Final Gear Drive At Each Of Two Parallel Wheels Patents (Class 180/371)
  • Patent number: 11766991
    Abstract: A pretensioner for a seat belt device in a vehicle includes a cable connected to the seat belt device at a first end of the cable. The pretensioner also includes a base frame containing a pipe. A rod is located within the pipe, and one end of the rod is configured to be subjected to pressure from gas provided by a gas generator. A second end of the cable and a second end of the rod are connected to a swage block. The rod is configured to be driven within the pipe in the pretensioning direction by gas from the gas generator when the gas generator initiates in response to an acceleration of the vehicle greater than a predetermined high acceleration thereby causing the swage block to move and pull the cable to thereby cause a corresponding movement of the seat belt device.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 29, 2021
    Date of Patent: September 26, 2023
    Assignee: JOYSON SAFETY SYSTEMS ACQUISITION LLC
    Inventor: Mark Gray
  • Patent number: 11731479
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a portal spindle assembly for a vehicle front suspension. The portal spindle assembly comprises a spindle portion that is rotatably coupled with upper and lower connecting arms. A leading-edge portion is rotatably coupled with a steering rod-end joint, such that moving the steering rod-end joint rotates the spindle assembly with respect to the upper and lower connecting arms. An inboard case and an outboard case support a pinion gear assembly that is meshed with an output gear assembly for communicating torque from a constant velocity joint to a front wheel coupled to the output gear assembly. The pinion gear assembly is aligned along a pinion axis disposed at an angle with respect to a hub axis of the output gear assembly. The angle facilitates a suspension geometry that provides a camber change of the front wheel that eliminates a change in track width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 11, 2022
    Date of Patent: August 22, 2023
    Inventor: Robby Gordon
  • Patent number: 11674587
    Abstract: A planetary gear device includes: a housing cover disposed at one end portion of a housing in an axis direction, the housing being configured to house a sun gear and a planetary gear inside the housing; and a carrier cover disposed next to the housing cover in the axial direction in the inside, and configured to support a shaft of the planetary gear from one end portion side in the axial direction. One opposing part of a pair of opposing parts opposite to each other in the housing cover and the carrier cover includes a cone-shaped part whose diameter varies in the axial direction, and the other opposing part of the pair of opposing parts includes a sliding part configured to slide on a peripheral surface of the cone-shaped part with a same axis as an axis of the cone-shaped part.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 28, 2022
    Date of Patent: June 13, 2023
    Assignee: Enplas Corporation
    Inventors: Koki Hisai, Kazuki Yamada
  • Patent number: 11649879
    Abstract: A portal unit is provided. The portal unit includes a deceleration gear train and a housing. The housing includes an inner side wall that is formed with an input opening at a position above a rotation axial line of a driving wheel, an outer side wall that is formed with an output opening at a coaxial position with the rotation axial line of the driving wheel, and an intermediate wall that connects peripheral edges of the inner side wall and the outer side wall. The inner side wall is provided, at a radially outward position of the input opening, with mount bolts for the suspension unit. The mount bolts each include a shaft portion protruding inwardly in a vehicle width direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2021
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2023
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., LTD.
    Inventors: Toshiyuki Fukuda, Yuki Hashimoto, Keith Johnson Andrews
  • Patent number: 11370248
    Abstract: A wheel assembly is configured to display graphic designs and digital information. The wheel assembly has a wheel, joined to a spinner hub with a spinner base. A weight is joined to a spinner base lower portion. A spacer is joined to the spinner base above the weight. A bracket is joined to the spinner base and arranged against the spacer. A mobile device is housed within the bracket. A cover plate is joined to the spinner base, and further comprises a central opening with graphic designs that surrounds the bracket. As the wheel rotates, the weight causes the spinner base rotate opposite the wheel thus maintaining the mobile device in a stable position so that the mobile device displays the digital information.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 14, 2019
    Date of Patent: June 28, 2022
    Inventor: Desmond D'Keith Dixon
  • Patent number: 11285772
    Abstract: An apparatus and methods are provided for a portal spindle assembly for a vehicle front suspension. The portal spindle assembly comprises a spindle portion that is rotatably coupled with upper and lower connecting arms. A leading-edge portion is rotatably coupled with a steering rod-end joint, such that moving the steering rod-end joint rotates the spindle assembly with respect to the upper and lower connecting arms. An inboard case and an outboard case support a pinion gear assembly that is meshed with an output gear assembly for communicating torque from a constant velocity joint to a front wheel coupled to the output gear assembly. The pinion gear assembly is aligned along a pinion axis disposed at an angle with respect to a hub axis of the output gear assembly. The angle facilitates a suspension geometry that provides a camber change of the front wheel that eliminates a change in track width.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 21, 2020
