Hydraulic continuously variable transmission

A hydraulic continuously variable transmission, comprising:

• a hollow transmission housing, comprising a base portion and an auxiliary portion, the auxiliary portion for containing a swash plate adjustment mechanism, said auxiliary portion extending upwardly from the base portion of said housing;
• a motor casing disposed within said transmission housing;
• a motor pivot member supported by said motor casing;
• a swash plate plunger pump disposed within said housing and comprising a pump swash plate and a pump cylinder;
• a swash plate plunger motor rotatably supported on said motor pivot member and comprising a motor swash plate and a motor cylinder;
• and
• an output shaft extending through and supporting said pump cylinder and said motor cylinder, said output shalt being rotatably supported in said housing through a plurality of rotatable bearings;
• wherein said motor swash plate is supported by said motor pivot member so as to be pivotally movable, with a swash plate angle thereof being variably adjustable by the swash plate adjustment mechanism,
• the swash elate adjustment mechanism comprising
• a first shaft extending parallel to said output shaft,
• a second shaft extending parallel to and substantially co-linear with said first shaft, the first shaft driven for rotation by the second shaft through a geared idler shaft,
• an actuator which drives said second shaft, the actuator positioned above and adjacent to an outer end of said swash plate plunger pump such that the actuator does not overlie the swash plate plunger pump and swash plate plunger motor, and
• an arm connecting said motor pivot member to said first shaft, the connection permitting an axial translation of the arm with respect to the first shaft.