# US 10,871,178 B2 · Transaxle

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- Number: US 10,871,178 B2
- Document ID: US10871178B2
- Status: Granted
- Kind: B2
- Application number: 16/363,535
- Filed: 2019-03-25
- Published: 2019-07-18
- Granted: 2020-12-22
- Earliest claimed: 2015-06-12
- Assignees: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
- Applicants: Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd.
- Inventors: Jun Matsuura; Michio Tsukamoto; Hiroshi Sugimoto; Masaru Iida; Takehiro Ota
- Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10871178B2

## CPC

- F15B 15/02: Mechanical layout characterised by the means for converting the movement of the fluid-actuated element into movement of the finally-operated member
- B60K 7/0015: {the motor being hydraulic}
- B60K 17/04: characterised by arrangement, location or kind of 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)}
- B60T 1/062: {acting on transmission parts}
- B60T 7/12: for automatic initiation; for initiation not subject to will of driver or passenger {(limiting speed of vehicles other than rail vehicles B60K31/00)}
- B60T 13/588: {both fluid and mechanical assistance or drive}
- B60T 13/62: both straight and automatic
- F15B 15/08: Characterised by the construction of the motor unit
- F16H 1/22: with a plurality of driving or driven shafts; with arrangements for dividing torque between two or more intermediate shafts
- F16H 63/3416: {Parking lock mechanisms or brakes in the transmission}
- B60Y 2200/223: Ridable lawn mowers
- B60Y 2410/10: Housings
- F15B: SYSTEMS ACTING BY MEANS OF FLUIDS IN GENERAL; FLUID-PRESSURE ACTUATORS, e.g. SERVOMOTORS; DETAILS OF FLUID-PRESSURE SYSTEMS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR
- 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
- B60T: VEHICLE BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF; BRAKE CONTROL SYSTEMS OR PARTS THEREOF, IN GENERAL (electrodynamic brake systems for vehicle, in general B60L; brakes per se, i.e. devices where braking effect occurs, including ultimate brake actuators, F16D); ARRANGEMENT OF BRAKING ELEMENTS ON VEHICLES IN GENERAL; PORTABLE DEVICES FOR PREVENTING UNWANTED MOVEMENT OF VEHICLES; VEHICLE MODIFICATIONS TO FACILITATE COOLING OF BRAKES
- F16H: GEARING
- B60Y: INDEXING SCHEME RELATING TO ASPECTS CROSS-CUTTING VEHICLE TECHNOLOGY

## Abstract

A transaxle includes a braking unit disposed in the transaxle casing, the braking unit configured to brake the axle. The braking unit includes an operating shaft projecting from one side of the transaxle casing. A link mechanism of the transaxle is includes a relay arm rotatably pivoted on a shaft provided on the one side of the transaxle casing, a brake arm fixed to the operating shaft, the brake arm being configured to rotate between a braking position and an unbraking position of the braking unit together with the operating shaft, a first link configured to manipulate the relay arm, and a second link configured to join the relay arm to the brake arm. The link mechanism constrains motion of the brake arm through the second link such that an external force on the braking unit cannot cause an unexpected release from the braking state.

## Claims

### Claim 1

A transaxle comprising:
a transaxle casing;
an axle supported by the transaxle casing;
a transmission disposed in the transaxle casing;
a braking unit disposed in the transaxle casing, the braking unit configured to brake the axle, wherein the braking unit includes an operating shaft projecting from one side of the transaxle casing; and
a link mechanism, comprising:
a shaft that is disposed on the one side of the transaxle casing;
a relay arm disposed on the shaft;
a brake arm fixed to the operating shaft, the brake arm configured to rotate between a braking position and an unbraking position of the braking unit together with the operating shaft;
a first link configured to manipulate the relay arm; and
a second link configured to link the relay arm to the brake arm, wherein the link mechanism is configured to constrain motion of the brake arm through the second link when the relay arm is moved from the unbraking position to the braking position.

