U.S. patent application number 10/440861 was filed with the patent office on 2004-11-25 for motorized vehicle having forward and backward differential structure.
Invention is credited to Luh, Tai-Yang.
Application Number | 20040231909 10/440861 |
Document ID | / |
Family ID | 32771871 |
Filed Date | 2004-11-25 |
United States Patent
Application |
20040231909 |
Kind Code |
A1 |
Luh, Tai-Yang |
November 25, 2004 |
Motorized vehicle having forward and backward differential
structure
Abstract
A motorized vehicle includes a plurality of single-direction
thrust bearings mounted between each of the two rear wheels and the
propeller shaft. The single-direction thrust bearings located at
one rear wheel is used to drive the motorized vehicle to move
forward, and the single-direction thrust bearings located at the
other rear wheel is used to drive the motorized vehicle to move
backward. Thus, when the two rear wheels are subjected to a drag
and cannot be rotated with the propeller shaft synchronously, the
single-direction thrust bearings will idle, thereby producing a
differential effect.
Inventors: |
Luh, Tai-Yang; (Tai Ping
City, TW) |
Correspondence
Address: |
NIKOLAI & MERSEREAU, P.A.
900 SECOND AVENUE SOUTH
SUITE 820
MINNEAPOLIS
MN
55402
US
|
Family ID: |
32771871 |
Appl. No.: |
10/440861 |
Filed: |
May 19, 2003 |
Current U.S.
Class: |
180/371 |
Current CPC
Class: |
C12Q 2600/118 20130101;
C12Q 1/6886 20130101; C12Q 2600/158 20130101 |
Class at
Publication: |
180/371 |
International
Class: |
B60K 017/04 |
Claims
What is claimed is:
1. A motorized vehicle, comprising: two rear wheels; a propeller
shaft mounted on the two rear wheels and having two ends; and a
plurality of single-direction thrust bearings mounted between each
of the two rear wheels and the propeller shaft, wherein: the
single-direction thrust bearings located between one of the two
rear wheels and a first end of the propeller shaft has a rotation
direction opposite to a normal rotation direction of the propeller
shaft to drive the motorized vehicle to move forward; and the
single-direction thrust bearings located between the other one of
the two rear wheels and a second end of the propeller shaft has a
rotation direction opposite to a reverse rotation direction of the
propeller shaft to drive the motorized vehicle to move
backward.
2. The motorized vehicle in accordance with claim 1, wherein each
of the two ends of the propeller shaft is provided with a bearing
cap, two single-direction thrust bearings, a bearing seat, and a
fixing member.
3. The motorized vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein the
bearing seat is formed with a plurality of screw bores, the bearing
cap is formed with a plurality of through holes, and the motorized
vehicle further comprises a plurality of locking screws each
extended through a respective one of the through holes and each
screwed into a respective one of the screw bores, thereby fixing
the bearing cap on the bearing seat.
4. The motorized vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein each
of the two single-direction thrust bearings is mounted between the
bearing seat and the propeller shaft.
5. The motorized vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein each
of the two ends of the propeller shaft is formed with a keyway,
each of the two single-direction thrust bearings has an inner race
formed with an inner keyway, and the motorized vehicle further
comprises a first key secured in the inner keyway of each of the
two single-direction thrust bearings and the keyway of the
propeller shaft, so that each of the two single-direction thrust
bearings is combined with the propeller shaft.
6. The motorized vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein each
of the two single-direction thrust bearings has an outer race
formed with an outer keyway, the bearing seat has two sides each
formed with a keyway, and the motorized vehicle further comprises
two second keys each secured in the outer keyway of a respective
one of the two single-direction thrust bearings and the keyway of
the bearing seat, so that each of the two single-direction thrust
bearings is combined with the bearing seat.
7. The motorized vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein each
of the two ends of the propeller shaft is formed with a catch
flange, one of the two single-direction thrust bearings is rested
on and limited by the catch flange of the propeller shaft and the
bearing cap.
8. The motorized vehicle in accordance with claim 7, wherein the
fixing member is secured on the propeller shaft and is rested on
the other one of the two single-direction thrust bearings.
9. The motorized vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein each
of the two ends of the propeller shaft is formed with an outer
thread, and the fixing member is formed with an inner thread
screwed on the outer thread of the propeller shaft, so that the
fixing member is fixed on the propeller shaft.
10. The motorized vehicle in accordance with claim 2, wherein the
bearing seat has a periphery provided with a fixing board, and each
of the two rear wheels is secured on the fixing board of the
respective bearing seat.
