Abstract: A vehicle drive apparatus, including: an electric motor rotating about an axial line in a vertical direction, a first planetary gear mechanism of a single pinion type and a second planetary gear mechanism of a double pinion type arranged inside the electric motor, a torque transmission mechanism transmitting a torque output from the second planetary gear mechanism to a pair of drive shafts. The torque transmission mechanism includes a first torque transmission unit transmitting a torque output from a sun gear of the second planetary gear mechanism to one of the pair of drive shafts, and a second torque transmission unit transmitting a torque output from a carrier of the second planetary gear mechanism to the other of the pair of drive shafts.

Abstract: A wheel carrier mounted on a rear axle body of a vehicle, which wheel carrier comprises a supporting plate and a bearing plate. The supporting plate coincides with a “virtual king-pin axis” and the properties of the supporting plate are such that the supporting plate may bend around the “virtual king-pin axis” in the area of a flexible supporting section. The bearing plate comprises a section with such properties that the section is allowed to deflect in a lateral direction of the vehicle. When a lateral force Flateral and a brake force Fbrake are applied to the wheel carrier, e.g. during cornering and braking, the properties of the supporting plate and the bearing plate create lateral force under steer and brake force under steer.

Abstract: A coupling arrangement having a rotational axis, about which the coupling arrangement can rotate, having: a first coupling element with an axially-extending flat-side spur toothing system having radially extending first teeth, a second coupling element with an axially-extending flat-side corresponding toothing system which engages axially into the spur toothing system and has radially-extending second teeth, and at least one means for bracing the first coupling element axially with the second coupling element, which coupling elements are fixedly connected fixedly to one another to rotate together about the rotational axis via the toothing systems to transmit torque. The teeth of at least one of the toothing systems have tooth tip lines that are curved convexly in the axial direction away from a tooth root.

Abstract: A transaxle assembly is provided which is configured to be mounted to a frame of a vehicle. The transaxle assembly includes a transmission that has two separately attached pivotable knuckle assemblies. Each pivotable knuckle assembly can be independently steered and includes an axle driven by the transmission. Each axle drives a wheel of the vehicle. In another configuration, the two pivotable knuckle assemblies are joined by an integrally formed crossmember.

Abstract: A steerable vehicle knuckle has an inboard portion defining upper and lower arms, with a kingpin between them, and has an outboard portion defining a spindle that cooperates with a fluid driven motor. The arms define a cavity where an axle end portion is pivotally received. Fluid supply ports, which supply fluid to energize the motor, are located on an upper surface of the knuckle's inboard portion. Fluid drain lines extend within the knuckle from the motor to the cavity and are utilized to drain fluid from the motor. The supply ports and drain lines are each connected to separate hoses formed in a small arc that follows closely the circular curvature of the kingpin. This arrangement of port, lines, and hoses is less expensive to produce, easier to package, more robust, allows for faster steering reaction, and is easier to assemble than conventional arrangements.

Abstract: A dirigible drive wheel assembly includes a transmitting and steering shaft extending approximately vertically, with an axis thereof inclined, for drivably connecting an axle of a wheel to a transmission shaft, a first driving gear disposed in a lower end region of the transmitting and steering shaft, a first driven gear mounted on the axle and meshed with the first driving gear, a second driven gear disposed in an upper end region of the transmitting and steering shaft, a second driving gear mounted on the transmission shaft and meshed with the second driven gear, a second gear case for covering the second driving gear and the second driven gear, and a first gear case for covering the first driven gear and the first driving gear. A first bearing is disposed between the first gear case and a lower end of the second gear case. Through the first bearing the lower end of the second gear case is rotatably supported by the first gear case.

Abstract: A flexible universal gear box for motor vehicles that mounts a pair of yokes movable relative to one another about a pivot member. The yokes are secured to different portions of the motor vehicle. The pivot member can be the main drive shaft of the motor vehicle or the joined wheel axles of the front or rear wheels of the vehicle, as examples. A first shaft member or first and second shaft members pass through the respective bodies of the yokes and join respective bevel gears that in turn are meshed with a pivot bevel gear connected to the pivot member. The movement of one portion of the body of the vehicle relative to the other portion of the body of the vehicle moves one yoke relative to the other yoke and simultaneously causes the rotation of the affected bevel gear around the pivot bevel gear to which it is meshed by way of the simultaneous movement of the affected shaft members.

