Patent ID: 9028360
Filing Date: 2015-05-12
Classification: B60K,F16H

Abstract:
1. A multi ratio drive operably connecting a drive shaft and an axle, the multi ratio drive comprising: a housing; a piston longitudinally slideable in the housing; and a ring gear shell longitudinally slideable and rotatably fixed in the housing, the ring gear shell being coupled to the piston; a first drive chain having a first drive chain engaged state and a first drive chain disengaged state; the first drive chain comprising a first sun gear, a first planet gear, and a first ring gear; the first sun gear being disposed on a sun gear shaft; the first planet gear being engaged with the first sun gear, being rotatable about the sun gear shaft, and being operably connected to rotate a planet carrier about the sun gear shaft; and the first ring gear being engagable with the first planet gear, and being disposed on the ring gear shell; and a second drive chain having a second drive chain engaged state and a second drive chain disengaged state; the second drive chain comprising a second sun gear, a second planet gear, and a second ring gear; the second sun gear being disposed on the sun gear shaft; the second planet gear being engaged with the second sun gear, being rotatable about the sun gear shaft, and being operably connected to rotate a planet carrier about the sun gear shaft; and the second ring gear being engagable with the second planet gear, and being disposed on the ring gear shell; wherein the first drive chain drives the axle with a first gear ratio between the drive shaft and the axle when the first drive chain is in the first drive chain engaged state and the second drive chain is in the second drive chain disengaged state; and the second drive chain drives the axle with a second gear ratio between the drive shaft and the axle when the second drive chain is in the second drive chain engaged state and the first drive chain is in the first drive chain disengaged state; the first gear ratio is different from the second gear ratio; the piston positions the ring gear shell to engage the first planet gear with the first ring gear when the first drive chain is in the first drive chain engaged state; and the piston positions the ring gear shell to engage the second planet gear with the second ring gear when the second drive chain is in the second drive chain engaged state.