Omnidirectional drive and steering unit
A compact, low profile omnidirectional drive and steering unit that, in one embodiment, utilizes a single, centrally located wheel, mounted on a drive shaft, upon which is also mounted a tapered pinion gear. The pinion gear on the drive shaft meshes with a ring shaped beveled worm gear contained within the outer housing of the gear unit that surrounds the centrally located wheel. At one side of the outer housing is a worm drive that meshes with the ring shaped and beveled worm gear. Rotation of the worm drive causes rotation of the ring shaped worm gear, which causes the drive shaft mounted pinion gear to turn, which turns the drive wheel to provide driving power for whatever vehicle or system of which the unit is a part. A steering and timing gear is mounted on the lower surface of the unit to provide steering capability.
1. An omnidirectional drive and steering unit comprising:
a drive assembly that engages a drive gear assembly;
a wheel assembly driven by the drive gear assembly and including a drive wheel having a central axis, a wheel drive shaft and a wheel drive shaft gear attached to said wheel drive shaft;
the drive gear assembly being coaxial with the central axis; and
a steering gear assembly attached to the wheel assembly and being coaxial with the central axis,
wherein the drive assembly further comprises a worm and a worm shaft;
wherein the drive gear assembly further comprises a worm gear attached to a bevel gear, the worm gear meshing with the worm; and
wherein the wheel drive shaft gear meshes with the bevel gear whereby when said worm shaft is rotated, said worm rotates and translates movement to said worm gear and bevel gear, which translates movement to said wheel drive shaft gear and wheel drive shaft, rotating said wheel drive shaft and driving said wheel; and
wherein said drive wheel is driven in the forward or reverse direction depending on the rotation of the worm shaft.
2. The omnidirectional drive and steering unit according to claim 1 , further comprising a drive assembly control system associated with the drive assembly, and further comprising a steering assembly control system associated with the steering assembly.
3. The omnidirectional drive and steering unit according to claim 1 , wherein the drive assembly and the steering gear assembly are operable independently or simultaneously.
4. The omnidirectional drive and steering unit according to claim 1 , wherein movement of said steering gear assembly translates into movement of said wheel drive shaft gear relative to said drive gear assembly.
5. The omnidirectional drive and steering unit according to claim 1 , wherein the wheel assembly further comprises a wheel bearing housing and the steering gear assembly is attached to the wheel bearing housing of the wheel assembly.
6. The omnidirectional drive and steering unit according to claim 1 , wherein the omnidirectional drive and steering unit is attached to a vehicle.
7. The omnidirectional drive and steering unit according to claim 6 , further comprising a plurality of omnidirectional drive and steering units attached to an automatic guided vehicle (AGV).