### Claim 2 (depends on 1)

The transaxle according to claim 1, wherein the link mechanism is configured such that when the brake arm is in the unbraking position, a connecting point of the second link and the relay arm is not located on a virtual reference line connecting a rotation center of the relay arm to the connecting point of the second link to the brake arm, and
wherein when the brake arm is in the braking position, the connecting point of the second link to the relay arm is located on the virtual reference line.

### Claim 3 (depends on 2)

The transaxle according to claim 2, further comprising:
a regulating unit configured to regulate rotation of the relay arm to an operating direction of the brake unit at the braking position.

### Claim 4 (depends on 2)

The transaxle according to claim 2, further comprising:
a spring attached to the brake arm, wherein the spring is configured to apply spring-bias in an unbraking direction.

### Claim 5 (depends on 1)

The transaxle according to claim 1, further comprising:
a regulating unit configured to regulate rotation of the relay arm to an operating direction of the brake unit at the braking position.

### Claim 6 (depends on 5)

The transaxle according to claim 5, wherein the link mechanism is configured such that when the brake arm is in the unbraking position, a connecting point of the second link to the brake arm is located to one side of a virtual reference line connecting a rotation center of the relay arm to the connecting point of the second link to the brake arm, and when the brake arm is in the braking position, the connecting point of the second link to the relay arm is located on an opposite side of the virtual reference line.

### Claim 7

A transaxle comprising:
a transaxle casing;
an axle supported by the transaxle casing;
a transmission disposed in the transaxle casing;
a braking unit disposed in the transaxle casing, the braking unit configured to brake the axle, wherein the braking unit includes an operating shaft projecting from one side of the transaxle casing; and
a link mechanism, comprising:
a relay arm rotatably pivoted on a shaft that is disposed on the one side of the transaxle casing;
a brake arm fixed to the operating shaft, the brake arm configured to rotate between a braking position and an unbraking position of the braking unit together with the operating shaft;
a spring attached to the brake arm, wherein the spring is configured to apply spring-bias in an unbraking direction;
a first link configured to manipulate the relay arm; and
a second link configured to join the relay arm to the brake arm, wherein the link mechanism is configured to constrain motion of the brake arm through the second link when the relay arm is moved from the unbraking position to the braking position,
wherein the link mechanism is configured such that when the brake arm is in the unbraking position, a connecting point of the second link and the relay arm is not located on a virtual reference line connecting a rotation center of the relay arm to the connecting point of the second link to the brake arm, and
wherein when the brake arm is in the braking position, the connecting point of the second link to the relay arm is located on the virtual reference line.

### Claim 8 (depends on 7)

The transaxle according to claim 7, further comprising:
a regulating unit configured to regulate rotation of the relay arm to an operating direction of the brake unit at the braking position.

### Claim 9

A transaxle comprising:
a transaxle casing;
an axle supported by the transaxle casing;
a transmission disposed in the transaxle casing;
a braking unit disposed in the transaxle casing, the braking unit configured to brake the axle, wherein the braking unit includes an operating shaft projecting from one side of the transaxle casing; and
a link mechanism, comprising:
a relay arm rotatably pivoted on a shaft that is disposed on the one side of the transaxle casing;
a brake arm fixed to the operating shaft, the brake arm configured to rotate between a braking position and an unbraking position of the braking unit together with the operating shaft;
a first link configured to manipulate the relay arm; and
a second link configured to join the relay arm to the brake arm, wherein the link mechanism is configured to constrain motion of the brake arm through the second link when the relay arm is moved from the unbraking position to the braking position,
wherein the link mechanism is configured such that when the brake arm is in the unbraking position, a connecting point of the second link to the brake arm is located to one side of a virtual reference line connecting a rotation center of the relay arm to the connecting point of the second link to the brake arm, and when the brake arm is in the braking position, the connecting point of the second link to the relay arm is located on an opposite side of the virtual reference line; and
a regulating unit configured to regulate rotation of the relay arm to an operating direction of the brake unit at the braking position.