초록 ▼

A steer-drive interposes respective left and right orbital gear drives into the vehicle drivetrain between the engine/transmission and the respective propulsion axles associated with each side of the vehicle. The orbital drive units comprise only an input gear and an output gear interconnected by at

A steer-drive interposes respective left and right orbital gear drives into the vehicle drivetrain between the engine/transmission and the respective propulsion axles associated with each side of the vehicle. The orbital drive units comprise only an input gear and an output gear interconnected by at least one orbiting cluster gear that is supported in a rotating housing and also meshes only with the input and output gears. The orbital units are designed so that (a) when rotation of the housing is prevented, driving torque is transferred at speed ratios selected to be as close to 1:1 as is practical, and (b) when steering torque causes rotation of the housing, the steering torque is added or subtracted from the driving torque. Steering torque is applied simultaneously in equal and opposite directions to the orbital units, causing the drive on one side of the vehicle to speed up and the drive on the other side of the vehicle to slow down at the same rate.

대표청구항 ▼

1. A steer-drive system receiving, combining, and transmitting driving torque and steering torque to respective left and right drives, said system comprising:respective left and right orbital units each having: an input gear mounted on a first axis, and an output gear mounted on said first axis, at

1. A steer-drive system receiving, combining, and transmitting driving torque and steering torque to respective left and right drives, said system comprising:respective left and right orbital units each having: an input gear mounted on a first axis, and an output gear mounted on said first axis, at least one cluster gear meshed with only said input and output gears and mounted for rotation on an orbit shaft positioned parallel with said first axis, said orbit shaft being supported in a housing mounted for rotation about said first axis to permit said orbit shaft and said cluster gear to orbit, respectively, said first axis and said input and output gears, and when rotation of said housing is prevented, said gear tooth ratios between said cluster gear and said input and output gears are selected so that rotation of said input gear produces rotation of said output gear at a ratio less than 3:1; an input drive connected to each said input gear to provide driving torque; two sets of rotary connectors for transferring torque between rotating elements, one connector of each set being fixed to rotate with each said housing; and a steering motor operatively connected to both said sets of rotary connectors to provide steering torque simultaneously to said respective housings, said steering torque being provided to cause equal and opposite rotation of said housings, thereby combining said steering torque with any driving torque being delivered to said output gears by rotation of said input gears.