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2022
    Inventor: Robby Gordon
  • Patent number: 10464413
    Abstract: A rotary actuator is provided which includes a prime mover including a rotor and a stator; a front-end star compound gear equipped with a first pinion, a first plurality of star gears arrayed concentrically around said first pinion, a first clutch, a first clutch shift motor, an output shaft, and first, second and third gears, wherein said third gear is attached to said output shaft; a back-end star compound gear; and a wheel interface including a principal bearing and a brake disk. The first pinion drives said the clutch. The first clutch shift motor shifts the first clutch between a first position in which the first clutch engages the first gear, and a second position in which the first clutch engages the second gear. When the first clutch engages the first gear, the first gear drives the first plurality of star gears. When the first clutch engages the first gear, the first plurality of star gears drive the third gear, or the first clutch engages the third gear to drive the output shaft directly.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 26, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 5, 2019
    Inventor: Delbert Tesar
  • Patent number: 10197152
    Abstract: An agricultural vehicle may include a drive wheel assembly that includes a central shaft driven by a motor of the agricultural vehicle, and a planet gear system driven by the central shaft. The planet gear system includes a sun gear coupled to the central shaft, multiple planet gears disposed around the sun gear and driven by the sun gear, a ring gear disposed around the planet gears and driven by the planet gears, and a planet carrier directly coupled to each planet gear and configured to provide support to each planet gear. The drive wheel assembly may include multiple bearing assemblies, at least one of which is supported by the planet carrier. The multiple bearing assemblies may also be disposed on opposite sides of the planet gear system.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 11, 2014
    Date of Patent: February 5, 2019
    Assignee: CNH Industrial America LLC
    Inventors: Michael J. Volkmer, Peter Douglas Bosma, Russell Victor Stoltman
  • Patent number: 8985264
    Abstract: A kit for raising and increasing wheel torque of an off road four wheel vehicle comprising four portal boxes, each portal box being associated with an individual one of the vehicle wheels, the portal boxes enclosing identical gear sets and associated bearings, each portal box being adapted to receive the output of an axle constant velocity joint and having an output shaft projecting therefrom, a set of four metal backing plates for joining the portal boxes to the suspension arms of the vehicle, the backing plates being substantially identical, the backing plates each having inwardly extending mounting brackets for attaching to upper and lower suspension arm parts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 28, 2014
    Date of Patent: March 24, 2015
    Assignee: SXS Gear, LLC
    Inventor: Grant I. Shirley
  • Patent number: 8844669
    Abstract: A modular portal wheel end system for connection to a plurality of different axles for vehicles. The portal wheel end system includes a housing configure to be selectively coupled with any one of the plurality of different axles. A plurality of input gears are configured to be interchangeably connected to the housing about a first rotational axis. A plurality of output gears are configured to be interchangeably connected to the housing about a second rotational axis offset from the first rotational axis. Each of the gears having a different predetermined width along their respective axis. The housing includes an inner portion at least partially supporting the input and output gears and an outer ring coupled to the inner portion with the outer ring having a width corresponding to the predetermined width of the input and output gears to define a cavity surrounding the input and output gears.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 21, 2012
    Date of Patent: September 30, 2014
    Assignee: Axletech International IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Armfield
  • Patent number: 8755980
    Abstract: A vehicle with a transmission having a crankshaft and an output shaft. A clutch located between the output shaft and a drive wheel is engaged and disengaged according to a rotational speed of the output shaft. An idle speed control device performs idle speed control to adjust an idle rotational speed of an engine. An electronic control unit (ECU) suppresses or stops the idle speed control when the clutch is engaged, or when an abnormality in the transmission is detected.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 30, 2008
    Date of Patent: June 17, 2014
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Yuichiro Sawada
  • Patent number: 8499664
    Abstract: A cover plate for a drive assembly that includes a bearing housing having a bearing cavity, a thrust bearing axially disposed within the bearing cavity that includes a cup, cone and plurality of rollers disposed between cup and cone raceways, a thrust plate with an axle engaging surface disposed perpendicular to a central axis and coupled for rotation to the cone. The cover plate may be connected to a final drive housing of a final drive that includes a plurality of gears operatively connected to an axle shaft, the end of the axle shaft positioned to rotationally engage the thrust plate and cone.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 25, 2009
    Date of Patent: August 6, 2013
    Assignee: Caterpillar Inc.
