Drive Unit for a Motor Vehicle

Abstract

A drive unit is situated between a first wheel axle and a second wheel axle and has an internal-combustion engine with a crankshaft system including a horizontally oriented crankshaft, which crankshaft acts upon a continuously variable transmission system which drives wheels of the first wheel axle and of the second wheel axle. The crankshaft is caused to rotate by at least one piston of the engine. The crankshaft interacts with a first set of V-pulleys of the transmission system, which first set of V-pulleys, by way of a first drive shaft, is connected with a first differential of the first wheel axle. The first set of V-pulleys, by way of an endless member, is in an operative connection with a set of V-pulleys which, with the interposition of a second drive shaft, influences a second differential of the second wheel axle.

Claims

1. A drive unit for a motor vehicle having an all-wheel drive, the motor vehicle having a first wheel axle and a second wheel axle, comprising: an internal-combustion engine with a crankshaft system arranged between the first wheel axle and the second wheel axle, the crankshaft system having at least one horizontally oriented crankshaft, wherein at least one piston of the internal-combustion engine causes rotation of the crankshaft; a continuously variable transmission system acted upon by the crankshaft, the transmission system driving wheels of the first wheel axle and the second wheel axle; a first set of V-pulleys of the transmission system interacting with the crankshaft, wherein the first set of V-pulleys is connected with a first differential of the first wheel axle via a first drive shaft; and a second set of V-pulleys operatively connected with the first set of V-pulleys via an endless member, wherein the second set of V-pulleys influences, with an interposition of a second drive shaft, a second differential of the second wheel axle.

2. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the crankshaft system of the internal-combustion engine comprises two parallel crankshafts, which are influenced by the at least one piston, which crankshafts interact by way of synchronization gears and rotate in opposite directions.

3. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein an output of the crankshaft system takes place toward the first set of V-pulleys from a first end region of the crankshaft system.

4. The drive unit according to claim 3, in a second end region of the crankshaft system, the crankshafts are equipped with flywheels.

5. The drive unit according to claim 4, wherein a power take-off shaft is provided adjacent to the second end region as an elongation of at least one of the crankshafts of the crankshaft system.

6. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein the second drive shaft extends below a cylinder crankcase of the internal-combustion engine.

7. The drive unit according to claim 6, wherein for guiding the second drive shaft past the cylinder crankcase, the internal-combustion engine extends diagonally with respect to a horizontal line.

8. The drive unit according to claim 3, wherein between the first end region of the crankcase system and the first set of V-pulleys, a clutch is connected into a driving shaft.

9. The drive unit according to claim 8, wherein the clutch is formed by a shifting clutch, or a centrifugal clutch.

10. The drive unit according to claim 1, wherein axes of rotation of the crankshafts and of the first as well as the second drive shafts are oriented in a longitudinal direction of the vehicle.

Description

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0013] FIG. 1 is a schematic top view of the drive unit installed in a motor vehicle having an all-wheel drive.

[0014] FIG. 2 is a schematic sectional view approximately according to Line II-II of FIG. 1.

[0015] FIG. 3 is a schematic cross-sectional view of the internal-combustion engine, for example, according to FIG. 2.

[0016] FIG. 4 is a view in the direction of the arrow A of FIG. 1.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

[0017] A motor vehicle 1 having an all-wheel drive is suitable for use in the agriculture and construction sectors and/or for civil and disaster protection tasks and is equipped with a drive unit 2, driven between a first wheel axle 3rear axleand a second wheel axle 4front axle , which driving axles 3 and 4 are arranged in the longitudinal direction B-B at a mutual distance. The drive unit 2 has an internal-combustion engine 5 of the piston type having at least one horizontally extending crankshaft 6 of a crankshaft system 7, which crankshaft 6 extends in the longitudinal direction B-B of the vehicle. The crankshaft 6 acts upon a continuously variable transmission system 8 (CVT construction), which drives wheels 9, 10 and 11, 12 of the first wheel axle 3 and of the second wheel axle 4.

[0018] The crankshaft 6 of the crankshaft system 7 is caused to rotate by pistons 13, 14 of the internal-combustion engine 5 and interacts with a first set of V-pulleys 15 of the transmission system 8, which, by way of a first drive shaft 17, interacts with a first differential 18 of the first wheel axle 3. The first set of V-pulleys 15, by means of an endless member 19 in the shape of a push belt, is in an operative connection with a second set of V-pulleys 20 of the transmission system 8, which, with the interposition of a second drive shaft 22), influences a second differential 23 of the second wheel axle 4.

