Reverse drive system for a three-wheeled vehicle
AssigneeHarley-Davidson Motor Company Group, Inc.
InventorsRichard G. Dykowski, Michael A. Newton, Tyler S. Kulig
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A rear axle assembly for a vehicle having an engine and a rear wheel including an axle configured to couple to the rear wheel, a compensator bowl coupled to the axle and having a ring gear, and a drive member coupled to the compensator bowl. The drive member is configured to be driven by the engine to rotate the axle in a forward direction. The rear axle assembly also includes a motor selectively engageable with the ring gear. The motor is operable to drive the ring gear to rotate the axle in a reverse direction.
Claims19
A rear axle assembly for a vehicle, the vehicle including an engine and a rear wheel, the rear axle assembly comprising:
- an axle configured to couple to the rear wheel;
- a compensator bowl coupled to the axle and including a ring gear;
- a drive member coupled to the compensator bowl, the drive member configured to be driven by the engine to rotate the axle in a forward direction;
- and
- a motor selectively engageable with the ring gear, the motor operable to drive the ring gear to rotate the axle in a reverse direction.
A vehicle comprising:
- a rear wheel;
- an axle coupled to the rear wheel;
- a compensator bowl coupled to the axle and including a ring gear;
- a drive member coupled to the compensator bowl;
- an engine coupled to the drive member, the engine operable to drive the drive member to rotate the axle in a forward direction;
- and
- a motor selectively engageable with the ring gear, the motor operable to drive the ring gear to rotate the axle in a reverse direction.
A rear axle assembly for a vehicle, the vehicle including an engine and a rear wheel, the rear axle assembly comprising:
- an axle configured to couple to the rear wheel;
- a drive member coupled to the axle, the drive member configured to be driven by the engine to rotate the axle in a forward direction;
- a gear coupled to the axle;
- a motor selectively engageable with the gear, the motor operable to drive the gear to rotate the axle in a reverse direction;
- at least one elastic member positioned between the drive member and the gear to isolate the drive member from the gear;
- and
- a carrier housing coupled to the axle and surrounding at least a portion of the drive member and the gear, wherein the motor is mounted to the carrier housing adjacent to the gear.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.