    Inventors: David M. White, Christopher G. Oakley, Keith A. Kabrick
  • Patent number: 8424627
    Abstract: A wheelchair including a seat body and at least one wheel module disposed at a bottom of the seat body is provided. The wheel module includes a motor, at least one wheel, and a transmission unit coupled between the motor and the wheel. The transmission unit has at least one one-way bearing. The motor outputs a first rotating moment and a second rotating moment with opposite directions to the transmission unit. The one-way bearing transmits one of the first rotating moment and the second rotating moment to the wheel to drive the wheel to roll, such that the seat body is in linear motion, or so the wheel module rotates relative to the seat body in the directions of the first or the second rotating moments. The shafts of the first and the second rotating moments are perpendicular to the rotating shaft of the wheel.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Date of Patent: April 23, 2013
    Assignee: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Chung-Hsien Kuo, Wei-Chen Lee, Jyun-An Yao, Yan-Cheng Wang
  • Publication number: 20120312623
    Abstract: A wheelchair including a seat body and at least one wheel module disposed at a bottom of the seat body is provided. The wheel module includes a motor, at least one wheel, and a transmission unit coupled between the motor and the wheel. The transmission unit has at least one one-way bearing. The motor outputs a first rotating moment and a second rotating moment with opposite directions to the transmission unit. The one-way bearing transmits one of the first rotating moment and the second rotating moment to the wheel to drive the wheel to roll, such that the seat body is in linear motion, or so the wheel module rotates relative to the seat body in the directions of the first or the second rotating moments. The shafts of the first and the second rotating moments are perpendicular to the rotating shaft of the wheel.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 5, 2011
    Publication date: December 13, 2012
    Applicant: National Taiwan University of Science and Technology
    Inventors: Chung-Hsien Kuo, Wei-Chen Lee, Jyun-An Yao, Yan-Cheng Wang
  • Patent number: 8328274
    Abstract: A cabin apparatus for a work vehicle provided with rear axle cases includes: a cabin frame having a top frame; a bottom frame; a pair of left and right front braces; a pair of left and right rear braces; a pair of left and right mounting braces extending downward from the rear part of the bottom frame; and a pair of left and right mounting plates provided respectively to the bottom ends of the pair of left and right mounting braces and protruding outward to the left and right. The pair of left and right mounting plates is fixedly mounted to the respective left and right rear axle cases in order to support the rear part of the cabin frame on a vehicle body of the work vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 1, 2008
    Date of Patent: December 11, 2012
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Koichi Hasegawa, Kenji Morikane
  • Patent number: 8297385
    Abstract: A dual wheelend for an axle assembly having a rotatable axle shaft. The wheelend comprises a spindle defining a first axis. An intermediate hub is supported on the spindle for rotation about the first axis during rotation of the axle shaft. An inner wheel hub and an outer wheel hub are adjacent one another and are each supported on the intermediate hub for rotation about the first axis. A differential mechanism interconnects the inner and outer wheel hubs. A pin is disposed through a pinion along a second axis and couples the differential mechanism to the intermediate hub for driving the wheel hubs during rotation of the intermediate hub and permitting relative rotation between the wheel hubs relative to the intermediate hub. The pin includes proximal end with a head disposed on the proximal end for engaging the pinion and sandwiching the pinion between the head and the intermediate hub.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 10, 2012
    Date of Patent: October 30, 2012
    Assignee: Axletech International IP Holding, LLC
    Inventors: Daniel Chien, Alexandru Florea, Tim G. Langlitz, Ken L. Phillipi, Craig R. Roble
  • Patent number: 8281892
    Abstract: The working vehicle includes an axle unit that has a differential gear device, an axle case, an axle input shaft and first and second main output shafts, and an HST unit that has a hydraulic pump main body, a hydraulic motor main body, a capacity adjustment mechanism, an HST case, a pump shaft and a motor shaft, an HST input shaft, and an HST output shaft, wherein the axle unit is directly or indirectly supported by the vehicle frame so as to be positioned close to a first main driving wheel in a state where the axle input shaft extends in a vehicle widthwise direction, wherein the HST unit is directly or indirectly supported by the vehicle frame at a position away from the axle unit in a state where the HST output shaft extends in the vehicle widthwise direction, and wherein the HST output shaft and the axle input shaft are operatively connected to each other through an endless type transmission member.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 20, 2009
    Date of Patent: October 9, 2012
    Assignee: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Hiroshi Sugimoto, Hideki Kanenobu, Koji Iwaki, Kenta Sashikuma
  • Patent number: 8133143
    Abstract: A compact gear reducer electric motor assembly with an internal brake disclosed and claimed wherein a high speed electric motor is interconnected with a gear reducer having substantial gear reduction. The assembly includes a spindle, a brake mounted substantially within said high speed electric motor and operable against a spring biasing said brake into engagement with ground. The brake is electrically actuated to permit transmission of energy to the gear reducer. The gear reducer includes an input, intermediate and output planetary stages. The input and intermediate stages residing within the spindle, and, the output planetary stage drives an output ring gear. Releasing means for releasing the output ring gear from the brake allowing rotation thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2008
    Date of Patent: March 13, 2012
    Assignee: Fairfield Manufacturing Company, Inc.
