Patent ID: 6591936
Filing Date: 2003-07-15
Classification: B60K,B60Y,B62D

Abstract:
A transaxle apparatus for speed changing and steering of a vehicle, comprising:a vehicle chassis; a prime mover mounted on said vehicle chassis; a pair of drive wheels; a first driving unit for driving said pair of drive wheels forwardly and backwardly at various speeds, said first driving unit including a pair of differentially connected first and second axles onto which said pair of drive wheels are mounted, a first transmission for driving said first and second axles, and a first output regulating member, wherein said first and second axles are driven according to a direction and speed of output rotation of said first transmission determined by said first output regulating member; a second driving unit for generating a difference of rotary speed between said pair of drive wheels so as to steer a vehicle, said second driving unit including a pair of differentially connected first and second steering output shafts, a second transmission for driving said first and second steering output shafts, and a second output regulating member, wherein said first and second steering output shafts are driven according to a direction and speed of output rotation of said second transmission determined by said second output regulating member, and wherein both said first transmission and said second transmission are drivingly connected to said prime mover; a first drive train interlocking said first axle and said first steering output shaft with each other so as to rotate said first axle and first steering output shaft in the same direction; and a second drive train interlocking said second axle and said second steering output shaft with each other so as to rotate said second axle and second steering output shaft in opposite directions, wherein, when said first transmission generates output rotation in each of opposite directions, if said second transmission generates rotational force in one of opposite directions so as to transmit equal rotational forces to said first and second steering output shafts, the rotational force of said first steering output shaft is transmitted as an accelerating force to said first axle through said first drive train, and the rotational force of said second steering output shaft is transmitted as a decelerating force to said second axle through said second drive train, and wherein, when said first transmission generates output rotation in each of opposite directions, if said second transmission generates rotational force in the other of opposite directions so as to transmit equal rotational forces to said first and second steering output shafts, the rotational force of said first steering output shaft is transmitted as a decelerating force to said first axle through said first drive train, and the rotational force of said second steering output shaft is transmitted as an accelerating force to said second axle through said second drive train.