Self-contained power transmitting assembly

Claim 1

A self-contained power transmitting assembly capable of being mounted as a unit in a motor vehicle having structural frame means and ground engaging track propulsion means, said assembly including: a rigid elongate housing secured to said frame means and having a longitudinal axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of said vehicle, a motor mounted to said housing and projecting therefrom in a direction parallel to said axes, shaft means within said housing and capable of interconnection with said motor, three separate gear reduction means comprising: first gear means operatively connected to said shaft means for unitary reduction therewith about an axis of rotation parallel to said longitudinal axes in response to driving power applied to said shaft from said motor, second gear means engaging and driven by said first gear means, third gear means comprising a pinion gear operatively connected to said second gear means for unitary rotation therewith about an axis of rotation parallel to but laterally spaced from the axis of rotation of said first gear means, fourth gear means comprising a ring gear engaging and driven by said third gear means, fifth gear means operatively connected to said fourth gear means for unitary rotation therewith about an axis of rotation perpendicular to the axes of rotation of said first, second and third gear means, sixth gear means engaging and driven by said fifth gear means, motor output means operatively secured to said sixth gear means for unitary rotation therewith about an axis of rotation of said fourth and fifth gear means, said output means capable of being drivingly connected to said propulsion means, and brake means mounted within said housing and operative to arrest movement of said gear reduction means, said brake means being positioned in a train of power immediately downstream of said motor and upstream of said gear reduction means and operatively acting to arrest rotation of said shaft.