End drive device and work vehicle with same

Abstract

An end drive unit for a work vehicle having a ground engaging member includes a driver housing configured to be mounted to the work vehicle. An input shaft is disposed within the driver housing and is configured to receive rotational power to drive a planetary gear set having a grounded planet carrier fixed relative to the driver housing. The drive hub may be mounted to a ground engaging member of a work vehicle and supported by a planetary gear set and a bearing mounted to a grounded planet carrier for rotation about a drive axis. The drive brake device is configured to hinder rotation of the planetary gear set, thereby hindering rotation of the drive hub about the drive axis. The service panel is coupled to the driver housing such that removal of the service panel facilitates access to the drive brake device for service or deactivation of the drive brake device without detaching the planetary gear set.

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present disclosure relates generally to drive systems for work vehicles and, more particularly, to gear reduction end drive units. Background Art

[0002] Heavy-duty work vehicles, such as those used in agriculture, construction, forestry, and mining, may utilize various propulsion systems and drive trains to provide traction to ground-engaging wheels or tracks for travel and work operations of the work vehicle. End drive units, sometimes referred to as final drives or wheel end drives, may be used to provide a deep ratio gear reduction to facilitate high torque at the ground-engaging wheels or tracks. Such end drive units may employ planetary gear sets to provide gear reduction in a compact package. Summary of the invention

[0003] The present disclosure provides an improved end drive unit for a work vehicle and a work vehicle using the end drive unit.

[0004] In particular, the present disclosure provides an end drive unit for a work vehicle having a ground engaging member. The end drive unit includes a driver housing configured to be mounted to the work vehicle. An input shaft is disposed within the driver housing and configured to receive rotational power. A planetary gear set driven by the input shaft has a grounded planetary gear carrier fixed relative to the driver housing. A drive hub mountable to the ground engaging member of the work vehicle is supported by the planetary gear set and a bearing mounted to the grounded planetary gear carrier for rotation about a drive axis. A drive brake device is configured to hinder rotation of the planetary gear set, thereby hindering rotation of the drive hub about the drive axis. A maintenance panel is coupled to the driver housing so that removal of the maintenance panel facilitates access to the drive brake device so as to repair or deactivate the drive brake device without disassembling the planetary gear set.

[0005] In this and other embodiments, the planetary gear set is a double planetary gear set having a first stage planetary gear set and a second stage planetary gear set. Power is transmitted into the first sun gear and is transmitted out through the first planetary gear carrier of the first stage planetary gear set, and is transmitted into the second sun gear and is transmitted out through the second ring gear of the second stage planetary gear set. The first sun gear is driven by the input shaft, and the second ring gear drives the drive hub. In this case, the grounded planetary gear carrier is the second planetary gear carrier of the second stage planetary gear set. The second planetary gear carrier can have an elongated annular portion on which a dual bearing arrangement is supported, which facilitates the rotation of the drive hub about the drive axis. The elongated annular portion and the dual bearing arrangement of the second planetary gear carrier are located outside the second ring gear of the second stage planetary gear set. The second planetary gear carrier and the first ring gear of the first stage planetary gear set are bolted to the drive housing.

[0006] In these and other embodiments, the input shaft defines or supports the first sun gear for co-rotation with the first stage planetary gear set and supports the second sun gear of the second stage planetary gear for relative rotation therewith. The input shaft supports a drive brake at an outboard end opposite to the input at the inboard end. The input shaft supports the drive brake at an outboard end opposite to the input at the inboard end. The input shaft supports the drive brake outboard of the first stage planetary gear set and the second stage planetary gear set. The drive brake can be arranged about a drive axis concentric with the elongated annular portion of the second planetary gear carrier and the dual bearing arrangement.

[0007] In these and other embodiments, the drive brake comprises an actuator and a plate group. The actuator is selectively operated to engage and release the plate group. When engaged, the drive brake couples the input shaft to the second planetary gear carrier grounded to the driver housing. The plate group is coupled to the input shaft by a connector and is retained within the second planetary gear carrier by a retainer plate. The retainer plate is accessible when the service panel is removed. The drive brake is serviceable when the retainer plate is removed.

