Military vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11260835-B2
Application number	US-202117407805-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 20, 2021
Priority date	Mar 26, 2012
Publication date	Mar 1, 2022
Grant date	Mar 1, 2022

Abstract

A military vehicle includes a passenger capsule, a front module coupled to a front end of the passenger capsule, a rear module coupled to a rear end of the passenger capsule, a front axle coupled to the front module, a rear axle coupled to the rear module, an engine coupled by the front module, a front differential coupled to the front axle, a transaxle, and an actuator. The transaxle is coupled to the engine, the rear axle, and the front differential. The transaxle includes an internal mechanical disconnect that facilitates decoupling the transaxle from the front differential. The actuator is accessible from an exterior of the passenger capsule to engage the internal mechanical disconnect.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A military vehicle comprising:
a passenger capsule;
a front module coupled to a front end of the passenger capsule, the front module including:
a first frame member coupled to the front end of the passenger capsule proximate a first side thereof;
a second frame member coupled to the front end of the passenger capsule proximate an opposing second side thereof; and
an underbody support structure coupled to the front end of the passenger capsule, the first frame member, and the second frame member, the underbody support structure positioned beneath the first frame member and the second frame member;

a rear module coupled to a rear end of the passenger capsule, wherein the front module includes a front differential and the rear module includes a transaxle, and wherein the transaxle includes an internal mechanical disconnect that facilitates decoupling the transaxle from the front differential;
a front lift structure including:
a first protrusion extending from the first frame member and defining a first front lift point;
a second protrusion extending from the second frame member and defining a second front lift point; and
a lateral frame member extending between the first protrusion and the second protrusion; and

a rear lift structure including:
a third protrusion extending rearward from the rear end of the passenger capsule away from the front lift structure, the third protrusion positioned proximate a first lateral side of the passenger capsule; and
a fourth protrusion extending rearward from the rear end of the passenger capsule away from the front lift structure, the fourth protrusion positioned proximate an opposing second lateral side of the passenger capsule.

2. A military vehicle comprising:
a passenger capsule;
a front module coupled to a front end of the passenger capsule, the front module including:
a first frame member coupled to the front end of the passenger capsule proximate a first side thereof;
a second frame member coupled to the front end of the passenger capsule proximate an opposing second side thereof; and
an underbody support structure coupled to the front end of the passenger capsule, the first frame member, and the second frame member, the underbody support structure positioned beneath the first frame member and the second frame member;

a rear module coupled to a rear end of the passenger capsule, wherein at least one of (i) the front module includes a front differential that is a front structural component of the front module or (ii) the rear module includes a transaxle that is a rear structural component of the rear module;
a front lift structure including:
a first protrusion extending from the first frame member and defining a first front lift point;
a second protrusion extending from the second frame member and defining a second front lift point; and
a lateral frame member extending between the first protrusion and the second protrusion; and

a rear lift structure including:
a third protrusion extending rearward from the rear end of the passenger capsule away from the front lift structure, the third protrusion positioned proximate a first lateral side of the passenger capsule; and
a fourth protrusion extending rearward from the rear end of the passenger capsule away from the front lift structure, the fourth protrusion positioned proximate an opposing second lateral side of the passenger capsule;

wherein the front module includes the front differential and the front differential is a front structural component of the front module; and
an engine, wherein the front differential defines an engine mount to which the engine is mounted.

3. The military vehicle of claim 2 , wherein the rear module includes the transaxle and the transaxle is a rear structural component of the rear module.

4. The military vehicle of claim 3 , further comprising a suspension system, wherein a component of the suspension system is directly coupled to a housing of the transaxle.

5. The military vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the component includes at least one of an upper control arm, a lower control arm, a spring, or a damper.

6. The military vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising an actuator that is accessible to facilitate manually engaging the internal mechanical disconnect.

7. The military vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the passenger capsule includes a roof, a floor, and sidewalls, and wherein the roof, the floor, and the sidewalls are bolted together.

8. The military vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the passenger capsule includes a belly deflector positioned beneath the floor, wherein opposing lateral ends of the belly deflector are coupled to the sidewalls.

9. The military vehicle of claim 8 , wherein the belly deflector has a v-shaped profile.

10. The military vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the floor includes a tunnel extending along a longitudinal length thereof from the front end to the rear end, the tunnel having an arcuate shaped profile extending into an interior of the passenger capsule.

11. The military vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the passenger capsule includes a front door, a rear door, a latching mechanism positioned to secure the front door and the rear door in a closed positioned, and an interlocking door frame portion (i) defined by and along an exterior of the passenger capsule between the front door and the rear door and (ii) configured to engage with the front door and the rear door to keep the front door and the rear door closed and in place during a blast event.

12. A military vehicle comprising:
a passenger capsule;
a front module coupled to a front end of the passenger capsule;
a rear module coupled to a rear end of the passenger capsule;
a front axle coupled to the front module;
a rear axle coupled to the rear module;
an engine coupled by the front module;
a front differential coupled to the front axle;
a transaxle coupled to the engine, the rear axle, and the front differential, the transaxle including an internal mechanical disconnect that facilitates decoupling the transaxle from the front differential; and
an actuator that is accessible from an exterior of the passenger capsule to engage the internal mechanical disconnect.

13. The military vehicle of claim 12 , wherein at least one of (i) the front differential is a front structural component of the front module that supports the engine or (ii) the transaxle is a rear structural component of the rear module that supports suspension components.

Assignees

• Oshkosh Defense Llc

Inventors

• Verhoff Don
• Schmiedel Gary
• Yakes Chris
• Messina Rob
• Wilkins Brian
• Schulte Kent
• Seffernick Daniel R
• Holda Joseph
• Peotter Michael
• Mcgraw David
• Seefeldt Anthony
• Pelko Dave
• Gander Jesse
• Reineking Jerry
• Steinke Jesse

Classifications

• B60G17/04 Primary

  fluid spring characteristics · CPC title

• B60T13/583

  using converters · CPC title

• B60T13/249

  Hydraulic command of the control valve, hydraulic transmission to the brakes · CPC title

• B60T13/14

  using accumulators or reservoirs {fed by pumps} · CPC title

• B62D33/0617

  for tractors or off-the-road vehicles (protective devices for drivers in case of overturning of tractors B60R21/131) · CPC title