Are the terms “travel motor” and “final drive” interchangeable? What about hydraulic motor – is it the same as a final drive? What about “planetary final drive”? In this blog post, we went all the way back to some of the early patents for things like hydrostatic vehicle drive systems to bring you answers. Let’s dive in!
First, it seems that the term travel motor is used to differentiate the motors for the wheels (or tracks) from the swing motor. In the image below, you can see clearly see the swing motor at the center of the vehicle, and can get a pretty good idea of where its name came from.
The travel motor is one of the key components in a hydraulic drive system, which is summarized conceptually in the figure below.
In a typical hydraulic drive system, you have a power source (usually an internal combustion engine) that powers a hydraulic pump. The hydraulic pump provides the fluid that actuates the travel motor. The travel motor is essentially the hydraulic motor interfaces with the final drive, providing the power that the final drive transforms into torque. That torque is transferred to the sprocket, which then turns the wheel and/or track. By this definition, the final drive is primarily the planetary gear system that converts power to torque.
That said, some people define final drive a bit differently. The final drive is sometimes described as the combination of a hydraulic motor with a speed reducing planetary gear system, which would seem to make the travel motor part of the final drive. When used in that sense, the final drive may be called the planetary gear final drive unit or the planetary final drive.
In the strictest sense, the term final drive and travel motor are not interchangeable. By some definitions, the travel motor may be considered part of the final drive. The final drive either refers to the combined hydraulic motor and planetary gear hub, or to the gear hub only. The travel motor refers to the hydraulic motor.
There are many key components that comprise an excavator, and it can be easy to mix them up. For example, travel motors and final drive motors are two terms that shouldn’t be used interchangeably since they each have different functions. Learn all about the differences between travel motors and final drive motors in this informative guide.
A travel motoris a part of an excavator’s hydraulic drive system, whose power source is the machine’s main hydraulic pump. As a result of the travel motors’ power, the final drive is then able to use it and turn the power into torque. The travel motor is a key component in the function of an excavator by playing a major role in fueling the final drive motor. However, it doesn’t perform the same function as a final drive.
Speaking of which, a final drive comprises many gears and is located adjacent to, and works in conjunction with, the excavator’s travel motor. The integrated final drive motor’s purpose is to provide enough power to allow an excavator to turn its tracks on a construction site. There are two key integrated components of a final drive motor: the hydraulic travel motor and the final drive gear box.
The differences between travel motors and final drive motors come down to their functions. While the two are related, it’s certainly important to know what sets them apart when getting new parts. When referring to a final drive motor, this typically means the hydraulic motor and the planetary gear hub, while a travel motor signifies only a hydraulic motor. If you are in need of Quality travel motors and final drive parts, Mini Final Drives is a great place to find the aftermarket excavator parts you are looking for top brands like Bobcat, John Deere, Caterpillar, and others.