at least two driven axles is powered by a gas turbine plant having two separate take-off shafts. One of these is connected to a first driven axle by a mechanical gearing, while the other take-off shaft is connected to a second driven axle by way of a hydraulic transmission including a constant volume pump and motor. The two turbine shafts are interconnected by a transmission, which preferably is of the infinitely variable type. Adjustable guide vanes are provided at the inlet to at least one of the turbine rotors for occasional distribution of the total load between the two rotors.

Abstract: An electro-hydraulic auxiliary drive system providing power to the non-driven steerable wheels of an agricultural tractor utilizing hydraulic power in a parallel circuit from a pressure compensated pump which varies torque supplied to the auxiliary system by sensing the relative speed between the front and rear wheels and increases the torque to the auxiliary system when a set percentage of slip is determined between the front and rear wheels. The steerable wheels are driven by hydraulic motors connected in parallel through a flow divider valve and supplied by a variable displacement pressure compensated pump. When the electronic control receives an indication of slip from the main drive wheels it energizes a solenoid causing the pressure compensation level of the variable displacement pump to increase the torque output of the auxiliary drive system, with the percentage of slip being proportional to the increased torque.

Abstract: An off-highway earth-moving vehicle of the scraper type which includes a tractor section and scraper section interconnected by a draft frame providing rolling rigidity, each section having a pair of ground-engaging wheels. A floating axle assembly is provided on the tractor section permitting independent movement of the tractor wheels in the following of ground contours. The scraper section is driven by a prime mover having a torque converter for coupling to the rear axle. The prime mover, in addition, drives an AC synchronous generator which is electrically connected to an induction motor in the tractor section. The motor in turn is drivingly coupled, via a second torque converter, to the tractor wheels.

Abstract: An electronic control for a vehicle supplementary hydrostatic front wheel drive includes a rear sensor for providing a command signal representative of the speed of differential connected, engine-driven, main drive wheels. A front sensor provides a feedback signal representative of the speed of the hydrostatic drive motors. The command signal is modified to provide a modified command signal to be summed with the feedback signal to provide servo circuitry with a servo signal which is representative of the front wheels being driven 3% slower than the rear wheels. Electrically actuated, pressure responsive clutches allow the front wheels to overrun the hydrostatic drive motors until the slip at the rear wheels exceeds 3%, then the front wheels drive to supplement the main drive wheels.

Abstract: A vehicle having at least two driven axles is powered by a gas turbine plant having two separate take-off shafts. One of these is connected to a first driven axle by a mechanical gearing, while the other take-off shaft is connected to a second driven axle by way of a transmission including a non-mechanical link.The non-mechanical link may include provision for electric power transfer and the transmission can be equipped with a current collector adapted to occasionally cooperate with a fixed electric main for transferring electric power into the transmission, to be used instead of, or together with the current generated by the gas turbine plant.

Abstract: A motor grader is provided with an electrical control circuit for automatically effecting engagement, speed, and direction control of an auxiliary hydrostatic front wheel drive system to augment the primary engine-driven rear wheel drive system.

Abstract: An energy efficient passenger carrying vehicle for road use. The vehicle basically comprises a long, narrow body carrying two passengers in a back-to-back relationship. The vehicle is basically a battery powered electric vehicle that can be charged by all free energy sources; namely, the sun, the wind, human muscles and momentum. The vehicle comprises four modules, namely body, solar, and two power modules. An electric power module is located within each end of the body module. This module includes electric motors driving the vehicle supporting wheels and rechargeable batteries to power the motors. Pedals, similar to those on a bicycle, located at each power module, drive generators to help recharge the batteries during operation of the vehicle, or directly help drive the vehicle wheels. A solar module comprising a large electricity generating solar cell panel covers most of the vehicle roof to aid in charging the batteries.

Abstract: A vehicle has a forward mounted primary gasoline engine operatively engaged with the front axle and its associated wheels. The vehicle also has a rear mounted second motor drivingly engaged with the rear axle which is normally a dead axle. The rear axle is selectively drivingly engageable with the rear wheels which can overrun the rear axle in both the forward and reverse directions. The second motor is preferably an electric motor operable in two directions but alternatively may be a hydraulic pump/motor. The second motor, which may be driven by the primary motor or from an independent power source such as a battery, is manually actuable by the vehicle operator and automatically disengageable upon reaching a predetermined speed.

Abstract: A motor grader is provided with an electrical control circuit for automatically effecting engagement, speed, and direction control of an auxiliary hydrostatic front wheel drive system to augment the primary engine-driven rear wheel drive system.

Abstract: An energy efficient passenger carrying vehicle for road use. The vehicle basically comprises a long, narrow body carrying two passengers in a back-to-back relationship. The vehicle is basically a battery powered electric vehicle that can be charged by all free energy sources; namely, the sun, the wind, human muscles and momentum. The vehicle comprises four modules, namely body, solar, and two power modules. An electric power module is located within each end of the body module. This module includes electric motors driving the vehicle supporting wheels and rechargeable batteries to power the motors. Pedals, similar to those on a bicycle, located at each power module, drive generators to help recharge the batteries during operation of the vehicle, or directly help drive the vehicle wheels. A solar module comprising a large electricity generating solar cell panel covers most of the vehicle roof to aid in charging the batteries.