Including Rotatable Shaft Extending Longitudinally From Wheels At One End Of Vehicle To Wheels At Other End For Transmitting Steering Force Thereto Patents (Class 180/240)
  • Patent number: 11118680
    Abstract: A hydrostatic drive includes a transmission having a pump and motor disposed on a center section, and a charge pump to provide fluid to a charge gallery. A power take off (PTO) driven by a prime mover includes a clutch assembly, solenoid valve, and PTO drive member driven by a prime mover input. When the solenoid valve is in a first position, fluid flows from the charge gallery to the clutch to connect the input with the PTO drive member, and when the solenoid valve is in a second position, fluid flows from the PTO mechanism to the sump to disengage the PTO drive member from the input. A filter may be disposed on a land on the center section and seated in a filter pocket in the housing. The filter engages with a bottom surface of the filter pocket to maintain a seal against the land.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2019
    Date of Patent: September 14, 2021
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Thomas J. Langenfeld
  • Patent number: 9969258
    Abstract: A zero turn vehicle having an operator platform at the rear and a compact transmission design featuring a pair of transmissions disposed in a common housing and separate gear boxes permits a smaller, more efficient arrangement for the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 22, 2015
    Date of Patent: May 15, 2018
    Assignee: Hydro-Gear Limited Partnership
    Inventor: Raymond Hauser
  • Patent number: 8978810
    Abstract: The present invention provides a tractor which is configured such that front wheel axles are disposed above upper portions of front wheels so that the front wheels are prevented from being impeded by the front wheel axles even when the front wheels are steered to maximum angles in a clockwise or counterclockwise direction and turned to an angle over or approximate to a right angle with respect to the longitudinal direction of the tractor, whereby the tractor can be turned in place by manipulating a steering wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 24, 2011
    Date of Patent: March 17, 2015
    Assignee: Daeho Co., Ltd.
    Inventor: Joong-Ho Kim
  • Patent number: 8397855
    Abstract: A four-wheel drive electric vehicle is provided. The vehicle comprises a chassis and a power system. The power system comprises batteries, an electric motor, a DC-DC converter and an electric motor controller which are electrically connected, and the chassis comprises a frame, a transmission/transfer case, a drive shaft, a front axle assembly as well as a rear axle assembly. The transmission/transfer case, the front axle assembly and the rear axle assembly are mounted on the frame. The transmission/transfer case is connected with the rear axle assembly directly and with the front axle assembly via the drive shaft. Under the control of the electric motor controller, the electric motor is driven to rotate by the batteries, whereby a power is transferred from the motor to the transmission/transfer case, and a part of the power is transferred to the rear axle assembly with the other part transferred to the front axle assembly via the drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 10, 2010
    Date of Patent: March 19, 2013
    Assignees: Guangdong Greenwheel EV Power Train System Co., Ltd
    Inventors: Changwen Liu, Xiaojing Liu, Sen Feng
  • Patent number: 8016070
    Abstract: According to a present powertrain, a first rotation shaft serving as an input shaft of a front side gear mechanism is located in a portion of a vehicle lower than a second rotation shaft serving as an output shaft, so that a crankshaft of an engine provided coaxially with the first rotation shaft is located in a portion of the vehicle lower than in a conventional example. Solely the engine having a heavy mass is thus disposed in a lower portion, so as to achieve a lower position of the center of gravity of the vehicle. In this manner, a powertrain having a layout structure attaining lower center of gravity as well as high rigidity of a body and improvement in aerodynamic characteristics is provided.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 29, 2005
    Date of Patent: September 13, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Koji Naito, Akihiko Ikeda
  • Patent number: 8011341
    Abstract: An oil pan (20) includes: a pair of oil pan rail portions (21a, 21b), which are spaced apart from each other under an engine body (10a), and are fastened to the engine body (10a); a pair of side wall portions (22a, 22b), facing each other, which are formed integrally with the oil pan rail portions (21a, 21b); and a cylindrical portion (23), which surrounds a driving axle (19L, 19R) passed through the oil pan (20), and is integrally joined with the pair of side wall portions (22a, 22b) near the pair of oil pan rail portions (21a, 21b). At least one axial end (23a, 23b) of the cylindrical portion (23), an upper half portion (23c) of the cylindrical portion (23) positioned over the driving axle (19L, 19R) is thickened upward up to the level near the upper surface of the oil pan rail portion (21a, 21b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 2006