[0008] In these and other embodiments, the service panel is mounted directly to the outboard side of the drive hub.

[0009] Another aspect of the present disclosure provides a work vehicle having a chassis, a ground engaging member, a power drive unit, and an end drive unit driven by the power drive unit, the ground engaging member supporting the chassis off the ground and facilitating the traction movement of the work vehicle by rotating about a drive axis. The end drive unit includes a drive housing configured to be coupled to the chassis. An input shaft is disposed within the drive housing and receives rotational power from the power drive unit. A planetary gear set driven by the input shaft has a grounded planetary gear carrier fixed relative to the drive housing. A drive hub is mounted to the ground engaging member and supported by a bearing mounted to the grounded planetary gear carrier to rotate about the drive axis. A drive brake device is configured to hinder the rotation of the planetary gear set, thereby hindering the rotation of the drive hub about the drive axis. A maintenance panel is coupled to the drive housing so that removal of the maintenance panel facilitates access to the drive brake device so as to repair or deactivate the drive brake device without disassembling the planetary gear set. Various aforementioned embodiments of the end drive unit may be incorporated into a work vehicle.

[0010] The details of one or more embodiments are set forth in the accompanying drawings and the description below. Other features and advantages will be apparent from the description, drawings, and claims. BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0011] Figure 1 is a perspective view of an example work vehicle in the form of a self-propelled lawn mower incorporating the end drive unit of the present disclosure;

[0012] Figure 2 is a cross-sectional view of an example end drive unit of the present disclosure, the end drive unit being used as a wheel end unit for facilitating traction on a work vehicle;

[0013] Figure 3 yes Figure 2 An enlarged partial cross-sectional view of area 3-3 in FIG. 1 , showing an example braking device of an example end drive unit in a disengaged state;

[0014] Figure 4 is with Figure 3 A similar view showing an example brake device of an example end drive unit in an engaged state;

[0015] Figure 5 yes Figure 2 a partially assembled view of an example end drive unit shown with certain components removed (e.g., a service panel and brake assembly for the brake assembly); and

[0016] Figure 6 is similar to Figure 2 a cross-sectional view of the brake assembly with the service panel and brake assembly removed; and

[0017] Figure 7 is a cross-sectional view of another example end drive unit according to the present disclosure.

[0018] The same reference symbols in the various drawings represent the same elements. DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[0019] One or more example embodiments of the disclosed end drive unit are described below, as shown in the accompanying drawings briefly described above. Various modifications to the example embodiments may be considered by those skilled in the art. The discussion herein focuses on an exemplary application associated with an agricultural vehicle as a self-propelled lawn mower, but the disclosed embodiments may be applied to other types of work vehicles in agriculture and industries other than agriculture (such as construction, forestry, mining, etc.).

[0020] As is well known, end drive units are used to provide a deep gear reduction ratio for providing high torque power for traction and other purposes of a work vehicle. Final drives and wheel end drives are mounted at or near the end of the drive train, just before the ground contacting wheels or tracks, usually mounted to the work vehicle chassis. Typically, such final drives are mounted within the hub of the wheels or tracks to rotatably couple the wheels or tracks to the chassis of the work vehicle.

[0021] Certain work vehicle platforms have a desired wheel or track mount (i.e., the distance between the left and right wheels or tracks). For example, an agricultural sprayer may have a wheelbase that is selected as a multiple of the common spacing distance between crop rows so that two sets of wheels or tracks can travel over the ground, creating spacing between crop rows so as not to damage live crops during spray applications. Securing a given wheel or track mount requires packaging and sizing of various components (e.g., axles, drive shafts, final drives, etc.) to accommodate the desired dimensions.

[0022] Another design consideration for such end drive units is maintenance and serviceability. End drive units can be complex assemblies with various gear reduction components that may require lubrication, cooling, and hydraulic pressure. End drive units may also include various wear parts, such as clutches and brakes, which operate by friction and thus wear over time. In complex gear assemblies, repair of such wear parts may be difficult and require full or partial disassembly of the gear assembly to reach the component being repaired and then reassembly after repair.

