GB598189A - Driving and steering mechanism for vehicles, especially of the endless track type - Google Patents

Abstract

598,189. Motor-vehicle driving-gear. AKTIEBOLAGET INDUSTRIKOMPANIET. April 4, 1945, No. 8341. Convention date, March 14, 1944. [Class 79 (ii)] A driving and steering mechanism for vehicles, particularly endless track vehicles, in which each track is driven by a half-shaft through a planetary gearing, is characterised by an additional transmission device which superposes motion on one or other or both half-shafts or their planetary gears through a continuously variable mechanical or hydraulic gear. The continuously variable gear may be provided with a reverse gear, and couplings may be arranged to connect or disconnect the superimposed drive with the planetary gear carriers of each half-shaft. As shown the shaft 1 drives through gearing 2, 3, 5, 6 the shaft 7, 8. Fixed to the shaft 7 is a sun gear 9, and the sun gear 11 is fixed to the half-shaft 15 which drives the rear side road wheel or endless track. The two planet pinions are freely mounted on a cross shaft whose ends are fixed in the casing 13 which is provided with a brake 16 and is geared to a pinion 33. The casing 13 can be clutched to the half-shaft 15 by a clutch 14, and the pinion 33 may be clutched to its shaft 30 by a clutch 34. The two clutches 14, 34 may be interconnected as shown by a link 35 for alternative operation, or they may be operated simultaneously or independently. Power is also taken from the shaft 1 through a continuously variable gear 25, which may be provided with a clutch and a reversing arrangement, and gearing 27, 28, 29 to rotate the two shafts 30, 31 in opposite directions. During normal running, the brakes 16, 23 are kept applied and clutches 14, 34, 37, 39 disengaged, but by releasing one brake, e.g., 16, and engaging the corresponding clutch on the auxiliary drive, e.g., 34, a variable additional drive can be superimposed on the casing 13 to speed up the half-shaft 15 and so turn the vehicle. If desired, the vehicle may be turned more sharply by releasing both brakes 16, 23 and superimposing a drive on both casings 13, 21 in opposite directions by engaging clutches 34, 39 and disengaging clutches 14, 37. Alternatively, the shaft 26 may be driven from a separate source of power, or it may be manually manipulated.