Vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9937779-B2
Application number	US-201414202462-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Mar 10, 2014
Priority date	Sep 25, 2013
Publication date	Apr 10, 2018
Grant date	Apr 10, 2018

Abstract

Vehicle according to the present invention includes a traveling vehicle body and left and right drive wheels. Left and right propulsion motors drive the left and right drive wheels. A battery supplies electric power to the left and right propulsion motors. The left and right drive wheels are positioned on two width-direction ends of the traveling vehicle body. The left and right propulsion motors are positioned on the traveling vehicle body so as to align with the left and right drive wheels in the width direction of the vehicle body. The battery is positioned in a battery installation space of the traveling vehicle body. The battery installation space is located in at least a space located below the left and right propulsion motors.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A vehicle comprising:
a traveling vehicle body lacking a driver support platform and being supported by left and right drive wheels;
the left drive wheel being arranged on a left lateral side of the traveling vehicle body;
the right drive wheel being arranged on a right lateral side of the traveling vehicle body;
left and right propulsion motors located between the left and right drive wheels and respectively driving the left and right drive wheels;
the left and right propulsion motors being positioned on the traveling vehicle body such that each of:
an axis of the left and right drive wheels is axially aligned with an axis of at least one of the left and right propulsion motors;
an axis of the left and right drive wheels is substantially parallel with an axis of at least one of the left and right propulsion motors;
at least one of the left and right drive wheels being directly driven by at least one of the left and right propulsion motors; and
at least one drive housing coupled to each of:
at least one of the left and right drive wheels; and
at least one of the left and right propulsion motors;

at least one battery supplying electric power to the left and right propulsion motors and being positioned in a battery installation space of the traveling vehicle body;
the battery installation space being located adjacent the left and right propulsion motors;
an operator grip; and
a mower unit with wheels movably connected to either a first or second side of the traveling vehicle body; and
an operator platform with wheels movably coupled to a side opposite from the mower unit.

2. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein at least a portion of the battery installation space is located below axles of each of the left and right drive wheels.

3. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the battery installation space comprises a width that substantially corresponds to a width of the traveling vehicle body defined by the left and right lateral sides.

4. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the left and right propulsion motors respectively comprise an output shaft and each output shaft is located above a respective axle of the left and right drive wheels.

5. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising at least one drive power transmission mechanism comprising the drive housing and being configured to transfer power between a respective left and right propulsion motor and a respectively left and right drive wheel.

6. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising left and right drive power transmission mechanisms configured to transfer power between a respective left and right propulsion motor and a respectively left and right drive wheel.

7. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a propulsion controller controlling the left and right propulsion motors.

8. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the left and right propulsion motors are each smaller in size than the battery installation space.

9. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a propulsion controller arranged in a designated controller installation space that is at least one of:
arranged adjacent the left and right propulsion motors;
at least partially arranged adjacent to and in front of the left and right propulsion motors;
at least partially arranged adjacent to and above the left and right propulsion motors;
at least partially arranged adjacent to and in back of the left and right propulsion motors.

10. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a propulsion controller arranged in a designated generally U-shaped controller installation space.

11. The vehicle according to claim 1 , further comprising a propulsion controller arranged in a designated controller installation space that at least partially overlaps with the battery installation space.

12. A vehicle comprising:
a traveling vehicle body lacking a driver support platform and having arranged on lateral sides thereof left and right drive wheels;
left and right propulsion motors located between and driving the left and right drive wheels;
a battery supplying electric power to the left and right propulsion motors and being located in a battery installation space arranged adjacent to the left and right propulsion motors;
an axis of rotation of the left and right propulsion motors and an axis of rotation of the left and right drive wheels being oriented along a width direction of the traveling vehicle body;
each of:
a portion of the battery is disposed above the axis of rotation of the left and right drive wheels; and
at least one of the left and right propulsion motors is arranged below the axis of rotation of the left and right drive wheels;

an operator grip allowing a vehicle driver to control movement of to the traveling vehicle body;
an operator platform with caster wheels movably coupled to a first side of the traveling vehicle body; and
a mower unit with wheels movably coupled to a second and opposite side of the traveling vehicle body.

13. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the battery is oriented vertically.

14. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the battery is entirely arranged above the axis of rotation of the left and right drive wheels.

15. A vehicle comprising:
a traveling vehicle body lacking a driver support platform and having only two wheels;
said two wheels being left and right drive wheels arranged on lateral sides of the traveling vehicle body and being configured to steer the vehicle via different rotation speeds of the left and right drive wheels;
left and right propulsion motors located between and respectively driving the left and right drive wheels;
the left and right propulsion motors each having an axis of rotation that is generally parallel to an axis of the left and right drive wheels;
at least one battery arranged in a designated battery installation space that is:
arranged within or on the traveling vehicle body;
arranged adjacent the left and right propulsion motors; and
at least partially disposed between left and right drive wheels;

an operator grip coupled to the traveling vehicle body;
an operator platform with caster wheels supporting a vehicle driver and being movably coupled to a first side of the traveling vehicle body; and
a mower unit with wheels movably coupled to a second and opposite side of the traveling vehicle body.

16. The vehicle according to claim 15 , wherein the axis of rotation of the left and right propulsion motors is arranged above the axis of rotation of the left and right drive wheels and the designated battery installation space is arranged between a rear side of the traveling vehicle body and each said axis of rotation.

17. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the battery installation space is at least partially located below the left and right propulsion motors.

18. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein the battery installation space is at least partially located above the left and right propulsion motors.

19. The vehicle according to claim 1 , wherein:
the axis of the left and right drive wheels is spaced from and above a support surface of the traveling vehicle body.

20. The vehicle according to claim 12 , wherein:
the axis of the left and right drive wheels passes through a central area of the traveling vehicle body when viewed from above;
the operator platform wheels comprise ground contacting wheels; and
the work device wheels comprise ground contacting wheels.

Assignees

• Kubota Kk

Inventors

• Koike Kazuo
• Ito Hirokazu
• Komatsu Takafumi

Classifications

• B60K2007/0061

  the motor axle being parallel to the wheel axle · CPC title

• B60K1/02 Primary

  comprising more than one electric motor · CPC title

• B60K7/0007

  the motor being electric · CPC title

• B60K2007/0038

  the motor moving together with the wheel axle · CPC title

• B60K2001/0405

  characterised by their position · CPC title