Patent ID: 8439152
Filing Date: 2013-05-14
Classification: B60K,B60Y,B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
1. A triple-differential drive transmission and steering apparatus for a vehicle, wherein: [2] the apparatus includes a non-rotating gearbox housing; [3] the apparatus includes an engine-shaft, which is arranged to receive motive power from an engine of the vehicle; [4] the apparatus includes left and right wheel-shafts, which are arranged for transmitting motive power respectively to left and right road-wheels of the vehicle; [5] the apparatus includes a steer differential, and left and right wheel-differentials; [6] the steer-differential includes a steer-diff-housing, and left and right steer-shafts; [7] the left and right steer-shafts are geared to each other, and to the steer-diff-housing, in such manner that the sum of the rotary speeds of the two steer-shafts equals twice the rotary speed of the steer-diff-housing; [8] the apparatus includes a left steer-brake, which is operable to retard rotation of the left steer-shaft; [9] the apparatus includes a right steer-brake, which is operable to retard rotation of the right steer-shaft; [10] the steer-diff-housing is in fixed-ratio relationship with the engine-shaft; [11] the left and right wheel-differentials include respective left and right wheel-sun-gears, wheel-planet-gears, wheel-spiders, and wheel-ring-gears, arranged as respective left and right epicyclic gearsets; [12] the left wheel-spider is unitary with the left wheel-shaft; [13] the right wheel-spider is unitary with the right wheel-shaft; [14] the left wheel-sun-gear is in fixed-ratio relationship with the left steer-shaft; [15] the right wheel-sun-gear is in fixed-ratio relationship with the right steer-shaft; [16] the left wheel-ring-gear is in fixed-ratio relationship with the engine-shaft; and [17] the right wheel-ring-gear is in fixed-ratio relationship with the engine-shaft.