Description:TECHNICAL FIELD
[0001] The present subject matter relates to a drive assembly for a multi-wheeled vehicle, including but not limited to motor vehicles.
BACKGROUND
[0002] Generally, multi-wheeled vehicles are driven with the help of a transmission assembly which may be powered by a power unit such as an internal combustion engine or an electric motor. The present invention relates to a multi-wheeled vehicle, such as a two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers and other multi-wheeled vehicles, equipped with a transmission assembly.
[0003] Particularly, the present invention relates to an improved drive assembly for a speed detecting device where said drive assembly is driven by said transmission assembly. In one aspect of the present invention, it relates to an integrated speed sensor and fare meter drive assembly.
[0004] In conventional art, the speedometer of the multi-wheeled vehicle, for example two and three wheelers, gets an analogue input from a front wheel which is basically a mechanical unit. This arrangement undergoes lots of wear and tear periodically thereby increasing the serviceability and maintenance cost of multi-wheeled vehicle. There is a significant proportion of hardware loss that occurs during this process. In addition to this wear and tear, speedometer also gets damaged due to shocks which the front wheel undergoes while facing uneven roads and other challenging conditions created by bad road conditions. Eventually, these repercussions lead to speedometer reading errors and further damages to the whole arrangement. Thus, the conventionally available analogue type speedometers are not considered to be serving the needs of riders efficiently. These conventionally available speedometers are considered to be poor in spite of its popularity or necessity.
[0005] The conventionally available speedometers have drawbacks such as component error, easy worn-out while functioning on uneven road conditions that will affect the performance of the entire unit eventually loss in efficiency. Therefore, there is need for an efficient and compact speedometer assembly which has a robust mounting and enhanced usable life. The present invention is directed to reducing hardships pertaining to working, serviceability, maintenance of the speedometer assemblies.

Similarly, many vehicles, for example three wheelers and four wheelers operating on rental basis or other commercial uses, are equipped with fare meters which show the user the amount of usage based on distance or duration of travel. Such fare meters are also known to use mechanical or analogue means to measure the distance travelled by the vehicle based on which fare meter calculates the fare payable by a user of said vehicle. It is also known that such fare meters are operably connected to the transmission assembly, instead of the front wheel or other wheel. The fare meters are known to be operably connected by a cable to at least one output shaft of the transmission assembly whereby a torque from said output shaft is transmitted to said fare meter assembly through said cable. In some vehicles such fare meter connecting cable is connected to the transmission unit through a cover differential present on the said vehicle. One of the objects of the present invention is to provide an integrated drive assembly for said speedometer and said fare meter.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF DRAWINGS
[0006] The present disclosure relates to a multi-wheeled vehicle, such as a two wheelers, three wheelers, four wheelers and other multi-wheeled vehicles and particularly a drive assembly for efficiently detect the speed of such vehicle wherein such drive assembly is located within a housing and said assembly is operably connected to the transmission assembly. Such vehicles may also be equipped with means for calculating distance, particularly for vehicles with commercial use, for example a fare meter which conventionally include a separate connecting and drive assembly for capturing distance travelled of the vehicle and depicting corresponding fare on the fare meter. Such drive assembly for fare meter is usually located near the output of a transmission device so as to accurately capture the distance travelled by the vehicle. Accordingly, the present disclosure also relates to an integrated drive assembly for speed detecting means as well as that for a fare meter. The detailed description is described with reference to the accompanying figures, which is related to multi-wheeled vehicle being one embodiment of the present invention. However, the preset invention is not limited to the depicted embodiment(s). In the figures, the same or similar reference signs are used throughout to represent similar features and components.
[0007] Figure 1 illustrates a side view of an exemplary engine assembly of multi wheeled vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0008] Fig. 2 (a) depicts a sectional view from top of a drive assembly mounted on a cover differential of said multi wheeled vehicle in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[0009] Fig. 2 (b) illustrates a schematic view from the bottom of the drive assembly in an assembled condition being coupled to an output shaft of the transmission assembly of a vehicle, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[00010] Fig. 3 illustrates an exploded view of the drive assembly coupled to the transmission assembly in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter.
