Freewheel hydraulic motor

A hydraulic drive comprising:

• a stationary housing;
• a drive shaft that extends through the stationary housing;
• a hydraulic motor for rotating the drive shaft relative to the stationary housing;
• a driven hub adapted to be connected to a rotatable driven element;
• a coupling/decoupling arrangement that allows the hydraulic drive to be operated in an engaged mode where the drive shaft is coupled to the driven hub in a direct drive arrangement and a disengaged mode where the drive shaft is decoupled from the driven hub, wherein when the hydraulic drive is operated in the engaged mode torque from the drive shaft is transferred to the driven hub causing the driven hub to rotate relative to the stationary housing, and wherein when the hydraulic drive is operated in the disengaged mode the driven hub can free wheel relative to the drive shaft;
• a bearing between the driven hub and the stationary housing for allowing the driven hub to rotate relative to the stationary housing about an axis of rotation defined by the bearing;
• a brake including a brake pack having first brake pads mounted to the stationary housing and second brake pads carried by the driven hub, the first and second brake pads being interleaved relative to one another;
• a piston;
• and
• a spring for actuating the brake by applying a braking force through the piston to the brake pack to compress the first and second brake pads together such that relative rotation between the driven hub and the stationary housing is resisted by friction between the first and second brake pads, and wherein the brake is released by applying a brake release hydraulic pressure to the piston to generate a brake release force that opposes the braking force;
• wherein the coupling/decoupling arrangement includes a coupler moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein when the coupler is in the engaged position the coupler is adapted to transfer torque from the drive shaft to the driven hub such that the hydraulic drive is operable in the engaged mode, wherein when the coupler is in the disengaged position the coupler is adapted to not transfer torque between the drive shaft and the driven hub such that the hydraulic drive is operable in the disengaged mode, wherein a mechanical fastener is positionable in a retaining position where the mechanical fastener retains the coupler in the engaged position, and wherein the spring moves the coupler from the engaged position to the disengaged position when the mechanical fastener is moved from the retaining position.

A hydraulic drive comprising:

• a stationary housing;
• a drive shaft that extends through the stationary housing;
• a hydraulic motor for rotating the drive shaft relative to the stationary housing;
• a driven hub adapted to be connected to a rotatable driven element;
• a coupling/decoupling arrangement that allows the hydraulic drive to be operated in an engaged mode where the drive shaft is coupled to the driven hub in a direct drive arrangement and a disengaged mode where the drive shaft is decoupled from the driven hub, wherein when the hydraulic drive is operated in the engaged mode torque from the drive shaft is transferred to the driven hub causing the driven hub to rotate relative to the stationary housing, and wherein when the hydraulic drive is operated in the disengaged mode the driven hub can free wheel relative to the drive shaft;
• a bearing between the driven hub and the stationary housing for allowing the driven hub to rotate relative to the stationary housing about an axis of rotation defined by the bearing;
• a brake including a brake pack having first brake pads mounted to the stationary housing and second brake pads carried by the driven hub, the first and second brake pads being interleaved relative to one another;
• a piston;
• and
• a spring for actuating the brake by applying a braking force through the piston to the brake pack to compress the first and second brake pads together such that relative rotation between the driven hub and the stationary housing is resisted by friction between the first and second brake pads, and wherein the brake is released by applying a brake release hydraulic pressure to the piston to generate a brake release force that opposes the braking force;
• wherein the piston has a first axial side positioned opposite from a second axial side, wherein the spring is positioned and the coupler are positioned at the first axial side of the piston, wherein a brake release chamber is positioned at the second axial side of the piston, wherein the brake release hydraulic pressure is applied to the brake release chamber to generate the brake release force, wherein the brake release force compresses the spring between the piston and the coupler, wherein the coupler includes a first axial side and an opposite second axial side, wherein the second axial side of the coupler faces the first axial side of the piston, wherein a de-coupling chamber is defined at the first axial side of the coupler for receiving a de-coupling hydraulic pressure used to move the coupler along the axis from the engaged position to the disengaged position, and wherein the stationary housing includes a positive stop that stops axial movement of the coupler when the coupler reaches the disengaged position.

A hydraulic drive comprising:

• a stationary housing defining a shaft passage;
• a main drive shaft that extends through the shaft passage of the stationary housing;
• a valve drive shaft coupled to the main drive shaft in a torque transmitting relationship;
• a hydraulic motor for rotating the valve drive shaft, the valve drive shaft transferring torque to the main drive shaft such that the main drive shaft rotates relative to the stationary housing, the hydraulic motor including a motor housing assembly that is mounted to the stationary housing, the stationary housing being fixed relative to the motor housing assembly;
• a driven hub mounted over the stationary housing, the driven hub including a plurality of first fastener openings for receiving first fasteners used to connect the driven hub to a wheel;
• one or more bearings positioned between the driven hub and the stationary housing to allow the driven hub to rotate relative to the stationary housing about an axis of rotation that extends through the shaft passage of the stationary housing;
• a coupling/decoupling arrangement that allows the hydraulic drive to be operated in an engaged mode where the main drive shaft is coupled to the driven hub in a direct drive arrangement and a disengaged mode where the main drive shaft is decoupled from the driven hub, wherein when the hydraulic drive is operated in the engaged mode torque from the main drive shaft is transferred to the driven hub causing the driven hub to rotate relative to the stationary housing, and wherein when the hydraulic drive is operated in the disengaged mode the driven hub can free wheel relative to the main drive shaft;
• and
• a brake piston mounted between the driven hub and the coupling/decoupling arrangement and frictionally engaged with the driven hub and the coupling/decoupling arrangement such that the coupling/decoupling arrangement, the driven hub and the brake piston are configured to rotate as a unit when driven by the main drive shaft, the brake piston further including two or more sealing arrangements that remain substantially static as the brake piston rotates with the driven hub and the coupling/decoupling arrangement.