    Date of Patent: September 6, 2011
    Assignee: Toyota Jidosha Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Akira Iida
  • Patent number: 7836992
    Abstract: A drivetrain for an all-wheel drive motor vehicle which includes a longitudinally arranged central transmission, a transfer box, a Cardan shaft and two drive axles arranged normal to the direction of travel. The transfer box includes a central differential, an input and two output shafts. The input shaft of the central transmission communicates with an engine crankshaft. The transfer box input shaft is connected to an output shaft and an input element of the central differential. The first output shaft of the transfer box is connected to a first output element of the central differential and the first drive axle. The second output shaft of the transfer box is actively connected to a second output element of the central differential and to the second drive axle. The two output shafts of the transfer box are coaxially arranged at an angle to the output shaft of the central transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 7, 2009
    Date of Patent: November 23, 2010
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventor: Dirk Habeck
  • Publication number: 20090032324
    Abstract: A vehicle having front and rear wheels includes a front wheel steering mechanism for providing a steering angle to a front wheel. Also, a rear wheel steering mechanism provides a steering angle to a rear wheel. The rear wheel steering mechanism has a first and second operational position; wherein the second operational position of the rear wheel steering mechanism is dependent upon the front wheel steering mechanism achieving a first predetermined steering state, preferably the steering through a prescribed angle or greater.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 1, 2007
    Publication date: February 5, 2009
    Applicant: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Yasuhiro Suzuki, Kaoru Haruna
  • Publication number: 20080283323
    Abstract: Disclosed is a mechanism of a four-wheel drive vehicle, for enabling an engine and a transmission to be arranged compact by using an empty space within a body frame of the vehicle. The transmission includes a power take-off part for driving front wheels of the vehicle, and a rear reduction gear mechanism for driving rear wheels of the vehicle. The transmission and the engine are mounted on a swing arm which is supported on the body frame of the vehicle so as to be able to swing in an up and down direction.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 25, 2008
    Publication date: November 20, 2008
    Inventors: Takeshi Miyazaki, Hiroyuki Fujimoto, Izumi Takagi
  • Patent number: 7040186
    Abstract: A parallel manual transmission for a four-wheel drive is provided and includes two input shafts, each of which can be non-rotatably coupled via its own clutch to a shaft that is powered by a drive engine.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 2004
    Date of Patent: May 9, 2006
    Assignee: LuK Lamellen und Kupplungsbau Beteiligungs KG
    Inventor: Burkhard Pollak
  • Patent number: 6467560
    Abstract: A transmission unit for a recreational vehicle comprises: steering arrangement controlled by movement of the weight of the user, driving assembly which includes a free-wheeling clutch, suspension assembly and braking assembly. The vehicle also includes an engine (with gearbox and clutch) and a user support platform, and is adapted for use on any type of land surface, both on- and off-road. The unit is connected between the engine and at least one axle, through a drive. The vehicle may include wheels with balloon tyres as part of the adaption for all terrain capability. A remote control may be remote from the vehicle and hand-operable.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 3, 2000
    Date of Patent: October 22, 2002
    Assignee: DirtThingz (NZ) Ltd.
    Inventor: Glenn James Anderson
  • Patent number: 5823284
    Abstract: A vehicle having a hydrostatic drive and transmission having multi-range speed modes, a counter configured steering assembly providing for a turning radius less than would normally be commensurate with the length of the wheel base, and a suspension system having a resiliently deformable device for maintaining stability of the vehicle body and cargo during operation and for maximum operator comfort.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 22, 1995
    Date of Patent: October 20, 1998
    Assignee: Central Mechanical Ltd.
