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US 8,464,610 B1Granted
Drive device
AssigneeHydro-Gear Limited Partnership
InventorsThomas J. Langenfeld, Michael L. Bennett, Nathan W. Bonny
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive device comprising improved components is described. The drive device may be of various known types that require the use of a steering clutch and a reduction gear set. The drive device may be applied to, but is not limited to, a walk-behind vehicle that may include a snow thrower or blower.
Claims15
A center section for use in a drive device for a vehicle, the center section comprising:
- a pump mounting portion comprising a pump running surface and a first pair of kidney ports formed on the pump running surface;
- a motor mounting portion comprising a motor running surface formed coplanar with the pump running surface and a second pair of kidney ports formed on the motor running surface;
- a first fluid passage structure engaged to both the pump mounting portion and the motor mounting portion, the first fluid passage structure having a first porting formed therein to fluidly connect one of the first pair of kidney ports with one of the second pair of kidney ports;
- a second fluid passage structure engaged to both the pump mounting portion and the motor mounting portion, the second fluid passage structure having a second porting formed therein to fluidly connect the other of the first pair of kidney ports with the other of the second pair of kidney ports;
- a central rib integrally formed with the first and the second fluid passage structures and disposed between the pump mounting portion and the motor mounting portion, the central rib comprising a first end extending to a first side of the center section, and a second end extending to a second side of the center section, opposite the first side;
- a first strengthening rib extending from the first side of the center section to the pump mounting portion;
- a second strengthening rib extending from the second side of the center section to the pump mounting portion;
- a third strengthening rib extending from the first side of the center section to the motor mounting portion;
- a fourth strengthening rib extending from the second side of the center section to the motor mounting portion;
- and
- a plurality of areas located between the first side of the center section and the second side of the center section, wherein each area comprises a reduced amount of material compared to the amount of material in each of the strengthening ribs.
8 more elements
A drive device driven by a prime mover, the drive device comprising:
- a housing having a first side and a second side formed opposite the first side;
- a first axle extending from the first side of the housing, and a second axle extending from the second side of the housing;
- a hydraulic pump driven by the prime mover;
- a hydraulic motor driven by the hydraulic pump;
- a center section disposed within the housing, the center section comprising:
- a pump mounting portion comprising a pump running surface, wherein the hydraulic pump is rotatably disposed on the pump running surface;
- a motor mounting portion comprising a motor running surface formed coplanar with the pump running surface, wherein the hydraulic motor is rotatably disposed on the motor running surface, and wherein the axis of rotation of the hydraulic pump and the axis of rotation of the hydraulic motor define a first plane;
- a first fluid passage structure and a second fluid passage structure, each fluid passage structure engaged to the pump mounting portion and the motor mounting portion;
- porting formed inside each of the first and the second fluid passage structures, the porting fluidly connecting the pump running surface with the motor running surface;
- and
- a plurality of strengthening ribs engaged to the pump mounting portion, the motor mounting portion and the first and second fluid passage structures, wherein at least a portion of the plurality of strengthening ribs are formed in a generally diamond-shaped pattern, and at least one of the plurality of strengthening ribs lies in a second plane that is perpendicular to both the pump running surface and the first plane;
- a clutch mechanism supported by the center section and driven by the hydraulic motor;
- a first gear train selectively driven by the clutch mechanism and drivingly engaged to the first axle;
- and
- a second gear train selectively driven by the clutch mechanism and drivingly engaged to the second axle.
12 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.