    Inventor: Benjamin Warren Schoon
  • Patent number: 8118133
    Abstract: A modular portal wheel end system allows for connection of a portal wheel end to any of a plurality of differently configured axles for vehicles. The portal wheel end includes a housing that houses an input gear and an output gear. The input gear is coupled to the axle to which the portal wheel end is connected. A wheel hub is coupled to the output gear. A plurality of adapter brackets are each configured to be interchangeably connected to the housing and the axle. Each adapter bracket has a different predetermined configuration for connection to a separate one of the differently configured axles. The portal wheel end system allows the same housing, input gear, output gear, and wheel hub to be connected to any of the differently configured axles with the use of the appropriate adapter bracket.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2009
    Date of Patent: February 21, 2012
    Assignee: Axletech International IP Holdings, LLC
    Inventor: Jeffrey S. Armfield
  • Patent number: 8042628
    Abstract: A vehicle, having a main body is equipped to be fitted mechanically with devices to form a wheeled vehicle, or with devices to form a crawler vehicle. The main body having of the vehicle houses the common components utilized in both configurations such as the engine and the gear box of the vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 11, 2008
    Date of Patent: October 25, 2011
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventor: Giorgio Bordini
  • Patent number: 7803085
    Abstract: An electrically powered driveline assembly includes a first electric motor and a second electric motor that drive corresponding input shafts to drive an output shaft. The first and second electric motors are selectively coupled to facilitate constant torque and speed output of the output shaft during shifting and also in the event of failure of one of the electric motors.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 19, 2007
    Date of Patent: September 28, 2010
    Assignee: Hamilton Sundstrand Corporation
    Inventor: Richard A. Himmelmann
  • Publication number: 20100107921
    Abstract: Provided is a track car drive system, which is assisted by a generator motor so that it may attain a gear array for equalizing the number of speed range and the gear ratios at the individual gears as a transmission for the forward speed and the backward speed and which can be combined with the generator motor. A transmission (15) for receiving the output of an engine (14) at an input shaft (30) is constituted by combining a forward range (31) and a backward range (32) with two intermediate shafts (41 and 42) having different speed ranges (51 to 54) between themselves and an output shaft (45). By shifting/fastening a first clutch (43) or a second clutch (44) selectively, the rotation of either the forward range (31) or the backward range (32) is transmitted to either of the intermediate shafts (41 and 42). When one of the speed ranges (51 to 54) is selected, the same gear number and gear ratio are taken no matter whether the track car might run forward or backward.
    Type: Application
    Filed: March 18, 2008
    Publication date: May 6, 2010
    Inventors: Hirohiko Kakinuma, Iwao Sato, Hiroyuki Ihara, Tadashi Inaba, Hikeki Nakamura, Ryo Karasawa, Takahiro Ono
  • Patent number: 7407033
    Abstract: A monitor display carried by a vehicle. The monitor display is mounted proximate a rim of a corresponding motive wheel of a vehicle. A rim of the motive wheel has a surface which is contoured to substantially conform to an inner surface of the monitor display. The monitor display is rigidly maintained in a non-rotating fashion.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 21, 2005
    Date of Patent: August 5, 2008
    Inventor: Michael T. Wilson
  • Patent number: 7240759
    Abstract: A transmission case housing a transmission mechanism for transmitting power to dirigible wheels includes an axle case having a main body and vertical bosses extending in a bent way from opposite ends of the main body, and pivoting cases supporting axles of the dirigible wheels. The axle case (8) is bisected into a first case half (8F) and a second case half (8R) at a split plane parallel to a direction of extension of the transmission mechanism (S) housed therein. The first case half (8F) and second case half (8R) are connected by connecting bolt (38). Each vertical boss (8b) has bearings (26), and each pivoting case (25) is attached to the bearings (26) to be pivotable relative to the vertical boss (8b).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 4, 2004
    Date of Patent: July 10, 2007
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Katsuhiko Uemura, Shoso Ishimori
  • Patent number: 7204339
    Abstract: A wheel end assembly includes an output shaft that is directly mountable to a wheel adapter to drive a vehicle wheel. A gear assembly is coupled to the output shaft to transfer driving force from an input to the output shaft. The gear assembly includes an output gear that is directly coupled to the output shaft. Thus, the wheel adapter and output gear are both supported directly on the output shaft. The gear assembly and output shaft are substantially enclosed within a housing that is mounted to a non-rotating vehicle component. The output shaft is solely supported by a pair of bearings for rotation relative to the housing. The bearings are installed for direct engagement with the output shaft and housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2002
    Date of Patent: April 17, 2007
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Tomaz Dopico Varela, Chihping Kuan, John K. Ma, William C. Sullivan, Edward J. Eshelman, Dean M. House, John L. Bennett, Mark C. Smith
  • Patent number: 7124854
