Crawler Transaxle with Differential Lock and Variable Steering

Saul Herscovici

doi:10.4271/821103

1982-02-01

Crawler Transaxle with Differential Lock and Variable Steering 821103

This transaxle is composed of two identical planetaries, a group of speed reducing gears that provide traction drive speed to each planetary through the sun pinions that are on a common shaft. Another group of steering, or differential lock gears provide power into the planetaries through the rotating ring gears.

This transaxle is powered by two hydraulic motors, one for straight line drive, or traction drive, and the other for steering or differential lock. The output shafts are driven by the planetary carriers of the two mirror image planetaries. The speed of the output shafts is independent of load, but is dependent on the speeds of the traction and steering motors.

This type of transaxle is most suitable for use on crawler track vehicles, or skid steer vehicles. It can also be used as a heavy-duty axle with differential lock option. It offers superior performance when used as a crawler drive transaxle, because its mechanical power split imparts the proper amount of required torque to each track at a steady track speed regardless of whether the vehicle travels in a straight line or in a curved line.

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Crawler Transaxle with Differential Lock and Variable Steering 821103

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