[0023] An end drive unit that solves these and other problems is disclosed herein. In one aspect, the end drive unit provides a hub mounting plane that is closer to the outboard end of the end drive unit than the inboard end. The hub mounting plane can be defined by a mounting flange to which a wheel or track hub is bolted. In various embodiments, the end drive unit has a drive hub that rotates on one or more main bearings that are sized and configured to support and withstand the load of a work vehicle.

[0024] In some embodiments, the end drive unit includes one or more stages of planetary gear reduction, such as a double planetary gear device having a first stage planetary gear set and a second stage planetary gear set. The first stage planetary gear set can be on the inner side of the second stage planetary gear set (i.e., closer to the front and rear centerline of the work vehicle). The second stage planetary gear set can include a deep planetary gear carrier having an annular portion that is slender (wide or long) in the direction of the drive axis, and the planetary gear carrier is concentrically arranged around the drive axis and the main bearing rotates the drive hub around the drive axis. The mounting flange of the drive hub is positioned within the axial length of the annular portion of the planetary gear carrier. In some cases, the planetary gear carrier is a grounded planetary gear carrier that is fixed to non-rotation relative to the drive housing of the end drive unit.

[0025] In some embodiments, the annular portion of the second stage planetary gear carrier is open toward the outboard end of the end drive unit and is deep enough to accommodate a braking device that is operable as a service brake, a parking brake, or both. Thus, the braking device is outside the planetary gear device (i.e., away from the fore-aft centerline of the work vehicle) so that the planetary gear device does not need to be disassembled to service the braking device. An easily accessible maintenance panel provides access to the interior of the end drive unit, and once removed, some or all of the components of the braking device can be accessed, removed, and replaced without disturbing the planetary gear device. The end drive unit can also have packaging and component configuration aspects that facilitate initial installation and assembly of the primary bearing and drive hub without the need for subsequent assembly steps associated with the planetary gear device.

[0026] The end drive unit of the present disclosure will be better understood with reference to an example wheel end drive of an agricultural mower, which will now be described.

[0027] Example end drive unit arrangement

[0028] Reference now Figure 1According to the present disclosure, an exemplary work vehicle 10 in the form of a self-propelled lawn mower includes an exemplary end drive unit arrangement. The exemplary work vehicle 10 includes a tractor unit 12, a header 14, and a header positioning assembly 16. The tractor unit 12 is configured to carry and transport the header 14, which is designed to perform agricultural operations, and the header positioning assembly 16 enables the header 14 to move relative to the tractor unit 12, such as between a transport position and a working position. The tractor unit 12 can be any of a variety of platforms, such as various platforms having a cab 26, a main compartment 18, a propulsion source 20 (e.g., an internal combustion engine, an electric motor, etc.), and one or more ground engaging members 22 (e.g., wheels, tracks, etc.). In the illustrated example, the header 14 is a rotary mower trimmer of a given width for performing agricultural operations (e.g., harvesting or cutting crops) on one or more crops of a specific type. The header positioning assembly 16 couples the header 14 (eg, a rotary mower trimmer) to a chassis 24 of the tractor unit 12 that is supported off the ground by the ground engaging members 22 and moves the header 14 relative to the chassis 24 and the ground and supports the header 14 during operation and transport.

[0029] For example, cab 26 may include one or more operator control input devices (e.g., levers, buttons, touch screen functionality, or any other type of mechanical or electrical (digital or analog) activation to create and / or send signals to a controller) and one or more output devices (e.g., monitors, displays, speakers, or any other type of audible and / or visual indicators configured to convey information to an operator audibly and / or visually) that can be manipulated and / or sensed by an operator to control the operation of work vehicle 10. Cab 26 or tractor unit 12 may also include, for example, one or more controllers having one or more processors configured to execute control commands, codes, logic, and / or algorithms stored in an associated memory or elsewhere. The one or more controllers may be configured to receive, generate, transmit, and send signals and control commands from and / or to appropriate components of work vehicle 10 to effectuate the operation of tractor unit 12, header 14, and header positioning assembly 16. For example, an operator or external source may activate an operator control input device, which will create a control signal based on the activation of the input device. The control signal will be transmitted by the input device to the controller, and the controller will act according to the received control signal. For example, the controller may generate one or more control commands and send the one or more control commands to one or more output devices for the operator to consider and take action, and / or the controller may send one or more control commands to one or more other devices of the work vehicle 10 (e.g., regulating actuators, lifting actuators, lifting cylinders, headers, motors, engines, etc.) to implement actions of one or more other devices.

