Valtra Oy Ab

Mikko Rintoo

Petri Hannukalnen

Jouni Hirvonen

Kimmo Kurkinen

Petri Hannukainen

A variable track width vehicle axle has an outer axle casing () which supports two drive shafts () which are driven at their inner ends by drive means () and carry wheel attachment means () at their outer ends. Each drive shaft including first and second parts () which are in screw-threaded engagement with each other so that rotation of one part relative to the other changes the effective length of each shaft and thus the track width of the axle. A clutch means () is also provided which in a first position connects the two parts () of each shaft to prevent relative rotation and in a second position disconnects the two parts of each shaft to allow relative rotation therebetween and rotates one of the screw threaded parts relative to the other part () via the drive means () to change the effective length of each drive shaft.

Vehicle axles with variable track width

A continuously variable power-split transmission is provided and comprises an epicyclic module () having an input shaft () drivingly coupled to a primary motor (). Three compound planets () are supported on a common planet carrier () and each engage respective sun gears (). The transmission further comprises a continuously variable drive connection () between the primary motor and the planet carrier. A first sun gear () of the epicyclic module is disposed on the input shaft. A first power split output () is provided by an output side of the continuously variable drive connection. The second and third sun gears () are connected to second and third power split outputs () respectively. A downstream torque consumer () derives power selectively from one of the first, second and third outputs.

Continuously variable power-split vehicle transmission

A power-split transmission for a vehicle comprises a forward-reverse transmission module, an epicyclic module and a secondary power branch. The forward-reverse power shuttle module () comprises an input shaft () coupled to a primary motor () and an output shaft (). Also included, first and second clutches () are alternatively engageable to close respective forward and reverse drive paths between the input shaft and output shaft. Engagement of the first clutch couples the input shaft directly to the output shaft. Engagement of the second clutch couples the input shaft to the output shaft via first and second gear sets () which each comprise a plurality of meshed gears. One of the gear sets () comprises an odd number of gears and the other gear set () comprises an even number of gears. The epicyclic module comprises a first epicyclic input connected to the output shaft of the forward-reverse transmission module, a second epicyclic input connected to an output side of the secondary power branch, and an epicyclic output. The secondary power branch derives power from the primary motor via the first gear set.

Growing community of inventors

Palokka, Finland

Mikko Rintoo