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A pair of substantially mirror image, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxles (HZTs) that may be joined to form an integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle. The control arm and brake mechanism associated with the HZTs can be mounted on either the inboard or outboard side of the HZT casing. In one embo

A pair of substantially mirror image, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxles (HZTs) that may be joined to form an integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle. The control arm and brake mechanism associated with the HZTs can be mounted on either the inboard or outboard side of the HZT casing. In one embodiment, an integrated, inboard brake mechanism is provided for the joined HZTs.

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1. An integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle, comprising:a first casing carrying a first hydraulic pump driven by a first input shaft and a first hydraulic motor drivingly linked to a first axle shaft, the first hydraulic pump being in fluid communication with the first hydraulic motor to tran

1. An integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle, comprising:a first casing carrying a first hydraulic pump driven by a first input shaft and a first hydraulic motor drivingly linked to a first axle shaft, the first hydraulic pump being in fluid communication with the first hydraulic motor to transfer a motive force received via the first input shaft to the first hydraulic motor to drive the first axle shaft;a second casing carrying a second hydraulic pump driven by a second input shaft and a second hydraulic motor drivingly linked to a second axle shaft, the second hydraulic pump being in fluid communication with the second hydraulic motor to transfer a motive force received via the second input shaft to the second hydraulic motor to drive the second axle shaft;wherein the first casing has a plurality of first bosses and the second casing has a plurality of second bosses each adapted to engage a corresponding one of the plurality of first bosses when the first casing is fastened to the second casing, each of the first and second bosses having an opening for accepting a fastener used to fasten the first casing to the second casing;wherein the first casing has a first flat surface and the second casing has a second flat surface adapted to engage the first flat surface when the first casing is fastened to the second casing; andand wherein the bosses and the flat surfaces are arranged to extend outward from their respective casings to create an area of space between the first casing and the second casing when the first casing is fastened to the second casing. 2. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 1, further comprising a bracket attached between the first casing and the second casing. 3. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 1, further comprising a threaded rod engaged to the first casing and the second casing. 4. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 1, further comprising a threaded rod attached between the first casing and second casing, the threaded rod being attached using threaded nuts. 5. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 2, wherein the bracket includes openings for attaching the transaxle to a vehicle frame. 6. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 1, wherein the first hydraulic motor comprises a first brake shaft that is a part of a driving connection between the first hydraulic motor and the first axle shaft and wherein the transaxle further comprises a brake mechanism mounted to an end of the first brake shaft that extends from the first casing into the space. 7. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 6, wherein the first brake shaft comprises a motor shaft driven by the first hydraulic motor. 8. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 6, wherein the second hydraulic motor comprises a second brake shaft that is a part of a driving connection between the second hydraulic motor and the second axle shaft and wherein the brake mechanism is further mounted to an end of the second brake shaft that extends from the second casing into the space. 9. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 8, wherein the second brake shaft comprises a motor shaft driven by the second hydraulic motor. 10. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 8, wherein the brake mechanism comprises a disk brake mechanism. 11. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 1, wherein the first hydraulic motor comprises a first brake shaft that is a part of a driving connection between the first hydraulic motor and the first axle shaft and wherein the transaxle further comprises a first brake mechanism mounted to an end of the first brake shaft that extends from the first casing opposite the space. 12. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 11, wherein the first brake shaft comprises a first motor shaft driven by the first hydraulic motor. 13. The integra ted, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 11, wherein the second hydraulic motor comprises a second brake shaft that is a part of a driving connection between the second hydraulic motor and the second axle shaft and wherein the transaxle further comprises a second brake mechanism mounted to an end of the second motor shaft that extends from the second casing opposite the space. 14. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 13 wherein the second brake shaft comprises a second motor shaft driven by the second hydraulic motor. 15. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 1, further comprising a first swash plate mounted on a first trunnion arm for controlling fluid that flows from the first hydraulic pump to the first hydraulic motor and a first control arm connected to the first trunnion arm and positioned within the space. 16. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 15, further comprising a second swash plate mounted on a second trunnion arm for controlling fluid that flows from the second hydraulic pump to the second hydraulic motor and a second control arm connected to the second trunnion arm and positioned within the space. 17. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 1, wherein the first hydraulic pump and the first hydraulic motor are mounted on a first center section and the second hydraulic motor and the second hydraulic pump are mounted on a second center section and the first center section is a substantial or full mirror image of the second center section. 18. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 1, wherein each of the first and second casings comprise a first casing section having a cavity in which the hydrostatic pump and the hydrostatic motor are disposed and a second casing section that covers the cavity. 19. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 18, wherein the first and second casings are joined along a substantially vertical junction surface. 20. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 19, wherein each first casing section is joined to the second casing section along a substantially vertical junction surface. 21. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 20, wherein each second casing section comprises an end cap. 22. