Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle electric drive system. There is a need for a brake responsive vehicle electric drive system. A vehicle electric drive system includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor/generator driven by the engine, and drive wheels driven by a traction motor/generator. The motor/generators are controlled by a control system which receives signals from an operator speed control member, wheel speed sensors, and a pair of brake pedal position sensors, each connected to a corresponding left or right brake pedal. In response to operation of the brake pedals, the controller coordinates operation of the electric drive system with operation of the brake pedals.

Abstract: The invention relates to a vehicle electric drive system. There is a need for a brake responsive vehicle electric drive system. A vehicle electric drive system includes an internal combustion engine, an electric motor/generator driven by the engine, and drive wheels driven by a traction motor/generator. The motor/generators are controlled by a control system which receives signals from an operator speed control member, wheel speed sensors, and a pair of brake pedal position sensors, each connected to a corresponding left or right brake pedal. In response to operation of the brake pedals, the controller coordinates operation of the electric drive system with operation of the brake pedals.

Abstract: A method of controlling a vehicle drive system is provided for a vehicle having an internal combustion engine, free-wheeling steerable front wheels, driven rear wheels, an infinitely variable transmission (IVT) transmitting torque from the engine to the rear wheels, and a control unit for controlling the IVT as a function of sensed parameters and supplying a speed command to the IVT for commanding a speed of the rear wheels. The method includes sensing a steering angle of the front wheels, sensing a front wheel speed, sensing a rear wheel speed, generating a corrected estimated vehicle speed as a function of the front wheel speed and the sensed steering angle, and increasing the speed command in response to a comparison between the corrected estimated vehicle speed and the rear wheel speed. The infinitely variable transmission is preferably embodied by a hybrid electric drive system.

Abstract: A vehicle drive speed control system is provided for a vehicle having driven rear wheels, driven steerable front wheels, a powertrain for driving the front and rear wheels at controllable speeds. A control unit controls the powertain so that a front/rear wheel speed ratio is a non-linear trigonometric function of a sensed steering angle signal. The front/rear wheel speed ratio increases as the steering angle increases. The relationship of the front/rear wheel speed ratio to the steering angle is represented by a curve which is concave in a direction of an axis of increasing speed ratio. With a mode select switch, an operator can selectively cause the control unit to control the front/rear speed ratio according to a first normal or a second more aggressive predefined relationship.

Abstract: A vehicle electric drive system has an internal combustion engine which drives an electric generator. The generator powers a motor which drives the wheels. The system has operator controls including a speed control member movable from a zero speed position to a high speed position, an FNR direction control member having forward, neutral and reverse positions. The system also includes a wheel speed sensor and an electronic control unit. Upon startup, the control unit senses the position of the direction control member, senses wheel speed, and senses position of the speed control member. The controller prevents vehicle operation if the direction control member is not in its neutral position, or the sensed wheel speed is not close to zero, or the speed control member is not near its zero speed position. The controller permits vehicle operation if the direction control member is in its neutral position, and the sensed wheel speed is close to zero, and the speed control member is near its zero speed position.

Abstract: A suspended drive axle and agricultural tractor having same including a central housing having inboard final drives and left and right axle housing suspended therefrom by upper and lower control arms with axle shafts extending outwardly therefrom to which wheel and tire assemblies are mounted. A constant velocity universal joint is provided between the inboard final drives and the axle shafts. The universal joint having a pair of journal members and a coupling yoke that radially surround the drive and driven yokes of the joint whereby the axial length of the universal joint is minimized to enable the wheels to be located on the axle shafts at 60 inch tread spacing. This allows the drive axle to be used on a row crop tractor without altering the structure of the vehicle from a conventional row crop tractor whereby the characteristics of a row crop tractor are maintained.

