IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0963109
(2004-10-12)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
|
출원인 / 주소 |
- Hydro Gear Limited Partnership
|
대리인 / 주소 |
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
27 인용 특허 :
37 |
초록
An electronic steering control system for controlling the lateral movement of a vehicle powered by a pair of hydrostatic drive devices.
대표청구항
▼
What is claimed is: 1. A hydrostatic drive apparatus for driving a vehicle, comprising: a first hydrostatic transaxle having a first casing in which is carried a first hydraulic pump driven by a first input shaft and a first hydraulic motor having a first motor shaft drivingly linked to a first axl
What is claimed is: 1. A hydrostatic drive apparatus for driving a vehicle, comprising: a first hydrostatic transaxle having a first casing in which is carried a first hydraulic pump driven by a first input shaft and a first hydraulic motor having a first motor shaft drivingly linked to a first axle shaft, the first hydraulic pump being in fluid communication with the first hydraulic motor to transfer a motive force received via the first input shaft to the first hydraulic motor and the first motor shaft to drive the first axle shaft; and a second hydrostatic transaxle having a second casing that is attached to the first casing, the second casing carrying a second hydraulic pump driven by a second input shaft and a second hydraulic motor having a second motor shaft drivingly linked to a second axle shaft, the second hydraulic pump being in fluid communication with the second hydraulic motor to transfer a motive force received via the second input shaft to the second hydraulic motor and the second hydraulic motor shaft to drive the second axle shaft, wherein the first motor shaft extends from the first casing towards the second casing, the second motor shaft extends from the second casing towards the first casing; and an electronic steering control system located on the vehicle and operatively engaged to both the first and second transaxles, whereby operation of the electronic steering control system controls the output of both transaxles. 2. The hydrostatic drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic steering control system further comprises a steering mechanism for controlling the lateral direction in which the vehicle moves. 3. The hydrostatic drive apparatus of claim 2, wherein the steering mechanism is a steering wheel. 4. The hydrostatic drive apparatus of claim 1, further comprising a first brake mechanism engaged to the first motor shaft and a second brake mechanism engaged to the second motor shaft. 5. The hydrostatic drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein the electronic steering control system is powered by the vehicle battery. 6. A drive apparatus for driving a vehicle, comprising: a first zero-turn hydrostatic transaxle and a second, zero-turn hydrostatic transaxle, wherein the first zero-turn hydrostatic transaxle is a substantial mirror image of the second zero-turn hydrostatic transaxle and the first and second zero-turn hydrostatic transaxles are adapted to be fastened to one another and each hydrostatic transaxle has a casing in which is carried a hydraulic pump driven by an input shaft and a hydraulic motor having a motor shaft drivingly linked to an axle shaft, the hydraulic pump being in fluid communication with the hydraulic motor to transfer a motive force received via the input shaft to the hydraulic motor and the motor shaft to drive the axle shaft; and an electronic steering control system located on the vehicle and operatively engaged to both the first and second hydrostatic transaxles, whereby operation of the electronic steering control system controls the output of both hydrostatic transaxles. 7. The drive apparatus of claim 6, wherein each of the first zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle and the second zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle further comprise a swash plate mounted on a trunnion arm for controlling the amount of fluid that is forced from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor and wherein each casing is adapted to allow a control arm used to rotate the trunnion arm to be mounted to either the inboard or outboard side of the casing. 8. The drive apparatus of claim 7, wherein the electronic steering control system further comprises a steering mechanism for controlling the lateral direction in which the vehicle moves. 9. The drive apparatus of claim 8, wherein the steering mechanism is a steering wheel. 10. An integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle for driving a vehicle comprising: a first casing section having a first cavity in which is disposed a first hydraulic pump driven by a first input shaft and a first hydraulic motor drivingly linked to a first axle shaft, the first hydraulic pump being in fluid communication with the first hydraulic motor to transfer a motive force received via the first input shaft to the first hydraulic motor to drive the first axle shaft; a second casing section having a second cavity in which is disposed a second hydraulic pump driven by a second input shaft and a second hydraulic motor drivingly linked to a second axle shaft, the second hydraulic pump being in fluid communication with the second hydraulic motor to transfer a motive force received via the second input shaft to the second hydraulic motor to drive the second axle shaft; a third casing section adapted to substantially cover the first cavity and the second cavity when the first casing section is joined with the second casing section; and an electronic steering control system located on the vehicle and operatively engaged to the transaxle, whereby operation of the electronic steering control system controls the output of both hydraulic pumps. 11. The integrated, zero-turn hydrostatic transaxle of claim 10, wherein the electronic steering control system further comprises a steering mechanism for controlling the lateral direction in which the vehicle moves. 12. The integrated, zero-turn hydrostatic transaxle of claim 11, wherein the steering mechanism is a steering wheel. 13. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 10 wherein fasteners used to attach the first casing section to the second casing section pass through openings in the third casing section. 14. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 13, wherein fluid may pass between the first cavity and the second cavity via one or more openings in the third casing section. 15. A steering system for a pair of hydrostatic devices for driving a vehicle, wherein each hydrostatic device includes a swash plate for controlling the output of the hydrostatic device and a control member engaged to the swash plate to control the position of the swash plate, the steering system comprising: a pair of electrically powered actuators, each actuator engaged to and configured to move one of the control members; a steering wheel mounted on the vehicle; and an electronic control system for translating the position of the steering wheel into signals to position each electrically powered actuator such that the vehicle is steered. 16. The steering system of claim 15, wherein steering is accomplished by positioning each actuator such that one hydrostatic device is driving at a speed less than the other hydrostatic device. 17. The steering system of claim 15, further comprising a speed control wherein the electronic control system adjusts the position of the actuators to correspond with the position of the speed control. 18. The steering system of claim 17, wherein the electronic control system prohibits movement of both electrically powered actuators when the speed control is in neutral. 19. The steering system of claim 15, wherein one actuator is electronically positioned to reduce the speed of one hydrostatic device with respect to the other hydrostatic device. 20. The steering system of claim 15, wherein steering is accomplished by positioning each actuator such that the speed of one hydrostatic device is decreased and the speed of the other hydrostatic device is increased. 21. The steering system of claim 15, wherein the position of the steering wheel is detected by a hall sensor. 22. The steering system of claim 21, wherein the electronic control system monitors the output of the hall sensor to determine whether the steering wheel has changed position. 23. The steering system of claim 15, wherein each control member comprises a trunnion engaged to the swash plate.
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