Hydrostatic transmission with integral actuator
AssigneeDelta Systems, Inc.
InventorsHarlin J. Trefz, Ted Wetzel
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A hydrostatic transmission with an integral actuator for a vehicle having an engine and a frame. The assembly includes a transmission housing for connection to a vehicle frame, a shaft for coupling the hydrostatic transmission to an output of a vehicle engine, a pump driven by the shaft and an actuator operatively coupled to the pump that is attached to the transmission housing.
Claims16
A hydrostatic transmission with an integral actuator for a vehicle having an engine and a frame, comprising:
- a) a transmission housing connected to said vehicle frame;
- b) a shaft extending into said transmission housing adapted to be coupled to said engine of said vehicle;
- c) a first pump in said transmission housing operably connected to said shaft, wherein rotation of said shaft produces a flow of fluid from said first pump that is controlled to propel said vehicle;
- d) a second pump in said transmission housing operably connected to said shaft, wherein rotation of said shaft produces a flow of fluid from said second pump;
- e) an actuator at least partially extending from said transmission housing coupled to said second pump;
- and
- f) a valve operably connected to one of said second pump and said actuator for selectively communicating fluid pressure to said actuator to selectively extend and retract said actuator.
A method of selectively extending and retracting an integral actuator contained at least partially within a hydrostatic transmission housing of a vehicle having an engine, comprising:
- a) coupling a shaft of a hydrostatic transmission to an engine;
- b) coupling said shaft of said hydrostatic transmission to a pump to create fluid pressure in said pump;
- and
- c) selectively communicating said fluid pressure from the pump to said integral actuator to selectively extend and retract a portion of said actuator that extends from said housing.
A method of engaging a PTO shaft comprising:
- a) providing a vehicle having a body, an engine, a hydrostatic transmission including a transmission housing with an integral actuator that extends from said transmission housing and a PTO shaft;
- b) selectively communicating fluid pressure to said integral actuator;
- and
- c) engaging the PTO shaft by movement of a portion of said actuator that extends from said transmission housing.
A control system for controlling a PTO shaft on a riding law mower having an engine, comprising:
- a) a hydrostatic transmission with an integral actuator, said hydrostatic transmission with integral actuator including a housing, a shaft extending into said housing that is coupled to an engine of a vehicle, a first pump in said housing operably connected to said shaft, wherein rotation of said shaft produces a flow of fluid from said first pump that is controlled to propel said vehicle, a second pump in said housing operably connected to said shaft, wherein rotation of said shaft produces a flow of fluid from said second pump, and an actuator at least partially within said housing coupled to said second pump;
- and
- b) a valve operably connected to one of said second pump and said actuator for selectively communicating fluid pressure to said actuator to selectively move said actuator from a first position to a second position;
- and
- c) a connector link operably connected to said actuator and said PTO shaft, wherein movement of said actuator from said first position to said second position engages said PTO shaft.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.