Drive system for mobile vehicles

[0001] The invention concerns a drive system for a mobile vehicle, in particular a construction machine.

[0002] Drive systems of this type for mobile vehicles are used for example for powering a wheel loader, wheel bagger or grader, the torque from a first hydraulic motor and a second hydraulic motor being summed by a totalizing or summing transmission gearset in order to power the drive wheels of the vehicle.

[0003] EP 0 483 543 B1 discloses a hydrostatic drive system for an earth-mover vehicle, in which a first axial-piston hydraulic motor and a second axial-piston hydraulic motor are connected to a totalizing transmission housing, the axial hydraulic motor being sealed in a fluid-tight way relative to the transmission housing so that the transmission gearset and the hydraulics require separate oil supply systems.

[0004] The purpose of the present invention is to provide a drive system for a mobile vehicle with two hydraulic motors and a totalizing transmission, characterized by a small number of components and a simple hydraulic system.

[0005] According to the invention the drive system comprises two radial piston hydraulic motors, as described for example in WO 99/17021, whose content should be taken as integral to the present document. The hydraulic motors are connected with a totalizing transmission in such manner that the torque of the two hydraulic motors can be summed and is available at the drive output shaft of the totalizing transmission. The two hydraulic motors and the totalizing transmission as well as any step-down gears present between the totalizing transmission and the hydraulic motors are arranged in a single transmission housing, the hydraulic motors being designed so that their leakage can pass directly into the transmission housing. Preferably, the transmission housing is the pressure medium reservoir for supplying the pumps and hydraulic motors with pressure medium and for supplying the transmission components with lubricant.

[0006] In a further embodiment of the invention the transmission housing consists of two main parts, and the cylinders mounted to rotate are each fitted in one main part of the transmission. Preferably, on the transmission housing there is a filter device by means of which pressure medium is drawn from the transmission housing, filtered and passed to a pump.

[0007] In another embodiment, an electronic-hydraulic control module is attached to the transmission housing, and preferably the transmission housing has an opening in this area through which part of the hydraulic control unit projects into the transmission housing. The electronic control unit is preferably arranged on the hydraulic control unit and connected thereto. It is possible to arrange delivery lines from the hydraulic control unit to consumers located inside the transmission housing or to form the delivery lines within the wall of the transmission housing. Preferably, the pre-control valves that control hydraulic valves are arranged in the hydraulic control unit connected to the electronic control unit.

[0008] In another embodiment of the invention, the crankshaft of the hydraulic motor is mounted on one side in one part of the transmission housing and on the other side in the other part of the transmission housing. Concentric with the crankshaft there is a pressure medium distribution cover in which are arranged the hydraulic valves that are controlled by the pre-control valves and by which the pressure medium is distributed to the pistons of the hydraulic motor.

[0009] In another embodiment of the invention there is a parking brake inside the transmission housing on the drive output shaft.

[0010] In a further embodiment of the invention, the two hydraulic motors are arranged so that they are positioned above the surface of the pressure medium, in the transmission housing, to reduce splash losses.

[0011] In a further embodiment of the invention, the hydraulic motors are arranged so that the pistons of one motor engage in the intermediate spaces between those of the other motor. Preferably, the drive output shaft is designed so that it passes right through the transmission housing, whereby a concentrically arranged drive output is made possible on either side.

[0012] Since the hydraulic motors and the totalizing transmission as well as step-down gears and shift devices and the pressure medium reservoir are all arranged inside the transmission housing, a compact drive system for mobile vehicles is achieved having the feature of a simple hydraulic circuit.

[0013] The pressure medium feeds, for absorption volume adjustment, are arranged on as small as possible a diameter of the motor shaft.

[0014] Since the motors are not arranged on the drive output shaft, the pressure medium feed for adjusting the stroke volume can be arranged on one side of the crankshaft in the crankshaft and connected to the high pressure. Thus, the seal can be arranged on a small diameter, allowing high speeds even at high pressures.

[0021] FIG. 1:

[0022] A first motor 1 and a second motor 2 are arranged inside a transmission housing 3. The hydraulic motors are made like those in WO 99/17021, so that stroke volume adjustment can also be carried out purely hydraulically, since the adjustment piston in the crankshaft comprises pistons that can be acted upon by the high pressure. The pistons 4 and cylinders 5 of motor 1 engage in intermediate spaces between the pistons 4 and cylinders 5 of motor 2, so that the drive unit can be made compact. The drive output shaft 6 of motor 1 drives a spur gear 7 which is in active engagement with a spur gear 8 in rotationally fixed connection with a drive output shaft 22 (see FIG. 2). The drive output shaft 9 of motor 2 drives a spur gear 10 which is in active engagement with a spur gear 11 in rotationally fixed connection with the drive output shaft 22. The transmission housing 3 has an opening 12 through which a hydraulic control unit 13 projects into the transmission hosing 3, this being connected to the transmission housing 3 by leakproof sealing means 14. On the hydraulic control unit 13 is arranged an electronic control unit 15, which controls the pre-control valves arranged in the hydraulic control unit 13. A filter unit 16 (see FIG. 5) is connected to the transmission housing 3, through which the pressure medium present in the transmission housing 3 is drawn out, filtered, and passed to a pump (not shown).

