Modular power distribution and drive system
AssigneeHydro-Gear Limited Partnership
InventorsRaymond Hauser, Nathan W. Bonny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A modular drive system for a zero turn radius vehicle having a central gear box that powers a variety of left and right side drive mechanisms, the central gear box having a housing forming a sump, an input shaft, a central drive train with an output generally perpendicular to the input shaft, and a power take off mechanism including a clutch having an output shaft collinear with the input shaft.
Claims20
A modular drive assembly for a zero turn radius vehicle having a prime mover, the modular drive assembly comprising:
- a central gear box comprising:
- a housing forming a sump;
- an input shaft driven by the prime mover;
- a drive train within the housing and engaged to and driven by the input shaft;
- a central output generally perpendicular to the input shaft and driven by the drive train, the central output having a first shaft end accessible from a first side of the housing and a second shaft end accessible from a second side of the housing opposite the first side;
- and
- a power take off mechanism having an auxiliary output shaft that is collinear with the input shaft and an electric clutch disposed in the sump to selectively couple the auxiliary output shaft to the input shaft;
- a first variable speed drive having a first drive input shaft connected to the first shaft end of the central output;
- and
- a second variable speed drive having a second drive input shaft connected to the second shaft end of the central output.
A modular drive assembly for a zero turn radius vehicle having a prime mover, the modular drive assembly comprising:
- a central gear box comprising:
- a housing;
- an input shaft driven by the prime mover;
- a drive train within the housing and engaged to and driven by the input shaft;
- a central output generally perpendicular to the input shaft and driven by the drive train, the central output having a first shaft end accessible from a first side of the housing and a second shaft end accessible from a second side of the housing opposite the first side;
- and
- a power take off mechanism having an auxiliary output shaft that is collinear with the input shaft and a power take off clutch to selectively couple the auxiliary output shaft to the input shaft;
- a first variable speed drive having a first drive input shaft connected to the first shaft end of the central output;
- and
- a second variable speed drive having a second drive input shaft connected to the second shaft end of the central output.
A modular drive assembly for a zero turn radius vehicle having a prime mover with an output shaft, the modular drive assembly comprising:
- a central gear box comprising:
- a housing having a top and a bottom;
- an input shaft formed as a hollow through-shaft accessible from either the top of the housing or the bottom of the housing and adapted to receive the prime mover output shaft;
- a drive train within the housing and engaged to and driven by the input shaft;
- a central output generally perpendicular to the input shaft and driven by the drive train, the central output having a first shaft end accessible from a first side of the housing and a second shaft end accessible from a second side of the housing opposite the first side;
- a first variable speed drive having a first drive input shaft connected to the first shaft end of the central output;
- a second variable speed drive having a second drive input shaft connected to the second shaft end of the central output;
- wherein the central gear box may be oriented in a first direction with the top of the housing adjacent the prime mover, or inverted in a second direction with the bottom of the housing adjacent the prime mover.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.