    Abstract: A transmission device of a vehicle is equipped with a shaft, a driven wheel with internal gear teeth defined thereon mounted to the shaft center thereof, and a small driving gear with outer gear teeth defined thereon in mesh with the internal gear teeth of the driven wheel wherein, depending on the position of the shaft, the small driving gear is located at the offset center of the driven wheel therein to serve as a main source of power supply. When the small driving gear, carrying the total weight and load of the vehicle, is rotated forwards and upwards at the driven wheel therein in eccentric manner, the outer gear teeth of the small driving gear tend to climb upwards therewith along the internal gear teeth of the driven wheel thereof to rotate the driven wheel therewith, effectively converting the gravity force into dynamic driving power to reduce the output of power requirement for more efficient and economical use thereof.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: October 24, 2006
    Inventor: Jui Tien Huang
  • Patent number: 7051833
    Abstract: In a gantry axle for low-platform vehicles, the gantry transmission consists of one input spur gear (2) operatively connected with a first intermediate spur gear (3) non-rotatably connected with a second intermediate spur gear (4) operatively connected with an output spur gear (5). The vertical distance of the axis of rotation (10) of the input spur gear to the ground (11) is smaller than the vertical distance of the intermediate spur gears (9, 4) to the ground (11).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 22, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 30, 2006
    Assignee: ZF Friedrichshafen AG
    Inventors: Rudolf Neumüller, Stefan Häubler
  • Patent number: 7047715
    Abstract: A running mower includes a traveling body 1 supported by a pair of front wheels 2 and a pair of rear wheels 3, a rotary mowing unit 12 vertically movably mounted to the traveling body between the front wheels and the rear wheels, and an outlet duct 23 extending backward for discharging mowed grass. A downwardly open channel-shaped upper duct 57 covers an outlet 58 of the rotary mowing unit for mowed grass. The upper duct has a rear end inserted into an upper front end of the outlet duct 23. The outlet duct 23 is channel-shaped to be downwardly open. The underside of the outlet duct is provided with an upwardly open channel-shaped lower duct 61 forming a bottom element of the outlet duct and having a vertically movable front end. The front end of the lower duct moves together with the rotary mowing unit, so that the mowed grass is smoothly discharged even if the mowing height of the rotary mowing unit is lowered.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 12, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: Yanmar Agricultural Equipment Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Yasuyuki Suhara, Naoto Yamanaka
  • Patent number: 7048087
    Abstract: An inverted portal drive axle includes an off-center driving input that is coupled to first and second axle shafts. The first axle shaft drives a first gear box that is coupled to a first wheel assembly. The second axle shaft extends underneath a vehicle floor and drives a second gear box that is coupled to a second wheel assembly. An axle housing extends between the first and second gear boxes. The second axle shaft includes an exposed central portion that is positioned directly between the vehicle floor and the axle housing. Seal assemblies seal first and second ends of the second axle shaft to the axle housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 26, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 23, 2006
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Lawrence D. Brill
  • Patent number: 6991574
    Abstract: A drive axle assembly includes an input operably coupled to a power source. The input drives first and second axle shafts, which in turn drive laterally spaced wheel ends. Each wheel end includes a gear set that is driven by one of the axle shafts. The axle shafts are enclosed within a center axle housing and the gear sets are enclosed within gear housings. The drive axle includes a pumping mechanism that maintains predetermined oil levels within the center axle housing and gear housings. The oil level in the center axle housing is lower than the oil level in the gear housing. The pumping mechanism includes an impeller that is mounted for rotation with the axle shaft. The impeller draws oil from the center axle housing into a cavity, which transfers the oil to the gear housing.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 8, 2004
    Date of Patent: January 31, 2006
    Assignee: ArvinMeritor Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Robert James Martin, III
  • Patent number: 6871723
    Abstract: A first and second hub assembly supported by an independent suspension system allows the independent articulation of each hub assembly. An input gear box includes a reduction gear set that drives a reduction gear set at each hub assembly. The input gear box is mounted offset from the first axis and the vehicle longitudinal axis to simultaneously drive both hub assemblies to allow a lowered vehicle floor profile.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: April 24, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 29, 2005
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
    Inventor: Tomaz Dopico Varela
  • Publication number: 20040231909
    Abstract: A motorized vehicle includes a plurality of single-direction thrust bearings mounted between each of the two rear wheels and the propeller shaft. The single-direction thrust bearings located at one rear wheel is used to drive the motorized vehicle to move forward, and the single-direction thrust bearings located at the other rear wheel is used to drive the motorized vehicle to move backward. Thus, when the two rear wheels are subjected to a drag and cannot be rotated with the propeller shaft synchronously, the single-direction thrust bearings will idle, thereby producing a differential effect.
