公开(公告)号：US06568697B1

公开(公告)日：2003-05-27

申请号：US10023261

申请日：2001-12-13

申请人： Lawrence Brill ,  Malcolm Green ,  Steven E. Hunter ,  Duy Lam ,  Ragnar Ledesma ,  Mike Schuster ,  Tomaz Dopico Varela

发明人： Lawrence Brill ,  Malcolm Green ,  Steven E. Hunter ,  Duy Lam ,  Ragnar Ledesma ,  Mike Schuster ,  Tomaz Dopico Varela

IPC分类号： B62D799

CPC分类号： B62D5/0418 ,  B60G2200/142 ,  B60G2200/44 ,  B60G2202/314 ,  B60G2202/413 ,  B60G2202/442 ,  B62D5/14 ,  B62D7/09 ,  B62D7/18

摘要： A steering system for a vehicle is provided that includes a steering knuckle which is rotatable about an axis. The steering knuckle includes an upper attachment point and a lower attachment point. The attachment points define the steer axis. A rotational drive unit is connected to the steering knuckle for rotating the steering knuckle about the steer axis. A control module receives a steering input corresponding to the desired Ackerman angle and commands the rotational drive unit to rotate the steering knuckle about the axis to the desired Ackerman angle. Rotational drive units for each side of the vehicle ensure that the wheels are turned to the appropriate Ackerman angle for each wheel. The rotational drive unit may include an electric motor, or a pneumatic or hydraulic pump. In one preferred embodiment, the rotational drive unit includes a fluid housing and the shaft connected to the steering knuckle. The shaft includes a vane extending therefrom and into the housing. The fluid pump pumps fluid into the housing to rotate the vane with the shaft and steering knuckle about the axis in response to a command from the control module.

摘要翻译： 提供了一种用于车辆的转向系统，其包括可围绕轴线旋转的转向节。 转向节包括上附接点和下附接点。 连接点定义转向轴。 旋转驱动单元连接到转向节，用于绕转向轴旋转转向节。 控制模块接收对应于期望的阿克曼角度的转向输入，并命令旋转驱动单元将转向节围绕轴旋转至期望的阿克曼角。 车辆每侧的旋转驱动单元确保了每个车轮的车轮转向适当的阿克曼角度。 旋转驱动单元可以包括电动机或气动或液压泵。 在一个优选实施例中，旋转驱动单元包括流体壳体和连接到转向节的轴。 轴包括从其延伸并进入壳体的叶片。 流体泵将流体泵送到壳体中，以响应于来自控制模块的命令，使叶片与轴和转向节围绕轴线旋转。

公开(公告)号：US06893046B2

公开(公告)日：2005-05-17

申请号：US10021128

申请日：2001-12-12

申请人： Ragnar Ledesma ,  Lawrence Brill ,  Steven E. Hunter ,  Malcolm Green ,  Duy Lam ,  Mike Schuster ,  Tomaz Dopico Varela

发明人： Ragnar Ledesma ,  Lawrence Brill ,  Steven E. Hunter ,  Malcolm Green ,  Duy Lam ,  Mike Schuster ,  Tomaz Dopico Varela

IPC分类号： B62D21/11 ,  B62D65/04 ,  B62D7/22

CPC分类号： B62D65/04 ,  B60G2200/144 ,  B60G2206/011 ,  B60G2206/0114 ,  B60G2300/14 ,  B60G2300/38 ,  B62D21/11

摘要： An independent suspension undercarriage module includes a first subframe segment and a second subframe segment. The subframe is manufactured of a composite material to provide a truss-like structural unibody which is mounted as a unit to the underside of a low floor vehicle through a plurality of resilient dampers. Passengers are thereby provided with a secondary vibration isolation structure separate from the suspension systems which filter out high frequency content generated by the suspension systems.

