Direct power reversing drive axle

Abstract

A drive axle assembly includes a drive axle configured to rotate with a driving torque, a first clutch pack assembly located at an end of the drive axle, and a second clutch pack assembly located at an opposite end of the drive axle. A first drive wheel assembly is operatively connected to the first clutch pack assembly, wherein the first clutch pack assembly is configured to convert the driving torque of the drive axle to a first driving torque of the first drive wheel. A second drive wheel assembly is operatively connected to the second clutch pack assembly, wherein the second clutch pack assembly is configured to convert the driving torque of the drive axle to a second driving torque of the second drive wheel.

1 - 21 . (canceled) 
     
     
         22 . A method, comprising:
 monitoring a vehicle steering angle;   engaging a first clutch pack assembly associated with a first drive wheel located on a first side of a motorized vehicle, wherein an engagement force of the first clutch pack assembly is determined, at least in part, from the monitored vehicle steering angle;   applying a first driving torque to the first drive wheel in a selected direction of vehicle travel;   engaging a second clutch pack assembly associated with a second drive wheel located on a second side of the motorized vehicle, wherein an engagement force of the second clutch pack assembly is determined, at least in part, from the monitored vehicle steering angle; and   applying a second driving torque to the second drive wheel in the selected direction of vehicle travel, wherein the second driving torque is different than the first driving torque.   
     
     
         23 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second driving torque applied to the second drive wheel is greater than the first driving torque applied to the first drive wheel during a first vehicle steering angle associated with a vehicle turning radius, and wherein both the first and second drive wheels are engaged in the selected direction of vehicle travel. 
     
     
         24 . The method of  claim 23 , further comprising reducing the first driving torque to zero during a second vehicle steering angle associated with a smaller vehicle turning radius than the first vehicle steering angle. 
     
     
         25 . The method of  claim 24 , further comprising applying a reverse driving torque to the first drive wheel during a third vehicle steering angle associated with a smaller vehicle turning radius than the second vehicle steering angle. 
     
     
         26 . The method of  claim 22 , further comprising monitoring rotational speeds of both the first and second drive wheels, wherein the engagement forces of the first and second clutch pack assemblies are independently determined, at least in part, from the monitored rotational speeds. 
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26 , wherein the monitored rotational speed of the first and second drive wheels indicates that the second wheel is slipping. 
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 27 , wherein the engagement of the first clutch pack assembly and of the second clutch pack assembly is adjusted to reduce slipping of the second wheel in response to an indication that the second wheel is slipping. 
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein engaging the first clutch pack assembly comprises selectively engaging a first forward clutch or a first reverse clutch of the first clutch pack assembly associated with the selected direction of vehicle travel, and wherein engaging the second clutch pack assembly comprises selectively engaging a second forward clutch or a second reverse clutch of the second clutch pack assembly associated with the selected direction of vehicle travel. 
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 22 , wherein the second driving torque is substantially equal to the first driving torque for a first vehicle steering angle, and wherein the second driving torque is different than the first driving torque for a second vehicle steering angle. 
     
