Military vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-11878669-B2
Application number	US-202217694126-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 14, 2022
Priority date	Mar 26, 2012
Publication date	Jan 23, 2024
Grant date	Jan 23, 2024

Abstract

A military vehicle includes a front axle, a rear axle, a front differential coupled to the front axle, and a transaxle coupled to the rear axle and the front differential. The transaxle includes an internal mechanical disconnect that facilitates mechanically decoupling the transaxle from the front differential.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A military vehicle comprising:
a front axle;
a rear axle;
a front differential coupled to the front axle; and
a transaxle coupled to the rear axle and the front differential, the transaxle including an internal mechanical disconnect that facilitates mechanically decoupling the transaxle from the front differential.

2. The military vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the transaxle includes an input and an output on the same side thereof, wherein the input is configured to couple to a prime mover of the military vehicle and the output is coupled to the front differential.

3. The military vehicle of claim 2 , further comprising the prime mover, the prime mover including an engine and a transmission.

4. The military vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising a prime mover, wherein the front differential defines a mount to which the prime mover is coupled.

5. The military vehicle of claim 4 , wherein the prime mover includes an engine.

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

7. The military vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the actuator is a mechanical air solenoid override.

8. The military vehicle of claim 6 , wherein the actuator is accessibly from an exterior of the military vehicle.

9. The military vehicle of claim 7 , wherein the actuator is positioned at a rear of the military vehicle.

10. The military vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a tractive element coupled to the front axle or the rear axle; and
a brake system including:
a brake configured to facilitate braking the tractive element;
a brake housing defining an inner volume;
a piston separating the inner volume into a first chamber and a second chamber;
a rod extending through an end of the brake housing and coupled to the piston, the rod positioned to selectively engage with the brake to inhibit movement of the tractive element;
a resilient member positioned within the inner volume and configured to generate a brake biasing force against the piston such that the rod is biased into engagement with the brake; and
an air-to-hydraulic intensifier coupled to the brake housing, the air-to-hydraulic intensifier configured to receive a supply of air and provide a hydraulic fluid to the brake housing based on the supply of air to overcome the brake biasing force to disengage the rod from the brake to permit movement of the tractive element.

11. The military vehicle of claim 10 , further comprising:
a valve positioned between the air-to-hydraulic intensifier and the brake housing; and
a hydraulic reservoir fluidly coupled to the valve and the air-to-hydraulic intensifier;
wherein the valve includes a first port fluidly coupled to the air-to-hydraulic intensifier, a second port fluidly coupled to the hydraulic reservoir, and a third port fluidly coupled to the brake housing.

12. The military vehicle of claim 11 , wherein the valve includes a valve gate that is repositionable between a first position and a second position, the first position coupling the first port to the third port to fluidly couple the air-to-hydraulic intensifier to the brake housing, the second position coupling the second port to the third port to fluidly couple the hydraulic reservoir to the brake housing.

13. The military vehicle of claim 12 , wherein the valve includes:
an air pilot positioned at a first end of the valve gate; and
a biasing element positioned at an opposing second end of the valve gate, the biasing element configured to provide a valve biasing force to the valve gate to bias the valve gate into the second position.

14. The military vehicle of claim 13 , wherein the brake biasing force of the resilient member is configured to bias the piston to force the hydraulic fluid out of the brake housing, through the valve, and into the hydraulic reservoir in response to the valve being in the second position.

15. The military vehicle of claim 13 , further comprising an air supply line coupled to the air-to-hydraulic intensifier and the air pilot, the air supply line configured to provide the supply of air to the air-to-hydraulic intensifier and the air pilot, wherein the supply of air provided to the air pilot overcomes the valve biasing force to reposition the valve gate into the first position to place the air-to-hydraulic intensifier into fluid communication with the brake housing to facilitate disengaging the brake.

16. The military vehicle of claim 1 , further comprising:
a passenger capsule including sidewalls and a floor coupled to the sidewalls, wherein bottom edges of the sidewalls extend past and below the floor; and
a belly deflector coupled to the bottom edges of the sidewalls of the passenger capsule, wherein the belly deflector is isolated from the floor of the passenger capsule.

17. The military vehicle of claim 16 , wherein the floor of the passenger capsule defines a structural tunnel having an arcuate-shaped profile extending into an interior of the passenger capsule, further comprising:
energy absorbing seats positioned on opposing sides of the structural tunnel, the energy absorbing seats including a shock attenuating system; and
footpads positioned beneath the energy absorbing seats and spaced from the floor.

18. The military vehicle of claim 1 , wherein the transaxle includes:
a housing;
a transfercase disposed within the housing; and
a rear differential disposed within the housing and coupled to the transfercase.

19. A military vehicle comprising:
a front axle;
a rear axle;
a prime mover;
a front differential coupled to the front axle;
a transaxle coupled to the prime mover, the rear axle, and the front differential, the transaxle including an internal mechanical disconnect; and
an actuator positioned at a rear of the military vehicle that facilitates engaging the internal mechanical disconnect to mechanically decouple the transaxle from the front differential.

20. A military vehicle comprising:
a front axle;
a rear axle;
a plurality of tractive elements coupled to the front axle and the rear axle;
a front differential coupled to the front axle;
a transaxle coupled to the rear axle and the front differential; and
a brake system including:
a brake configured to facilitate braking one of the plurality of tractive elements;
a brake housing defining an inner volume;
a piston separating the inner volume into a first chamber and a second chamber;
a rod extending through an end of the brake housing and coupled to the piston, the rod positioned to selectively engage with the brake to inhibit movement of the one of the plurality of tractive elements;
a resilient member positioned within the inner volume and configured to generate a brake biasing force against the piston such that the rod is biased into engagement with the brake; and
an air-to-hydraulic intensifier coupled to the brake housing, the air-to-hydraulic intensifier configured to receive a supply of air and provide a hydraulic fluid to the brake housing based on the supply of air to overcome the brake biasing force to disengage the rod from the brake to permit movement of the one of the plurality of tractive elements.

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

• B60T7/20 Primary

  specially for trailers, e.g. in case of uncoupling of {or overrunning by} trailer (inertia-actuated overrun brakes B60T13/08) · CPC title

• B60G17/04 Primary

  fluid spring characteristics · CPC title

• B60T13/14

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

• B60T13/16

  using pumps directly, i.e. without interposition of accumulators or reservoirs · CPC title

• B60T13/249

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