    Inventors: David L. Hoar, Ronald G. Mersereau, Larry A. Welton
  • Patent number: 5574643
    Abstract: A traction control for a machine calculates percent slip for the wheels and controls operation the differential lock and the throttle control. It turns both the differential lock and throttle control off when percent slip is less than a slip minimum value, turns the differential lock on and the throttle control off when percent slip is equal to or greater than the slip minimum value and equal to or less than a slip maximum value, and turns both the differential lock and throttle control on when percent slip is greater than the slip maximum value.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 15, 1994
    Date of Patent: November 12, 1996
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventor: Leon P. Yesel
  • Patent number: 4804060
    Abstract: A frame type tractor comprising an engine in a front portion, a transmission case in a rear portion thereof, a transmission shaft extending from the engine to the transmission shaft, and a front wheel drive shaft extending from the transmission case to a front wheel axle. The transmission shaft and front wheel drive shaft are connected to lower positions of the transmission case. An operator's step is mounted over the transmission shaft and front wheel drive shaft.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1987
    Date of Patent: February 14, 1989
    Assignee: Kubota Limited
    Inventor: Hirofumi Iritani
  • Patent number: 4633961
    Abstract: An improvement in a power transmission arrangement in a four-wheel drive tractor which includes an engine, an oil sump containing a reservoir of lubricant for the engine and wherein power is transmitted from the tractor gearbox or from a separate power take-off gearbox to the differential gear of the front axle by a power transmission member. A power take-off shaft is provided at the front end of the tractor for transmitting power from the engine crankshaft to external equipment. According to the invention, the differential gear of the front axle, the four-wheel drive clutch which couples the transmission member to the front axle differential gear, at least part of the take-off shaft clutch and other transmission elements for the take-off shaft, and the hydraulic steering pump are situated within the oil sump. The invention further includes operating the four-wheel drive clutch and the differential lock thereof, and the take-off clutch by means of the engine lubricant contained in the oil sump.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 6, 1986
    Date of Patent: January 6, 1987
    Assignee: Valmet Oy
    Inventor: Hannu Niskanen
  • Patent number: 4607562
    Abstract: A vehicle generally consisting of a body of monocoque construction, front and rear axle assemblies provided with brakes, wheels and tires, suspension systems mounted on the axle assemblies for supporting the body on the axle assemblies, a steering system, an engine mounted in the body between the axle assemblies and adjacent both a side of the body and the rear axle assembly, a transmission mounted on the body rearwardly of the engine, a chain assembly for transmitting drive from the transmission downwardly and laterally, means for transmitting drive from a lower end of the chain assembly forwardly to the rear axle assembly, a cooling system for the engine mounted in the body and control means mounted on the body for operating the engine and transmission.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 28, 1984
    Date of Patent: August 26, 1986
    Inventor: James C. LeBlanc
  • Patent number: 4557493
    Abstract: A steering device for a vehicle including a steering wheel, front wheels and a steering mechanism therefor, rear wheels and a steering mechanism therefor, a pair of rear wheel steering tie rods connecting the rear wheels with the rear wheel steering mechanism, and an operating shaft connecting the front wheel steering mechanism with the rear wheel steering mechanism, the rear wheels being steered along with the front wheels under a steering operation of the steering wheel. The rear wheel steering mechanism includes a crank member rotated under rotation of the operating shaft and extending in a radially outward direction of the operating shaft, and a connecting member having the ends thereof connected to the inner ends of the tie rods and extending in the width direction of the vehicle while being movable in such direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 5, 1984
    Date of Patent: December 10, 1985
    Assignee: Honda Giken Kogyo Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventors: Shoichi Sano, Yoshimi Fufukawa