[00011] Fig. 4 illustrates an alternate arrangement of the drive assembly compared to previous figures with an expanded view of the drive assembly on cover differential in multi-wheeled motor vehicle.
[00012] Fig. 5 illustrates a side cross sectional view of the alternate arrangement of the drive assembly shown in Fig.4.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION

[00013] In addition to explained concerns related to efficiency, conventionally available speedometers have drawbacks such as component error, easy worn-out while functioning on uneven road conditions that will affect the performance of the entire unit eventually loss in efficiency. Therefore, there is need for an efficient and compact speedometer assembly disposed efficiently which would be better serving the purpose. There is a continuous effort to improve the efficiency of the motor vehicle and improve the range of the motor vehicle by reducing the number of parts, particularly moving parts and improving the serviceability of the vehicle and its components.
[00014] In conventionally available commercial vehicles there are provisions/ means to calculate fare for users of such commercial vehicles. The calibration and accuracy of such means for detecting fare is always under scanner because of its mode of functioning, basically it is calculated by the gears attached to the output of the transmission assembly. The means for detecting fare is essential for commercial vehicles. Such means for detecting fare should be providing accurate readings. These readings are assessed accurately by primarily detecting the distance traveled by the vehicle. The calculation of the fare could be accurately preformed when gears calculating fare are attached to the output of the transmission device.
[00015] Further, due to compact layout of the two- wheeled or three-wheeled motor vehicles have a limited packaging space available for independently working drive assemblies for speedometer and fare meter. For that matter, even cars and quadricycles face similar problem of limited packaging space in order to create a compact unit which is also providing efficiently accurate readings with precision. Thus, there is a need for an improved drive assembly for both the speedometer and fare meter that addresses the aforementioned and other problems in the prior art.
[00016] Conventionally, the speedometer and fare meter and their drive assemblies are placed in different locations. These conventionally available analogue type of speedometers and fare meters do not function efficiently over long period of use. Regular issues of component error, worn-out parts and erroneous readings decreases the performance of the entire assembly. Thus, a drive assembly solving the problems of the prior art as an integrated solution without changing the layout or architecture of the vehicle or engine or transmission is needed. The present invention is addressing the shortcomings of the conventionally available drive assemblies for speedometer. Further, the present application is also disclosing, in one embodiment, an integrated assembly of speedometer and fare meter. This assembly is having advantages over existing analogue type system since it results in an assembly having compact packaging, lesser number of parts and efficient and accurate means to providing values of speed and fare. In addition, this invention results in reduction of weight and costs of manufacturing without altering of the layout of the vehicle.
[00017] In one aspect of the invention means for detecting speed is advantageously positioned in a housing along with driving means such as gears and shafts coupled to the transmission assembly of the vehicle. In one aspect, the driving means within the housing are also coupled to the fare meter using a connecting cable. This disposal of the means for detecting speed and, in one embodiment, means for detecting fare, would create an assembly functioning efficiently providing accurate readings while significantly reducing the problems discussed herein above. The said drive assembly is disposed on the output of the transmission assembly such as cover differential of the engine.
[00018] In one aspect, this assembly is having means for detecting speed and means for detecting fare wherein speed is measured by utilizing a speed sensor that senses the speed. Conventionally, utilization of the speed sensor that senses the speed of a toothed wheel is known. However, in the present invention the speed sensor is disposed advantageously in the housing which is mounted on the cover differential along with other driving means. In one aspect, said driving means are also coupled to the fare meter to solve the issues present in the prior art.
[00019] Accordingly, the present subject matter provides a drive assembly for a multi-wheeled vehicle comprises a means for detecting speed, housing, and a driven shaft configured to drive a gear. The housing is configured to substantially enclose said means for detecting speed, said driven shaft and said gear wheel. The gear is operably connected to a transmission assembly of said vehicle for transferring a torque from said transmission assembly of said vehicle to rotate said driven shaft. The driven shaft causes a rotation of said gear wheel said rotation of the gear wheel is enabling said means for detecting speed to detect a speed of the multi wheeled vehicle.