[0030] Also refer to Figure 2 , the tractor unit 12 may have an end drive unit 30 in the drive train of the tractor unit 12, such as a wheel end drive or final drive shown for the purpose of the working example, which is mounted to the wheel hub 32 of the ground engaging member 22 and provides a deep gear reduction ratio to facilitate high torque power transmission. Power is provided to the end drive unit 30 by a drive motor 34 (e.g., a hydraulic motor or an electric motor). In the example shown, the end drive unit 30 is configured to allow the wheel hub 32 to be mounted toward the outside of the end drive unit 30 (i.e., away from the front-to-back centerline of the work vehicle 10) so that the wheelbase or track base of the work vehicle 10 can be widened (i.e., the left and right ground engaging members 22 can be mounted further apart in the lateral or transverse direction perpendicular to the front-to-back centerline of the work vehicle 10) without changing the size or mounting position of other components of the drive train. Figure 2One end drive unit 30 is shown and is described in detail herein. It should be appreciated that the work vehicle 10 may include multiple end drive units of the same or similar construction, including one end for each ground engaging member 22 .

[0031] In the example shown, the end drive unit 30 has a drive housing 36 that is fixed relative to the chassis 24, for example, by interconnecting a drive motor flange 38 to the chassis 24 and the drive housing 36. The drive housing 36 includes a central opening 40 that mounts an inboard shaft bearing 42 that supports an input shaft 44, all of which is disposed about a drive axis A that is generally perpendicular to the fore-aft centerline of the work vehicle 10. The drive motor 34 has a rotating output shaft 46 that is disposed in a recess 48 of the input shaft 44 to rotate the input shaft 44. The drive housing 36 supports a gear arrangement that, in the example shown, is a double planetary gear arrangement that includes a first planetary gear set 50 and a second planetary gear set 52. The double planetary gear arrangement is configured with a sun in, planetary gear carrier out first stage and a sun in, ring gear out second stage.

[0032] In particular, the first planetary gear set 50 includes a sun gear S1, a planet gear carrier C1, planet gears P1 (e.g., three in number), which are rotatably mounted to the pins of the planet gear carrier C1 through pinion bearings and mesh with the sun gear S1, and a ring gear R1, which is fixedly fastened to the drive housing 36. The sun gear S1 can be a separate gear that is fixedly coupled (e.g., via a toothed connection or a splined connection) to the input shaft 44, or, as in the example shown, the sun gear S1 can be integrally (integrally) formed as a toothed portion of the input shaft 44. The planet gear carrier C1 meshes with or is fixedly coupled (e.g., via a toothed or splined connection) to the inner end of a hollow shaft 54, which is concentrically arranged around the input shaft 44 but freely rotatable relative to the input shaft 44. The outer end of the hollow shaft 54 ​​meshes with the planetary gears P2 (e.g., four in number) of the second planetary gear set 52, which are rotatably mounted to the pins of the planetary gear carrier C2 via pinion bearings. The hollow shaft 54 ​​thus transmits rotational power from the first planetary gear set 50 to the second planetary gear set 52. In the second planetary gear set 52, the ring gear R2 is carried on an annular bearing 56 for rotation relative to the drive housing 36, and the planetary gear carrier C2 is fixed to the drive housing 36 and the ring gear R1 by fasteners. Since the ring gear R1 and the planetary gear carrier C2 are fixed and do not rotate, they can be regarded as "grounded". In addition, in the example shown, the sun gear S1 is formed as an integral (i.e., one-piece) part of the input shaft 44, while the sun gear S2 is formed as an integral (i.e., one-piece) part of the hollow shaft 54, in both cases being toothed parts of the respective components.

