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US 10,539,163 B1Granted
Transaxle having dual brake system
AssigneeHydro-Gear Limited Partnership
InventorThomas J. Langenfeld
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A hydraulic drive unit for use in a vehicle or other application incorporates a motor connected to a pump through a porting system and an output shaft driven by the motor. A mechanical brake is used to brake the motor, while a valve provides a hydraulic brake for preventing flow between the hydraulic motor and the hydraulic pump. A brake actuator is connected to both the mechanical brake and the hydraulic brake, whereby actuation of the brake actuator causes both the mechanical brake and the hydraulic brake to be actuated.
Claims20
A hydraulic drive unit, comprising:
- a housing comprising a pump housing, a motor housing and a conduit section disposed between the pump housing and the motor housing;
- a hydraulic pump disposed in the pump housing;
- a hydraulic motor disposed in the motor housing and connected to the hydraulic pump through a porting system formed in the conduit section;
- a valve disposed in a port formed in the conduit section and in fluid communication with the porting system;
- a brake arm for moving the valve between a first, open position where the valve permits fluid communication between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor and a second, closed position where the valve prevents fluid communication between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor to provide hydraulic braking to an output of the hydraulic motor;
- and
- an output axle driven by the hydraulic motor and a mechanical brake operably engaged to a portion of the output axle, wherein the brake arm also causes the mechanical brake to engage after the output of the hydraulic motor has sufficiently slowed when the valve is moved to the second, closed position.
4 more elements
A hydraulic drive unit, comprising:
- a main housing member comprising a motor section having a motor running surface formed thereon, a pump section having a pump running surface formed thereon;
- and hydraulic porting having a first passage connected to a first motor kidney port formed on the motor running surface and a first pump kidney port formed on the pump running surface and a second passage connected to a second motor kidney port formed on the motor running surface and a second pump kidney port formed on the pump running surface;
- a motor housing member having a first end engaged to the motor section to form a motor cavity and a second end;
- a hydraulic motor disposed in the motor cavity and comprising a motor cylinder block disposed on the motor running surface;
- an output shaft engaged to and driven by the motor cylinder block and extending out the second end of the motor housing member;
- and
- a mechanical brake disposed on the output shaft;
- a pump housing member engaged to the pump section to form a pump cavity;
- a hydraulic pump disposed in the pump cavity and comprising a pump cylinder block disposed on the pump running surface;
- an input shaft engaged to and driving the pump cylinder block;
- and
- a hydraulic brake for controlling flow between the hydraulic motor and the hydraulic pump.
9 more elements
A hydraulic drive unit, comprising:
- a hydraulic pump driven by an input and a hydraulic motor providing an output, wherein the hydraulic pump is connected to the hydraulic motor through a porting system;
- a hydraulic brake to provide hydraulic braking to the output of the hydraulic motor;
- a mechanical brake operably engaged to the output of the hydraulic motor to provide a mechanical braking force to the output;
- a mechanical brake engagement mechanism operably engaged to the mechanical brake to engage the mechanical brake;
- and
- a brake arm to engage both the hydraulic brake and the mechanical brake engagement mechanism, wherein the mechanical brake is engaged only after the hydraulic brake has sufficiently slowed the rotation of the output.
3 more elements
A hydraulic drive unit, comprising:
- a hydraulic pump connected to a hydraulic motor through a porting system;
- a valve in fluid communication with the porting system, the valve having a first, open position where the valve permits fluid communication between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor and a second, closed position where the valve prevents fluid communication between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor to provide hydraulic braking to the hydraulic motor;
- and
- an output axle driven by the hydraulic motor and a mechanical brake operably engaged to a portion of the output axle.
1 more element
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.