Drive assembly
AssigneeHydro-Gear Limited Partnership
InventorMichael L. Bennett
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A drive apparatus driven by a prime mover and having a variable speed transmission disposed within a housing is disclosed. A power take off is driven by an output shaft of the prime mover and selectively drives a power take off output shaft. The variable speed transmission drives a transmission output shaft, which in turn drives a first clutch mechanism and a second clutch mechanism. A first drive axle is engaged to and selectively driven by the first clutch mechanism and a second drive axle is engaged to and selectively driven by the second clutch mechanism.
Claims26
A drive apparatus, comprising:
- a power take off disposed in a housing and driving a power take off output shaft;
- a hydraulic transmission disposed in the housing and comprising a pump engaged to and driven by a pump input shaft and a motor engaged to and driving a motor shaft, wherein both the pump and the motor are disposed on and hydraulically connected through a center section;
- a first output clutch mechanism driven by the motor shaft and drivingly engaged to a first output axle, wherein the first output axle has a first end disposed external to the housing and a second end disposed internal to the housing, the second end of the first output axle being adjacent to a first side of the hydraulic transmission;
- and
- a second output clutch mechanism driven by the hydraulic transmission and drivingly engaged to a second output axle, wherein the second output axle has a first end disposed external to the housing and a second end disposed internal to the housing, the second end of the second output axle being adjacent to a second side of the hydraulic transmission opposite to the first side thereof.
A drive apparatus, comprising:
- a power take off disposed in a housing and driving a power take off output shaft;
- a variable speed transmission disposed in the housing and driving a motor shaft, wherein the power take off and the variable speed transmission are driven by a common input shaft that extends into the housing perpendicular to the power take off output shaft;
- a first output clutch mechanism driven by the motor shaft and drivingly engaged to a first output axle, wherein the first output axle has a first end disposed external to the housing and a second end disposed internal to the housing, the second end of the first output axle being adjacent to a first side of the variable speed transmission;
- and
- a second output clutch mechanism driven by the variable speed transmission and drivingly engaged to a second output axle, wherein the second output axle has a first end disposed external to the housing and a second end disposed internal to the housing, the second end of the second output axle being adjacent to a second side of the variable speed transmission opposite to the first side thereof.
A drive apparatus for selectively driving a first axle shaft and a second axle shaft, the drive apparatus comprising:
- a first clutch assembly engaged to and selectively driving the first axle shaft, and a second clutch assembly engaged to and selectively driving the second axle shaft, wherein each clutch assembly separately comprises:
- a first jack shaft;
- an output bevel gear disposed on the first jack shaft and comprising a first side and a second side formed opposite the first side;
- an input spur gear comprising a first side and a second side formed opposite the first side, wherein the input spur gear is disposed on the first jack shaft and axially movable between a first position, in which the input spur gear is engaged to the output bevel gear, and at least a second position, in which the input spur gear is not engaged to the output bevel gear;
- an actuator fork rotatably disposed between the output bevel gear and the input spur gear;
- and
- a spring engaged to the input spur gear, wherein the spring biases the input spur gear toward the first position.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.