# US 10,865,872 B2 · Hydraulic transaxle

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- Number: US 10,865,872 B2
- Document ID: US10865872B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/394,939
- Filed: 2019-04-25
- Published: 2019-08-15
- Granted: 2020-12-15
- Earliest claimed: 2013-07-05
- Assignees: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Hiroshi Sugimoto; Takehiro Ota; Toshifumi Yasuda
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10865872B2

## CPC

- F16H 57/031: characterised by covers or lids for gearboxes
- B60K 7/0015: {the motor being hydraulic}
- B60K 17/043: {Transmission unit disposed in on near the vehicle wheel, or between the differential gear unit and the wheel}
- B60K 17/10: of fluid gearing
- B60K 17/105: {Units comprising at least a part of the gearing and a torque-transmitting axle, e.g. transaxles (B60K17/14 takes precedence)}
- B60K 17/14: the motor of fluid or electric gearing being disposed in, or adjacent to, traction wheel
- B60K 17/356: having fluid or electric motor, for driving one or more wheels
- F03C 1/0636: {having rotary cylinder block}
- F03C 1/0686: {by changing the inclination of the swash plate}
- F04B 1/20: having rotary cylinder block
- F04B 1/324: by changing the inclination of the swash plate
- F16H 39/14: with cylinders carried in rotary cylinder blocks or cylinder-bearing members
- F16H 47/02: the fluid gearing being of the volumetric type
- F16H 57/021: Shaft support structures, e.g. partition walls, bearing eyes, casing walls or covers with bearings
- F16H 57/027: characterised by means for venting gearboxes, e.g. air breathers
- F16H 57/029: characterised by means for sealing the gearboxes, e.g. to improve airtightness
- F16H 57/03: characterised by means for reinforcing gearboxes, e.g. ribs
- F16H 57/04: Features relating to lubrication or cooling {or heating} (control of lubrication or cooling in hydrostatic gearing F16H61/4165)
- F16H 57/0416: {Air cooling or ventilation}
- F16H 61/4078: Fluid exchange between hydrostatic circuits and external sources or consumers
- F16H 61/4174: Control of venting, e.g. removing trapped air
- A01D 69/03: fluid
- A01D 69/06: Gearings
- B60K 2025/065: {the transmission being fluidic, e.g. hydraulic}
- B60Y 2200/223: Ridable lawn mowers
- F16H 2057/02052: {Axle units; Transfer casings for four wheel drive}
- F16H 2057/02056: {for utility vehicles, e.g. tractors or agricultural machines}
- F16H: GEARING
- B60K: ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PROPULSION UNITS OR OF TRANSMISSIONS IN VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENT OR MOUNTING OF PLURAL DIVERSE PRIME-MOVERS IN VEHICLES; AUXILIARY DRIVES FOR VEHICLES; INSTRUMENTATION OR DASHBOARDS FOR VEHICLES; ARRANGEMENTS IN CONNECTION WITH COOLING, AIR INTAKE, GAS EXHAUST OR FUEL SUPPLY OF PROPULSION UNITS IN VEHICLES
- F03C: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT ENGINES DRIVEN BY LIQUIDS (positive- displacement engines for liquids and elastic fluids F01; positive- displacement machines for liquids F04; fluid-pressure actuators F15B; fluid gearing F16H)
- F04B: POSITIVE-DISPLACEMENT MACHINES FOR LIQUIDS; PUMPS (machines for liquids, or pumps, of rotary-piston or oscillating-piston type F04C; non-positive-displacement pumps F04D; pumping of fluid by direct contact of another fluid or by using inertia of fluid to be pumped F04F)
- A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

A hydraulic transaxle includes a transaxle casing including an upper transaxle housing and a lower casing, hydrostatic transmission (“HST”), and an axle. The HST has a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor that are fluidly connected to each other. The hydraulic motor has a motor shaft that is drivingly connected to the axle through a reduction gear train that is disposed between the hydraulic pump and the axle. Reduction gear train has a gear shaft supported by the upper transaxle housing via a ball bearing. At least a part of the upper transaxle housing is formed by a gear top cover made of metal and covering the reduction gear train. Ball bearing is supported by the upper transaxle housing and the gear top cover.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A transaxle comprising:
a transaxle casing configured to be splittable into an upper casing and a lower casing;
a hydrostatic transmission disposed in the transaxle casing; and
an axle that is disposed in the transaxle casing and driven by the hydrostatic transmission,
wherein the hydrostatic transmission includes a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor fluidly connected to each other,
wherein the hydraulic pump has a pump shaft extending perpendicularly to the axle,
wherein the hydraulic motor has a motor shaft that is drivingly connected to the axle through a reduction gear train that is disposed between the hydraulic pump and the axle,
wherein the reduction gear train has a parallel axis with regard to the axle, and has a gear shaft supported by the upper casing via a bearing,
wherein the motor shaft has an axis extending at an angle to an axis of the pump shaft,
wherein at least a part of the upper casing is formed by a top cover made of metal and covering the reduction gear train, and
wherein the bearing is supported by the upper casing and the top cover.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The transaxle according to claim 1, further comprising a fluid inspection rod detachably attached to the top cover, wherein the fluid inspection rod is inserted into the transaxle casing.

### Claim 3 (depends on 1)

The transaxle according to claim 1, wherein the top cover is provided with a breather disposed at a top portion of the transaxle casing, and wherein the breather has a rib projecting to surround a side periphery of the breather.

### Claim 4 (depends on 1)

The transaxle according to claim 1, wherein the top cover has a heat radiation fin projecting from an outer surface.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The transaxle according to claim 1, wherein a boundary between the top cover and the lower casing is sealed with liquid packing.