    Type: Application
    Filed: May 19, 2003
    Publication date: November 25, 2004
    Inventor: Tai-Yang Luh
  • Patent number: 6805210
    Abstract: An engine half-trolley (10) of simplified structure for industrial vehicles set at the side of a vehicle chassis and comprising a casing (12) from which there comes out at least one wheel hub (13) for a respective wheel (14), an input shaft (17) to said half-trolley (10) being connected to a differential (16) of the vehicle, in the said half-trolley, between the input shaft (17) and the wheel hub (13), there being provided, in succession, two bevel-gear pairs (18, 19; 21, 23) housed in an arm (15, 115) forming part of the casing (12), in which at least one bottom area of the arm (15, 115), for attachment to the wheel hub (13), has ample bevels (26).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 19, 2001
    Date of Patent: October 19, 2004
    Assignee: Dana Italia S.p.A.
    Inventor: Fabrizio Panizzolo
  • Patent number: 6755093
    Abstract: A drive axle assembly for a low floor vehicle utilizes a single input gear assembly to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends. The input gear assembly is positioned next to one of the wheel ends so that the vehicle floor can be lowered to facilitate passenger access to the vehicle. Each wheel end includes a gear reduction assembly with a ring gear rotatably mounted within a gear housing. A drive gear is operatively coupled to the input gear assembly and is in meshing engagement with the ring gear. The gear reduction assembly also includes an output or driven gear, which is larger than the drive gear, to provide the desired gear reduction. The driven gear is also in meshing engagement with the ring gear. A pair of idler gears is rotatably mounted within the gear housing and are in meshing engagement with both the drive and driven gear. The idler gears and drive gear do not have a common centerline.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 29, 2002
    Date of Patent: June 29, 2004
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
    Inventors: John L. Bennett, Chihping Kuan, John K. Ma, William C. Sullivan, Edward J. Eshelman, Dean M. House, Tomaz Dopico Varela, Mark C. Smith
  • Publication number: 20040026157
    Abstract: A wheel end assembly for a mass transit vehicle includes an output shaft mounted to a wheel hub for driving a vehicle wheel. The output shaft is driven by a gear assembly mounted within a gear housing and operably coupled to an input shaft. The gear assembly includes an input gear driven by the input shaft, a first reduction gear in meshing engagement with the input gear, a second reduction gear operably coupled to the first reduction gear for rotation therewith, and an output gear in meshing engagement with the second reduction gear. The first and second reduction gears are supported on a common shaft that is positioned between the input and output shafts. The input gear and first reduction gear are positioned outboard from the output gear and associated bearings. This double reduction configuration allows vehicle aisle width to be maintained while providing a deeper drop allowing the vehicle floor to be lowered to a position closer to the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: August 9, 2002
    Publication date: February 12, 2004
    Inventors: Tomaz Dopico Varela, Fabio Maineri, Corrado A. Conti, Steven E. Hunter
  • Patent number: 6662896
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a transmission for cars, preferably with driving of the front wheels, comprising an engine (2), a gearbox (8), a final gear (20), first link mechanisms (16A, 16B) which connect each axle shaft (12A, 12B) to said final gear (20), second link mechanisms (18A, 18B) which connect the other end of each of said axle shafts (12A, 12B) to its driving wheel (6) and preferably an intermediate transmission (4) between the engine and the gearbox (8), said final gear comprising two planetary gears (20A, 20B) which give an exchange gear reduction of between 1.2:1 and 10:1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 22, 2001
    Date of Patent: December 16, 2003
    Assignee: UNIC Aktiebolag
    Inventor: Mats Karlsson
  • Patent number: 6533060
    Abstract: An all terrain vehicle comprises a frame supported by at least a left wheel and a right wheel. The left wheel and the right wheel being connected to said frame by a left suspension and a right suspension respectively. The independently suspended wheels preferably are drive wheels. The wheels are driven by an engine through a transmission. The transmission is connected to the left wheel by a left half shaft and to the right wheel by a right half shaft. Constant velocity couplings are used to coupling the half shafts to the respective wheels and to the transmission. The constant velocity couplings connecting the two half shafts to the transmission are joined in a single housing. The housing includes a body portion and a gear portion. The two portions can be integrally formed. A left cage and a right cage are mounted within a left axial bore and a right axial bore formed in the body portion. The cages are secured for rotation with the body portion but can move axially within the respective bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 23, 2001
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2003
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Seto
  • Patent number: 6431305
    Abstract: A rear discharge mower unit (50) with a mower housing (55) defining grass clippings flow paths for directing grass clippings rearward. The mower unit includes a power transmission mechanism for rotating a center blade (58) and a second side blade (60) in one direction and a first side blade (59) in the other direction, a center baffle (63) extending around a rotational axis of the center blade and defining a center flow path (69a) for feeding grass clippings to a grass clippings outlet (66), a first side baffle (64) extending around a rotational axis of the first side blade (59) and defining a first side flow path (69b) for feeding grass clippings to the grass clippings outlet (66), and a second side baffle (65) extending around a rotational axis of the second side blade (60) and defining a second side flow path (69c) for feeding grass clippings to the center flow path (69a).
