US 12,152,642 B1Granted

Four wheel drive clutch in an electric vehicle

AssigneeDeere & Company

InventorsBrett S. Graham, Steven R. Whiteman

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

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Abstract

A construction machine includes a machine frame, left front wheel, left rear wheel, right front wheel, and right rear wheel. Left and right side electric drive motors and reduction gear assemblies are aligned with a drive axis of the left and right front wheels, respectively. Left and right side drive chains connect the left and right side electric drive motors and reduction gear assemblies with the left and right rear wheels, respectively. A left side drive clutch is positioned between the left front wheel and the left side electric drive motor and reduction gear assembly. A right side drive clutch is positioned between the right front wheel and the right side electric drive motor and reduction gear assembly. A controller is configured to selectively engage or disengage the left and right side drive clutches to selectively provide two wheel drive or four wheel drive.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A construction machine, comprising:

a machine frame;
a left front wheel, a left rear wheel, a right front wheel, and a right rear wheel supporting the machine frame;
a work implement carried by the machine frame;
a left side electric drive motor and reduction gear assembly located along a drive axis of the left front wheel;
a left side drive chain connecting the left side electric drive motor and reduction gear assembly with the left rear wheel;
a left side drive clutch between the left front wheel and the left side electric drive motor and reduction gear assembly;
a right side electric drive motor and reduction gear assembly located along with a drive axis of the right front wheel;
a right side drive chain connecting the right side electric drive motor and reduction gear assembly with the right rear wheel;
a right side drive clutch between right front wheel and the right side electric drive motor and reduction gear assembly;
and
a controller configured to selectively engage or disengage the left and right side drive clutches to selectively provide two wheel drive or four wheel drive.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 18/463,997Filed 8 Sep 2023
Granted: 26 Nov 2024
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification23 codes

F16D 48/066
Control by electric or electronic means, e.g. of fluid pressure: control of fluid pressure, e.g. using an accumulator
B60K 1/02
Arrangement or mounting of electrical propulsion units: comprising more than one electric motor
B60K 7/0007
Disposition of motor in, or adjacent to, traction wheel: the motor being electric
B60K 17/02
Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles: characterised by arrangement, location, or kind of clutch