A hydraulic drive comprising:

• a stationary housing;
• a drive shaft that extends through the stationary housing;
• a hydraulic motor for rotating the drive shaft relative to the stationary housing;
• a driven hub mounted over the stationary housing, the driven hub adapted to be connected to a rotatable driven element;
• a coupling/decoupling arrangement that allows the hydraulic drive to be operated in an engaged mode where the drive shaft is coupled to the driven hub in a direct drive arrangement and a disengaged mode where the drive shaft is decoupled from the driven hub, wherein when the hydraulic drive is operated in the engaged mode torque from the drive shaft is transferred to the driven hub causing the driven hub to rotate relative to the stationary housing, and wherein when the hydraulic drive is operated in the disengaged mode the driven hub can free wheel relative to the drive shaft;
• a bearing between the driven hub and the stationary housing for allowing the driven hub to rotate relative to the stationary housing about an axis of rotation defined by the bearing;
• a brake including a brake pack having first brake pads mounted to the stationary housing and second brake pads carried by the driven hub, the first and second brake pads being interleaved relative to one another;
• a piston;
• and
• a spring for actuating the brake by applying a braking force through the piston to the brake pack to compress the first and second brake pads together such that relative rotation between the driven hub and the stationary housing is resisted by friction between the first and second brake pads, and wherein the brake is released by applying a brake release hydraulic pressure to the piston to generate a brake release force that opposes the braking force;
• wherein the coupling/decoupling arrangement includes a coupler moveable between an engaged position and a disengaged position, wherein when the coupler is in the engaged position the coupler is adapted to transfer torque from the drive shaft to the driven hub such that the hydraulic drive is operable in the engaged mode, wherein when the coupler is in the disengaged position the coupler is adapted to not transfer torque between the drive shaft and the driven hub such that the hydraulic drive is operable in the disengaged mode, wherein a mechanical fastener is positionable in a retaining position where the mechanical fastener retains the coupler in the engaged position, and wherein the spring moves the coupler from the engaged position to the disengaged position when the mechanical fastener is moved from the retaining position.

A hydraulic drive comprising:

• a stationary housing;
• a drive shaft that extends through the stationary housing;
• a hydraulic motor for rotating the drive shaft relative to the stationary housing;
• a driven hub mounted over the stationary housing, the driven hub adapted to be connected to a rotatable driven element;
• a coupling/decoupling arrangement that allows the hydraulic drive to be operated in an engaged mode where the drive shaft is coupled to the driven hub in a direct drive arrangement and a disengaged mode where the drive shaft is decoupled from the driven hub, wherein when the hydraulic drive is operated in the engaged mode torque from the drive shaft is transferred to the driven hub causing the driven hub to rotate relative to the stationary housing, and wherein when the hydraulic drive is operated in the disengaged mode the driven hub can free wheel relative to the drive shaft;
• a bearing between the driven hub and the stationary housing for allowing the driven hub to rotate relative to the stationary housing about an axis of rotation defined by the bearing;
• a brake including a brake pack having first brake pads mounted to the stationary housing and second brake pads carried by the driven hub, the first and second brake pads being interleaved relative to one another;
• a piston;
• and
• a spring for actuating the brake by applying a braking force through the piston to the brake pack to compress the first and second brake pads together such that relative rotation between the driven hub and the stationary housing is resisted by friction between the first and second brake pads, and wherein the brake is released by applying a brake release hydraulic pressure to the piston to generate a brake release force that opposes the braking force;
• wherein the piston has a first axial side positioned opposite from a second axial side, wherein the spring is positioned and the coupler are positioned at the first axial side of the piston, wherein a brake release chamber is positioned at the second axial side of the piston, wherein the brake release hydraulic pressure is applied to the brake release chamber to generate the brake release force, wherein the brake release force compresses the spring between the piston and the coupler, wherein the coupler includes a first axial side and an opposite second axial side, wherein the second axial side of the coupler faces the first axial side of the piston, wherein a de-coupling chamber is defined at the first axial side of the coupler for receiving a de-coupling hydraulic pressure used to move the coupler along the axis from the engaged position to the disengaged position, and wherein the stationary housing includes a positive stop that stops axial movement of the coupler when the coupler reaches the disengaged position.