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: August 13, 2002
    Assignee: Kubota Corporation
    Inventors: Shozo Ishimori, Masatoshi Yamaguchi, Cristophe Auvergne, Bertrand Leguillette
  • Patent number: 6254193
    Abstract: A dual wheel assembly is provided that includes a spindle having an axle shaft defining a rotational axis. The axle shaft has a drive pinion. A first wheel hub is supported on the spindle and is positioned to be rotatably driven about the rotational axis. A second wheel hub is arranged adjacent to the first wheel hub and is also rotatable about the rotational axis. The second wheel hub may be supported by the first wheel hub or the spindle. A differential assembly is interconnected between the first wheel hub and the second wheel hub. The differential assembly permits both wheels to be driven for increased traction while allowing the second wheel hub to rotate relative to the first wheel hub. A gear reduction assembly interconnects the differential assembly and the drive pinion to provide torque multiplication to the wheel hubs. In this manner, the gear reduction assembly provides the additional torque required for heavy vehicles while the differential assembly allows relative rotation of the wheel hubs.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 9, 2000
    Date of Patent: July 3, 2001
    Assignee: Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC
    Inventors: Larry W. Bowman, Patrick D. Laper, Richard M. Clisch, Raji S. El-Kassouf, Michael G. Semke, Gary P. Ford, Joseph B. Saxon
  • Patent number: 6250415
    Abstract: An all terrain vehicle comprises a frame supported by at least a left wheel and a right wheel. The left wheel and the right wheel being connected to said frame by a left suspension and a right suspension respectively. The independently suspended wheels preferably are drive wheels. The wheels are driven by an engine through a transmission. The transmission is connected to the left wheel by a left half shaft and to the right wheel by a right half shaft. Constant velocity couplings are used to coupling the half shafts to the respective wheels and to the transmission. The constant velocity couplings connecting the two half shafts to the transmission are joined in a single housing. The housing includes a body portion and a gear portion. The two portions can be integrally formed. A left cage and a right cage are mounted within a left axial bore and a right axial bore formed in the body portion. The cages are secured for rotation with the body portion but can move axially within the respective bores.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 17, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 26, 2001
    Assignee: Yamaha Hatsudoki Kabushiki Kaisha
    Inventor: Minoru Seto
  • Patent number: 6244370
    Abstract: A drive system for a grounds care device using two identical final drives in combination with two identical power units to provide directional drive to the wheels. The final drives and power units are assembled to each other differently for use on each side to provide the required relative reverse rotation of each drive wheel while maintaining the same direction of control movement for forward (or reverse) movement of each drive wheel (in regards to machine movement). Additionally, the drive belt for the cutting unit is routed between the power units (rather than under or over) to allow a lower center of gravity for increased stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 1, 1999
    Date of Patent: June 12, 2001
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc
    Inventor: Tim Peter
  • Patent number: 6237958
    Abstract: A locking mechanism for a pretensioner in a vehicle safety restraint has a cylinder and a piston mounted for movement within and along the cylinder. One end of a cable is connected to the piston and the other end of the cable is connected to a safety restraint. The locking mechanism is a locking block and structure that resiliently biases the locking block away from the piston toward the inside wall of the cylinder. The locking block may be tapered as a wedge, and/or sloping surfaces may be provided on the piston or on the housing. More than one locking block may be spaced circumferentially about the piston.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 16, 1999
    Date of Patent: May 29, 2001
    Assignee: Breed Automotive Technology, Inc.