Abstract: A vehicle such as an agricultural tractor comprises drivable ground wheels, each front wheel steerable about its king pin's axis. A drive shaft assembly in each king pin comprises two parts axially relatively displaceable so that loads supported by the wheel are transmitted not through the drive shaft assembly but through its housing. The housing is supported on a thrust bearing for steering movement. The thrust bearing has a greater diameter than bearings which support the shaft assembly and comprises a disc surrounded, above and below, by two flat rings, one of which is a two-part ring. In one embodiment, bevel gears under the wheel shaft turn the wheel shaft and the king pin is inclined to the underlying surface and largely contained within the wheel's rim. In the other embodiment the king pin is substantially vertical and received between a pair of wheels, an axle for such wheel pair driven by meshed bevel gears, one on the axle and the other above the axle.

Abstract: A wheel drive structure for an agricultural tractor comprising a drive case housing a differential mechanism and reduction mechanisms to transmit power from said differential mechanism to wheels. The drive case comprises first and second case portions and said first case portion is made of a structural steel pipe.

Abstract: A front-wheel driving apparatus for use in tractors and the like has bevel-gear cases one each of which a front-wheel case is fitted for free rotation about a kingpin axis, the front-wheel case being adapted to support a front wheel and accommodate therein a bevel-gear train which is for incorporating the kingpin and the front wheel. Both upper and lower end portions of the kingpin are supported on the bevel-gear case via the respective bearings, and are provided with the respective bevel pinions as mounted thereon so as to exert axial thrusts on the kingpin in directions opposite to each other, and further with the respective thrust retainers as secured thereon for taking up any possible overall balance thrust. A hub base is consolidatedly incorporated in the front-wheel case, and on the hub base there is fitted, for free rotation, through a bevel gear fixture base a bevel gear which meshes with the lower bevel pinion on the kingpin.

Abstract: A front wheel driving device for agricultural vehicle or the like. The device has a front axle housing accommodating a front wheel drive shaft. An inner gear case is attached to the outer side of the front axle housing. An outer gear case is steerably secured to the inner gear case. A planetary gear mechanism is adapted to be driven by the front wheel drive shaft through bevel gear mechanisms, and is supported by an intermediate seat which is fitted in the outer gear case. The arrangement is such that, when a cover supporting the front wheel axle is coupled to the outer side of the outer gear case, the front wheel axle is automatically fitted to the output shaft of the planetary gear mechanism.

Abstract: This invention relates to an improved steering and suspension system for use on off-road type vehicles. The system comprises a gear train at each drive wheel made up of three gears: an input gear, an intermediate gear and an output gear. The input gear is mounted on a driven output shaft which extends out of the differential of the vehicle. The output gear is mounted on an outwardly extending shaft which is retained in a gear case which surrounds the entire gear train. Rotatably attached to this gear case is a tubular hub with a pivotally attached yoke. The yoke supports the axle on which the drive wheel is mounted. Positioned within the area defined by the tubular hub and the yoke are two pairs of intermeshing bevel gears. These bevel gears unite the outwardly extending shaft with the axle and allow torque to be transmitted from the engine of the vehicle to the drive wheels. Also included in this system are two pivotally connected arms which unite the tubular hub to the frame of the vehicle.

Abstract: In a drive for driving front wheels through transmissions disposed at the ends of front axles to be drivingly rotated, a cylindrical front axle case for enveloping and rotatably supporting the front axles is integrally formed with transmission cases for enveloping and rotatably supporting the transmissions.

Abstract: This invention relates to a mounting and driving mechanism for the steerable wheels of a multi-wheel, off-road vehicle of the type utilized for transporting long loads, such as trimmed tree trunks or whole trees, over roadless terrain. Such vehicles generally have front and rear quad-wheel assemblies pivotally connected to a centrally disposed elongated bed frame so as to permit lateral rotation of the quad-wheel assemblies about a roll axis disposed below and parallel to the longitudinal axis of the bed frame. Each quad-wheel assembly additionally includes a pair of walking beams which are respectively disposed in laterally spaced relationship with respect to the longitudinal bed frame and are pivotally mounted for rotation about a horizontal transverse axis. At each end of each walking beam, a wheel is mounted in a unique fashion together with individually controlled motors for respectively supplying traction power and steering movements to such wheel.