Inventors:
- Wilmington DE, US
Tyler Good - Smicksburg PA, US
Terry Thomas - Franklin PA, US
International Classification:
B60K 17/04
F16H 1/28
F16H 37/04
B60K 7/00
Abstract:
A wheel unit includes a suspension housing having a pin defining a steering axis, a transmission housing pivotable about the steering axis, a wheel rim rotatable about a rotational axis and configured to pivot about the steering axis, and a coupled compound planetary transmission drivingly engaged with the wheel rim. The coupled compound planetary transmission includes an input drive shaft, a sun gear rotatable about the rotational axis, a constant velocity joint coupled between the input drive shaft and the sun gear, a first ring gear fixed relative to the transmission housing, a first planet gear enmeshed with the sun gear and the first ring gear, a second ring gear fixed relative to the wheel rim for co-rotation about the rotational axis, a second planet gear enmeshed with the second ring gear, and a shaft coupling the first planet gear and the second planet gear for co-rotation.