[0023] FIG. 2:

[0024] The cylinders 5 of motor 1 are mounted in the transmission housing 3 by means of a first bearing 17 and a second bearing 18. The bearing 17 is mounted in a first half 19 of the transmission housing while the bearing 18 in a second half 20 thereof. The separation line 21 between the halves 19 and 20 of the transmission housing is located between the bearings 17 and 18. A spur gear 7 is in rotationally fixed connection with the drive output shaft 6, of the motor 1, which is made as a crankshaft. The spur gear 7 meshes with a spur gear 8 which is in rotationally fixed connection with the drive output shaft 22. Via the spur gear 10 shown in FIG. 1, the motor 2 of FIG. 1 drives the spur gear 11 which is also in rotationally fixed connection with the drive output shaft 22. On the drive output shaft 22 there is a parking brake 23, which is arranged within the transmission housing 3. The drive output shaft 22 passes completely through the transmission housing 3, so that a drive output flange 24 can be arranged on each side of the transmission housing. On half 19 of the transmission housing is arranged a pressure medium distribution cover 25, in which is arranged the hydraulic valves controlled by the pre-control valves and which has feed connections for the high- and low-pressure delivery lines and passes the volume flow from a hydraulic pump into feed lines 26 arranged in the transmission housing half 19 and to the cylinders 5. The feed lines 26 and optionally also the bearings 17 can also be accommodated in a cover set into the transmission housing half 19. This enables the cover to be made as a hydraulic-grade casting and the remainder of the transmission housing half 19 as a sand casting. Thus, the transmission housing only has hydraulic supply lines and control lines to the electronic control unit, which considerably facilitates installation in the vehicle. The connection lines of the pre-control valves to the hydraulic valves are preferably arranged inside the transmission housing 3. The pressure medium feeds 37 and 38 are arranged with seals 39 in the housing portion 19 or in one (or two) covers, on as small as possible a diameter of the drive output shaft 6.

[0025] FIG. 3:

[0026] FIG. 3 shows the transmission layout of the drive system explained in FIGS. 1 and 2.

[0027] FIG. 4:

[0028] The drive system shown in FIGS. 1 and 2 can be made with the transmission layout of FIG. 4, which enables the drive system to be used for heavier working vehicles with higher driving speeds. An additional step-down range is provided by the additional shifting mechanism 27.

[0029] FIG. 5:

[0030] The motors 1 and 2 are arranged inside the transmission housing 3, such that motor 1 drives spur gear 7 and, in turn, spur gear 8, while motor 2 drives spur gear 10 and, in turn, spur gear 11. Spur gear 11 is in rotationally fixed connection with the drive output shaft 22 and spur gear 8 is in rotationally fixed connection with the shift mechanism 27, which connects either spur gear 8 or spur gear 28 with the drive output shaft 22. Motor 1 drives a spur gear 28 via a spur gear 29. The pre-control valves 30 are arranged in the hydraulic control unit 13 of FIG. 1 and are connected to the electronic control unit 15. The valves 31 are made as proportional valves. The hydraulic valves 32 are arranged in the pressure medium distribution cover 25. Via a flushing valve 33, hot pressure medium is continuously drawn off and cooled by a cooler 34. The filter unit 16 can be arranged in or on the transmission housing 3. To make the drive system compact and use as few shift elements as possible, it is preferable for the motor, which is operated above its maximum permitted speed, to be adjusted in its stroke volume to zero stroke volume and then cut off from the high pressure by the valve 35 or 36. This makes it possible for all the motors to be in permanent active connection with the drive output shaft 22 at maximum drive output speed, so that no additional mechanical disengagement mechanism is needed for the hydraulic motors.

• • [0031] 1 motor
  • [0032] 2 motor
  • [0033] 3 transmission housing
  • [0034] 4 piston
  • [0035] 5 cylinder
  • [0036] 6 drive output shaft
  • [0037] 7 spur gear
  • [0038] 8 spur gear
  • [0039] 9 drive output shaft
  • [0040] 10 spur gear
  • [0041] 11 spur gear
  • [0042] 12 opening
  • [0043] 13 hydraulic control unit
  • [0044] 14 seal
  • [0045] 15 electronic control unit
  • [0046] 16 filter unit
  • [0047] 17 bearing
  • [0048] 18 bearing
  • [0049] 19 transmission housing half
  • [0050] 20 transmission housing half
  • [0051] 21 parking line
  • [0052] 22 drive output shaft
  • [0053] 23 parking brake
  • [0054] 24 drive output flange
  • [0055] 25 pressure medium distribution cover
  • [0056] 26 feed line
  • [0057] 27 shift mechanism
  • [0058] 28 spur gear
  • [0059] 29 spur gear
  • [0060] 30 pre-control valve
  • [0061] 31 proportional valve
  • [0062] 32 hydraulic valve
  • [0063] 33 flushing valve
  • [0064] 34 cooler
  • [0065] 35 valve
  • [0066] 36 valve
  • [0067] 37 pressure medium fed
  • [0068] 39 pressure medium feed
  • [0069] 39 seals