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US 6,779,615 B2Granted
Powertrain module for zero turn radius vehicle
AssigneeTecumseh Products Company
InventorsScott G. Boyer, Orville R. McDonner, Richard T. Ruebusch
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A powertrain module for a zero turn radius vehicle, such as a tractor or mower, the powertrain module generally including a structural member or mounting plate to which an engine, a pair of hydrostatic transmission modules, and a pair of axle drive units are attached to form a self-contained powertrain module which may be shipped as a single packaged unit for installation into the zero turn radius implement. The mounting plate provides structural rigidity between the powertrain components attached thereto, and the mounting plate of the powertrain module may be attached directly to the frame of the vehicle, or alternatively, may itself serve as a structural frame member for the vehicle.
Claims31
A self-contained powertrain module, comprising:
- a structural member;
- an engine attached to said structural member, said engine including an output shaft;
- first and second hydrostatic transmission modules connected to said structural member, each said hydrostatic transmission module comprising a transmission housing, a rotating fluid pump disposed within said housing, and a rotatable fluid motor disposed within said housing and in fluid communication with said pump, said pump being driven by said engine output shaft and being of variable displacement, each said motor being rotated at various speeds and in forward and reverse directions in response to changes in pump displacement. the displacement of each said pump being variable independent of the displacement of the other said pump;
- first and second axle drive units connected to said structural member, each said axle drive unit comprising a housing and a speed reduction gear train disposed within said housing, each said speed reduction gear train having an input and an output, said first hydrostatic transmission module motor being operably coupled to said first axle drive unit gear train input, said second hydrostatic transmission module motor being operably coupled to said second axle drive unit gear train input;
- and
- first and second axles, said first axle being operably coupled to said first gear train output, said second axle being operably coupled to said second gear train output, said first and second axles respectively extending through said first and second axle drive unit housings.
3 more elements
A self-contained powertrain module, comprising:
- a structural member;
- an engine attached to said structural member, said engine including an output shaft;
- first and second hydrostatic transmission modules connected to said structural member, each said hydrostatic transmission module comprising a transmission housing, a rotating fluid pump disposed within said housing, and a rotatable fluid motor disposed within said housing and in fluid communication with said pump, said pump being driven by said engine output shaft and being of variable displacement. each said motor being rotated at various speeds and in forward and reverse directions in response to changes in pump displacement;
- first and second axle drive units connected to said structural member, each said axle drive unit comprising a housing and a speed reduction gear train disposed within said housing, each said speed reduction gear train having an input and an output, said first hydrostatic transmission module motor being operably coupled to said first axle drive unit gear train input, said second hydrostatic transmission module motor being operably coupled to said second axle drive unit gear train input;
- and
- first and second axles, said first axle being operably coupled to said first gear train output, said second axle being operably coupled to said second gear train output, said first and second axles respectively extending through said first and second axle drive unit housings, wherein said first hydrostatic transmission module is connected to said structural member through said first axle drive unit, and said second hydrostatic transmission module is connected to said structural member through said second axle drive unit.
3 more elements
A self-contained powertrain module, comprising:
- a structural member;
- an engine attached to said structural member, said engine including an output shaft;
- first and second hydrostatic transmission modules connected to said structural member, each said hydrostatic transmission module comprising a transmission housing, a rotating fluid pump disposed within said housing, and a rotatable fluid motor disposed within said housing and in fluid communication with said pump, said pump being driven by said engine output shaft and being of variable displacement, each said motor being rotated at various speeds and in forward and reverse directions in response to changes in pump displacement;
- first and second axle drive units connected to said structural member, each said axle drive unit comprising a housing and a speed reduction gear train disposed within said housing, each said speed reduction gear train having an input and an output, said first hydrostatic transmission module motor being operably coupled to said first axle drive unit gear train input, said second hydrostatic transmission module motor being operably coupled to said second axle drive unit gear train input;
- and
- first and second axles, said first axle being operably coupled to said first gear train output, said second axle being operably coupled to said second gear train output, said first and second axles respectively extending through said first and second axle drive unit housings, wherein said first and second axle drive unit housings each comprise attached first and second portions, each said first housing portion being substantially planar and affixed to said structural member.
3 more elements
A self-contained powertrain module, comprising:
- a structural member;
- an engine attached to said structural member, said engine including an output shaft;
- first and second hydrostatic transmission modules connected to said structural member, each said hydrostatic transmission module comprising a transmission housing, a rotating fluid pump disposed within said housing, and a rotatable fluid motor disposed within said housing and in fluid communication with said pump, said pump being driven by said engine output shaft and being of variable displacement, each said motor being rotated at various speeds and in forward and reverse directions in response to changes in pump displacement;
- first and second axle drive units connected to said structural member, each said axle drive unit comprising a housing and a speed reduction gear train disposed within said housing, each said speed reduction gear train having an input and an output, said first hydrostatic transmission module motor being operably coupled to said first axle drive unit gear train input, said second hydrostatic transmission module motor being operably coupled to said second axle drive unit gear train input;
- and
- first and second axles, said first axle being operably coupled to said first gear train output, said second axle being operably coupled to said second gear train output, said first and second axles respectively extending through said first and second axle drive unit housings, wherein each said fluid motor is provided with an output shaft, and further comprising a brake disk rotatably couple to and coaxial with said motor output shaft, said brake disk being selectively operatively engaged by a said brake mechanism.
3 more elements
A zero turn radius vehicle, comprising:
- a first frame portion;
- a second frame portion comprising a powertrain module separably attached to said first frame portion and comprising:
- a substantially rigid structural member attached to said first frame portion,
- an engine attached to said structural member, said engine having an output shaft,
- first and second hydrostatic transmission modules connected to said structural member, each said hydrostatic transmission module comprising:
- a transmission housing, a rotating fluid pump and a rotatable fluid motor disposed in said transmission housing, said pump connected in driving relationship with said engine output shaft, said motor being in fluid engagement with said pump, said pump being of variable displacement, each said motor being rotated at various speeds and in forward and reverse directions in response to changes in pump displacement,
- first and second axle drive units connected to said structural member, each including a housing and a speed reduction gear train disposed within said axle drive unit housing, each said speed reduction gear train having an input and an output, said first hydrostatic transmission module motor being operably coupled to said first axle drive unit gear train input, said second hydrostatic transmission module motor being operably coupled to said second axle, drive unit gear input, wherein said first hydrostatic transmission module is connected to said structural member through said first axle drive unit, and said second hydrostatic transmission module is connected to said structural member through said second axle drive unit;
- and
- first and second independently rotatable axles, said first axle being operably coupled to said first gear train output, said second axle being operably coupled to said second gear train output, said first and second axles respectively extending through said first and second axle drive unit housings;
- and
- a ground-engaging wheel attached to each said axle.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.