GB1303616A - - Google Patents

Abstract

1303616 Vehicle skid steering A J WILDY 27 April 1971 [1 May 1970] 11605/71 Headings B7H and B7V A vehicle having running gear, e.g. wheels, tracks, propellers or paddles R1, R2 on each side has a motor M which powers two drives D1, D2, which are fixed ratio, stepped ratio or continuously variable ratio, and two continuously variable ratio drives CV1, CV2. The outputs of D and CV each side are converted by an epicyclic gearing E1, E2 to provide separate, infinite, stepless and reversible speed variation to running gear R1, R2, and hence to steer the vehicle. A suitable transmission is shown in Fig. 5 and comprises a counter-shaft 13, driven by the motor M, which drives an epicyclic gearing in housing 7 via chain 15 and sprockets 14, 12- these constitute the fixed ratio drive D1 or D2- and via belts 19, 20, pulleys 16, 20 and expanding pulley mechanism 17-these constitute the continuously variable drive CV1 or CV2. The epicyclic gear mechanism comprises a small sun-gear 8 which is driven with pulley 16 and a large sun-gear 9 which is driven with sprocket 12. The sun-gears 8, 9 mesh with respective planet gears 3, 4, 5, 6 journalled in housing 7 which provides the final drive to the running gear via shaft 23. The drives CV1, CV2 may be hydraulic or electric motors driven by a pump or generator. A common fixed ratio drive D may be provided for both sets of running gear R1, R2. Variations of transmission and epicyclic gearing are described. For example, the continuously variable drive may be of the friction-disc type.