Patent ID: 9359005
Filing Date: 2016-06-07
CPC Classification: B60K,B62D

Claim Text:
1. A drive mechanism for an automated guided vehicle (AGV), comprising: a drive unit for propelling the AGV and having a drive wheel, a drive transmission, and a drive motor that is operably coupled to the drive wheel via the drive transmission, wherein the drive transmission includes first and second drive shafts, a plurality of gears coupled between the first and second drive shafts to transfer drive power between the first and second drive shafts, and a planetary gear set located within the drive wheel to transmit drive power from the second drive shaft to the drive wheel, wherein the first drive shaft has an upper end and a lower end and the second drive shaft has an inner end and an outer end, the first drive shaft extending along a steering axis with the upper end coupled with the drive motor to receive drive power from the drive motor and the lower end coupled with the plurality of gears to provide the drive power to the plurality of gears, the second drive shaft extending along a drive axis of the drive wheel with the outer end coupled with the plurality of gears to receive the drive power from the plurality of gears and the inner end coupled to the planetary gear set to provide the drive power to the planetary gear set, and wherein the planetary gear set includes a ring gear attached to the drive wheel, a sun gear attached to the second drive shaft, and a plurality of planet gears that rotate around the sun gear and cooperate with both the ring and sun gears; wherein the drive wheel is steerable and the drive motor is mounted so that it remains stationary while the drive wheel is steered about the steering axis.