A linear actuator (10) for use in a modular assembly of such actuators comprises an actuator body (11), a shaft (12) guided by the body to be displaceable relative thereto in the sense of tlte longitudinal axis (13) of the shaft and a drive motor enclosed in the body and operable to axially displace the shaft relative to the body in two mutually opposite directions. The body has two mutually opposite sides (15a, 15b) respectively lying in two substantial parallel spaced-apart planes, which each represent a reference plane for positioning the body side-by-side with the body of another such actuator, and a further side (17b) connecting the two mutually opposite sides and stepped to form a projection (18) receiving the shaft (12) with the axis (13) parallel to the two planes and a rebate (19) beside the projection to permit the body to interlock with the body of another such actuator at that further side. The projection (18) and rebate (19) are of substantially the same width in the sense of the spacing of the two planes and the shaft (12) is disposed substantially centrally of the projection (18) so that when the body (11) is interlocked with that of another such actuator the pitch of the shaft axes (13) is equal to that width.

A UTV portal axle system is disclosed, including a spindle with a housing for housing input and output drive gears coupled by one or more idler gears. The output drive gear is disposed lower than the input drive gear to provide additional ground clearance to the UTV. The king pin axis angle is substantially the same as that of a stock UTV, while maintaining a scrub radius of substantially one inch or less. This is accomplished by the lower control arm ball joint being located within a recess of the output drive gear. This allows the UTV to be properly controlled when driven at high speeds over rough or uneven terrain. The gears may be interchangeable to allow the gear ratio to be adjusted to be more suitable for use at various driving speeds. A method of changing the gear ratio is also disclosed.

A modular high precision gear box arrangement includes first and second gear boxes. The first gear box has a first rotatable hollow wheel, a second fixed hollow wheel and at least one double planet having a first planet and a second planet arranged on a planet shaft. The first planet meshes with the first hollow wheel, the second planet meshes with the second hollow wheel, and the first hollow wheel is coupled with an output. The second gear box includes a fixed hollow wheel that is the second hollow wheel of the first gear box and at least one planet that is the second planet of the at least one double planet of the first gear box. The second gear box further includes an input for driving the planet shaft, wherein the input is arranged centrically or eccentrically to a central rotation axis of the gear box arrangement.

Methods and systems for an electric drive axle of a vehicle are provided. An electric drive axle system includes, in one example, a gear train configured to rotationally attach to an electric motor-generator. The gear train includes an output shaft rotationally coupled to a first planetary gear assembly axially offset from an input shaft rotationally coupled to the electric motor-generator, the first planetary gear assembly configured to removably couple to a differential arranged co-axial with an axle.

A portal gear box assembly effective to lift and change the gear ratio of a wheel of an off-road vehicle includes a housing, an input gear sub-assembly, an output gear sub-assembly, and an idler gear sub-assembly effective for linking the input gear to the output gear. The input gear sub-assembly includes an input gear, the output gear sub-assembly includes an output gear, and the idler gear sub-assembly includes at least one idler gear and at least one removable adaptor effective for holding the idler gear in either a first position or a second position different from the first position. The sub-assemblies may also include bearings to facilitate movement of the gears.

An inline gearbox for a land vehicle that includes an engine having a clutch housing for the transmission of rotational force from the engine to one or more wheels for propelling the land vehicle, wherein the inline gearbox includes a fast-change gear assembly.

An inline gearbox for a land vehicle that includes an engine having a clutch housing for the transmission of rotational force from the engine to one or more wheels for propelling the land vehicle, wherein the inline gearbox includes a gearbox housing having a front end, a side and a rear end, with the front end adapted to be joined to the clutch housing. There is an input shaft contained at least in part within the gearbox housing proximate to the front end of the gearbox housing, and a primary gear train that includes (a) a lay shaft; (b) a drive shaft; and (c) a plurality of selectively engaged meshed gear pairs respectively mounted on the lay shaft and the drive shaft for transmitting rotational force from the lay shaft to the drive shaft. The inline gearbox also includes an output shaft contained at least in part within the gearbox housing proximate to the rear end of the gearbox housing, with the output shaft rotationally coupled to the drive shaft. The inline gearbox features a fast-change gear assembly contained within the gearbox housing, where the fast-change gear assembly is positioned proximate the front end of the gearbox housing and interposed between the input shaft and the lay shaft, with the fast-change gear assembly comprising a first fast-change gear and a second fast-change gear meshing with the first fast-change gear, and with the first fast-change gear and the second fast-change gear each having an axis generally parallel to the axis of the input shaft. The first fast-change gear is rotationally coupled to the input shaft so as to rotate with the rotation of the input shaft, and translationally uncoupled to the input shaft to permit removal of the first fast-change gear from the gearbox housing; and the second fast-change gear is rotationally coupled to the lay shaft so as to rotate the lay shaft upon rotation of the second fast-change gear, and translationally uncoupled to the lay shaft to permit removal of the second fast-change gear from the gearbox housing.

A line of vehicle transmissions is provided. The vehicle line includes a first multi-stage gear train assembly with at least two stages, a second multi-stage gear train assembly with at least three stages, and a housing including a first section removably attached to a second section. The second housing section is configured to receive the first and second multi-stage gear train assemblies in different product arrangements.

An axle assembly having an electric motor module and a terminal box that may facilitate mounting of at least one phase cable. The phase cable may be secured to a terminal box cover with a terminal box clamp. The phase cable may extend through a phase block that may be mounted to the terminal box.

An inline gearbox for a land vehicle that includes an engine having a clutch housing for the transmission of rotational force from the engine to one or more wheels for propelling the land vehicle, wherein the inline gearbox includes a gearbox housing having a front end, a side and a rear end, with the front end adapted to be joined to the clutch housing. There is an input shaft contained at least in part within the gearbox housing proximate to the front end of the gearbox housing, and a primary gear train that includes (a) a lay shaft; (b) a drive shaft; and (c) a plurality of selectively engaged meshed gear pairs respectively mounted on the lay shaft and the drive shaft for transmitting rotational force from the lay shaft to the drive shaft. The inline gearbox also includes an output shaft contained at least in part within the gearbox housing proximate to the rear end of the gearbox housing, with the output shaft rotationally coupled to the drive shaft. The inline gearbox features a fast-change gear assembly contained within the gearbox housing, where the fast-change gear assembly is positioned proximate the front end of the gearbox housing and interposed between the input shaft and the lay shaft, with the fast-change gear assembly comprising a first fast-change gear and a second fast-change gear meshing with the first fast-change gear, and with the first fast-change gear and the second fast-change gear each having an axis generally parallel to the axis of the input shaft. The first fast-change gear is rotationally coupled to the input shaft so as to rotate with the rotation of the input shaft, and translationally uncoupled to the input shaft to permit removal of the first fast-change gear from the gearbox housing; and the second fast-change gear is rotationally coupled to the lay shaft so as to rotate the lay shaft upon rotation of the second fast-change gear, and translationally uncoupled to the lay shaft to permit removal of the second fast-change gear from the gearbox housing.