System and method for electronic actuation of axle driving apparatus

A drive system for electronically controlling a rotatable hydraulic pump, comprising:

• a moveable swash plate cooperable with the rotatable hydraulic pump for controlling the displacement of the pump;
• a rotatable control arm coupled to the moveable swash plate;
• an electronic actuation drive connected to the control arm for electronically controlling rotation of the control arm to change orientation of the swash plate;
• a control handle that generates a signal representative of the position of the control handle for causing the electronic actuation drive to move the control arm to a position that corresponds to the position of the control handle;
• and
• comparator circuitry cooperable with the electronic actuation drive for providing a signal representative of the position of the control handle relative to the control arm to the electronic actuation drive.

A drive system for electronically controlling a hydraulic transmission, comprising:

• a rotatable hydraulic pump coupled to the hydraulic transmission and in fluid communication with a rotatable hydraulic motor;
• a moveable swash plate cooperable with the rotatable hydraulic pump for controlling displacement of the hydraulic pump and the corresponding displacement of the hydraulic motor, the hydraulic motor being capable of driving an axle;
• a control arm coupled to the moveable swash plate;
• an electronic actuation drive connected to the control arm for electronically controlling rotation of the control arm to change orientation of the swash plate;
• and
• wherein the electronic actuation drive will automatically rotate the control arm to return the swash plate back to a neutral position in response to detecting a predefined condition.

A drive system for electronically controlling a hydraulic transmission, comprising:

• a rotatable hydraulic pump coupled to the hydraulic transmission and in fluid communication with a rotatable hydraulic motor;
• a moveable swash plate cooperable with the rotatable hydraulic pump for controlling displacement of the hydraulic pump and the corresponding displacement of the hydraulic motor, the hydraulic motor being capable of driving an axle;
• a control arm coupled to the moveable swash plate;
• an electronic actuation drive connected to the control arm for electronically controlling rotation of the control arm to change orientation of the swash plate;
• a control handle that generates a signal representative of the position of the control handle for causing the electronic actuation drive to move the control arm to a position that corresponds to the position of the control handle;
• and
• comparator circuitry cooperable with the electronic actuation drive for providing a signal representative of the position of the control handle relative to the control arm to the electronic actuation drive.

A drive system for electronically controlling forward and reverse movement and speed of a vehicle, comprising:

• a casing attached to the vehicle being adapted to carry an axle;
• a hydraulic transmission mounted within the casing comprising a rotatable hydraulic pump in fluid communication with a rotatable hydraulic motor;
• a moveable swash plate cooperable with the hydraulic pump for controlling the displacement of the hydraulic pump and the corresponding displacement of the hydraulic motor, the hydraulic motor being capable of driving the axle and the vehicle;
• a rotatable trunnion arm coupled to the moveable swash plate;
• a control arm coupled to the trunnion arm and extending from the casing;
• an electronic actuation drive connected to the control arm for electronically controlling rotation of the control arm and the trunnion arm to change orientation of the swash plate;
• and
• wherein the electronic actuation drive will automatically rotate the control arm to return the swash plate back to a neutral position in response to detecting a predefined condition.

A drive system for electronically controlling forward and reverse movement and speed of a vehicle, comprising:

• a casing attached to the vehicle being adapted to carry an axle;
• a hydraulic transmission mounted within the casing comprising a rotatable hydraulic pump in fluid communication with a rotatable hydraulic motor;
• a moveable swash plate cooperable with the hydraulic pump for controlling the displacement of the hydraulic pump and the corresponding displacement of the hydraulic motor, the hydraulic motor being capable of driving the axle and the vehicle;
• a rotatable trunnion arm coupled to the moveable swash plate;
• a control arm coupled to the trunnion arm and extending from the casing;
• an electronic actuation drive connected to the control arm for electronically controlling rotation of the control arm and the trunnion arm to change orientation of the swash plate;
• a control handle that generates a signal representative of the position of the control handle for causing the electronic actuation drive to move the control arm to a position that corresponds to the position of the control handle;
• and
• comparator circuitry cooperable with the electronic actuation drive for providing a signal representative of the position of the control handle relative to the control arm to the electronic actuation drive.

A method for electronically controlling operation of a vehicle including a hydraulic motor adapted to drive an axle, the hydraulic motor being in fluid communication with a hydraulic pump having a plurality of axially moveable pump pistons, wherein a swash plate is positioned to cooperatively engage the pump pistons and a control arm is linked to the swash plate to change the angular orientation of the swash plate to affect the displacement of fluid from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor, the method comprising:

• receiving a signal indicative of the vehicle assuming a predefined condition;
• using an electronic actuation drive to rotate the control arm to electronically control angular orientation of the swash plate in response to the signal indicative of the predefined condition;
• and
• wherein the predefined condition comprises activation of a brake to prevent rotation of the axle.

A method for electronically controlling operation of a vehicle including a hydraulic motor adapted to drive an axle, the hydraulic motor being in fluid communication with a hydraulic pump having a plurality of axially moveable pump pistons, wherein a swash plate is positioned to cooperatively engage the pump pistons and a control arm is linked to the swash plate to change the angular orientation of the swash plate to affect the displacement of fluid from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor, the method comprising:

• receiving a signal indicative of the vehicle assuming a predefined condition;
• using an electronic actuation drive to rotate the control arm to electronically control angular orientation of the swash plate in response to the signal indicative of the predefined condition;
• and
• causing the electronic actuation drive to rotate the control arm and the swash plate in a reverse direction toward a neutral position in response to the predefined condition when the control arm is in a forward position.

A method for electronically controlling operation of a vehicle including a hydraulic motor adapted to drive an axle, the hydraulic motor being in fluid communication with a hydraulic pump having a plurality of axially moveable Rump pistons, wherein a swash plate is positioned to cooperatively engage the pump pistons and a control arm is linked to the swash plate to change the angular orientation of the swash plate to affect the displacement of fluid from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor, the method comprising:

• receiving a signal indicative of the vehicle assuming a predefined condition;
• using an electronic actuation drive to rotate the control arm to electronically control annular orientation of the swash plate in response to the signal indicative of the predefined condition;
• and
• causing the electronic actuation drive to rotate the control arm and the swash plate in a forward direction toward a neutral position in response to the predefined condition when the control arm is in a reverse position.