Drive assembly for four-wheel drive vehicles

US7059442B2 · kind B2 · utility

Assignees

• GKN Walterscheid GmbH · DE
• Bibus Hydraulik AG · DE

Inventors

• Eberhard Wilks · Speicher, DE
• Manfred Eidam · Wilthen, DE
• Wolfgang Wiest · Ulm, DE
• Peter Dziuba · Helmstedt, DE

Key dates

• Filing date: Feb 21, 2002
• Grant date: Jun 13, 2006
• Expiry date: Feb 21, 2022

Classification

• Technology area (CPC F): Mechanical Engineering; Lighting; Heating
• CPC primary: F16H47/02
• WIPO field: Mechanical elements
• WIPO sector: Mechanical engineering

Abstract

A drive assembly for vehicles with front wheels and rear wheels, especially for tractors, agricultural machinery, construction machinery or for self-driving machines, has an engine (1), a first drive (15) to drive the rear wheels, a second drive (27) to drive the front wheels, an adjustable hydraulic pump (5) driven by the engine (1), and an adjustable first hydraulic motor (9). The first hydraulic motor (9), with respect to drive, is connected to the first drive (15) to drive the rear wheels. Also, the first hydraulic motor, with respect to drive, may be connected to the second drive (27), to drive the front wheels. A second hydraulic motor (10), with respect to drive, can be connected to the second drive (27) to drive the front wheels. The first hydraulic motor (9) has a high coefficient of efficiency within a first driving speed range of the vehicle. The second hydraulic motor (10) has a high coefficient of efficiency within a second driving speed range of the vehicle. The first driving speed range is above the second driving speed range, with both driving speed ranges overlapping.