Drive assembly
AssigneeHydro-Gear Limited Partnership
InventorThomas J. Langenfeld
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A variable speed transaxle is disposed in a transaxle housing and drives a pair of axles extending horizontally from opposite sides of the housing. An external mounting surface is formed on the housing to mount a prime mover thereon. A power take-off assembly may be engaged to and driven by the prime mover output shaft and disposed at least partially in the transaxle housing. A power take-off shaft powered by the prime mover extends horizontally from the housing in a direction perpendicular to the axles. A pair of clutch assemblies using a plurality of gears may be engaged to the axle shafts to selectively engage and drive each axle shaft.
Claims25
A drive assembly for use with a prime mover, the drive assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a center section disposed in the housing and comprising a pump running surface, a motor running surface and hydraulic porting formed in the center section to connect the pump running surface to the motor running surface;
- a pump cylinder block rotatably disposed on the pump running surface;
- a pump shaft engaged to and driven by the prime mover and also engaged to and rotating the pump cylinder block;
- a motor cylinder block rotatably disposed on the motor running surface;
- a motor shaft engaged to and driven by the motor cylinder block;
- a thrust bearing secured to and supported by the center section;
- and
- a plurality of axial motor pistons disposed in the motor cylinder block, wherein one end of each motor piston engages the thrust bearing.
A drive assembly for use with a prime mover, the drive assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a center section disposed in the housing and comprising a pump running surface, a motor running surface and hydraulic porting formed in the center section to connect the pump running surface to the motor running surface;
- a pump cylinder block rotatably disposed on the pump running surface and a motor cylinder block rotatably disposed on the motor running surface;
- a pump shaft engaged to and driven by the prime mover and also engaged to and rotating the pump cylinder block, wherein the pump shaft is entirely supported by the center section;
- and
- a motor shaft engaged to and driven by the motor cylinder block.
A drive assembly for use with a prime mover, the drive assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a center section disposed in the housing and comprising a pump running surface, a motor running surface and hydraulic porting formed in the center section to connect the pump running surface to the motor running surface;
- a pump cylinder block rotatably disposed on the pump running surface and a motor cylinder block rotatably disposed on the motor running surface;
- a pump shaft engaged to and driven by the prime mover and also engaged to and rotating the pump cylinder block and a motor shaft engaged to and driven by the motor cylinder block;
- a first axle shaft and a second axle shaft, wherein each axle shaft comprises a first end disposed external to the housing and a second end supported by a hearing located in the center section.
A drive assembly for use with a prime mover, the drive assembly comprising:
- a housing;
- a center section disposed in the housing;
- a pump cylinder block and a motor cylinder block both located in the housing and rotatably disposed on the center section;
- a pump shaft engaged to and driven by the prime mover and also engaged to and rotating the pump cylinder block and a motor shaft engaged to and driven by the motor cylinder block;
- and
- a power take-off assembly comprising a power take-off shaft having a first end disposed in and supported by the center section.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.