    Inventor: James Patrickson
  • Patent number: 6095005
    Abstract: A differential mechanism, connected to a driveshaft, transmits power to two halfshafts laterally directed toward the driven wheels of a motor vehicle. Each halfshaft is driveably connected to a pinion, which continually engages a gear fixed to an axle shaft, the pinion and gear forming a speed reduction gearset located between the halfshaft and axle shaft. Each gearset is located in a drop gear housing. Opposite axial ends of each halfshaft are fixed to a differential housing and the drop gear housing. Two extension tubes, each press fitted in the differential housing and a corresponding drop gear housing, provide structural continuity therebetween.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 15, 1998
    Date of Patent: August 1, 2000
    Assignee: Ford Motor Company
    Inventors: John H. Tanzer, Tim Howard, Binod Kumar Agrawal
  • Patent number: 5894907
    Abstract: A drive system for a grounds care device using two identical final drives in combination with two identical power units to provide directional drive to the wheels.The final drives and power units are assembled to each other differently for use on each side to provide the required relative reverse rotation of each drive wheel while maintaining the same direction of control movement for forward (or reverse) movement of each drive wheel (in regards to machine movement).Additionally, the drive belt for the cutting unit is routed between the power units (rather than under or over) to allow a lower center of gravity for increased stability.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 12, 1996
    Date of Patent: April 20, 1999
    Assignee: MTD Products Inc.
    Inventor: Tim Peter
  • Patent number: 5505278
    Abstract: A four wheel drive and steering system for a motor vehicle includes a splitter gear assembly coupled to the transmission for splitting rotational power between the front wheels and one set of wheels of a tandem rear wheel vehicle. A first drive train rotationally couples the front wheels to the transmission, while a second drive train drives the one set of rear wheels. The second drive train includes a pair of shaft assemblies, each corresponding to a respective rear wheel. Each of the pair of shaft assemblies includes a rear shaft extending substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle adjacent a vertical plane including the corresponding rear wheels, thereby providing clearance for the floor of a dropframe cargo compartment. A transfer gear assembly couples the corresponding rear wheel to the rear shaft of the shaft assembly. The steering system is coupled between the steering linkage for the front wheels and the other set of tandem rear wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: February 4, 1994
    Date of Patent: April 9, 1996
    Assignee: DBX Engineering Corp.
    Inventor: Earl D. Smith
  • Patent number: 5433287
    Abstract: A driven axle assembly for a vehicle includes a center housing, suspension elements connecting the center housing to the vehicle, a main drive arranged in the center housing, side drives arranged on outer ends of the center housing, and wheel hub units connected to the side drives, respectively,, wherein a portal distance is provided between a longitudinal axis of a differential gear unit arranged in the center housing and a longitudinal axis of the wheel heads. The improvement achieved by this invention is that the suspension elements connecting the center housing to the vehicle are also attached to the housings for the drives arranged both inside and on outer ends of the center housing in an integrated manner. Therefore, the housings for the side drives, the center housing, and the suspension elements are formed as a tight compact unit.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 29, 1993
    Date of Patent: July 18, 1995
    Inventors: Gabor Szalai, Albert Istok, Peter Szij
  • Patent number: 5188195
    Abstract: A driving wheel suspension system for a vehicle such as a passenger car, a van or a light or heavy truck or bus, which includes a pair of wheel support assemblies each of which consists of a leaf spring lying parallel to the vehicle's drive shaft and a wheel spindle journalled within a wheel spindle housing mounted on the center of the leaf spring, and a straight dead axle whose opposite ends are connected to one of the wheel spindle housings by a pair of spaced apart conical bearings journalled in the wheel spindle housing and surrounding the end of the straight dead axle, whereby the conical bearings supporting the dead axle prevent torsional loads being imposed on the dead axle caused by vertical displacements of the driving wheels as the vehicle is driven over rough, uneven terrain.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 12, 1991
    Date of Patent: February 23, 1993
    Inventor: Norman E. Haustein
  • Patent number: 5180025
    Abstract: A wheeled-chair chassis with a suspension mechanism which comprises a chassis structure, a suspension system, a transmission system and two front and rear wheels; the chassis structure includes a steel pipe frame similar to an inverse triangular frame. The suspension system includes shock absorbers, rocker arms, and pivot pins; one end of the rocker arm is connected with a pivot base on lower end of the steel pipe frame by means of a pin, while the other end thereof is mounted with a gear rack for mounting a motor of the transmission system, a gear box, and the rear wheels. The shock absorber is fixedly mounted between the steel pipe frame and the rocker arm to provide a retractable movement for absorbing a shake from the rear wheels and the rocker arm caused by a rough road surface in order to provide the chair with a comfortable driving. Since each of the systems is an independent assembly, it is easy to assemble.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 13, 1991
    Date of Patent: January 19, 1993
    Inventors: Bean-Shung Yeh, Wu-Yaw Wei, Bean-Horng Su, Lin-Yun Wu