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US 2002/0162313 A1Published application
Axle driving unit for a lawn tractor
AssigneesKanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd., Tuff Torq Corporation
InventorsRobert Abend, Norihiro Ishii, Ryota Ohashi
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
An axle driving unit having a housing (21, 22) for supporting a first axle (17) for mounting thereon a first driving wheel (3L), and a longer second axle (18) for mounting thereon a second driving wheel (3R). The axle driving unit is eccentrically mounted on a body frame (1) in proximity to the first driving wheel (3L). A speed change transmission (T) is disposed in an enlarged region of the housing that extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the axles (17, 18). The axle driving unit can thus be easily disposed to the side of a chute (6) of a rear-discharge type lawn tractor.
Claims28
An axle driving unit for use on a body frame having first and second driving wheels, comprising:
- a housing eccentrically disposed on the body frame in proximity to the first driving wheel, said housing comprising an enlarged region;
- a first axle having a first longitudinal axis and supported by said housing for mounting thereon the first driving wheel;
- a second axle having a second longitudinal axis and longer in length than said first axle for mounting thereon the second driving wheel, wherein said enlarged region extends substantially perpendicular to said first and said second axes of said first and said second axles;
- and
- a speed change transmission disposed within said enlarged region, wherein said speed change transmission comprises a substantially vertical input shaft projecting outwardly from said enlarged region, and an output shaft drivingly connected to said first and said second axles.
2 more elements
An axle driving unit for use on a body frame having first and second driving wheels, comprising:
- a housing eccentrically disposed on the body frame in proximity to the first driving wheel, said housing comprising an enlarged region;
- a first axle having a first longitudinal axis and supported by said housing for mounting thereon the first driving wheel;
- a second axle having a second longitudinal axis and longer in length than said first axle for mounting thereon the second driving wheel, wherein said enlarged region extends substantially perpendicular to said first and said second axes of said first and said second axles;
- and
- a hydraulic stepless speed change transmission disposed in said enlarged region and drivingly connected to said first and said second axles, wherein said hydraulic stepless speed change transmission comprises,
- a hydraulic pump having a substantially vertical input shaft,
- a hydraulic motor having an output shaft, and
- a center section for fluidly connecting said hydraulic pump and said hydraulic motor, said center section comprising a pump mounting surface spaced apart from said first and said second axles for mounting thereon said hydraulic pump, and a motor mounting surface in proximity to said first and said second axles for mounting thereon said hydraulic motor.
5 more elements
A lawn tractor comprising:
- a body frame having two sides, a forward portion and a rear portion;
- a prime mover disposed on said body frame;
- a first driving wheel disposed on one of the two sides of said body frame;
- a second driving wheel disposed on the other of the two sides of said body frame;
- a housing including an enlarged region, said housing eccentrically disposed toward one of the two sides of said body frame;
- a first axle projecting from said housing for mounting thereon said first driving wheel;
- a second axle projecting from said housing for mounting thereon said second driving wheel, said second axle longer in length than said first axle;
- a speed change transmission disposed within said enlarged region for inputting a driving force and changing the speed of the driving force for outputting to said first and said second axles;
- a mower disposed beneath said body frame and driven by said prime mover;
- a catcher attached to the rear portion of said body frame;
- and
- a longitudinally extending chute attached to said body frame, said chute guiding lawn grass cut by said mower into said catcher, wherein said enlarged region extends toward the forward portion of said body frame in parallel to said chute.
9 more elements
A lawn tractor comprising:
- a body frame having two sides, a forward portion and a rear portion;
- an engine having a vertical crank shaft disposed on said body frame;
- a first driving wheel disposed on one of the two sides of said body frame;
- a second driving wheel disposed on the other of the two sides of said body frame;
- a housing including an enlarged region, said housing eccentrically mounted to said body frame in proximity to said first driving wheel;
- a first axle projecting from said housing for mounting thereon said first driving wheel;
- a second axle projecting from said housing for mounting thereon said second driving wheel, said second axle longer in length than said first axle;
- a speed change transmission disposed within said enlarged region and drivingly connected to said first and said second axles, said speed change transmission including a substantially vertical input shaft projecting from an upper surface of said enlarged region for inputting a driving force into said speed change transmission from said engine, wherein said input shaft is disposed at the front of said enlarged region, eccentrically disposed toward said first axle;
- a mower disposed beneath said body frame and driven by said engine;
- a catcher attached to the rear portion of said body frame;
- and
- a longitudinally extending chute attached to said body frame for guiding lawn grass cut by said mower, wherein said enlarged region extends toward the forward portion of said body frame in parallel to said chute.
9 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.