11. The motorized vehicle in accordance with claim 10, wherein the
fixing board of the bearing seat is formed with a plurality of
through holes, each of the two rear wheels is formed with a
plurality of through holes, and the motorized vehicle further
comprises a plurality of locking bolts each extended through a
respective one of the through holes of the fixing board of the
bearing seat and a respective one of the through holes of the
respective rear wheel, so that each of the two rear wheels is fixed
on the fixing board of the respective bearing seat.
Description
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
[0001] 1. Field of the Invention
[0002] The present invention relates to a motorized vehicle, and
more particularly to a motorized vehicle having a forward and
backward differential structure.
[0003] 2. Description of the Related Art
[0004] A conventional motorized vehicle comprises a differential
mounted on the transmission gear of the gear box. The differential
consists of a bevel gear set. The power of the motor is reduced by
the reduction mechanism. Then, the reduced power is transmitted by
the transmission gear of the gear box and the bevel gear of the
differential to the propeller shafts at the left and right sides,
to drive and rotate the wheels at the left and right sides. When
the motorized vehicle is turned, the turning diameter of the wheel
at the inner side is shorter than that of the wheel at the outer
side, so that the differential consisting of the bevel gear set is
used to balance the difference of the rotation speed between the
wheel at the inner side and the wheel at the outer side.
[0005] However, the conventional differential consisting of a bevel
gear set has a complicated construction, thereby increasing costs
of fabrication, and thereby causing inconvenience in assembly and
maintenance.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0006] The primary objective of the present invention is to provide
a motorized vehicle having a forward and backward differential
structure.
[0007] Another objective of the present invention is to provide a
motorized vehicle, wherein when the two rear wheels are subjected
to a drag or resistance and cannot be rotated with the propeller
shaft synchronously, the single-direction thrust bearing will idle,
thereby producing a differential effect.
[0008] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
motorized vehicle, wherein the single-direction thrust bearings
located at one of the two rear wheels is used to drive the
motorized vehicle to move forward, and the single-direction thrust
bearings located between the other rear wheel is used to drive the
motorized vehicle to move backward.
[0009] A further objective of the present invention is to provide a
motorized vehicle having a differential structure which can replace
the conventional differential consisting of a bevel gear set,
thereby reducing costs of fabrication, and thereby simplifying the
construction.
[0010] In accordance with the present invention, there is provided
a motorized vehicle, comprising:
[0011] two rear wheels;
[0012] a propeller shaft mounted on the two rear wheels and having
two ends; and
[0013] a plurality of single-direction thrust bearings mounted
between each of the two rear wheels and the propeller shaft,
wherein:
[0014] the single-direction thrust bearings located between one of
the two rear wheels and a first end of the propeller shaft has a
rotation direction opposite to a normal rotation direction of the
propeller shaft to drive the motorized vehicle to move forward;
and
[0015] the single-direction thrust bearings located between the
other one of the two rear wheels and a second end of the propeller
shaft has a rotation direction opposite to a reverse rotation
direction of the propeller shaft to drive the motorized vehicle to
move backward.
[0016] Further benefits and advantages of the present invention
will become apparent after a careful reading of the detailed
description with appropriate reference to the accompanying
drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0017] FIG. 1 is a partially exploded perspective view of a
motorized vehicle in accordance with the preferred embodiment of
the present invention;
[0018] FIG. 2 is a front plan cross-sectional assembly view of the
motorized vehicle as shown in FIG. 1;
[0019] FIG. 3 is a top plan cross-sectional assembly view of the
motorized vehicle as shown in FIG. 1;
[0020] FIG. 4 is a perspective assembly view of the differential
structure of the motorized vehicle in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0021] FIG. 5 is an exploded perspective view of the differential
structure of the motorized vehicle in accordance with the preferred
embodiment of the present invention;
[0022] FIG. 6 is a side plan cross-sectional view of the
differential structure of the motorized vehicle as shown in FIG.
4;
[0023] FIG. 7 is a schematic top plan operational view showing the
turning state of the motorized vehicle in accordance with the
preferred embodiment of the present invention;
[0024] FIG. 8 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view showing
the normal transmission state of the motorized vehicle in
accordance with the preferred embodiment of the present invention;
and
[0025] FIG. 9 is a side plan cross-sectional assembly view showing
the differential state of the motorized vehicle in accordance with
the preferred embodiment of the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
[0026] Referring to the drawings and initially to FIGS. 1-6, a
motorized vehicle 10 having a forward and backward differential
structure in accordance with the preferred embodiment of the
present invention has a rear portion provided with a propeller
shaft 11 having two ends each provided with a catch flange 12, a
keyway 13 (see FIG. 6), and an outer thread 14 (see FIG. 6).
[0027] Each of the two ends of the propeller shaft 11 is provided
with a bearing cap 20, two single-direction thrust bearings 30, a
bearing seat 40, and a fixing member 50.