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 21, wherein the bosses are formed on the second casing sections. 23. An integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle, comprising:a first zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle having a first casing in which is carried a first hydraulic pump driven by a first input shaft and a first hydraulic motor having a first motor shaft drivingly linked to a first axle shaft, the first hydraulic pump being in fluid communication with the first hydraulic motor to transfer a motive force received via the first input shaft to the first hydraulic motor and the first motor shaft to drive the first axle shaft; anda second zero-turn, transaxle having a second casing that is attached to the first casing, the second casing carrying a second hydraulic pump driven by a second input shaft and a second hydraulic motor having a second motor shaft drivingly linked to a second axle shaft, the second hydraulic pump being in fluid communication with the second hydraulic motor to transfer a motive force received via the second input shaft to the second hydraulic motor and the second hydraulic motor shaft to drive the second axle shaft;wherein the first motor shaft extends from the first casing towards the second casing, the second motor shaft extends from the second casing towards the first casing, and a brake mechanism is attached to the first motor shaft and the second motor shaft. 24. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 23, wherein the brake mechanism comprises a first disk brake mounted on the first motor shaft and a second disk brake mounted on the second motor shaft adapted to frictionally engage the firs t disk brake. 25. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 24, wherein the distance between the first motor shaft and the second motor shaft is sufficiently small to prevent the first disk brake and the second disk brake from being removed from their respective motor shafts. 26. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 25, wherein the first disk brake and the second disk brake are in slipping engagement when the brake mechanism is not actuated. 27. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 26, further comprising a brake actuator mounted to the first casings for actuating the brake mechanism by driving the first disk brake into frictional engagement with the second disk brake. 28. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 27, wherein the brake actuator comprises a wire form having an arm for rotating the brake actuator and a cam for moving the first disk brake into frictional engagement with the second disk brake in response to the arm rotating. 29. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 28, wherein the first casing comprises a groove in which the wire form brake actuator is positioned. 30. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 29, further comprising a first brake puck positioned between the brake actuator and the first brake disk and a second brake puck positioned between the second brake disk and the second housing. 31. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 30, wherein the first casing has a first groove for accepting the first brake puck, the first groove and the first brake disk cooperating to prevent the dislodging of the first brake puck from the first groove. 32. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 31, wherein the second casing has a second groove for accepting the second brake puck, the second groove and the second brake disk cooperating to prevent the dislodging of the second brake puck from the second groove. 33. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 32, further comprising a brake puck plate disposed between the first brake puck and the first casing and positioned within the first groove. 34. An integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle, comprising:a first zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle and a second, zero-turn hydrostatic transaxle, wherein the first zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle is a substantial mirror image of the second zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle and the first and second zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxles are adapted to be fastened to one another and each has a casing in which is carried a hydraulic pump driven by an input shaft and a hydraulic motor having a motor shaft drivingly linked to an axle shaft, the hydraulic pump being in fluid communication with the hydraulic motor to transfer a motive force received via the input shaft to the hydraulic motor and the motor shaft to drive the axle shaft; andwherein the motor shaft extends from the casing to allow a brake mechanism to be attached to either the inboard or outboard side of the casing. 35. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 34, wherein each of the first zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle and the second zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle further comprise a swash plate mounted on a trunnion arm for controlling the amount of fluid that is forced from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor and wherein the casing is adapted to allow a control arm used to rotate the trunnion arm to be mounted to either the inboard or outboard side of the casing. 36. An integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle, comprising:a first casing section having a first cavity in which is disposed a first hydraulic pump driven by a first input shaft and a first hydraulic motor drivingly linked to a first axle shaft, the first hydraulic pump being in fluid communication with the first hydraulic motor to transfer a motive force received via the first input shaft to the first hydraulic motor t o drive the first axle shaft;a second casing section having a second cavity in which is disposed a second hydraulic pump driven by a second input shaft and a second hydraulic motor drivingly linked to a second axle shaft, the second hydraulic pump being in fluid communication with the second hydraulic motor to transfer a motive force received via the second input shaft to the second hydraulic motor to drive the second axle shaft; anda third casing section adapted to substantially cover the first cavity and the second cavity when the first casing section is joined with the second casing section. 37. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 36, wherein fasteners used to attach the first casing section to the second casing section pass through openings in the third casing section. 38. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 37, wherein fluid may pass between the first cavity and the second cavity via one or more openings in the third casing section. 39. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 38, wherein the third casing section comprises a plate that is disposed entirely within the interior of the joined first and second casing sections. 40. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 39, wherein fluid may pass between the first cavity and the second cavity via one or more openings in the third casing section. 41. The integrated, zero-turn, hydrostatic transaxle of claim 40, wherein a sealant is used in cooperation with the third casing section to prevent flow of fluid between the first cavity and the second cavity.