     
         31 . A method comprising:
 generating a driving torque associated with a vehicle;   applying the driving torque to a drive axle to cause the drive axle to rotate in an initial direction of rotation, wherein the initial direction of rotation is associated with a direction of vehicle travel selected from a forward direction and a reverse direction, and wherein the drive axle is operatively coupled to both a first drive wheel located on a first side of the vehicle and a second drive wheel located on a second side of the vehicle;   selectively transferring, at a vehicle steering angle, a first portion of the driving torque to the first drive wheel in the initial direction of rotation; and   selectively transferring, at the vehicle steering angle, a second portion of the driving torque to the second drive wheel in the initial direction of rotation, wherein the first portion corresponds to a different amount of the driving torque than the second portion.   
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 applying a braking force, at a second vehicle steering angle, to the first drive wheel, wherein the second vehicle steering angle is greater than the vehicle steering angle at which the first portion of the driving torque is selectively transferred to the first drive wheel; and   while braking the first drive wheel, transferring substantially all of the driving torque to the second drive wheel in the initial direction of rotation.   
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 31 , further comprising:
 selectively transferring, at the vehicle steering angle, the first portion of the driving torque to the first drive wheel in a second direction of rotation of the drive axle, wherein the second direction of rotation is opposite to the initial direction of rotation; and   selectively transferring, at the vehicle steering angle, the second portion of the driving torque to the second drive wheel in the second direction of rotation.   
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 32 , further comprising:
 monitoring the vehicle steering angle; and   varying one or both of the first portion of the driving torque and the second portion of the driving torque based, at least in part, on the monitored vehicle steering angle.   
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein varying one or both of the first portion of the driving torque and the second portion of the driving torque comprises, in response to determining that the monitored vehicle steering angle is increasing:
 increasing the second portion of the driving torque; and   decreasing the first portion of the driving torque.   
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein varying one or both of the first portion of the driving torque and the second portion of the driving torque comprises, in response to determining that the monitored vehicle steering angle is increasing:
 maintaining the second portion of the driving torque approximately constant, and   decreasing the first portion of the driving torque.   
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 34 , further comprising determining that the monitored vehicle steering angle is approaching a predetermined vehicle steering angle, and wherein varying one or both of the first portion of the driving torque and the second portion of the driving torque comprises:
 increasing the second portion of the driving torque to approach a same torque value as the driving torque applied to the drive axle at the predetermined vehicle steering angle; and   decreasing the first portion of the driving torque to approach a zero torque value at the predetermined vehicle steering angle.   
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37 , wherein increasing the second portion of the driving torque comprises linearly increasing the second portion of the driving torque toward the same torque value as the driving torque applied to the drive axle, and wherein decreasing the first portion of the driving torque comprises linearly decreasing the first portion of the driving torque toward the zero torque value. 
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 34 , wherein varying one or both of the first portion of the driving torque and the second portion of the driving torque comprises partially slipping one or more clutch pack arrangements. 
     
     
         40 . A method comprising:
 receiving one or more operator inputs and vehicle parameters;   commanding a motor to generate a driving torque, wherein a drive axle is operatively coupled to the motor to rotate in a rotational direction for transmission of the driving torque, wherein a first drive wheel is located proximate an end of the drive axle, and wherein a second drive wheel is located proximate an opposite end of the drive axle;   commanding a first clutch arrangement operatively connected to the drive axle to provide a first portion of the driving torque to rotate the first drive wheel in the rotational direction;   commanding a second clutch arrangement operatively connected to the drive axle to provide a second portion of the driving torque to rotate a second drive wheel in the rotational direction; and   selectively operating the first clutch arrangement and the second clutch arrangement to provide varying amounts of the driving torque to rotate the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel based on the one or more operator inputs and vehicle parameters.   
     
     
         41 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising:
 selecting the first clutch arrangement from a first forward clutch arrangement and a first reverse clutch arrangement based, at least in part, on the one or more operator inputs and vehicle parameters; and   selecting the second clutch arrangement from a second forward clutch arrangement and a second reverse clutch arrangement based, at least in part, on the one or more operator inputs and vehicle parameters, wherein the rotational direction corresponds with both the selected first clutch arrangement and the selected second clutch arrangement.   
     
     
         42 . The method of  claim 40 , further comprising detecting a steering angle, wherein selectively operating the first clutch arrangement and the second clutch arrangement comprises providing substantially equal portions of the driving torque to both the first drive wheel and the second drive wheel in response to detecting that the steering angle is in a first range of steering angles. 
     
     
         43 . The method of  claim 42 , wherein selectively operating the first clutch arrangement and the second clutch arrangement comprises providing less driving torque to the first drive wheel as compared to the second drive wheel in response to detecting that the steering angle is greater than the first range of steering angles. 
     
     
         44 . The method of  claim 43 , wherein providing less driving torque to the first drive wheel comprises providing substantially zero driving torque to the first drive wheel, and wherein the second portion of the driving torque provided to the second drive wheel is substantially equal to the driving torque generated by the motor.