[0028] The bearing seat 40 is formed with a plurality of screw
bores 41. The bearing cap 20 is formed with a plurality of through
holes 21. The motorized vehicle 10 further comprises a plurality of
locking screws 22 each extended through a respective one of the
through holes 21 and each screwed into a respective one of the
screw bores 41, thereby fixing the bearing cap 20 on the bearing
seat 40.
[0029] Each of the two single-direction thrust bearings 30 is
mounted between the bearing seat 40 and the propeller shaft 11.
Each of the two single-direction thrust bearings 30 has an inner
race formed with an inner keyway 31.
[0030] The motorized vehicle 10 further comprises a first key 32
secured in the inner keyway 31 of each of the two single-direction
thrust bearings 30 and the keyway 13 of the propeller shaft 11, so
that each of the two single-direction thrust bearings 30 is
combined with the propeller shaft 11.
[0031] Each of the two single-direction thrust bearings 30 has an
outer race formed with an outer keyway 310. The bearing seat 40 has
two sides each formed with a keyway 42. The motorized vehicle 10
further comprises two second keys 320 each secured in the outer
keyway 310 of a respective one of the two single-direction thrust
bearings 30 and the keyway 42 of the bearing seat 40, so that each
of the two single-direction thrust bearings 30 is combined with the
bearing seat 40.
[0032] One of the two single-direction thrust bearings 30 is rested
on and limited by the catch flange 12 of the propeller shaft 11 and
the bearing cap 20.
[0033] The fixing member 50 is secured on the propeller shaft 11
and is rested on the other one of the two single-direction thrust
bearings 30. Preferably, the fixing member 50 is formed with an
inner thread 51 screwed on the outer thread 14 of the propeller
shaft 11, so that the fixing member 50 is fixed on the propeller
shaft 11.
[0034] The bearing seat 40 has a periphery provided with a fixing
board 43, and the motorized vehicle 10 further comprises two rear
wheels 60 each secured on the fixing board 43 of the respective
bearing seat 40.
[0035] The fixing board 43 of the bearing seat 40 is formed with a
plurality of through holes 44. Each of the two rear wheels 60 is
formed with a plurality of through holes 62. The motorized vehicle
10 further comprises a plurality of locking bolts 45 each extended
through a respective one of the through holes 44 of the fixing
board 43 of the bearing seat 40 and a respective one of the through
holes 62 of the respective rear wheel 60, so that each of the two
rear wheels 60 is fixed on the fixing board 43 of the respective
bearing seat 40.
[0036] In addition, the two single-direction thrust bearings 30
located at a first end of the propeller shaft 11 has a rotation
direction opposite to the normal rotation direction (when the
motorized vehicle 10 is moved forward) of the propeller shaft 11 to
drive the motorized vehicle 10 to move forward, while the two
single-direction thrust bearings 30 located at a second end of the
propeller shaft 11 has a rotation direction opposite to the reverse
rotation direction (when the motorized vehicle 10 is moved
backward) of the propeller shaft 11 to drive the motorized vehicle
10 to move backward.
[0037] In operation, referring to FIGS. 7-9 with reference to FIGS.
1-6, when the motorized vehicle 10 is turned around, the rear wheel
60 at the inner side cannot be rotated with the propeller shaft 11
synchronously. At this time, the single-direction thrust bearing 30
idles, thereby producing a differential effect, thereby reducing
the turning diameter of the motorized vehicle 10, and thereby
reducing wear of the rear wheels 60.
[0038] Accordingly, the single-direction thrust bearings located at
one of the two rear wheels is used to drive the motorized vehicle
to move forward, and the single-direction thrust bearings located
between the other rear wheel is used to drive the motorized vehicle
to move backward. Thus, when the two rear wheels are subjected to a
drag or resistance and cannot be rotated with the propeller shaft
synchronously, the single-direction thrust bearing will idle,
thereby producing a differential effect.
[0039] In practice, the motorized vehicle is driven by the two rear
wheels. For example, the single-direction thrust bearings located
at the left rear wheel is used to drive the motorized vehicle to
move forward. At this time, the single-direction thrust bearings
located at the right rear wheel idles. On the contrary, the
single-direction thrust bearings located at the right rear wheel is
used to drive the motorized vehicle to move backward. At this time,
the single-direction thrust bearings located at the left rear wheel
idles. Thus, the single-direction thrust bearings mounted on the
two rear wheels form a differential effect when the motorized
vehicle is turned or driven on an abnormal road condition.
[0040] Although the invention has been explained in relation to its
preferred embodiment(s) as mentioned above, it is to be understood
that many other possible modifications and variations can be made
without departing from the scope of the present invention. It is,
therefore, contemplated that the appended claim or claims will
cover such modifications and variations that fall within the true
scope of the invention.
* * * * *