[0033] The grounding planetary gear carrier C2 has a large annular portion 58 extending about the drive axis A, which is used to define a deep braking cavity 60 and a wide outer circumferential surface, which supports large main bearings 62 (e.g., two). The inner race of the main bearing 62 is fixed (e.g., press-fit) to the planetary gear carrier C2, and the outer race of the main bearing 62 is fixed (e.g., press-fit) to the drive hub 64, which is fixedly coupled to the ring gear R2 via fasteners for rotation relative to the driver housing 36. The drive hub 64 has an outer periphery with a mounting flange 66 for fixing the drive hub 64 to the hub 32 of the ground engaging member 22. In this way, the power from the drive motor 34 is transmitted from the first planetary gear set 50 (first stage sun gear S1 input to planetary gear carrier S1 output) to the second planetary gear set 52 (second stage sun gear S2 input to ring gear R2 output) through the double planetary gear arrangement, as shown in FIG. Figure 2 . The ring gear R2 transmits power to the drive hub 64, which ultimately transmits power to the hub 32 of the ground engaging member 22. As can be seen, this arrangement allows the rotational drive plane of the drive hub 64 (e.g., drive plane P) to be located outside the vertical center plane of the ground engaging member 22 and the end drive unit 30, and generally aligned with the vertical plane between the two main bearings 62, which is axially located within the span of the annular portion of the planet gear carrier C2.

[0034] Also refer to Figure 3-5 , the brake chamber 60 of the planetary gear carrier C2 is concentrically aligned with the drive axis A and has a depth sufficient to accommodate a brake device 70, which can be used as a service brake, a parking brake, or both. The brake device 70 has a brake assembly 72 (or friction assembly) and an actuator 74. The brake assembly 72 is a device in which spacers 76 and friction plates 78 are alternately interlaced. The number, thickness, and diameter of the spacers 76 and friction plates 78 can be set according to the braking force requirements of the work vehicle 10. In some cases, the wind resistance loss in the brake assembly 72 can be reduced by reducing the number of rotating parts (e.g., friction plates 78), thereby allowing efficient high-speed braking operation. The spacer 76 has a series of protruding protrusions 80 at its outer periphery, and the protrusions 80 are configured to fit in a groove 82 of a complementary shape formed at the inner surface of the annular portion 58 of the planetary gear carrier C2, and terminate in an open position at the outer side of the planetary gear carrier C2. The engagement of the projections 80 and the recesses 82 creates interference that holds the spacers 76 stationary with the planetary gear carrier C2. The friction plates 78 sandwiched between the spacers 76 are splined to a connection member 84 (described further below), which is splined to the input shaft 44 for common rotation therewith relative to the spacers 76.

[0035] The brake actuator 74 includes an annular actuator piston 90 that translates along the drive axis A to engage or disengage the brake assembly 72 and an annular member 92 that is disposed about the input shaft 44 but does not rotate therewith. In contrast, the annular member 92 is fixedly coupled (i.e., via a toothed or splined connection) to the planetary gear carrier C2. The actuator piston 90 and the annular member 92 cooperate and have cooperating seals (e.g., O-rings) to form a pressure chamber 94 therebetween into which hydraulic fluid may be introduced. The brake chamber 60 also includes a piston spring 96 (e.g., a Bellville spring) that acts on the actuator piston 90. In the example shown, the brake actuator 74 is a spring-applied, hydraulically released (SAHR) device in which, when used as a service brake during normal operation of the work vehicle 10, the pressure chamber 94 is filled with hydraulic fluid to cause hydraulic pressure to force the actuator piston 90 to move away from the brake assembly 72, thereby disengaging the brake assembly 72, as shown in FIG. Figure 3 When the brake device 70 is to be applied (e.g., momentarily as a service brake or for a longer period of time as a parking brake), the pressure chamber 94 is released by allowing the hydraulic fluid therein to return to the tank, in which case the force of the piston spring 96 acts to move the actuator piston 90 toward the brake assembly 72, thereby engaging the brake assembly 72, as shown. Figure 4 As shown. The engagement of the actuator piston 90 with the brake assembly 72 causes frictional contact between the interlaced spacers 76 and friction plates 78 to resist and hinder the rotation and relative rotation of the input shaft 44, which results in the locking of the first planetary gear set 50, because both the sun gear S1 and the ring gear R1 are maintained in a non-rotating state. This in turn locks the second planetary gear set 52, particularly the ring gear R2, and thereby locks the drive hub 64 and the hub 32 of the ground engaging member 22.

