초록 ▼

A transaxle comprised of a hydrostatic transmission mounted in a transmission housing and having a pair of hydraulic pumps and hydraulic motors operatively connected together through a center section mounted in the housing. First and second axle housings are mounted on opposite ends of the transmiss

A transaxle comprised of a hydrostatic transmission mounted in a transmission housing and having a pair of hydraulic pumps and hydraulic motors operatively connected together through a center section mounted in the housing. First and second axle housings are mounted on opposite ends of the transmission housing, with output axles mounted in the axle housings and connected to the respective hydraulic motors.

대표청구항 ▼

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame having a prime mover and a vehicle deck mounted thereon; a transmission housing mounted on the vehicle; an input shaft driven by the prime mover and extending into the transmission housing; a center section attached to the transmission ho

What is claimed is: 1. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame having a prime mover and a vehicle deck mounted thereon; a transmission housing mounted on the vehicle; an input shaft driven by the prime mover and extending into the transmission housing; a center section attached to the transmission housing and having hydraulic porting formed therein; a first hydraulic pump assembly rotatably disposed on a face of the center section and driven by the input shaft; a first hydraulic motor assembly rotatably disposed on the center section and connected to the first hydraulic pump assembly via the hydraulic porting such that the first hydraulic pump assembly and the first hydraulic motor assembly form a first closed loop transmission; a second hydraulic pump assembly rotatably disposed on the face of the center section; a second hydraulic motor assembly rotatably disposed on the center section and connected to the second hydraulic pump assembly via the hydraulic porting such that the second hydraulic pump assembly and the second hydraulic motor assembly form a second closed loop transmission; a first axle housing mounted to the transmission housing and having a first output axle extending therefrom, and a second axle housing mounted to the transmission housing and having a second output axle extending therefrom, wherein the axes of the first and second output axles are generally collinear; and a first belt connecting the prime mover to the input shaft, wherein the first belt is attached to the input shaft at a location that is below the top of the transmission housing with respect to the ground and above the axes of the first and second output axles with respect to the ground. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a second belt connecting the prime mover to the vehicle deck, wherein the second belt is located below the top of the transmission housing with respect to the ground and above the axes of the first and second output axles with respect to the ground. 3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein at least a portion of the second belt is located below the first belt with respect to the ground. 4. The vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a filter attached to the transmission housing, wherein the second belt is routed between the filter and the input shaft when the transmission housing is viewed from an end of the input shaft. 5. The vehicle of claim 2, further comprising a fan attached to the input shaft, wherein the second belt is routed from the prime mover to the deck on one side of the fan and routed from the deck to the prime mover on the other side of the fan when the transmission housing is viewed from an end of the input shaft. 6. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the input shaft is located closer to the front of the vehicle than the axes of the first and second output axles, and an output shaft of the prime mover that drives the first belt is located closer to the rear of the vehicle than the axes of the first and second output axles. 7. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a reservoir mounted to an upper portion of the transmission housing. 8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the prime mover is located on the vehicle on the opposite side of the transaxle assembly from the vehicle deck. 9. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame having a prime mover and a vehicle deck mounted thereon; a transmission housing mounted on the vehicle; an input shaft driven by the prime mover and extending through an external surface of the transmission housing; a first hydraulic pump assembly located in the transmission housing and driven by the input shaft, and a first hydraulic motor assembly hydraulically connected to the first hydraulic pump assembly to form a first closed loop transmission; a second hydraulic pump assembly located in the transmission housing, and a second hydraulic motor assembly hydraulically connected to the second hydraulic pump assembly to form a second closed loop transmission; a first output axle driven by the first hydraulic motor assembly and extending in a first direction; a second output axle driven by the second hydraulic motor assembly and extending in a second direction opposite the first direction, wherein the axes of the first and second output axles are generally collinear; a first belt connecting the prime mover to the input shaft, wherein the first belt is attached to the input shaft and positioned between the external surface of the transmission housing and the axes of the first and second output axles. 10. The vehicle of claim 9, further comprising a second belt connecting the prime mover to the vehicle deck, wherein the second belt is located below the external surface of the transmission housing and above the axes of the first and second output axles, with respect to the ground. 11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein at least a portion of the second belt is located below the first belt with respect to the ground. 12. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a filter attached to the transmission housing, wherein the second belt is routed between the filter and the input shaft when the transmission housing is viewed from an end of the input shaft. 13. The vehicle of claim 10, further comprising a fan attached to the input shaft, wherein the second belt is routed from the prime mover to the deck on one side of the fan and routed from the deck to the prime mover on the other side of the fan when the transmission housing is viewed from an end of the input shaft. 14. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the input shaft is located closer to the front of the vehicle than the axes of the first and second output axles, and an output shaft of the prime mover that drives the first belt is located closer to the rear of the vehicle than the axes of the first and second output axles. 15. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the prime mover is located on an opposite side of the transaxle assembly from the vehicle deck. 16. The vehicle of claim 9, wherein the first output axle is disposed in a first axle housing mounted on a first side of the transmission housing, and the second output axle is disposed in a second axle housing located on a second side of the transmission housing. 17. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame having a prime mover mounted thereon; a vehicle deck mounted on the vehicle frame; a transaxle assembly comprising a transmission housing and an input shaft extending into the transmission housing; a first axle housing mounted to the transmission housing and having a first output axle extending therefrom; a second axle housing mounted to the transmission housing and having a second output axle extending therefrom; and a drive belt connecting the prime mover to the input shaft, wherein the drive belt is attached to the input shaft at a location below the vehicle frame and above the axes of the first and second output axles, with respect to the ground. 18. The vehicle of claim 17, further comprising a deck belt connecting the prime mover to the vehicle deck, wherein at least a portion of the deck belt is located below the drive belt with respect to the ground. 19. The vehicle of claim 18, further comprising a filter attached to the transmission housing, wherein the deck belt is routed between the filter and the input shaft when the transmission housing is viewed from an end of the input shaft. 20. The vehicle of claim 18, further comprising a fan attached to the input shaft, wherein the deck belt is routed from the prime mover to the deck on one side of the fan and routed from the deck to the prime mover on the other side of the fan when the transmission housing is viewed from an end of the input shaft.