[00020] In one embodiment, the engine is disposed in the rear part of the multi-wheeled vehicle; the cover differential is mounted on the engine. In this sort of assembly for a multi-wheeled vehicle, such as three wheelers, four wheelers etc., means for detecting distance for example fare meter is being operably connected to the driven shaft through connecting means/ fare meter cable. The fare meter is being operably connected to the driven shaft through connecting means/ fare meter cable and said fare meter is configured to determine a fare corresponding to the usage of the multi wheeled vehicle through rotation of the output shaft. The means for detecting speed is configured with speed sensor which is providing an input through digital signal.
[00021] In one embodiment, the engine is disposed in the rear part of the multi-wheeled vehicle; the cover differential is part of the separate differential assembly which is not mounted on the engine. Even, in this sort of configuration the disclosed drive assembly would be functioning efficiently providing same edge over the conventionally available speed sensors.
[00022] In one embodiment, the drive assembly for the multi-wheeled vehicle has driven shaft which is configured to be coupled with a drive shaft which is an output shaft of the transmission assembly. The present aspect of the invention discloses the disposal of the drive assembly having advantages over the conventionally available speed sensors because integrated drive assembly is having edge by providing accurate readings along with disclosing a compact assembly having better configurational characteristics achieved through favourable disposal over already disclosed speedometers.
[00023] In one embodiment, the drive assembly for the multi-wheeled vehicle has a housing which substantially encloses the driven shaft configured drive a gear wheel.
[00024] In one embodiment of the present invention, the drive assembly for the multi-wheeled vehicle has a means for detecting fare is a conventially known fare meter including mechanical, digital and analogue fare meters. Such fare meters are capable of taking readings on rotation of shaft or rotation of the wheel distance covered by vehicle.
[00025] In one embodiment, the drive assembly for the multi-wheeled vehicle has an output shaft coupled to a gear. The output shaft is made of metal and the gear is made of a material other than metal. This creates a configuration which is light weight, durable, easy to handle and cost effective. Conventionally used metal gears could also be utilized instead of said gear. This gear is installed on the driven shaft whereby rotation of the output shaft rotates the said gear and consequently the driven shaft. The rotation of the driven shaft rotates the gear wheel.
[00026] In one embodiment, the drive assembly for the multi-wheeled vehicle has a housing which accommodates said driven shaft and said gear wheel along with the means for detecting speed mounted with some air gap.
[00027] In one embodiment, the drive assembly for the multi-wheeled vehicle has a housing which is having separate enclosure for accommodating the means for detecting speed in such a manner that it remains on top of the gear wheel. This configuration ensures close proximity of the gear wheel. In one embodiment, the housing is conforming to the shape of the means for detecting speed for appropriate accommodation therein.
[00028] In one embodiment of the present invention, the drive assembly for the multi-wheeled vehicle, wherein the transmission assembly of said multi wheeled vehicle has an output shaft and said driven shaft is configured to be coupled with said drive shaft.
[00029] In one embodiment of the present invention, the drive assembly for the multi-wheeled vehicle has a means for detecting speed which comprises a hall effector sensor. This hall effector sensor is disposed in close proximity of gear wheel. The speed sensor is configured to detect speed using the plurality of pulses generated by the gear wheel. The sensor can detect the movement of the gear accurately which is further converted into digital signal for generating accurate reading of speed.
[00030] In one embodiment of the present invention, the drive assembly for the multi-wheeled vehicle further comprises an oil seal and a bush installed on the driven shaft. The oil seal and bush provide a leak proof arrangement of driven shaft and said gear wheel within the housing.
[00031] In one embodiment of the present invention, the drive assembly for the multi-wheeled vehicle, includes said housing comprising a first opening being configured to accommodate the means for detecting speed, a second opening being configured to accommodate the driven shaft, the gear wheel, said oil seal and said bush and a third opening has a closed end with a protection cap wherein said oil seal and said bush are push fitted against said protection cap for avoiding oil leakage from said drive assembly.
[00032] In one embodiment of the present invention, said housing is detachably attached to a cover differential of said multi-wheeled vehicle.
