Control system for all-wheel drive vehicle
AssigneeVenture Products, Inc.
InventorsGlenn M. Steiner, Roy I. Steiner
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive system for all-wheel drive vehicles is provided having separate front and rear transaxles powered by a single engine through a power transfer system. The transaxles each include a hydrostatic transmission and an axle, the hydrostatic gearing system within the hydrostatic transmission serving, in conventional manner, to transfer power from the engine to the axle and drive wheel or wheels. Thus, the front and rear transmissions each may include driving shafts, lay shafts, gear wheels, differentials, and/or other drive train entities employed in the art. A single shifting mechanism associated with the gear systems within each hydrostatic transmission is employed to operate the separate hydrostatic transmissions in harmony.
Claims9
A drive system for an all-wheel drive vehicle, comprising:
- a) a front hydrostatic transaxle including a front hydrostatic transmission, a front gearing system and a front axle;
- b) a rear hydrostatic transaxle substantially identical to said front hydrostatic transaxle and including a rear hydrostatic transmission, a rear gearing system, and a rear axle;
- c) an engine connected to both said front and said rear transmissions;
- and
- d) a shifting mechanism continuously directly connected between both said front and said rear transaxles and capable of shifting said front and rear transmissions substantially simultaneously and identically.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.