Vehicle with hydrostatic transmission
View Patent ↗A vehicle 10 includes a prime mover engine 15 , a drive wheel 16 , and a hydrostatic transmission 20 . The prime mover engine 15 has a substantially vertical prime mover output shaft 18 . The hydrostatic transmission 20 has a hydraulic pump 24 with a substantially vertical pump input shaft 28 . A drive link 31 drivingly connects the pump input shaft 28 to the prime mover output shaft 18 . The hydraulic motor 25 has a substantially vertical output shaft 30 . An interface connector 32 establishes fluid pressure communication between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor. A gear set is intermediate the hydrostatic transmission 20 and drive wheel 16 . The gear set includes a vertically disposed bevel gear 41 drivingly connected to the motor output shaft 30 and a horizontally disposed bevel gear 42 drivingly connected to the drive wheel 16.
1. A vehicle comprising a prime mover engine, at least one drive wheel, a hydrostatic transmission associated with each drive wheel, and a gear set intermediate each hydrostatic transmission and associated drive wheel,
the prime mover engine having a prime mover output shaft with a longitudinal axis,
the hydrostatic transmission having:
a hydraulic pump, the hydraulic pump having a pump input shaft with a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the prime mover,
a drive link drivingly connecting the prime mover output shaft to the pump input shaft,
a hydraulic motor having an output shaft with a longitudinal axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the prime mover, and
an interface connector intermediate the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor, the interface connector having: (i) a first surface interfacing with the hydraulic pump and including at least two pump fluid ports, (ii) a second surface opposite and parallel to the first surface and interfacing with the hydraulic motor, wherein the second surface includes at least two motor fluid ports that are longitudinally aligned with the at least two pump fluid ports, and (iii) longitudinally extending connecting fluid passages that are substantially straight and fluidly couple the pump fluid ports to the motor fluid ports to establish fluid pressure communication between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor,
the gear set including a first bevel gear rotatably disposed about an axis generally parallel to the longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the prime mover, the first bevel gear being drivingly connected to the motor output shaft, and a second bevel gear rotatably disposed about an axis generally perpendicular to the longitudinal axis of the output shaft of the prime mover, and being drivingly connected to the drive wheel.
2. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , including a second drive wheel and hydrostatic transmission and gear set substantially identical to the first mentioned drive wheel and hydrostatic transmission and gear set.
3. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the pump input shaft and the longitudinal axis of the motor output shaft are substantially coaxial.
4. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the pump input shaft and the longitudinal axis of the motor output shaft are substantially parallel and laterally offset.
5. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , including a second gear set intermediate the motor output shaft and the drive wheel.
6. A vehicle as set forth in claim 1 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the prime mover engine output shaft is substantially vertical.
7. A vehicle comprising a prime mover engine, at least one drive wheel, a hydrostatic transmission associated with each drive wheel, and a gear set intermediate each hydrostatic transmission and associated drive wheel,
the prime mover engine having a substantially vertical prime mover output shaft with a substantially vertical longitudinal axis,
the hydrostatic transmission having:
a hydraulic pump, the hydraulic pump having a substantially vertical pump input shaft with a substantially vertical longitudinal axis,
a drive link drivingly connecting the prime mover output shaft to the pump input shaft,
a hydraulic motor having a substantially vertical output shaft with a substantially vertical longitudinal axis, and
an interface connector intermediate the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor, the interface connector having: (i) a first surface interfacing with the hydraulic pump and including at least two pump fluid ports, (ii) a second surface opposite and parallel to the first surface and interfacing with the hydraulic motor, wherein the second surface includes at least two motor fluid ports that are longitudinally aligned with the at least two pump fluid ports, and (iii) longitudinally extending connecting fluid passages that are substantially straight and fluidly couple the pump fluid ports to the motor fluid ports to establish fluid pressure communication between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor,
the gear set including a first bevel gear rotatably disposed about a substantially vertical axis, the first bevel gear being drivingly connected to the motor output shaft, and a second bevel gear rotatably disposed about a substantially horizontal axis and being drivingly connected to the drive wheel.
8. A vehicle as set forth in claim 7 , including a second drive wheel and hydrostatic transmission and gear set substantially identical to the first mentioned drive wheel and hydrostatic transmission and gear set.
9. A vehicle as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the pump input shaft and the longitudinal axis of the motor output shaft are substantially coaxial.
10. A vehicle as set forth in claim 7 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the pump input shaft and the longitudinal axis of the motor output shaft are substantially parallel and laterally offset.
11. A vehicle as set forth in claim 7 , including a second gear set intermediate the motor output shaft and the drive wheel.
12. A hydrostatic transmission and a gear set,
the hydrostatic transmission having:
a hydraulic pump, the hydraulic pump having a pump input shaft with a longitudinal axis, and
an interface connector intermediate the hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, the interface connector having: (i) a first surface interfacing with the hydraulic pump and including at least two pump fluid ports, (ii) a second surface opposite and parallel to the first surface and interfacing with the hydraulic motor, wherein the second surface includes at least two motor fluid ports that are longitudinally aligned with the at least two pump fluid ports, and (iii) longitudinally extending connecting fluid passages that are substantially straight and fluidly couple the pump fluid ports to the motor fluid ports to establish fluid pressure communication between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor, wherein the hydraulic motor has an output shaft with a longitudinal axis,
the gear set including a first bevel gear rotatably disposed about an axis generally parallel to, or coaxial with, the longitudinal axis of the pump input shaft, the bevel gear being drivingly connected to the motor output shaft, and a second bevel gear rotatably disposed about an axis generally perpendicular to the axis of the first bevel gear and being drivingly connected to the first bevel gear.
13. A hydrostatic transmission and a gear set as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the pump input shaft and the longitudinal axis of the motor output shaft are substantially coaxial.
14. A hydrostatic transmission and a gear set as set forth in claim 12 , wherein the longitudinal axis of the pump input shaft and the longitudinal axis of the motor output shaft are substantially parallel and laterally offset.