摘要翻译： 独立悬架起落架模块包括第一子帧段和第二子帧段。 该副车架由复合材料制造，以提供一种桁架状结构单体，该单体通过多个弹性阻尼器作为一个单元安装在低层车辆的下侧。 因此，乘客设置有与悬挂系统分开的二次隔振结构，该悬挂系统滤除由悬挂系统产生的高频内容。

公开(公告)号：US20050005731A1

公开(公告)日：2005-01-13

申请号：US10617997

申请日：2003-07-11

申请人： Lawrence Brill ,  Tomaz Varela

发明人： Lawrence Brill ,  Tomaz Varela

IPC分类号： F16H57/04 ,  F16H57/02

CPC分类号： F16H57/0434 ,  F16H57/0445 ,  Y10T74/2188

摘要： An axle housing assembly includes web members that define lubricant containment chambers within an interior space of a housing. Each lubricant containment chamber contains a fixed amount of lubricant. The containment chambers defined within the housing confine lubricant to critical areas to reduce the amount of lubricant required within the housing to properly lubricate internal components.

摘要翻译： 轴壳体组件包括在壳体的内部空间内限定润滑剂容纳室的腹板构件。 每个润滑剂容纳室含有固定量的润滑剂。 限定在壳体内的容纳室将润滑剂限制在临界区域，以减少外壳内所需润滑剂的数量，以适当地润滑内部组件。

公开(公告)号：US20070251348A1

公开(公告)日：2007-11-01

申请号：US11402672

申请日：2006-04-12

申请人： Brian Hayes ,  Lawrence Brill

发明人： Brian Hayes ,  Lawrence Brill

IPC分类号： F16H57/02

CPC分类号： F16H57/0434 ,  F16H57/0421 ,  Y10T74/19991 ,  Y10T74/2186

摘要： A gear box assembly as used in an inverted portal axle or transfer case includes a drive gear and at least one driven gear in meshing engagement with the drive gear at a contact point. A gear housing closely surrounds portions of an outer circumference of the drive and driven gears to form a baffle area. The gear housing includes an discharge orifice that is located near the contact point and a fluid gallery that extends from the discharge orifice to other locations within the gear housing. As the drive gear drives the driven gear, fluid is pumped into the discharge orifice and through the fluid gallery to fluid outlets positioned at desired locations to lubricate other gear box components. Radial inlets with elongated chamfers and stator vanes can be formed within the gear housing to draw air ingested during pumping away from the discharge orifice. Additionally, a bypass loop can be used to scavenge unwanted air ingested into meshing gear teeth.

摘要翻译： 在倒档门或转移箱中使用的齿轮箱组件包括驱动齿轮和在接触点处与驱动齿轮啮合的至少一个从动齿轮。 齿轮壳体紧密地围绕驱动器和从动齿轮的外周的部分以形成挡板区域。 齿轮壳体包括位于接触点附近的排出孔和从排出孔延伸到齿轮箱内的其它位置的流体槽。 当驱动齿轮驱动从动齿轮时，流体被泵送到排出孔中并且通过流体槽传送到位于所需位置处的流体出口以润滑其它齿轮箱部件。 具有细长倒角和定子叶片的径向入口可以形成在齿轮壳体内，以吸引在排出孔处抽取的空气。 此外，可以使用旁路回路来清除吸入啮合齿轮齿的不需要的空气。

公开(公告)号：US20060180366A1

公开(公告)日：2006-08-17

申请号：US11058146

申请日：2005-02-15

申请人： Lawrence Brill ,  Tomaz Varela

发明人： Lawrence Brill ,  Tomaz Varela

IPC分类号： B60K1/00

CPC分类号： F16D55/02 ,  B60K7/0007 ,  B60K17/046 ,  B60K2007/0038 ,  B60K2007/0061 ,  B60L2220/44 ,  B60L2220/46 ,  B60L2260/28 ,  B60Y2200/1432

摘要： A drive unit for a vehicle wheel assembly includes an input gear set driven by an electric motor, a planetary gear set driven by the input gear set, and an output shaft driven by the planetary gear set. An adapter is used to attach a wheel rim and a brake component for rotation with the output shaft, which is rotatably supported by a wheel bearing. The input gear set and the planetary gear set are positioned outboard of the electric motor and inboard of the brake component. The brake component can be easily removed without requiring removal of the planetary gear set or any wheel bearings. Only the wheel rim and the adapter have to be removed in order to remove the brake component.

