초록 ▼

A brake mechanism for a motor assembly including a motor and a reduction gear assembly driving an output shaft or axle is disclosed. A brake rotor is driven by the motor shaft and a brake puck is operatively engageable with the brake rotor for moving the brake rotor toward a braking surface. A brake

A brake mechanism for a motor assembly including a motor and a reduction gear assembly driving an output shaft or axle is disclosed. A brake rotor is driven by the motor shaft and a brake puck is operatively engageable with the brake rotor for moving the brake rotor toward a braking surface. A brake cam shaft is rotatably supported about an axis perpendicular to the axis of the output shaft and engages the brake puck so that rotation of the brake cam shaft about its axis forces the brake puck to move the brake rotor toward the braking surface.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A drive apparatus for use in a vehicle having a frame and at least one driven wheel, the drive apparatus comprising: a reduction gear assembly having a reduction gear mechanism disposed therein; a motor assembly engaged to the reduction gear assembly, the motor assembly compr

What is claimed is: 1. A drive apparatus for use in a vehicle having a frame and at least one driven wheel, the drive apparatus comprising: a reduction gear assembly having a reduction gear mechanism disposed therein; a motor assembly engaged to the reduction gear assembly, the motor assembly comprising a motor shaft for providing a driving force to drive the reduction gear assembly; an output shaft extending from the reduction gear assembly and operatively connected to the driven wheel; a brake rotor driven by the motor shaft; a brake puck operatively engageable with the brake rotor for moving the brake rotor toward a braking surface; and a brake cam shaft rotatably supported about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the output shaft, the brake cam shaft comprising an engagement portion engaging with the brake puck, the engagement portion having a non-circular portion for interfacing with the brake puck, whereby rotation of the brake cam shaft about its axis forces the brake puck to move the brake rotor toward the braking surface. 2. The drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein the reduction gear mechanism is a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear driven by the motor shaft, at least one planet gear engaged to the sun gear to be movable about the sun gear, a planet carrier that rotates with the at least one planet gear, a fixed gear formed internal to the drive apparatus meshed with the planet gear on the opposite side of the planet gear from the sun gear, and the planet carrier outputs rotational force for operative connection to the driven wheel. 3. The drive apparatus of claim 2, wherein the fixed gear has an end surface and the end surface is the braking surface. 4. The drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein the motor assembly comprises a hydraulic motor. 5. The drive apparatus of claim 4, wherein the hydraulic motor comprises a motor cylinder block, and the motor shaft is directly engaged to and driven by the motor cylinder block. 6. The drive apparatus of claim 5, wherein the reduction gear mechanism is a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear driven by the motor shaft, at least one planet gear engaged to the sun gear to be movable about the sun gear, a planet carrier that rotates with the at least one planet gear, a fixed gear formed internal to the drive apparatus meshed with the planet gear on the opposite side of the planet gear from the sun gear, and the planet carrier outputs rotational force for operative connection to the driven wheel. 7. The drive apparatus of claim 1, wherein the brake rotor is directly supported on the motor shaft. 8. The drive apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a separate gear integrally formed on the motor shaft, and the brake rotor is directly supported on the separate gear. 9. A vehicle comprising a frame and a pair of driven wheels, each driven wheel being powered by a separate drive apparatus secured to the vehicle, and wherein each drive apparatus comprises: a reduction gear assembly having a reduction gear mechanism disposed therein; a motor assembly engaged to the reduction gear assembly, the motor assembly comprising a motor shaft for providing a driving force to drive the reduction gear assembly; an output shaft extending from the reduction gear assembly and operatively connected to the driven wheel; a brake rotor driven by the motor shaft; a brake puck operatively engageable with the brake rotor for moving the brake rotor toward a braking surface; and a brake cam shaft rotatably supported about an axis that is perpendicular to the axis of the output shaft, the brake cam shaft comprising an engagement portion engaging with the brake puck, the engagement portion having a non-circular portion for interfacing with the brake puck, whereby rotation of the brake cam shaft about its axis forces the brake puck to move the brake rotor toward the braking surface. 10. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein each drive apparatus comprises a brake handle engaged to the brake cam shaft and the two brake handles extend toward each other in a lateral direction of the vehicle. 11. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the motor assembly of each drive apparatus comprises a hydraulic motor cylinder block and each motor shaft is directly engaged to and driven by one of the motor cylinder blocks. 12. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the brake rotor is directly supported on the motor shaft. 13. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the brake rotor is supported on a separate gear form integrally formed on the motor shaft. 14. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein each drive apparatus comprises a hydraulic motor, the vehicle further comprising a first pump hydraulically connected to the one of the hydraulic motors and a second pump hydraulically connected to the other hydraulic motor, wherein the two pumps are separated from each other in a lateral direction of the vehicle such that a region is formed between the first pump and the second pump. 15. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising a reservoir for supplying hydraulic fluid to the first pump and the second pump. 16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the reservoir is located in the region between the first and second pumps. 17. The vehicle of claim 14, further comprising an oil cooler hydraulically connected to the first pump and the second pump. 18. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the oil cooler is disposed in the region between the first and second pumps. 19. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the two brake cam shafts each extend generally vertically with respect to the vehicle frame. 20. The vehicle of claim 19, wherein the frame comprises an upper surface and a lower surface, wherein each brake cam shaft includes a portion located above the lower surface. 21. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the reduction gear mechanism in each drive apparatus comprises a planetary gear mechanism having a sun gear driven by the motor shaft, at least one planet gear engaged to the sun gear to be movable about the sun gear, a planet carrier that rotates with the at least one planet gear, a fixed gear formed internal to the drive apparatus meshed with the planet gear on the opposite side of the planet gear from the sun gear, and the planet carrier outputs rotational force for operative connection to the driven wheel. 22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the fixed gear has an end surface which acts as the braking surface. 23. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein each drive apparatus comprises a pair of hydraulic hoses extending therefrom. 24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein each pair of hoses comprise a portion extending in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.