Dual range transaxle transmission

In a transaxle transmission including a casing having side and opposite end walls, output shaft means for connection to a machine to be driven thereby, said output shaft means having axially aligned extensions respectively extending through said casing end walls, an input shaft extending through said casing side wall generally perpendicular with respect to said output shaft means, selectively actuable change speed gearing means in said casing drivingly connected to said output shaft means for selectively providing predetermined forward and reverse gear ratios, means for drivingly connecting said input shaft to said gearing means, and manually actuable means coupled to said gearing means for shifting the same to provide said predetermined ratios, the improvement wherein said connecting means includes gear ratio range selector means coupled between said input shaft and gearing means for selecting high and low ranges of ratios, said selector means including at least one intermediate shaft in said casing in spaced, parallel relationship with said input shaft, second means for drivingly connecting said intermediate shaft to said first-named gearing means, second selectively actuable change speed gearing means in said casing for drivingly connecting said input shaft to said intermediate shaft thereby to provide high and low speed reduction ratios between said input and intermediate shafts, and second manually actuable means coupled to said second change speed gearing means for shifting the same to provide said high and low ratios, said output shaft means including first and second output shafts in said casing respectively terminating in said extensions, said first-named gearing means including differential gearing connecting said first and second output shafts, a second intermediate shaft in spaced, parallel relationship with said output shafts, and selectively actuable change speed gearing on at least said second intermediate shaft and drivingly connected to said differential, said second connecting means including a first sleeve on said second intermediate shaft, and bevel gearing drivingly connecting said first-named intermediate shaft to said first sleeve, said change speed gearing including a second sleeve on one of said output shafts, gearing drivingly connecting said first and second sleeves, a cluster of at least two gears having different numbers of teeth on said second sleeve and rotatable therewith, a reverse gear driven by one gear of said cluster, a first change speed gear axially movable on said second intermediate shaft between a first position and a second position in engagement with one gear of said cluster, a second change speed gear axially movable on said second intermediate shaft between a first position and a second position in engagement with the other gear of said cluster, one of said change speed gears in its first position engaging said reverse gear, said differential including a cage, and gearing drivingly connecting said second intermediate shaft to said cage, said first-named manually actuable means including first and second elements in said casing for respectively moving said first and second change speed gears between the positions thereof, and a manual actuating element extending out of said casing.