摘要翻译： 用于车轮组件的驱动单元包括由电动机驱动的输入齿轮组，由输入齿轮组驱动的行星齿轮组和由行星齿轮组驱动的输出轴。 一个适配器用于安装一个轮辋和一个制动器部件，用于与输出轴一起转动，该输出轴由一个车轮轴承可转动地支撑。 输入齿轮组和行星齿轮组位于电动机的外侧和制动部件的内侧。 制动部件可以容易地移除，而不需要移除行星齿轮组或任何车轮轴承。 只有轮辋和适配器必须拆卸才能拆下制动部件。

公开(公告)号：US20060058145A1

公开(公告)日：2006-03-16

申请号：US11210461

申请日：2005-08-24

申请人： Malcolm Ruppert ,  Lawrence Brill ,  William Sullivan ,  Glen Swanson

发明人： Malcolm Ruppert ,  Lawrence Brill ,  William Sullivan ,  Glen Swanson

IPC分类号： F16H3/72

CPC分类号： B60K7/0007 ,  B60K1/02 ,  B60K17/043 ,  B60K17/046 ,  B60K17/22 ,  B60K2007/003 ,  B60K2007/0038 ,  B60K2007/0069 ,  B60K2007/0076 ,  B60K2007/0084 ,  B60L15/007 ,  B60L2200/18 ,  B60L2220/42 ,  B60L2220/46 ,  B60L2220/50 ,  B60Y2200/1432 ,  Y02T10/641 ,  Y02T10/645 ,  Y02T10/646

摘要： An automotive vehicle drive unit assembly which is located near the sides of a vehicle includes a first driving axle shaft, a second driving axle shaft, a first gear box, a second gear box, a first electric motor, and a second electric motor. The first driving axle shaft drives a first wheel hub of the vehicle and the second driving axle shaft drives a second wheel hub. Together the first and second driving axle shafts define an axis of rotation about which the first and second wheel hubs rotate. The first gear set drives the first wheel and the second gear set drives the second wheel. A first electric motor is mounted in an angular relationship relative to the axis of rotation and drives the first gear set. A second electric motor is mounted in an angular relationship relative to the axis of rotation and drives the second gear set. A plurality of electric motors can be used to drive each wheel hub.

摘要翻译： 位于车辆侧面附近的机动车辆驱动单元组件包括第一驱动桥轴，第二驱动桥轴，第一齿轮箱，第二齿轮箱，第一电动马达和第二电动马达。 第一驱动轴驱动车辆的第一轮毂，第二驱动轴驱动第二轮毂。 第一和第二驱动桥轴一起限定第一和第二轮毂​​绕其旋转的旋转轴线。 第一齿轮组驱动第一轮，第二齿轮组驱动第二轮。 第一电动机以相对于旋转轴线的角度关系安装并驱动第一档位。 第二电动机相对于旋转轴线成角度地安装并驱动第二齿轮组。 可以使用多个电动机来驱动每个轮毂。

公开(公告)号：US20050045412A1

公开(公告)日：2005-03-03

申请号：US10649853

申请日：2003-08-26

申请人： Lawrence Brill

发明人： Lawrence Brill

IPC分类号： B60B35/16 ,  B60K17/04 ,  B60K17/22

CPC分类号： B60B35/002 ,  B60B35/163 ,  B60K17/043 ,  B60Y2200/1432

摘要： An inverted portal drive axle includes an off-center driving input that is coupled to first and second axle shafts. The first axle shaft drives a first gear box that is coupled to a first wheel assembly. The second axle shaft extends underneath a vehicle floor and drives a second gear box that is coupled to a second wheel assembly. An axle housing extends between the first and second gear boxes. The second axle shaft includes an exposed central portion that is positioned directly between the vehicle floor and the axle housing. Seal assemblies seal first and second ends of the second axle shaft to the axle housing.

