Axle driving apparatus having an improved hydraulic fluid bypass mechanism

For use in connection with a hydrostatic transmission comprised of a hydraulic pump having pump pistons and a hydraulic motor having motor pistons in fluid communication through a center section, a bypass mechanism comprising:

• a rotatable bypass actuator rod having a generally flat surface and an opposite generally arcuate surface;
• and
• a plate positioned adjacent to the bypass actuator rod and adapted to lift the hydraulic motor from the center section in response to rotation of the bypass actuator rod from a first position in which the generally flat surface is positioned adjacent to the plate to a second position in which the generally arcuate surface engages the plate;
• wherein the arcuate surface of the bypass actuator rod has a cross sectional diameter that is selected to prevent damage to the hydraulic motor when the actuator rod is in the second position.

A hydrostatic transmission, comprising:

• a hydraulic motor having motor pistons;
• a center section on which the hydraulic motor is rotatably mounted;
• a rotatable bypass actuator rod having a generally flat surface and an opposite generally arcuate surface;
• and
• a plate positioned adjacent to the bypass actuator rod and adapted to lift the hydraulic motor from the center section in response to rotation of the bypass actuator rod from a first position in which the generally flat surface is positioned adjacent to the plate to a second position in which the generally arcuate surface engages the plate;
• wherein the arcuate surface of the bypass actuator rod has a cross sectional diameter that is selected to prevent damage to the hydraulic motor when the actuator rod is in the second position.