US4448279A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Vehicle drive unit
Assignee: Honda Motor Co Ltd
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Filing: 1982-04-09
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Granted: 1984-05-15
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Expires: 2002-04-09
Abstract
Abstract A drive unit for a vehicle having two juxtaposed drive wheels comprises an engine, an axle for supporting on its ends the drive wheels, a final output gear operatively coupled with the engine and mounted on the axle adjacent to one of the drive wheels, and a power transmitting assembly mounted on the axle adjacent to the other drive wheel, the engine being located between the final output gear and the power transmitting assembly. A crankshaft extends parallel to the axle and supports on one end a flywheel for a generator and on the other end a clutch including a speed changing device. The drive unit is unitized, compact in size, simple in structure, and requires a minimum number of parts.
Inventors
- 👤 Masaki Watanabe
- 👤 Goroei Wakatsuki
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-03 22:09
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62M; B62M7/00; B62M7/08; B62K; B62K5/00; B62K5/02; B62K5/027; F; F16; F16H; F16H48/00; F16H48/12; Y; Y10; Y10T; Y10T74/00; Y10T74/19; Y10T74/19005
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 12
Claim 1
Independent Claim
290 words
A drive unit for a vehicle having two juxtaposed drive wheels, comprising: an engine; an axle for supporting on the ends thereof said drive wheels, said axle comprising first and second drive portions arranged coaxially and in alignment with each other; a final output gear operatively coupled with said engine and mounted on said first drive portion of said axle adjacent to one end thereof so as to rotate said first drive portion by power of said engine, said one end of said first drive portion supporting one of said drive wheels; power transmitting means for coupling said second drive portion with said first drive portion so as to rotate said second drive portion upon rotation of said first drive portion, said power transmitting means including a pair of flanges mounted on said first and second drive portions in confronting relation, and means for frictionally engaging said flanges with each other, wherein said first and second drive portions may rotate relative to each other against the force of said friction engaging means; said second drive portion having one of said flanges mounted at one end thereof, and supporting the other of said drive wheels at the other end thereof, said one end of said second drive portion being arranged substantially adjacent to said other drive wheel; said engine being disposed between said final output gear and said power transmitting means; a crankshaft extending parallel to said axle; a clutch mounted on one end of said crankshaft, said clutch operatively cooperating with said final output gear so as to transmit said power of said engine to said final output gear; and a flywheel mounted on the other end of said crankshaft, said engine being disposed between said clutch and said flywheel.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
290 words
A drive unit for a vehicle having two juxtaposed drive wheels, comprising: an engine; an axle for supporting on the ends thereof said drive wheels, said axle comprising first and second drive portions arranged coaxially and in alignment with each other; a final output gear operatively coupled with said engine and mounted on said first drive portion of said axle adjacent to one end thereof so as to rotate said first drive portion by power of said engine, said one end of said first drive portion supporting one of said drive wheels; power transmitting means for coupling said second drive portion with said first drive portion so as to rotate said second drive portion upon rotation of said first drive portion, said power transmitting means including a pair of flanges mounted on said first and second drive portions in confronting relation, and means for frictionally engaging said flanges with each other, wherein said first and second drive portions may rotate relative to each other against the force of said friction engaging means; said second drive portion having one of said flanges mounted at one end thereof, and supporting the other of said drive wheels at the other end thereof, said one end of said second drive portion being arranged substantially adjacent to said other drive wheel; said engine being disposed between said final output gear and said power transmitting means; a crankshaft extending parallel to said axle; a clutch mounted on one end of said crankshaft, said clutch operatively cooperating with said final output gear so as to transmit said power of said engine to said final output gear; and a flywheel mounted on the other end of said crankshaft, said engine being disposed between said clutch and said flywheel.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
13 words
A drive unit according to claim 1, said clutch comprising a centrifugal clutch.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
38 words
A drive unit according to claim 10, said clutch comprising a drive member rotatable with said crankshaft and a driven member fitted rotatably over said crankshaft, including a speed changing device interposed between said drive and driven members.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
28 words
A drive unit according to claim 3, said driven member having a gear drivable by said drive member and held in driving mesh with said final output gear.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
16 words
A drive unit according to claim 3, said speed changing device comprising a planetary gear mechanism.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
40 words
A drive unit according to claim 3, including a housing, said one end of said crankshaft being supported by a bearing on said housing, said housing having a lubricant reservoir adjacent to said bearing for supplying the latter with lubricant.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
32 words
A drive unit according to claim 1, said flywheel having a ring gear mounted therearound, including a starting motor having a pinion gear selectively movable into driving mesh with said ring gear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
26 words
A drive unit according to claim 7, said housing including a recess between said flywheel and said clutch, said starting motor being located in said recess.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
15 words
A drive unit according to claim 1, including a cooling fan mounted on said flywheel.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
28 words
A drive unit according to claim 9, said cooling fan being located in a space extending around said power transmitting means and said engine and communicating with atmosphere.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
61 words
A drive unit according to claim 5, said planetary gear mechanism including a stator having a pair of subtantially symmetrically located projections, including a housing comprising upper and lower members, one of said upper and lower members having recesses receiving said projections, respectively, the other housing member holding said projections in said recesses when said upper and lower members are combined.
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USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1987-05-15 | 1987-11-14 | 1988-05-15 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1991-05-15 | 1991-11-14 | 1992-05-15 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1995-05-15 | 1995-11-14 | 1996-05-15 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |