Electric actuator for drive apparatus

A drive apparatus, comprising:

• a housing forming a fluid sump;
• a variable transmission disposed in the fluid sump;
• and
• an actuator for varying output of the variable transmission, comprising:
• a gear assembly disposed in the fluid sump;
• and
• an electric motor engaged to the gear assembly to control the actuators;
• wherein the housing comprises:
• a main housing having a side housing engaged thereto to form a first space, the side housing having an internal side and an external side;
• and
• an actuator housing engaged to the external side of the side housing to form a second space in fluid communication with the first space through an opening in the side housing;
• wherein the first space and the second space combine to form the fluid sump.

A drive apparatus comprising:

• a housing forming a fluid sump;
• a variable transmission disposed in the fluid sump;
• and
• an actuator for varying output of the variable transmission, comprising:
• a gear assembly disposed in the fluid sump;
• and
• an electric motor engaged to the gear assembly to control the actuator;
• wherein:
• the electric motor drives a motor output shaft, and a worm is rotatably driven by the motor output shaft;
• the variable transmission comprises a control shaft, whereby the actuator is engaged to and rotates the control shaft to vary the output of the variable transmission, and an angular position sensor is engaged to the control shaft to communicate a rotational position of the control shaft to a drive controller;
• the gear assembly comprises a worm gear engaged to and driven by the worm and at least one pinion gear;
• and
• a slip clutch is engaged to the at least one pinion gear, the slip clutch comprising:
• a clutch support shaft extending through the worm gear and the at least one pinion gear;
• a plurality of clutch pins arranged radially around the clutch support shaft and extending through the worm gear, each clutch pin having a first end engaging a ramp formed on a side surface of the at least one pinion gear and a second end engaging a first thrust washer, whereby each clutch pin is capable of transferring rotational force from the worm gear to the at least one pinion gear;
• and
• a spring disposed about the clutch support shaft and between the first thrust washer and a second thrust washer, wherein the slip clutch permits the at least one pinion gear to disengage from the worm gear.

A vehicle comprising:

• a drive controller;
• a prime mover having an output shaft;
• and
• a first variable drive unit for driving a first wheel of the vehicle and a second variable drive unit for driving a second wheel of the vehicle, the first variable drive unit and the second variable drive unit each comprising:
• a housing forming a fluid sump;
• a hydraulic pump disposed in the fluid sump and controlled by a control shaft and hydraulically connected to a hydraulic motor;
• and
• an electric actuator in communication with the drive controller for adjusting a rotational position of the control shaft, the electric actuator comprising:
• an electric motor comprising a motor output shaft;
• and
• a spur gear reduction disposed in the fluid sump, whereby the spur gear reduction shares common oil with the hydraulic pump, the spur gear reduction being driven by the motor output shaft and engaged to the control shaft to adjust a rotational position of the control shaft;
• wherein the housing of the first variable drive unit and the housing of the second variable drive unit each further comprise a main housing engaged with a side housing and an actuator housing engaged to an external surface of the side housing, the main housing and the side housing defining a first space, the actuator housing defining a second space, wherein the first space is in fluid communication with the second space via an opening in the side housing to form the fluid sump.