Steerable drive unit

An apparatus for providing a steerable drive unit, comprising:

• a first and a second ground engaging member;
• a first final drive connected to the first ground engaging member and a second final drive connected to the second ground engaging member;
• a first motor drivably engaged with the first final drive and a second motor drivably engaged with the second final drive;
• and
• a first carrier connected to the first motor and the first final drive and a second carrier connected to the second motor and the second final drive, the first and second carriers including respective first and second connection brackets for connecting to a steering linkage assembly.

An apparatus for providing a steerable drive unit, comprising:

• a ground engaging member including a wheel and a tire mounted thereon;
• a final drive located within an inner portion of the ground engaging member and having a rotating portion fixedly attached to the ground engaging member;
• a carrier located within the inner portion of the ground engaging member and attached to a non-rotating portion of the final drive, the carrier being essentially cylindrical with a hollow inner portion;
• and
• a motor positioned within the hollow inner portion of the carrier, attached to the carrier, and drivably engaged with the final drive.

An axle for supporting a steerable drive unit, comprising:

• an essentially tubular main portion;
• a first end having a top portion, a bottom portion, and an open area between the top and bottom portions;
• a second end having a top portion, a bottom portion, and an open area between the top and bottom portions;
• a pivot hinge located at each of the top and bottom portions of the first and second ends;
• and
• an oscillation pivot located essentially toward the center of the main portion;
• wherein each set of pivot hinges at each of the first and second ends are pivotally connected to a steerable drive unit.

A carrier for a steerable drive unit, comprising:

• an essentially cylindrical hollow inner portion for locating a motor therein;
• a first end fixedly attached to a non-rotating portion of a final drive, the final drive including a rotating portion fixedly attached to a ground engaging member, the motor being drivably engaged with the final drive;
• and
• a second end having means for connecting to a set of pivot hinges located on an axle, the second end further including a connection bracket for connecting to a steering linkage assembly.