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An actuator assembly for use with a transmission drive system having a pair of transaxles where each transaxle includes an electric motor and a brake release pin extending from a brake housing, where the release pins are both moveable from a first, engaged position to a second, released position. Th

An actuator assembly for use with a transmission drive system having a pair of transaxles where each transaxle includes an electric motor and a brake release pin extending from a brake housing, where the release pins are both moveable from a first, engaged position to a second, released position. The actuator assembly includes a support bracket fastened to each transaxle, a sleeve attached to the support bracket and arranged generally parallel to the axes of the first and second release pins, a rod moveably disposed within the sleeve and extending from each end thereof, a pair of levers engaged to the two release pins and to the rod, a fulcrum attached to the support bracket, and an actuator arm engaged to the rod and pivotable about the fulcrum to longitudinally move the rod within the sleeve, wherein the actuator arm is moveable.

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1. An actuator assembly for use with a transmission drive system having a first transaxle and a second transaxle, the first transaxle having a first electric motor, a first brake mechanism disposed in a first brake housing, and a first release pin extending from the first brake housing, and the seco

1. An actuator assembly for use with a transmission drive system having a first transaxle and a second transaxle, the first transaxle having a first electric motor, a first brake mechanism disposed in a first brake housing, and a first release pin extending from the first brake housing, and the second transaxle having a second electric motor, a second brake mechanism disposed in a second brake housing, and a second release pin extending from the first brake housing, wherein the first release pin and the second release pin are both moveable from a first, engaged position to a second, released position in which each of the first and second release pins extends farther out from its respective brake housing, and wherein the first release pin and the second release pin extend in opposite directions along generally parallel axes, the actuator assembly comprising: a support bracket having a first end fastened to the first transaxle and a second end fastened to the second transaxle;a sleeve attached to the support bracket between the first end and the second end thereof, wherein the sleeve is disposed generally parallel to the axes of the first and second release pins;a rod moveably disposed within the sleeve and extending from each end thereof;a first lever engaged to the first release pin and further engaged to the rod adjacent a first terminus thereof;a second lever engaged to the second release pin and further engaged to the rod adjacent a second terminus thereof, opposite the first terminus;a fulcrum attached to the support bracket;an actuator arm engaged to the rod adjacent the first terminus thereof and pivotable about the fulcrum to longitudinally move the rod within the sleeve, wherein the actuator arm is moveable between a first position in which each of the first and second release pins is in the first, engaged position and a second position in which each of the first and second release pins is in the second, released position. 2. The actuator assembly of claim 1, further comprising a receiving bracket for the actuator arm having a first slot corresponding to the first position of the actuator arm and a second slot corresponding to the second position of the actuator arm. 3. The actuator assembly of claim 2, further comprising a switch mounted proximate to the receiving bracket, wherein the switch is closed by contact with the actuator arm in the second position. 4. The actuator assembly of claim 3, wherein the switch communicates with at least one drive controller for the first and second electric motors to prevent power from being supplied to the first and second electric motors when the actuator arm is in the second position. 5. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the first lever is straight and a first end of the first lever adjacent the first release pin acts as a fulcrum against the first brake housing when the actuator arm is moved to the second position. 6. The actuator assembly of claim 1, wherein the second lever is curved and a medial portion of the second lever adjacent the second release pin acts as a fulcrum against the second brake housing when the actuator arm is moved to the second position. 7. An electric drive assembly having a fail-safe brake mechanism, the electric drive assembly comprising: first and second electric drive mechanisms, each electric drive mechanism comprising an electric motor having a motor housing and driving an output axle;first and second fail-safe brake systems, each fail-safe brake system comprising an electro-mechanical brake engaged to one of the electric motors to provide a braking force to the electric motor when power is removed from the electro-mechanical brake, a brake housing joined to the motor housing, and a manual brake release mechanism having a release pin extending from the brake housing;an actuator assembly engaged to the respective release pins of the first and second fail-safe brake systems, the actuator assembly comprising: a support bracket fixedly disposed between the first electric drive mechanism and the second electric drive mechanism;a sleeve joined to the support bracket;a rod moveably disposed within the sleeve and extending from each end thereof;a first lever engaged to the release pin of the first fail-safe brake system and further engaged to the rod adjacent a first terminus thereof;a second lever engaged to the release pin of the second fail-safe brake system and further engaged to the rod adjacent a second terminus thereof, opposite the first terminus;a fulcrum attached to the support bracket;an actuator arm engaged to the rod adjacent the first terminus thereof and pivotable about the fulcrum to longitudinally move the rod within the sleeve, wherein the actuator arm is moveable between a first position in which each release pin is in a first, engaged position and a second position in which each release pin is in a second, released position. 8. The electric drive assembly of claim 7, further comprising a positioning member for the actuator arm having a first slot corresponding to the first position and a second slot corresponding to the second position. 9. The electric drive assembly of claim 8, further comprising a switch mounted proximate to the positioning member, wherein the switch is closed by contact with the actuator arm in the second position. 10. The electric drive assembly of claim 9, wherein the switch communicates with at least one drive controller for the electric motors to prevent power from being supplied to the electric motors when the actuator arm is in the second position. 11. The electric drive assembly of claim 7, wherein the first lever is straight and a first end of the first lever adjacent the corresponding release pin acts as a fulcrum against the brake housing when the actuator arm is moved to the second position. 12. The electric drive assembly of claim 7, wherein the second lever is curved and a medial portion of the second lever adjacent the corresponding release pin acts as a fulcrum against the brake housing when the actuator arm is moved to the second position. 13. The electric drive assembly of claim 7, wherein the first electric drive mechanism comprises a first gear housing and the second electric drive mechanism comprises a second gear housing, and the support bracket is joined to the first gear housing and the second gear housing.