Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
275 words
A drive system for a vehicle propulsion unit having a pair of traction wheels comprising: a variable displacement pump for supplying driving fluid to hydraulic motors; a pair of hydraulic auxiliary motors, each of said motors having its output shaft operably connected to a wheel, each of said auxiliary motors having first and second fluid line connection means; selector valve means having alternate on and off positions, said selector valve means including first and second fluid control spools; first and second pairs of fluid lines connecting in parallel relation the two sides of each auxiliary motor to one side of said selector valve means, the first pair of fluid lines being connected to one side of said first spool, the second pair of fluid lines being connected to one side of said second spool; a first flow divider supplied with forward pressure fluid from said variable displacement pump; a second flow divider supplied with reverse pressure fluid from said variable displacement pump; and a pair of fluid lines connecting in parallel relation the two outputs of each flow divider with the second side of said selector valve means, whereby, (1) with the selector valve means in its "on" position, the spools in said valve means allow hydraulic fluid to be communicated between said auxiliary motors and said flow dividers, and (2) with the selector valve means in its "off" position, the spools in said selector valve means offer a short circuit at the selector valve of said first and second pairs of fluid lines while at the same time preventing flow of hydraulic fluid between said first and second flow dividers and said auxiliary motors.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
275 words
A drive system for a vehicle propulsion unit having a pair of traction wheels comprising: a variable displacement pump for supplying driving fluid to hydraulic motors; a pair of hydraulic auxiliary motors, each of said motors having its output shaft operably connected to a wheel, each of said auxiliary motors having first and second fluid line connection means; selector valve means having alternate on and off positions, said selector valve means including first and second fluid control spools; first and second pairs of fluid lines connecting in parallel relation the two sides of each auxiliary motor to one side of said selector valve means, the first pair of fluid lines being connected to one side of said first spool, the second pair of fluid lines being connected to one side of said second spool; a first flow divider supplied with forward pressure fluid from said variable displacement pump; a second flow divider supplied with reverse pressure fluid from said variable displacement pump; and a pair of fluid lines connecting in parallel relation the two outputs of each flow divider with the second side of said selector valve means, whereby, (1) with the selector valve means in its "on" position, the spools in said valve means allow hydraulic fluid to be communicated between said auxiliary motors and said flow dividers, and (2) with the selector valve means in its "off" position, the spools in said selector valve means offer a short circuit at the selector valve of said first and second pairs of fluid lines while at the same time preventing flow of hydraulic fluid between said first and second flow dividers and said auxiliary motors.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
30 words
The invention as described in claim 1 including charging pressure means for supplying low pressure fluid to said auxiliary motors when said selector valve means is in the "off" position.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
32 words
The invention as defined in claim 2 wherein the fluid control spools of said selector valve means are actuated by charging pressure when said selector valve is switched to the "on" position.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
34 words
The invention as defined in claim 3 wherein charging pressure on said spools is drained into said sump via fifth fluid line means when said selector valve means is switched to the "off" position.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the wheels connected to each of said auxiliary motors are steerable.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
48 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 wherein the first and second flow dividers interposed between the variable displacement pump and the selector valve means limit the maximum flow of hydraulic flow to any one auxiliary motor to 110 percent of the flow to the other auxiliary motor.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
19 words
The invention as defined in claim 1 including use of a solenoid type switch in said selector valve means.