US 6,868,932 B1Granted

Modular vehicle drivetrain

AssigneeAmerican Off-Road Technologies, LLC

InventorsRichard A. Davis, Eric A. Davis, Brian P. Davis

Life of this patent

Estimating the term…

Abstract

A vehicle drivetrain (110) includes an engine (122) with a vertical crankshaft (124), a first transmission (126) below the engine and driven by the crankshaft, a second transmission (128) above the first transmission and horizontally adjacent the engine and having an input driven by the first transmission and having an output providing vehicle propulsion. A module pre-assembled unit is ready for drop-in mounting to a vehicle.

Claims10

Dependent claims

A vehicle drivetrain comprising:

an engine having a PTO, power take-off, shaft;
a first transmission below said engine and driven by said PTO shaft;
a second transmission above said first transmission and horizontally adjacent said engine, said second transmission having an input driven by said first transmission, and an output providing vehicle propulsion;
wherein:
said PTO shaft extends vertically downwardly;
said second transmission has a downwardly extending vertical input shaft;
said first transmission is a constant velocity clutch continuously variable transmission, CVT, having a first pulley driven by said PTO shaft, a second pulley driving said input shaft of said second transmission, and a belt extending around said pulleys and driving said second pulley from said first pulley, said pulleys rotating in a horizontal plane;
and comprising:
a CVT mounting case housing said first and second pulleys, and wherein said engine and said second transmission are each mounted to said CVT mounting case at respective first and second mounting attachment locations precisely spaced and aligned to provide precise spacing of the centerlines of said PTO shaft and said input shaft of said second transmission and precise alignment of such shafts in parallelism;
a power transfer device driven by said output of said second transmission to transfer power to propel the vehicle;
wherein:
said power transfer device comprises a pair of drive shafts driven in torque balancing counter-rotation, at least one of said drive shafts providing vehicle propulsion;
and
said power transfer device comprises a power transfer rotary drive member driven by said output of said second transmission, and comprising a transfer case housing said power transfer rotary drive member, wherein said transfer case is mounted to said second transmission, the first of said drive shafts is mounted to said transfer case in journaled relation, and the second of said drive shafts is mounted to said CVT mounting case in journaled relation.

11 more elements

A vehicle drivetrain comprising:

an engine having a PTO, power take-off, shaft;
a first transmission below said engine and driven by said PTO shaft;
a second transmission above said first transmission and horizontally adjacent said engine, said second transmission having an input driven by said first transmission, and an output providing vehicle propulsion;
wherein:
said PTO shaft extends vertically downwardly;
said second transmission has a downwardly extending vertical input shaft;
said first transmission is a constant velocity clutch continuously variable transmission, CVT, having a first pulley driven by said PTO shaft, a second pulley driving said input shaft of said second transmission, and a belt extending around said pulleys and driving said second pulley from said first pulley, said pulleys rotating in a horizontal plane;
and comprising a CVT mounting case housing said first and second pulleys, and wherein said engine and said second transmission are each mounted to said CVT mounting case at respective first and second mounting attachment locations precisely spaced and aligned to provide precise spacing of the centerlines of said PTO shaft and said input shaft of said second transmission and precise alignment of such shafts in parallelism;
wherein:
said CVT mounting case is a sealed case enclosing and protecting said pulleys and said belt against the elements, including water, and
said CVT mounting case has an air inlet port, an air outlet port, and an air circuit duct therein directing air from said air inlet port around said pulleys and said belt for cooling same, and then to said air outlet port.

8 more elements

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 09/981,246Filed 16 Oct 2001 · continuation in part
Priority: 21 Dec 1998
Granted: 22 Mar 2005
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60K 17/28
Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles: characterised by arrangement, location, or type of power take-off
B60K 5/06
With the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, transversely to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle: with the engine main axis…
B60K 17/04
Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles: characterised by arrangement, location or kind of gearing
B60K 17/34
Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles: for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles

Family

Application09/217,264Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 21 Dec 1998
US 6,343,669 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2001/0001432 A1Published application
US 6,868,932 B1This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.

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Abstract

A vehicle drivetrain comprising:

an engine having a PTO, power take-off, shaft;
a first transmission below said engine and driven by said PTO shaft;
a second transmission above said first transmission and horizontally adjacent said engine, said second transmission having an input driven by said first transmission, and an output providing vehicle propulsion;
wherein:
said PTO shaft extends vertically downwardly;
said second transmission has a downwardly extending vertical input shaft;
said first transmission is a constant velocity clutch continuously variable transmission, CVT, having a first pulley driven by said PTO shaft, a second pulley driving said input shaft of said second transmission, and a belt extending around said pulleys and driving said second pulley from said first pulley, said pulleys rotating in a horizontal plane;
and comprising:
a CVT mounting case housing said first and second pulleys, and wherein said engine and said second transmission are each mounted to said CVT mounting case at respective first and second mounting attachment locations precisely spaced and aligned to provide precise spacing of the centerlines of said PTO shaft and said input shaft of said second transmission and precise alignment of such shafts in parallelism;
a power transfer device driven by said output of said second transmission to transfer power to propel the vehicle;
wherein:
said power transfer device comprises a pair of drive shafts driven in torque balancing counter-rotation, at least one of said drive shafts providing vehicle propulsion;
and
said power transfer device comprises a power transfer rotary drive member driven by said output of said second transmission, and comprising a transfer case housing said power transfer rotary drive member, wherein said transfer case is mounted to said second transmission, the first of said drive shafts is mounted to said transfer case in journaled relation, and the second of said drive shafts is mounted to said CVT mounting case in journaled relation.

11 more elements

Facts

Application

09/981,246Filed 16 Oct 2001 · continuation in part

Priority

21 Dec 1998

Granted

22 Mar 2005

Term ends

Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification5 codes

B60K 17/28
Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles: characterised by arrangement, location, or type of power take-off
B60K 5/06
With the engine main axis, e.g. crankshaft axis, transversely to the longitudinal centre line of the vehicle: with the engine main axis…
B60K 17/04
Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles: characterised by arrangement, location or kind of gearing
B60K 17/34
Arrangement or mounting of transmissions in vehicles: for driving both front and rear wheels, e.g. four wheel drive vehicles