[0036] The brake device 70 is accommodated in the brake cavity 60 of the ground planet gear carrier C2 by a retainer device, which in the example shown includes a retainer plate 100 and a retainer cap 102. The retainer plate 100 is an annular component arranged concentrically around the drive axis A and has an annular portion 104 at the inner side, which is used for the rear stop of the brake assembly 72. Fasteners can be arranged in the axial direction through the opening in the annular portion 104 and the corresponding opening in the brake assembly 72 to further assemble the brake assembly 72 to the ground planet gear carrier C2. The retainer plate 100 also has an arcuate flange portion 106 (for example, six in number), which fits into a circumferential groove 108 around the annular portion 104 and extends radially outward from the annular portion 104. The flange portion 106 has an opening for a fastener, which is screwed into an axially oriented threaded hole through the outer side of the annular portion 58 of the ground planet gear carrier C2. Some or all of the flange portions 106 may be integrally formed with the annular portion 104 as a unitary structure. The annular portion 104 of the retainer plate 100 mounts an outboard shaft bearing 110 that supports the outboard end of the input shaft 44 for rotation. The connecting device 84 has a narrowed neck and an enlarged shoulder that engages with the inner race of the outboard shaft bearing 110. The connecting device 84 constrains a spring 112 that fits into an axial recess 114 at the outboard end of the input shaft 44 and applies a preload force on the outboard shaft bearing 110. The retainer cap 102 fits into the central opening of the retainer plate 100 and is fixed to the central opening to enclose the brake device 70. The brake device 70 and all components inside the end drive unit 30 are surrounded by a maintenance panel 120 that is fixed to the outer surface of the drive hub 64 along its periphery by threaded fasteners that are disposed in axially oriented through holes in the wall of the drive hub 64 and axially oriented threaded holes in the ring gear R2.

[0037] In the illustrated example, the inner and outer shaft bearings 42, 110 and the annular bearing 56 are ball bearings and the pinion bearings are tapered roller bearings. The dual main bearings 62 are tapered roller bearings arranged at opposite angles relative to the plane in which the hub 32 of the ground engaging member 22 is mounted to the mounting flange 66 of the drive hub 64. However, it should be understood that other bearing configurations, quantities and sizes may be used in the end drive unit 30.

[0038] In addition to increasing the wheel / track mount by moving the plane in which the hub 32 of the ground engaging member 22 is mounted to the end drive unit 30, and thereby to the work vehicle 10, outwardly, the construction of the end drive unit 30 facilitates servicing and replacement of the brake assembly 70 without disassembling or otherwise disrupting the dual planetary gear assembly. The brake assembly 70 is accessed by removing the fasteners securing the service panel 120 and removing the service panel 120 from the drive hub 64. The fasteners securing the retainer plate 100 to the ground planet carrier C2 are then removed and the retainer plate 100 is removed from the ground planet carrier C2. This allows the brake assembly 72 to be removed from the end drive unit 30 by sliding the disc plate projections 80 outwardly until they clear the recesses 82 in the ground planet carrier C2 and sliding the connector 84 from the outboard end of the input shaft 44, as shown. Figure 6 As shown. Any fasteners securing or otherwise coupling the retainer plate 100 and the brake assembly 72 may also be removed. This allows full access to repair or replace the brake assembly 72. This also allows access, cleaning and / or replacement of components of the brake actuator 74 (e.g., piston 90, piston spring 96, O-rings). In addition, installation of the main bearing 62 and drive hub 64 is facilitated by the above-described component packaging of the end drive unit 30.

