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US 2003/0153215 A1Published application
Power train
AssigneeGibbs Technologies Limited
InventorAlan Timothy Gibbs
Life of this patent
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AssigneeGibbs Technologies Limited
InventorAlan Timothy Gibbs
Estimating the term…
Power train (20) or an amphibious vehicle comprises engine (8), transmission (9), and transfer case (13) position in-line with longitudinal vehicle axis (A), (FIG. 2), towards the rear of the vehicle, with transmission output (11) facing the front of the vehicle. The transfer drive drives the rear wheels via propeller shaft (15), which extends adjacent the engine to rear differential (6). A marine drive PTO (power take off) may be taken from a shaft from the transfer case (37), (FIGS. 6 to 10), from the propeller shaft (15) (FIG. 4), or from engine crankshaft pulley (2). Marine drive shaft (3) (FIGS. 6 to 10) may run below the engine, or alongside it, on the opposite side of the engine from propeller shaft (15). Decouplers (4, 24, 26; 38, 40, 41) may be provided to the PTO drive, to at least one rear wheel, and on the optional front axle propeller shaft (16).
A power train for an amphibious vehicle comprising an in-line engine and speed change transmission assembly adapted such that the engine can be positioned towards the rear of the vehicle with the transmission output facing the front of the vehicle, the power train also comprising a power take off means adapted to drive a marine propulsion unit located behind the engine, characterised in that a transfer drive is provided in-line with the transmission, the transfer drive being adapted to drive a first drive shaft which extends rearwardly along one side of, or beneath the engine and which is adapted to drive a rear differential for driving the rear wheels of the vehicle, the arrangement being such that the engine can be positioned at least partially forward of the rear wheels.
A power train as claimed in any previous claim in which the marine propulsion unit is a water jet, or a marine screw propeller.
A power train as claimed in any previous claim, in which a decoupler is provided in the drive line from the power take off to the to the marine propulsion unit, to enable drive to the marine propulsion unit to be selectively coupled and decoupled.
A power train as claimed in any previous claim in which the first drive shaft is adapted to drive the rear wheels of the vehicle via a rear differential.
A power train as claimed in any previous claim, in which a decoupler is provided in the drive line between the transmission and at least one of the driven road wheels, such that drive to the at least one driven wheel can be selectively coupled or decoupled.
A power train substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to and as illustrated in FIGS. 1 to 3, or FIGS. 4 and 5, or FIGS. 6 to 8, or FIGS. 9 and 10 of the accompanying drawings.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.