[00033] In one embodiment of the present invention, said cover differential has an opening to enable the drive shaft of the transmission assembly to protrude outside said cover differential in order to engage with the gear. Said drive shaft can be an output shaft.
[00034] In one embodiment of the present invention, the output shaft is coupled with the gear mounted on the driven shaft. The output shaft is made of metal and gear is made of a material other than metal. This combination creates an assembly which is light in weight and cost effective.
[00035] In one embodiment of the present invention, the multi-wheeled vehicle comprises a speed display device, said speed display device being configured to display speed of said multi wheeled vehicle and to be communicatively coupled to said speed detecting device. In this embodiment, the fare meter is being operably connected to said driven shaft through connecting means such as a fare meter cable. The fare meter is configured to determine a fare corresponding to the usage of the multi wheeled vehicle through the rotation of the output shaft.

[00036] Figure 1 illustrates a left-side view of an exemplary powertrain assembly (100) of a multi wheeled vehicle (not shown), in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The powertrain assembly (100) includes at least an engine assembly and a transmission assembly (not shown). The engine assembly and transmission assembly may be integrated in one embodiment but may also be separate units in another embodiment. The Figure 1 shows a speedometer cable (200) extending outwardly from the housing (102) of the drive assembly (900) being mounted on a cover differential (101) of the powertrain assembly (900). A fare meter (not shown) is being operably connected to a driven shaft (103) (see Fig.2(a)) through a fare meter cable (201). The fare meter (not shown) is configured to determine a fare corresponding to the usage of the multi wheeled vehicle (not shown) through rotation of the output shaft (105) (See Fig.2a).

[00037] Fig. 2 (a) depicts a sectional view from top of drive assembly (900) mounted on the cover differential (101) of said multi wheeled vehicle (not shown) in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The drive assembly (900) comprises a housing (102), a driven shaft (103) configured to be rotated by a gear (104). The drive assembly (900) also includes a gear wheel (109) installed on said driven shaft (103) and configured to be rotated by said driven shaft (103). The housing (102) is configured to substantially enclose a means for detecting speed (106), said driven shaft (103) and said gear wheel (109). The gear (104) is installed on said driven shaft (103), said gear (104) being configured to rotate said driven shaft (103). This gear (104) is operably connected to the drive shaft (105) of a transmission assembly (not shown) of the powertrain assembly (100) of said vehicle for transferring a torque from the transmission assembly (not shown) to rotate the driven shaft (103). The gear wheel (109) is configured to be rotated by the rotation of the shaft (103) and the rotation of gear wheel (109) enables means for detecting speed (106) to detect a speed of the vehicle (not shown).
[00038] Fig. 2 (b) illustrates a schematic view from the bottom of the drive assembly (900) in an assembled condition being coupled to an output/drive shaft (105) of the transmission assembly (not shown) of the powertrain assembly, in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The assembled condition of drive assembly (900) depicts that the drive shaft (105) of the powertrain assembly (100) (from the transmission assembly (not shown))is operably coupled to the drive assembly (900) via said gear (104). The gear wheel (109)installed on the driven shaft (103) (shown in Fig.2a) specifically is shown along with a sealing assembly including oil seal (107) and a bush (108). The oil seal (107) and bush (108) provide a sealable installation of the driven shaft (103) and other components of the drive assembly (900) within the housing. This configuration helps in providing a leak proof arrangement against leakage of oil or other lubricating fluids from the drive assembly.
[00039] Fig. 3 illustrates an exploded view from top of the drive assembly (900) coupled to the transmission assembly (not shown) of the powertrain assembly (100)in accordance with an embodiment of the present subject matter. The exploded view shows that the drive assembly (900) comprises a means for detecting speed (106), a housing (102), gear wheel (109) and a driven shaft (103) configured to be driven by the gear (104). The gear (104) is configured to rotate driven shaft (103) which in turn rotates the gear wheel (109). The gear (104) is operably connected to the transmission assembly (not shown) through a drive shaft (105). In one aspect said drive shaft (105) can be an output shaft of the transmission assembly of the powertrain assembly (100) having helical type grooves for coupling between the drive shaft (105) and the gear (104) installed on the driven shaft (103) .