[0039] The connection device 84, spring 112 and outboard shaft bearing 110 at the outboard end of the input shaft 44 can also be removed and replaced without removing the brake device 70. It should be noted that while the outboard shaft bearing 110 can have its outer race fixed to the retainer plate 100 (e.g., by a press fit), in the example shown, the connection device 84 presses the outboard shaft bearing 110 against the annular inside surface of the retainer cap 102 when preloaded by the spring 112. Removal of the outboard shaft bearing 110 can be accessed, removed and replaced with only the removal of the service panel 120 and the retainer cap 102, while the retainer plate 100 remains fully secured to the ground planet gear carrier C2, and without removing the brake assembly 72 or otherwise damaging the brake device 70. Depending on the construction of the brake assembly 72 and the coupling of the brake assembly 72 and the connecting device 84 to the input shaft 44, the connecting device 84 and the spring 112 can also be accessed, removed and replaced by removing only the maintenance panel 120 and the retainer cover 102, while the retainer plate 100 remains fully fastened to the ground planetary gear carrier C2 and without removing the brake assembly 72 itself. Allowing these components to be serviced without disassembling part or all of the double planetary gear device significantly improves the ease and efficiency of maintenance and installation operations.

[0040] Various alternative configurations of the end drive units disclosed herein may be designed and used in a work vehicle. For example, Figure 7An end drive unit 30' is shown which is identical to the end drive unit 30 described above, except that the input shaft 44' is truncated after engagement with the integrated sun gear S1' and the planetary gears P1', and a separate, disconnected brake shaft 200 is arranged concentrically with the drive axis A'. The outboard end of the brake shaft 200 is mounted for rotation by the outboard shaft bearing 110', while the inboard end of the brake shaft 200 replaces the Figure 2 The hollow shaft in the illustrated embodiment instead forms a sun gear S2' with two integral toothed portions 202 or splined portions 204 which couple the brake shaft 200 to the first stage planet carrier C1' and drive the second stage planet gears P2'.

[0041] The terms used herein are only used to describe specific embodiments and are not intended to limit the present disclosure. As used herein, unless the context clearly indicates otherwise, the singular forms "a", "an", and "the" are also intended to include plural forms. It should be further understood that when the terms "comprise" and / or "comprising" are used in this specification, the presence of the features, integers, steps, operations, elements, and / or parts is specified, but the presence or addition of one or more other features, integers, steps, operations, elements, parts, and / or groups thereof is not excluded.

[0042] As used herein, unless otherwise limited or modified, a list having elements separated by a conjunction (e.g., "and") and also preceded by the phrase "one or more" or "at least one" indicates a configuration or apparatus that may include the elements of the list individually or in any combination thereof. For example, "at least one of A, B, and C" or "one or more of A, B, and C" indicates the possibility of only A, only B, only C, or any combination of two or more of A, B, and C (e.g., A and B; B and C; A and C; or A, B, and C).

[0043] The description of the present disclosure is proposed for the purpose of illustration and description, but it is not intended to be exhaustive or limited to the disclosure of the disclosed form. Without departing from the scope and spirit of the present disclosure, many modifications and variations will be apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art. The embodiments explicitly cited herein are selected and described in order to best explain the principles of the present disclosure and its practical application, and to enable those of ordinary skill in the art to understand the present disclosure and recognize many substitutions, modifications and variations to the described (multiple) examples. Therefore, various embodiments and embodiments other than those explicitly described are within the scope of the appended claims.

Claims

1. An end drive unit (30) for a work vehicle (10) having a ground engaging member (22), comprising: a driver housing (36) configured to be mounted to the work vehicle (10); an input shaft (44) disposed within the driver housing (36) and configured to receive rotational power; a planetary gear set driven by the input shaft (44) and having a grounded planet carrier (C2) fixed relative to the drive housing (36); a drive hub (64) mountable to the ground engaging member (22) of the work vehicle (10) and supported for rotation about a drive axis (A) by the planetary gear set and a bearing (62) mounted to the grounded planetary gear carrier (C2); a drive brake device (70) configured to hinder rotation of the planetary gear set, thereby hindering rotation of the drive hub (64) about the drive axis (A); and A service panel (120) is coupled to the driver housing (36) such that removal of the service panel (120) facilitates access to the drive brake (70) for servicing or deactivating the drive brake (70) without disassembling the planetary gear set (52).

