摘要:
A drive axle assembly for a low floor vehicle utilizes a single input gear assembly to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends. The input gear assembly is positioned next to one of the wheel ends so that the vehicle floor can be lowered to facilitate passenger access to the vehicle. Each wheel end includes a gear reduction assembly (44) with a ring gear (80) rotatably mounted within a gear housing (82). A drive gear (56) is operatively coupled to the input gear assembly and is in meshing engagement with the ring gear (80). The gear reduction assembly (44) also includes an output or driven gear (86), which is larger than the drive gear, to provide the desired gear reduction. The driven gear (86) is also in meshing engagement with the ring gear (80). A pair of idler gears (90) is rotatably mounted within the gear housing (82) and are in meshing engagement with both the drive (56) and driven gear (86). The idler gears (90) and drive gear (56) do not have a common centerline. The assembly thus provides toothed contact via three gear sets combinations, which equalizes loading and eliminates the need for support bearings for the drive and driven gears.
摘要:
A drive unit assembly for a vehicle wheel includes a rigidly mounted electric motor (14) coupled to the vehicle wheel via a gear drive (32). The gear drive includes a cycloid or epicycloid gear arrangement that provides significant speed reduction at the wheel.
摘要:
A wheel end assembly includes an output shaft that is directly mountable to a wheel adapter to drive a vehicle wheel. A gear assembly is coupled to the output shaft to transfer driving force from an input to the output shaft. The gear assembly includes an output gear that is directly coupled to the output shaft. Thus, the wheel adapter and output gear are both supported directly on the output shaft. The gear assembly and output shaft are substantially enclosed within a housing that is mounted to a non-rotating vehicle component. The output shaft is solely supported by a pair of bearings for rotation relative to the housing. The bearings are installed for direct engagement with the output shaft and housing.
摘要:
A drive unit assembly (32) utilizes a single input (38) to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends (34). Each wheel end is suspended independently from the other. The input is operatively coupled to only one of the wheel ends and an exposed axle shaft assembly (36) interconnects the input to the opposite wheel end. The axle shaft assembly includes multiple shaft members (60, 62, 64) to interconnect the laterally spaced wheel ends. One of the axle shaft members is mounted to a vehicle floor structure with a bearing mount (74) and includes connection joints (66) at either end to accommodate the independent motion of each wheel end. The floor and the shaft member move together during suspension travel, allowing the floor to have a lower profile than is traditionally available.
摘要:
A drive unit assembly for a vehicle wheel includes a rigidly mounted electric motor (14) coupled to the vehicle wheel via a gear drive (32). The gear drive includes a cycloid or epicycloid gear arrangement that provides significant speed reduction at the wheel.
摘要:
A wheel end assembly includes an output shaft (22/70/120) that is directly mountable to a wheel adapter (38/80/130) to drive a vehicle wheel. A gear assembly (12/62/112) is coupled to the output shaft to transfer driving force from an input to the output shaft. The gear assembly includes an output gear (20/68/118) that is directly coupled to the output shaft. Thus, the wheel adapter and output gear are both supported directly on the output shaft. The gear assembly and output shaft are substantially enclosed within a housing (14/90/102/148) that is mounted to a non-rotating vehicle component. The output shaft is solely supported by a pair of bearings for rotation relative to the housing. The bearings are installed for direct engagement with the output shaft and housing.
摘要:
A drive axle assembly for a low floor vehicle utilizes a single input gear assembly to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends. The input gear assembly is positioned next to one of the wheel ends so that the vehicle floor can be lowered to facilitate passenger access to the vehicle. Each wheel end includes a gear reduction assembly (44) with a ring gear (80) rotatably mounted within a gear housing (82). A drive gear (56) is operatively coupled to the input gear assembly and is in meshing engagement with the ring gear (80). The gear reduction assembly (44) also includes an output or driven gear (86), which is larger than the drive gear, to provide the desired gear reduction. The driven gear (86) is also in meshing engagement with the ring gear (80). A pair of idler gears (90) is rotatably mounted within the gear housing (82) and are in meshing engagement with both the drive (56) and driven gear (86). The idler gears (90) and drive gear (56) do not have a common centerline. The assembly thus provides toothed contact via three gear sets combinations, which equalizes loading and eliminates the need for support bearings for the drive and driven gears.
摘要:
A drive unit assembly (32) utilizes a single input (38) to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends (34). Each wheel end is suspended independently from the other. The input is operatively coupled to only one of the wheel ends and an exposed axle shaft assembly (36) interconnects the input to the opposite wheel end. The axle shaft assembly includes multiple shaft members (60, 62, 64) to interconnect the laterally spaced wheel ends. One of the axle shaft members is mounted to a vehicle floor structure with a bearing mount (74) and includes connection joints (66) at either end to accommodate the independent motion of each wheel end. The floor and the shaft member move together during suspension travel, allowing the floor to have a lower profile than is traditionally available.