[0019] The crankshaft system 7 of the internal-combustion engine 5 comprises two parallel crankshafts, specifically the above-mentioned crankshaft 6 and an additional crankshaft 24 (FIG. 3). Both crankshafts 6 and 24 interact by means of synchronization gears 25 and 26 such that the crankshafts 6 and 24 rotate in opposite directions. The crankshafts 6 and 24 are driven by connecting rods 27 and 28, which are each coupled with one of the pistons 13 and 14. The piston 13 moves back and forth in a borehole 29 of a cylinder crankcase 30, the cylinder crankcase 30 being covered by a cylinder head 31, which accommodates gas exchange valves 34 and 35 operated by camshafts 32, 33. This internal-combustion engine 5 is particularly efficient in that it operates according to the Diesel principle and is equipped with an exhaust gas turbocharger device, possibly also with direct injection (common rail system) (not shown). An internal-combustion engine of this type is indicated in German Patent Document DE 10 2011 104 496 B4.

[0020] The output of one of the crankshafts 6 or 24 of the crankshaft system 7 of the internal-combustion engine 5 toward the first set of V-pulleys 15 takes place from a first end region 36 of the above-mentioned crankshaft system 7. On the second end region 37 of the crankshaft system 7 spaced away from the first end region 36 or of the crankshafts 6 and 24, flywheels 38 and 39 are provided on the latter. In the axial direction of the crankshafts 6 and 24, the flywheels 38 and 39 are arranged in a mutually offset manner and mutually overlap in regions. An elongation 40 is provided on at least the crankshaft 6 and is used as a power take-off shaft 41 for driving accessories.

[0021] The first and second drive shaft 17 and 22 are oriented in the longitudinal direction B-B of the vehicle and extend at a symmetrical or asymmetrical distance with respect to a longitudinal center plane C-C of the motor vehicle 1. The second drive shaft 22 extends below an outer case wall 42 of the cylinder crankcase 30 of the internal-combustion engine 5, in which case, for guiding the second drive shaft 22 past the cylinder crankcase 30 or the case wall 42, the latter or the internal-combustion engine 5 extends diagonally, i.e. at an acute angle , with respect to a horizontal line 43. Finally, a driving shaft 44 acts between the first end region 36 and the first set of V-pulleys, into which driving shaft 44 a clutch 45 is connected. The clutch 45 is formed by a shifting clutch, a centrifugal clutch or the like.

LIST OF REFERENCE SYMBOLS

[0022] 1 Motor vehicle [0023] 2 Drive unit [0024] 3 First wheel axle [0025] 4 Second wheel axle [0026] 5 Internal-combustion engine [0027] 6 Crankshaft [0028] 7 Crankshaft system [0029] 8 Transmission system [0030] 9 Wheel, first wheel axle [0031] 10 Wheel, first wheel axle [0032] 11 Wheel, second wheel axle [0033] 12 Wheel, second wheel axle [0034] 13 Piston [0035] 14 Piston [0036] 15 First set of V-pulleys [0037] 17 First drive shaft [0038] 18 First differential [0039] 19 Endless member [0040] 20 Second set of V-pulleys [0041] 22 Second drive shaft [0042] 23 Second differential [0043] 24 Additional crankshaft [0044] 25 Synchronization gear [0045] 26 Synchronization gear [0046] 27 Connecting rod [0047] 28 Connecting rod [0048] 29 Borehole [0049] 30 Cylinder crankcase [0050] 31 Cylinder head [0051] 32 Camshaft [0052] 33 Camshaft [0053] 34 Gas exchange valve [0054] 35 Gas exchange valve [0055] 36 First end region [0056] 37 Second end region [0057] 38 Flywheel [0058] 39 Flywheel [0059] 40 Elongation [0060] 41 Power take-off shaft [0061] 42 Case wall [0062] Angle [0063] 43 Horizontal line [0064] 44 Driving shaft [0065] 45 Clutch

[0066] The foregoing disclosure has been set forth merely to illustrate the invention and is not intended to be limiting. Since modifications of the disclosed embodiments incorporating the spirit and substance of the invention may occur to persons skilled in the art, the invention should be construed to include everything within the scope of the appended claims and equivalents thereof.