초록 ▼

A hydrostatic transaxle assembly T is disclosed including a pump (11), a manifold portion (13), and right and left motor axle assemblies (15 and 17). Each of the motor axle assemblies includes a radial ball motor (41), the output of which is the input to a gear reduction section (53). Each gear redu

A hydrostatic transaxle assembly T is disclosed including a pump (11), a manifold portion (13), and right and left motor axle assemblies (15 and 17). Each of the motor axle assemblies includes a radial ball motor (41), the output of which is the input to a gear reduction section (53). Each gear reduction section (53) includes primary and secondary planetary gear sets (55) and (57) including a planet carrier (79) driving the respective axle shaft. The transaxle assembly T includes a locking differential and parking brake mechanism (87) which comprises an engagement mechanism (89) and an actuation mechanism (91). When the engagement mechanism (89) is disengaged, the motor assemblies (15) and (17) are free to operate at different speeds for normal differentiation. The actuation mechanism (91) can be actuated to either a locking differential mode (FIG. 8) or a parking brake mode (FIG. 9). In the locking differential mode, both of the planet carriers (79) are free to turn, but must turn at the same speed of rotation. In the parking brake mode, both of the planet carriers (79) are prevented from rotating by the lock gears (93) and (101).

대표청구항 ▼

A hydrostatic transaxle assembly for use on a vehicle having a source of motive power, a fluid pump driven by said source of power, and a pair of driven wheels; said transaxle assembly comprising manifold means and first and second motor assemblies; said manifold means defining a fluid inlet adapted

A hydrostatic transaxle assembly for use on a vehicle having a source of motive power, a fluid pump driven by said source of power, and a pair of driven wheels; said transaxle assembly comprising manifold means and first and second motor assemblies; said manifold means defining a fluid inlet adapted to be in fluid communication with the fluid outlet of the pump, and a fluid outlet adapted to be in fluid communication with the fluid inlet of the pump, and fluid passage means communicating between said fluid inlet and said fluid outlet of said manifold means, and flowing through said first and second motor assemblies, respectively; each of said first and second motor assemblies including a rotary fluid pressure actuated device and axle means operable to transmit the rotary output of said motor assembly to the respective driven wheel; said fluid pump comprising the sole source of fluid input to both of said first and second motor assemblies; each of said first and second motor assemblies including a housing and a gear set operably disposed between said fluid pressure actuated device and said axle means to transmit the rotary output of said fluid pressure actuated device to said axle means; each of said first and second motor assemblies including a gear member having its axis of rotation fixed relative to said housing of the respective motor assembly and a speed of rotation representative of the speed of rotation of the respective motor assembly; characterized by: (a) interwheel differential means comprising first and second lock gear members in toothed engagement with said gear members of said first and second motor assemblies, respectively; (b) said differential means further comprising engagement means operably associated with said first and second lock gear members, and including a single clutch means operable to fix said first and second lock gear members relative to each other; and (c) actuation means operably associated with said engagement means and selectively operable to move said engagement means between: (i) a first position in which said first and second lock gear members are free to rotate relative to each other, thus permitting normal differentiation between said first and second motor assemblies and the speeds of the driven wheels; and (ii) a second position in which said first and second lock gear members are fixed relative to each other, thus preventing said normal differentiation between said first and second motor assemblies and the speeds of the driven wheels.