US 12,214,821 B2
Drive system for a skid steered vehicle
Robert William Thompson, Camberley (GB); and Robert John Bonner Flaxman, Guildford (GB)
Assigned to RENK America LLC, Muskegon, MI (US)
Appl. No. 17/792,759
Filed by QinetiQ Limited, Hampshire (GB)
PCT Filed Jan. 14, 2021, PCT No. PCT/EP2021/050677
§ 371(c)(1), (2) Date Jul. 14, 2022,
PCT Pub. No. WO2021/144355, PCT Pub. Date Jul. 22, 2021.
Claims priority of application No. 2000518 (GB), filed on Jan. 14, 2020.
Prior Publication US 2023/0039208 A1, Feb. 9, 2023
Int. Cl. B62D 11/16 (2006.01); B60K 17/12 (2006.01); B60K 17/16 (2006.01); B62D 11/04 (2006.01); F16H 48/10 (2012.01); F16H 57/023 (2012.01)
CPC B62D 11/16 (2013.01) [B60K 17/12 (2013.01); B60K 17/16 (2013.01); B62D 11/04 (2013.01); F16H 48/10 (2013.01); F16H 2057/0235 (2013.01)] 13 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A gearbox for a skid steered vehicle, the gearbox comprising:
a housing having first and second opposing sides;
a controlled differential positioned between and connecting two drive shafts and being in driveable communication with each drive shaft, wherein the end of each drive shaft remote from the controlled differential forms an output of the gearbox, wherein outputs from the controlled differential connect directly via the drive shafts to the gearbox outputs such that outputs of the controlled differential attach solidly to and turn at the same speed as the gearbox outputs;
a steering input shaft in driveable communication with the controlled differential, wherein one end of the steering input shaft forms a steering input to the gearbox;
a propulsion input shaft in driveable communication with the gearbox outputs, wherein one end of the propulsion input shaft forms a propulsion input to the gearbox;
a gear reduction unit and/or a gear change unit in driveable communication with the gearbox outputs, wherein the propulsion input shaft, the gear reduction unit and/or the gear change unit are connected in a parallel connection with an output of the controlled differential to the gearbox outputs, and wherein the steering input and the propulsion input are located on the same side of the gearbox housing; and
at least one drive shaft having a primary drive gear fixed thereto;
the propulsion input shaft including a propulsion input and a propulsion input gear fixed thereto; and
the gear change unit including,
a gear input shaft having first and second gears fixed thereto, wherein the first gear meshes with the propulsion input gear;
a gear output shaft having a third gear fixed thereto, wherein the third gear meshes with the primary drive gear, the gear output shaft further including fourth and fifth gears each located around and supported for rotation on the gear output shaft, wherein the fourth gear meshes with the first gear and wherein the fifth gear meshes with the second gear; and
a slideable dog hub operably connectable to a gear change selector, wherein the slideable dog hub is located on the gear output shaft in slideable engagement and constrained for rotation therewith, wherein the slideable dog hub is located between the fourth and fifth gears, wherein the at least one drive shaft and the gear change unit are arranged so that the circumference of the fifth gear overlaps the circumference of the primary drive gear.