Drive assembly for low floor vehicle

US6659217B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignee

• Meritor Heavy Vehicle Technology, LLC · US

Inventors

• Mark Smith · Troy, US
• John L. Bennett · Fraser, US
• Chihping Kuan · Rochester Hills, US
• John Ma · Rochester, US
• William C. Sullivan · Newark, US
• Edward Eshelman · Rochester Hills, US
• Dean House · Pataskala, US
• Tomaz Dopico Varela · Gahanna, US

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 15, 2002
• Grant date: Dec 9, 2003
• Expiry date: Mar 21, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC B): Performing Operations; Transporting
• CPC primary: B60Y2200/1432
• WIPO field: Transport
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A drive unit assembly utilizes a single input to drive a pair of laterally spaced wheel ends. Each wheel end is suspended independently from the other. The input is operatively coupled to only one of the wheel ends and an exposed axle shaft assembly interconnects the input to the opposite wheel end. The axle shaft assembly includes multiple shaft members to interconnect the laterally spaced wheel ends. One of the axle shaft members is mounted to a vehicle floor structure with a bearing mount and includes connection joints at either end to accommodate the independent motion of each wheel end. The floor and the shaft member move together during suspension travel, allowing the floor to have a lower profile than is traditionally available.