US 12,220,986 B2
Multispeed transaxle with sprung powertrain mounting and methods therefor
Jason Ellis, Clayton, IN (US); Kyle Mason, Avon, IN (US); George Pelton, Indianapolis, IN (US); and John Tysman, Zionsville, IN (US)
Assigned to Allison Transmission, Inc., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed by ALLISON TRANSMISSION, INC., Indianapolis, IN (US)
Filed on May 18, 2022, as Appl. No. 17/747,229.
Application 17/747,229 is a continuation of application No. 16/928,235, filed on Jul. 14, 2020, granted, now 11,420,514.
Prior Publication US 2022/0274481 A1, Sep. 1, 2022
Int. Cl. B60K 17/04 (2006.01); B60K 7/00 (2006.01)
CPC B60K 7/0007 (2013.01) [B60K 2007/0046 (2013.01); B60K 17/043 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A vehicle comprising:
a chassis including a pair of frame rails spaced apart from one another to define a gap therebetween;
a plurality of wheels coupled to the chassis that are each configured for rotation about a rotational axis; and
a powertrain mounted to the chassis that is configured to drive rotation of each of the plurality of wheels about the rotational axis in use of the vehicle,
wherein:
the powertrain includes a drive unit to generate rotational power and a transaxle coupled to the drive unit to receive rotational power therefrom and transmit rotational power to the plurality of wheels,
the transaxle includes a transmission,
the drive unit and the transmission are supported above the rotational axis in a vertical direction such that the rotational axis extends perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the vehicle without passing through the drive unit or the transmission, and
each of the pair of frame rails is positioned above the rotational axis in the vertical direction along an entire length of the frame rail.