VEHICLE DRIVE WHEEL ASSEMBLY

A vehicle drive assembly with a drivable wheel (18) pivotably connected to a body (14), about an axis (23) substantially transverse to the body (14), by first and second swing arms (10, 12). One of the swing arms (10) houses a motor (30) and includes a heat dissipating member (26) in thermally conductive association with the motor (30). The heat dissipating member (26) preferably includes a plurality of cooling fins (40) exposed to ambient air. The motor (30) is housed in an end of the first swing arm (10) opposite the body (14), and has a shaft (38) that is directly engaged to a transmission (48) within the wheel (18). The transmission (48) is contained within a gearbox housing (46) that rotates with the wheel (18) and is formed by left and right structural halves (86, 88). A wheel rim (68), configured to carry a tire (70) is attachable only to the first gearbox half (86), and can slide over the second half (88) when removed from the gearbox housing (46), allowing the transmission (48) to remain assembled. The interior of the gearbox housing (46) contains a lubricant, and a vent (102) is formed generally parallel to the motor shaft (38) and extending through the first swing arm (10). Preferably, the second swing arm (12) is detachable from the transmission while remaining substantially stationary in a direction substantially coaxial with the axle (74). Also, the transmission (48) preferably includes a planetary gear reduction unit, in which planetary gears (52) are mounted on a gear carrier (54) that is configured to prevent rotation caused by the motor. L'invention concerne un ensemble roue motrice pourvu d'une roue (18), pouvant être entraînée, reliée pivotante à un corps (14), autour d'un axe (23) sensiblement transversal au corps (14), au moyen d'un premier et d'un second bras oscillants(10, 12). L'un des bras oscillants (10) abrite un moteur (30) et comprend un élément (26) de dissipation de la chaleur associé par conduction thermique au moteur (30). L'élément (26) de dissipation de la chaleur comprend, de préférence, une pluralité d'ailettes (40) de refroidissement exposées à l'air ambiant. Le moteur (30) est logé dans une extrémité du premier bras (10) oscillant opposé au corps (14), et il possède un axe (38) au contact direct d'une transmission (48) à l'intérieur de la roue (18). La transmission (48) est renfermée dans un carter (46) de boîte de vitesses tournant avec la roue (18), ledit carter étant formé de deux moitiés (86, 88) de structure gau