Lauster axis

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The Lauster axle is a special form of wheel drive developed by Erhard Lauster, in which a lowerable drum is attached between the drive wheels. When lowered, the drum reduces the ground pressure of the vehicle and improves the tractive force that can be transmitted even in poor ground conditions . The advantage of this arrangement over a chain drive is that the vehicle can lift the drum and, under normal conditions, drive the wheels on the road. The rolling resistance is much lower than that of the chain drive. On the other hand, the tensile force that can be transmitted compared to the wheel drive is significantly greater. The disadvantage is the higher weight of the additional drive compared to a pure wheel drive. Furthermore, the vehicle can only be steered using articulated steering .

Prototype “Functional Model Lauster Axis” (FML) in the Auto and Technology Museum in Sinsheim

Development history

The development of the drive began in the 1940s in the Lauster family's quarry in Stuttgart-Münster . Towards the end of the Second World War, the Lauster Wargel LW 5 (wargeln - Swabian for to roll) was created, a tractor that was tested as a ditch plow , among other things.

In 1969, a prototype called FML (functional model Lauster axis) was built for military testing on behalf of the German Armed Forces (can be seen in the Auto and Technology Museum in Sinsheim ). This vehicle has a diesel-electric drive . Each wheel is equipped with an electric motor with 620 hp . In addition to the compressed air brake, there is an electric counter-current brake . The vehicle has articulated steering . The two-seater cab can only be entered via a roof hatch. A motorized scraper with this drive system was also developed at this time .

literature

  • Patent AT240184B : Axle unit with drive motor and differential gear arranged in it. Published on May 10, 1965 , inventor: Erhard Lauster. ‌
  • Patent AT240185B : Axle unit for motor vehicles with an on-axis drive motor. Published on May 10, 1965 , inventor: Erhard Lauster. ‌
  • Patent CH392283 : Axle unit with its own drive motor. Published on May 15, 1965 , inventor: Erhard Lauster (also under DE 1.132.445). ‌

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