摘要翻译： 反向门禁驱动轴包括联接到第一和第二车轴的偏心驱动输入。 第一轴轴驱动联接到第一轮组件的第一齿轮箱。 第二车轴延伸在车辆地板下方并且驱动联接到第二车轮组件的第二齿轮箱。 轴壳在第一和第二齿轮箱之间延伸。 第二车轴包括暴露的中心部分，其直接位于车辆地板和车轴壳体之间。 密封组件将第二轴轴的第一端和第二端密封到轴壳体。

公开(公告)号：US20070068723A1

公开(公告)日：2007-03-29

申请号：US10555421

申请日：2003-05-02

申请人： Lawrence Brill ,  Corrado Conti ,  Brian Hayes ,  Steven Hunter ,  Fabio Maineri ,  Tomaz Varela

发明人： Lawrence Brill ,  Corrado Conti ,  Brian Hayes ,  Steven Hunter ,  Fabio Maineri ,  Tomaz Varela

IPC分类号： B60K17/00 ,  B60B35/16

CPC分类号： B60B11/02 ,  B60B35/002 ,  B60B35/122 ,  B60B35/163 ,  B60Y2200/1432 ,  Y10S180/905

摘要： An axle system includes an axle shaft offset located within an axle center beam housing. The axle shaft is located in a recess in a top wall of the axle center beam shaped with slopes to maximize clearance to the bottom of the vehicle floor panels. The pneumatic brake cylinders define a cylinder axis angled within an angular range from a generally vertical orientation for enhanced packaging.

摘要翻译： 轴系包括位于车轴中心梁壳体内的车轴偏置。 车轴位于车轴中心梁的顶壁上的一个凹槽中，该中心梁的形状为斜坡，以最大限度地使与车辆地板面板底部的距离最大化。 气动制动缸限定了一个圆柱体轴线，其角度范围是从大体垂直的方向，以增强包装。

公开(公告)号：US20050161136A1

公开(公告)日：2005-07-28

申请号：US10765291

申请日：2004-01-27

申请人： Brian Hayes ,  Lawrence Brill

发明人： Brian Hayes ,  Lawrence Brill

IPC分类号： B60C23/00 ,  B60C23/10

CPC分类号： B60C23/003

摘要： A tire inflation system for a portal drive axle assembly includes fluid flow passages that are formed within rotating wheel shafts, which drive a pair of wheel end assemblies. The portal drive axle assembly includes a driving input that drives a pair of axle shafts. A wheel gear assembly operably couples each axle shaft to the respective wheel shaft. The wheel gear assemblies transfer the driving force from the axle shafts to the wheel shafts, which are positioned at different vertical location relative to the axle shafts. A first end of each wheel shaft is in fluid communication with a vehicle air supply and a second end of each wheel shaft is in fluid communication with a tire assembly. Seal assemblies are mounted for rotation with the wheel shaft at the first end of the wheel shafts. An air supply needle is mounted to a non-rotating axle structure and includes a base member that is in fluid communication with the air supply and a hollow needle body that extends from the base member through the seal assembly and into the fluid flow passage. Thus, air is selectively supplied to the tire assemblies in a sealed environment by traveling from the air supply, through the rotating wheel shafts, and into the tire assemblies.

摘要翻译： 用于门式驱动轴组件的轮胎充气系统包括流体流动通道，其形成在驱动一对车轮端组件的旋转轮轴内。 入口驱动轴组件包括驱动一对车轴的驱动输入。 轮齿轮组件可操作地将每个车轴连接到相应的车轮轴。 轮齿轮组件将来自车轴的驱动力传递到轮轴，轮轴相对于车轴位于不同的垂直位置。 每个轮轴的第一端与车辆空气供应源流体连通，并且每个轮轴的第二端与轮胎组件流体连通。 安装密封组件以便在轮轴的第一端处与轮轴一起旋转。 供气针安装在非旋转轴结构上，并包括与空气源流体连通的基座构件和从基座构件穿​​过密封组件延伸到流体流动通道中的中空针体。 因此，通过从空气供应通过旋转轮轴行进并进入轮胎组件，在密封环境中选择性地将空气供给到轮胎组件。