US 2003/0116365 A1 · Hydrostatic motor drive mount

Abstract

A tracked vehicle includes a track operatively connected to a driveshaft. An output shaft of a hydrostatic motor is selectively rotationally engaged with the driveshaft via a clutch mechanism. When the clutch mechanism is engaged, the motor drives the track. When the clutch mechanism is disengaged, the tracked vehicle may be towed without rotating the output shaft of the motor. The clutch mechanism includes splined surfaces on the driveshaft and output shaft that are adapted to rotationally engage a splined surface of an axially-movable clutch shaft. The clutch mechanism further includes an engagement controller that selectively axially moves the clutch shaft into and out of rotational engagement with the output shaft while maintaining continuous rotational engagement between the clutch shaft and the driveshaft.

Claims19

Dependent claims

A vehicle comprising:

a frame;
a hydrostatic motor mounted to the frame, the hydrostatic motor having an output shaft;
a drive system supported by the frame;
a driveshaft connected to the drive system;
and
a clutch mechanism disposed between the output shaft and the driveshaft, the clutch mechanism having (a) an engaged position in which the driveshaft and the output shaft are rotationally engaged with each other, and (b) a disengaged position in which the driveshaft and the output shaft are rotationally disengaged from each other.

3 more elements

A motor mounting assembly comprising:

a low speed, high torque motor having an output shaft;
a driveshaft selectively rotationally connected to the output shaft;
and
a disengaging mechanism connected between the output shaft and the driveshaft including
an axially moveable shaft engageable between the output shaft and the driveshaft,
a connecting rod coupled between the moveable shaft and the driveshaft,
a biasing mechanism secured to the driveshaft and the connecting rod that biases the moveable shaft toward the output shaft, and
an engagement device coupled to the connecting rod to selectively move the connecting rod relative to the driveshaft and thereby selectively engage and disengage the driveshaft and the output shaft.

5 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Hydrostatic motor drive mount

Life of this patent

Hydrostatic motor drive mount

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims19