Utility vehicle designed for frequent starting and stopping

摘要

The invention is concerned with improvements in utility vehicles having hydraulically driven items of equipment and designed for frequently stopping and starting, such as a garbage collection vehicle, a forklift truck, an excavator or the like. In order to facilitate operation of the equipment the vehicle has its engine connected with a hydromechanical four-shaft power branching transmission as previously proposed for use in city omnibuses operating city services. The branching transmission is adapted for operation in at least two working ranges and has at least two hydroconverters. The one hydroconverter is connected with a power output shaft at least in the starting up state of the vehicle. A second hydroconverter is connected with a shaft different to the transmission input shaft and the transmission output shaft. The pumps of the hydraulic power circuitry for operation of the equipment of the vehicle are able to be connected via clutch with the shaft of a hydroconverter, more especially of the second hydroconverter. This avoids the necessity of having a special auxiliary output transmission driven by the engine.