Skid Steer Drive Assembly for Compact Synchronous Wheel Transfer
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Solution Overview
Problem
Current skid steer vehicle drive assemblies are cumbersome, difficult to assemble/disassemble, and inefficient, leading to increased vehicle size and complexity during manufacturing, repair, and maintenance.
Innovation Solution
A skid steer vehicle drive assembly featuring a direct drive system with first and second drive means connected via drive shafts to front and rear wheel gearboxes, along with power transfer arrangements using belts and pulleys to synchronize wheel rotation, allowing for a compact and efficient design.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If a dedicated motor drives each side's wheels through an infinite gear belt, then synchronous wheel rotation is achieved, but the drive assembly becomes bulky and difficult to assemble/disassemble
Solution Approach 1:
The drive assembly is segmented into modular components: individual drive means for each wheel, separate gearboxes, and distinct power transfer arrangements. This segmentation allows each component to be independently assembled and disassembled, reducing overall assembly complexity while maintaining synchronous rotation through coordinated modular units.
Solution Approach 2:
The power transfer arrangement serves multiple functions: it transfers power from drive means to wheels, synchronizes rotation between front and rear wheels, and provides a compact integrated structure. This multi-functionality reduces the number of separate components needed, simplifying the overall drive assembly.
2Reliability
If a dedicated motor drives each side's wheels through an infinite gear belt, then synchronous wheel rotation is achieved, but the drive assembly becomes bulky increasing vehicle size
Solution Approach 1:
The drive assembly merges the power transfer mechanism with the wheel drive system into an integrated unit. The power transfer arrangement is combined with the gearboxes and drive shafts, eliminating separate bulky components and reducing the overall volume of the drive assembly while maintaining synchronous wheel rotation.
3Reliability
If current drive assembly solutions are used, then wheel synchronization is achieved, but assembly and disassembly during manufacture, repair, or maintenance becomes difficult
Solution Approach 1:
The drive assembly is divided into separable modules including individual drive means, gearboxes, and power transfer arrangements. These segmented modules can be independently manufactured and assembled, making the assembly process easier during manufacture, repair, and maintenance while ensuring wheel synchronization through coordinated module integration.
Solution Approach 2:
The drive assembly incorporates adjustable and removable connections between components, allowing dynamic reconfiguration during assembly and disassembly. This dynamic design enables easy separation of modules for maintenance while maintaining rigid synchronized operation during use.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
The solution enables a compact, efficient, and easy-to-maintain drive assembly that simplifies assembly and disassembly, reducing the overall size of the skid steer vehicle while improving manufacturing, repair, and maintenance efficiency.
Implementation Method 1
first and second power transfer arrangements coupled to the first and second drive shafts respectively and configured to transfer power from the first and second drive means to the remaining wheels
Data Source
AI summary
A skid steer vehicle comprising at least first and second front wheels located on opposing sides of the vehicle; at least first and second rear wheels located on opposing sides of the vehicle; a drive assembly 11 comprising; a first drive means 12 connected directly via a first front drive shaft 13 to a gearbox 14 of the first front wheel; a second drive means 15 connected directly via a second front drive shaft 16 to a gearbox 17 of the second front wheel; and first and second power transfer arrangements 18, 19 coupled to the first and second drive shafts 13, 16 respectively and configured to transfer power from the first and second drive means 12, 15 to the first and second rear wheels respectively.