[00040] The operation of the embodiment of the drive assembly (900) disclosed above is explained hereinafter without limiting the scope of the invention. The torque from transmission assembly (not shown) of the vehicle (not shown) is transmitted to the (output) drive shaft (105) having said helical . While the gear (104) of the drive assembly (900) has a teethed profile which is in mesh with the helical groves of said drive shaft (105). The rotation of drive shaft (105) rotates the gear (104) which is installed on the driven shaft (103). The rotation of the gear (104) enables transfer of the torque to driven shaft (103) which in turn rotates the gear wheel (109). The rotation of gear wheel (109) enables means for detecting speed (106) to detect a speed of the vehicle (not shown) and the drive shaft (105), the gear (104), the gear wheel (109) substantially disposed within housing (102). In one aspect of the invention, the means for detecting speed (106) is a hall effect sensor capable of detecting speed by pulses generated from rotation of gear wheel (109). Further, in another aspect, the fare meter (not shown) is operably connected to the driven shaft (103) through fare meter cable (201). The fare meter (not shown) is configured to determine a fare corresponding to the usage of the multi wheeled vehicle (not shown), for example distance travelled, through rotation of the output shaft (105). The housing (102) unit shown is a substantially inverted T- shaped structure when seen in a top view as shown in Figure 3 and 2(a). The housing (102) has at least three openings to accommodate the various parts described above. The housing (102) a first opening (111) being configured to accommodate the means for detecting speed (106). In one embodiment, the hall effect sensor (106) has a cylindrical shape and is accommodated through said first opening (111). The speedometer cable (200) connects the said sensor (106) with a speed display device (not shown) of the vehicle (not shown). The speedometer cable (200) is configured to power the said sensor (106) as well as communicatively couples the speed display device (not shown) with the sensor (106). The housing (102) further has a second opening (112) and third opening (113) at opposite ends of the housing (102). The second opening (112) is being configured to accommodate the driven shaft (103), the gear wheel (109), said oil seal (107) and said bush (108). The third opening (113) provided at the opposite end of the second opening (112) is being closed using a protection cap (110) in such a manner that oil seal (107) and said bush (108) are push fitted against the protection cap (110) for a sealable assembly of the components capable of preventing oil or lubricant leakage from the drive assembly. This is an integrated and compact structure reducing the weight, cost of two separate assemblies for fare meter and speedometer drive means.
[00041] Fig. 4 illustrates an alternate arrangement of the drive assembly compared to previous figures with an expanded view of the drive assembly on cover differential in multi-wheeled motor vehicle.
[00042] The means for detecting speed/ speed sensor (106) is disposed in close vicinity of the cover differential (101) but not in the housing (102) as disclosed in the present invention. This expanded view discloses the speed sensor (106) is not integrated with means for detecting fare. The speed sensor (106) is disposed along with the means for detecting fare in close vicinity of the cover differential (101). Therefore, an alternate way of solving the aforementioned problems is disclosed here.
[00043] Fig. 5 illustrates a side cross sectional view of the alternate arrangement of the drive assembly shown in Fig.4. The drive assembly (900) configuration may be implemented in any multi-wheeled vehicle (not shown) such as two-wheeled, three-wheeled, a small capacity car or a quadricycle. Figure 5 shows that the speed sensor (106) is mounted on the cover differential (101) but separately from the housing (102) which has other elements like the driven shaft (103) and gear (104) as explained in the previous embodiments above. In this embodiment, instead of the gear wheel (109) being installed within the housing (102) as explained in previous embodiments, an output gear (109a) of the differential is used for speed detection by the speed sensor (106). The output gear (109a) is part of the powertrain assembly (100). Thus, the speed sensor (106) detects the speed of the vehicle (not shown) using the rotation of the output gear (109a) of the differential. However, the fare meter (not shown) works on the remaining components i.e. the housing containing driven shaft 103, being driven by the drive shaft 105 of the power train assembly (100). This alternate arrangement is different due to independent mounting of the speed sensor (106) separately from the housing (102) enclosing components for the fare meter. The scope of the present subject matter is not limited to motor vehicle but includes electrical devices requiring measurement of speed and distance parameter requirements with the objective of measurement of optimum and accurate speed and distance values. However, for the purpose of explanation and by no limitation, the drive assembly, corresponding additional advantages and features are described through the following embodiments.