Abstract: A suspended drive axle and agricultural tractor having same including a central housing having inboard final drives and left and right axle housing suspended therefrom by upper and lower control arms with axle shafts extending outwardly therefrom to which wheel and tire assemblies are mounted. A constant velocity universal joint is provided between the inboard final drives and the axle shafts. The universal joint having a pair of journal members and a coupling yoke that radially surround the drive and driven yokes of the joint whereby the axial length of the universal joint is minimized to enable the wheels to be located on the axle shafts at 60 inch tread spacing. This allows the drive axle to be used on a row crop tractor without altering the structure of the vehicle from a conventional row crop tractor whereby the characteristics of a row crop tractor are maintained.

Abstract: A suspended drive axle and agricultural tractor having same including a central housing having inboard final drives and left and right axle housing suspended therefrom by upper and lower control arms with axle shafts extending outwardly therefrom to which wheel and tire assemblies are mounted. A constant velocity universal joint is provided between the inboard final drives and the axle shafts. The universal joint having a pair of journal members and a coupling yoke that radially surround the drive and driven yokes of the joint whereby the axial length of the universal joint is minimized to enable the wheels to be located on the axle shafts at 60 inch tread spacing. This allows the drive axle to be used on a row crop tractor without altering the structure of the vehicle from a conventional row crop tractor whereby the characteristics of a row crop tractor are maintained.

Abstract: A suspended drive axle and agricultural tractor having same including a central housing having inboard final drives and left and right axle housing suspended therefrom by upper and lower control arms with axle shafts extending outwardly therefrom to which wheel and tire assemblies are mounted. A constant velocity universal joint is provided between the inboard final drives and the axle shafts. The universal joint having a pair of journal members and a coupling yoke that radially surround the drive and driven yokes of the joint whereby the axial length of the universal joint is minimized to enable the wheels to be located on the axle shafts at 60 inch tread spacing. This allows the drive axle to be used on a row crop tractor without altering the structure of the vehicle from a conventional row crop tractor whereby the characteristics of a row crop tractor are maintained.

Abstract: A suspended drive axle and agricultural tractor having same including a central housing having inboard final drives and left and right axle housing suspended therefrom by upper and lower control arms with axle shafts extending outwardly therefrom to which wheel and tire assemblies are mounted. A constant velocity universal joint is provided between the inboard final drives and the axle shafts. The universal joint having a pair of journal members and a coupling yoke that radially surround the drive and driven yokes of the joint whereby the axial length of the universal joint is minimized to enable the wheels to be located on the axle shafts at 60 inch tread spacing. This allows the drive axle to be used on a row crop tractor without altering the structure of the vehicle from a conventional row crop tractor whereby the characteristics of a row crop tractor are maintained.

Abstract: A suspended drive axle and agricultural tractor having same including a central housing having inboard final drives and left and right axle housing suspended therefrom by upper and lower control arms with axle shafts extending outwardly therefrom to which wheel and tire assemblies are mounted. A constant velocity universal joint is provided between the inboard final drives and the axle shafts. The universal joint having a pair of journal members and a coupling yoke that radially surround the drive and driven yokes of the joint whereby the axial length of the universal joint is minimized to enable the wheels to be located on the axle shafts at 60 inch tread spacing. This allows the drive axle to be used on a row crop tractor without altering the structure of the vehicle from a conventional row crop tractor whereby the characteristics of a row crop tractor are maintained.

Abstract: A suspended drive axle and agricultural tractor having same including a central housing having inboard final drives and left and right axle housing suspended therefrom by upper and lower control arms with axle shafts extending outwardly therefrom to which wheel and tire assemblies are mounted. A constant velocity universal joint is provided between the inboard final drives and the axle shafts. The universal joint having a pair of journal members and a coupling yoke that radially surround the drive and driven yokes of the joint whereby the axial length of the universal joint is minimized to enable the wheels to be located on the axle shafts at 60 inch tread spacing. This allows the drive axle to be used on a row crop tractor without altering the structure of the vehicle from a conventional row crop tractor whereby the characteristics of a row crop tractor are maintained.