An arrangement for packaging an engine of a vehicle

Abstract

The present disclosure provides an arrangement for packaging an engine of a vehicle. The arrangement comprises a frame having a front end and a rear end, a vehicle body secured on the frame, a first pair of wheels coupled to the frame near the front end thereof and a second pair of wheels coupled to the frame near the rear end thereof, the first and second pair of wheels adapted to support the frame, and the engine transversely disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of the frame, and drivingly coupled to at least one of the first pair of wheels and the second pair of wheels.

1 . An arrangement for packaging an engine of a vehicle, said arrangement comprising:
 a frame having a front end and a rear end;   a vehicle body secured on said frame;   a first pair of wheels coupled to said frame near said front end thereof and a second pair of wheels coupled to said frame near said rear end thereof, said first and second pair of wheels adapted to support said frame; and   the engine
 transversely disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said frame; and 
 drivingly coupled to at least one of said first pair of wheels and said second pair of wheels. 
   
     
     
         2 . An arrangement for packaging an engine of a vehicle, said arrangement comprising:
 a frame having a front end and a rear end;   a vehicle body secured on said frame;   a first pair of wheels coupled to said frame near said front end thereof and a second pair of wheels coupled to said frame near said rear end thereof, said first and second pair of wheels adapted to support said frame; and   the engine transversely disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said frame near said front end of said frame;   a transaxle comprising
 a transmission unit transversely operatively coupled to a crank shaft of the engine for deriving power from said crank shaft; and 
 a final drive unit operatively coupled to said transmission unit, said final drive unit deriving power from said transmission unit; 
   said first pair of wheels operatively coupled to and driven by a first and a second output shaft of said final drive unit;
 said first output shaft operatively coupled to a first operative end of a first drive shaft via a first constant velocity joint, a second operative end of said first drive shaft operatively coupled to one wheel of said first pair of wheels via a second constant velocity joint; and 
 said second output shaft operatively coupled to a first operative end of an intermediate drive shaft, a second operative end of said intermediate drive shaft operatively coupled to a first end of a second drive shaft via a third constant velocity joint, a second operative end of said second drive shaft operatively coupled to other wheel of said first pair of wheels via a fourth constant velocity joint; and 
   optionally said second pair of wheels operatively coupled to said final drive unit, wherein said final drive unit is operatively coupled to a transfer case unit, said transfer case unit operatively coupled to a propeller shaft, said propeller shaft operatively coupled to a rear differential, said rear differential operatively coupled to a rear axle of said second pair of wheels, via a fifth and sixth constant velocity joint.   
     
     
         3 . An arrangement for packaging an engine of a vehicle, said arrangement comprising:
 a frame having a front end and a rear end;   a vehicle body secured on said frame;   a first pair of wheels coupled to said frame near said front end thereof and a second pair of wheels coupled to said frame near said rear end thereof, said first and second pair of wheels adapted to support said frame; and   the engine transversely disposed with respect to the longitudinal axis of said frame near said front end of said frame;   at least one of an automatic transmission gear box and an automated manual transmission;   said first pair of wheels operatively rotationally coupled to and driven by a first and second output shaft of said at least one of an automatic transmission gear box and an automated manual transmission;
 said first output shaft operatively coupled to a first operative end of a first drive shaft via a first constant velocity joint, a second operative end of said first drive shaft operatively coupled to one wheel of said first pair of wheels via a second constant velocity joint; and 
 said second output shaft operatively coupled to a first operative end of an intermediate drive shaft, a second operative end of said intermediate drive shaft operatively coupled to a first end of a second drive shaft via a third constant velocity joint, a second operative end of said second drive shaft operatively coupled to other wheel of said first pair of wheels via a fourth constant velocity joint; and 
   said second pair of wheels operatively rotationally coupled to said final drive unit, wherein said final drive unit is operatively rotationally coupled to a transfer case unit, said transfer case unit operatively rotationally coupled to a propeller shaft, said propeller shaft operatively coupled to a rear differential, said rear differential operatively coupled to a rear axle of said second pair of wheels, via a fifth and sixth constant velocity joint.   
     
     
         4 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said first pair of wheels are operatively coupled to said second and fourth constant velocity joints via a first and second knuckles respectively. 
     
     
         5 . The arrangement as claimed  claim 2 , wherein the engine is one of an internal combustion engine and an electric motor. 
     
     
         6 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein the engine is an internal combustion engine. 
     
     
         7 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein an electric motor is operatively disposed between the engine and said transaxle such that said electric motor selectively drives said first pair of wheels. 
     
     
         8 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein an electric motor is operatively coupled to said rear axle of said second pair of wheels for selectively driving said second pair of wheels. 
     
     
         9 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a bearing supports a second end of said intermediate shaft. 
     
     
         10 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein said final drive unit comprises a differential gear for facilitating the differential rotation of the two wheels in the first and second pair of wheels. 
     
     
         11 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 1 , wherein a steering gear is operatively coupled to said first pair of wheels, said steering gear is one of a left hand steering gear and a right hand steering gear. 
     
     
         12 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 2 , wherein a steering gear is operatively coupled to said first pair of wheels, said steering gear is one of a left hand steering gear and a right hand steering gear. 
     
     
         13 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein a steering gear is operatively coupled to said first pair of wheels, said steering gear is one of a left hand steering gear and a right hand steering gear. 
     
     
         14 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein said first pair of wheels are operatively coupled to said second and fourth constant velocity joints via a first and second knuckles respectively. 
     
     
         15 . The arrangement as claimed in  claim 3 , wherein an electric motor is operatively coupled to said rear axle of said second pair of wheels for selectively driving said second pair of wheels.