Drive unit
AssigneeExedy Corporation
InventorsHitoshi Katsura, Taichi Kitamura, Chika Baba
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive unit includes a support frame, a drive wheel and a prime mover. The support frame is disposed to be pivotable about a pivot axis. The drive wheel is supported by the support frame. The prime mover is supported by the support frame. The prime mover drives the drive wheel. The support frame and at least one member form a pivot unit. The at least one member pivots together with the support frame. The pivot unit has a center of gravity disposed on the opposite side of the pivot axis with respect to the drive wheel.
Claims7
A drive unit configured to be attached to a carrier that has a steering axle member and a support shaft member, the drive unit comprising:
- a support frame disposed to be pivotable about a pivot axis;
- a drive wheel supported by the support frame;
- a prime mover supported by the support frame, the prime mover configured to drive the drive wheel;
- and
- a coupling member by which the drive unit can be attached to the carrier, the coupling member being configured to detachably fit around both the steering axle member and the support shaft member of the carrier with the pivot axis being provided by the coupling member,
- wherein a pivot unit, comprised by the support frame and at least one member other than the drive wheel, pivots relative to the pivot axis, and wherein the drive wheel and a center of gravity of the pivot unit are disposed on the same side of the pivot axis with the center of gravity of the pivot unit being farther from the pivot axis than the drive wheel is.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.