Tank steer system for vehicle
AssigneeFca US LLC
InventorGregory Mordukhovich
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A tank steer gear set assembly for a vehicle having at least one set of first and second axle shafts. The gear set assembly is configured to be operably coupled between a first portion and a second portion of the second axle shaft, and includes a compound planetary gear set having a carrier, a first clutch, and a second clutch. The gear set assembly operates in a tank steer mode by selectively grounding the carrier via the second clutch such that the second portion of the second axle shaft is rotated in a direction opposite the first axle shaft.
Claims15
A tank steer gear set assembly for a vehicle having at least one set of first and second axle shafts, the gear set assembly configured to be operably coupled between a first portion and a second portion of the second axle shaft and comprising:
- a compound planetary gear set having a carrier;
- a first clutch;
- and
- a second clutch,
- wherein the gear set assembly is selectively operable in a tank steer mode that rotates one or more wheels on a first side of the vehicle in a first direction, and rotates one or more wheels on an opposite second side of the vehicle in a second direction opposite the first direction to thereby rotate the vehicle, and
- wherein the gear set assembly operates in the tank steer mode by selectively grounding the carrier via the second clutch such that the second portion of the second axle shaft is rotated in a direction opposite the first axle shaft.
A vehicle drivetrain assembly comprising:
- a differential;
- a first axle shaft operably coupled to the differential;
- a second axle shaft having first and second portions, the first portion operably coupled to the differential;
- and
- a tank steer gear set assembly having a compound planetary gear set operably coupled between the first portion and the second portion of the second axle shaft,
- wherein the gear set assembly is selectively operable in a tank steer mode that rotates one or more wheels on a first side of the vehicle in a first direction, and rotates one or more wheels on an opposite second side of the vehicle in a second direction opposite the first direction to thereby rotate the vehicle,
- wherein the gear set assembly operates in the tank steer mode by selectively grounding a carrier of the compound planetary gear set such that the second portion of the second axle shaft is rotated in a direction opposite the first axle shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.