2. The end drive unit (30) according to claim 1, wherein: The planetary gear set is a double planetary gear set having a first-stage planetary gear set (50) and a second-stage planetary gear set (52), wherein power is transmitted to a first sun gear (S1), and is transmitted out through a first planetary gear carrier (C1) of the first-stage planetary gear set (50), and is transmitted to a second sun gear (S2), and is transmitted out through a second ring gear (R2) of the second-stage planetary gear set (52); and The first sun gear (S1) is driven by the input shaft (44), and the second ring gear (R2) drives the drive hub (64).

3. The end drive unit (30) according to claim 2, wherein: The grounding planet gear carrier (C2) is a second planet gear carrier of the second stage planetary gear set (52); and The second planetary gear carrier (C2) has an elongated annular portion (58) on which a dual bearing device (62) is supported, and the dual bearing device helps the drive hub (64) to rotate around the drive axis (A). The elongated annular portion (58) and the dual bearing device (62) of the second planetary gear carrier (C2) are located on the outer side of the second ring gear (R2) of the second-stage planetary gear set (52).

4. The end drive unit (30) according to claim 3, wherein: The second planetary gear carrier (C2) and the first ring gear (R1) of the first-stage planetary gear set (50) are bolted to the driver housing (36).

5. The end drive unit (30) according to claim 3, wherein: The input shaft (44) defines or supports the first sun gear (S1) of the first stage planetary gear set (50) for co-rotation and supports the second sun gear (S2) of the second stage planetary gear (52) for relative rotation therewith.

6. The end drive unit (30) according to claim 5, wherein: The input shaft (44) supports the drive brake device (70) at the outer end opposite to the input at the inner end, and the input shaft (44) supports the drive brake device (70) outside the first stage planetary gear set (50) and the second stage planetary gear set (52).

7. The end drive unit (30) according to claim 6, wherein: The drive brake device (70) is arranged around a drive axis (A) which is concentric with the elongated annular portion (58) of the second planetary gear carrier (C2) and the dual bearing device (62).

8. The end drive unit (30) according to claim 7, wherein: The driving brake device (70) includes an actuator (74) and a plate group (72); and wherein the actuator (74) is selectively operated to engage and release the plate group (72), and when engaged, the drive brake device (70) connects the input shaft (44) to the second planetary gear carrier (C2) grounded to the drive housing (36).

9. The end drive unit (30) according to claim 8, wherein: The plate group (74) is coupled to the input shaft (44) via a connector (84) and is retained within the second planetary gear carrier (C2) via a retainer plate (100); and wherein the retainer plate (100) is accessible when the service panel (120) is removed, and the drive brake device (70) is serviceable when the retainer plate (100) is removed.

10. The end drive unit (30) according to claim 1, wherein: The service panel (120) is mounted directly to the outer side of the drive hub (64).

11. A working vehicle (10), comprising: chassis (24); a ground engaging member (22) supporting the chassis (24) off the ground, the ground engaging member (22) facilitating traction movement of the work vehicle (10) by rotation about a drive axis (A); A power drive unit (20); and An end drive unit (30), which is driven by the power drive unit (20) and comprises: a driver housing (36) configured to be coupled to the chassis (24); an input shaft (44) disposed within the driver housing (36) and receiving rotational power from the power drive unit (20); a planetary gear set (50, 52) driven by the input shaft (44) and having a grounded planetary gear carrier (C2) fixed relative to the driver housing (36); a drive hub (64) mounted to the ground engaging member (22) and supported by the planetary gear sets (50, 52) and bearings (62) mounted to the grounding planet gear carrier (C2) for rotation about the drive axis (A); a drive brake device (70) configured to hinder rotation of the planetary gear set (50, 52) and thereby hinder rotation of the drive hub (64) about the drive axis (A); and A service panel (120) is coupled to the driver housing (36) such that removal of the service panel (120) facilitates access to the drive brake (70) for servicing or deactivating the drive brake (70) without disassembling the planetary gear set.

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