Patent ID: 7757797

Claim:
A drive for a track-laying vehicle, comprising: a drive shaft operatively connected for driving two chain drive wheels of the track-laying vehicle; a steering drive having a rotational speed; a differential gear system connected to said steering drive for superimposing the rotational speed of said steering drive onto one of the chain drive wheels for effecting superimposed steering of the track-laying vehicle; an electric machine operable as an electric generator in a generator mode and as an electric motor in a drive mode, said electric machine connected to said drive shaft by a drive connection; a thermal engine; a clutch disposed between and engageable with the electric machine and the thermal engine and operable in an engaged state for connecting said thermal engine to said electric machine and a disengaged state for disengaging said thermal engine from said electric machine; and an electrical energy storage device connected to said electric machine such that said electrical energy storage device is chargeable by said electric machine when said electric machine is operated in said generator mode.