 
List of reference numerals:

100- Powertrain assembly
101- Cover differential
102- Housing
103- Driven Shaft
104- Gear
105- Drive Shaft
106- Means for detecting speed/ Sensor
107-Oil seal
108- Bush
109-Gear Wheel
109a- Output gear of differential
110-End of housing protection cap
111-First opening
112-Second opening
113-Third opening
200- Means for detecting speed/ Speedometer cable
201- Fare meter cable
300- Hall sensor
900- Drive assembly
, Claims:We claim:
1) A drive assembly (900) for a multi-wheeled vehicle, said drive assembly (900) comprising
a powertrain assembly (100), said power train assembly comprising a transmission assembly;
a means for detecting a speed (106) of the said multi wheeled vehicle;
a driven shaft (103);
a gear (104), said gear (104) being installed on said driven shaft (103), said gear (104) being configured to rotate said driven shaft (103);
a gear wheel (109), said gear wheel (109) being operably connected to said driven shaft (103); and
a housing (102);
wherein
said housing (102) is configured to substantially enclose said means for detecting speed (106), said driven shaft (103) and said gear wheel (109);
said gear (104) is operably connected to said transmission assembly of said vehicle for transferring a torque from said transmission assembly of said vehicle to rotate said driven shaft (103); and
said driven shaft (103) causes a rotation of said gear wheel (109), said rotation of said gear wheel (109) enabling said means for detecting speed (106) to detect a speed of the multi wheeled vehicle.
2) The drive assembly (900) for the multi-wheeled vehicle claimed in claim 1, wherein the transmission assembly comprises an output shaft (105), said output shaft (105) being coupled to said driven shaft (103).
3) The drive assembly (900) for the multi-wheeled vehicle claimed in claim 1, wherein the means for detecting speed (106) is a hall effector sensor (300), said hall effector sensor (106) being disposed in close proximity of the gear wheel (109); and the speed sensor (106) is configured to detect said speed of said multi-wheeled vehicle using a plurality of pulses generated by said gear wheel (109).
4) The drive assembly (900) for the multi-wheeled vehicle claimed in claim 1 comprising an oil seal (107) and a bush (108), said oil seal (107) and said bush (108) being installed on said driven shaft (103) and providing a leak proof arrangement of said driven shaft (103), said gear wheel (109) within the housing (102).
5) The drive assembly (900) for the multi-wheeled vehicle claimed in claim 4 wherein said housing (102) comprises a first opening (111) being configured to accommodate the means for detecting speed (106); a second opening (112) being configured to accommodate the driven shaft (103), the gear wheel (109), said oil seal (107) and said bush (108); and a third opening (113) being closed using a protection cap (110); wherein said oil seal (107) and said bush (108) are push fit against said protection cap (110) for avoiding oil leakage from said drive assembly (900).
6) The drive assembly (900) for the multi-wheeled vehicle claimed in claim 2, wherein said housing (102) is detachably attached to a cover differential (101).
7) The drive assembly (900) for the multi-wheeled vehicle claimed in claim 6, wherein said cover differential (101) has an opening to enable the drive shaft (105) to protrude outside said cover differential (101) and engage with the gear (104).
8) The drive assembly (900) for the multi-wheeled vehicle claimed in claim 2, wherein said output shaft (105) is made of metal and said gear (104) is made of a material other than metal.
9) The drive assembly (900) for the multi-wheeled vehicle claimed in claim 2, wherein the said multi wheeled vehicle comprises
a speed display device, said speed display device being configured to display said speed of said multi wheeled vehicle and to be communicatively coupled to said speed detecting device (106); and
a fare meter, said fare meter being operably connected to said driven shaft (103) through a fare meter cable (201) and said fare meter is configured to determine a fare corresponding to the usage of the multi wheeled vehicle based on rotation of the output shaft (105).