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A drive apparatus having a compact gear reduction is disclosed, where an output pinion gear is fixed on a motor shaft and drives a reduction gear train to provide power to a gear drive powering at least one axle shaft or a differential. The reduction gear set includes multiple reduction gears dispos

A drive apparatus having a compact gear reduction is disclosed, where an output pinion gear is fixed on a motor shaft and drives a reduction gear train to provide power to a gear drive powering at least one axle shaft or a differential. The reduction gear set includes multiple reduction gears disposed between the output pinion gear and the axle or differential, and at least one of the plurality of reduction gears is rotatably disposed on the motor shaft. One of the plurality of reduction gears may be mounted on an axle shaft.

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1. A drive apparatus, comprising: a motor shaft engaged to and driven by a motor;an output pinion gear disposed about and fixed on the motor shaft;a first axle shaft engaged to and driven by a drive gear; anda reduction gear set comprising a plurality of reduction gears disposed between the output p

1. A drive apparatus, comprising: a motor shaft engaged to and driven by a motor;an output pinion gear disposed about and fixed on the motor shaft;a first axle shaft engaged to and driven by a drive gear; anda reduction gear set comprising a plurality of reduction gears disposed between the output pinion gear and the drive gear for transmitting rotating force from the motor shaft to the first axle shaft, wherein at least one of the plurality of reduction gears is rotatably disposed on the motor shaft and at least another of the plurality of reduction gears is rotatably disposed on the first axle shaft. 2. The drive apparatus of claim 1, further comprising: a second axle shaft engaged to and driven by the drive gear;wherein the at least one of the plurality of reduction gears comprises a first stage gear disposed about and rotatably journalled on the first axle shaft, the first stage gear comprising a first set of outer gear teeth drivingly engaged to the output pinion gear and a first inner diameter gear form; andwherein the at least another of the plurality of reduction gears comprises a second pinion gear disposed about and rotatably journalled on the first axle shaft and drivingly engaged to the first inner diameter gear form; andwherein the reduction gear set further comprises: a second stage gear disposed about and rotatably journalled on the motor shaft, the second stage gear comprising a second set of outer gear teeth drivingly engaged to the second pinion gear and a second inner diameter gear form; anda third pinion gear disposed about and rotatably journalled on the motor shaft and drivingly engaged to the second inner diameter gear form;wherein the drive gear comprises a differential bull gear drivingly engaged to the third pinion gear and a plurality of differential bevel gears engaged to the differential bull gear;a first output bevel gear disposed about and fixed on an end of the first axle shaft and drivingly engaged to the plurality of differential bevel gears; anda second output bevel gear disposed about and fixed on an end of the second axle shaft and drivingly engaged to the plurality of differential bevel gears. 3. The drive apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a plurality of pins disposed in radially oriented bores formed in the differential bull gear, each pin supporting one of the plurality of differential bevel gears. 4. The drive apparatus of claim 2, further comprising a first set of bearings disposed between the second pinion gear and the first axle shaft and a second set of bearings disposed between the third pinion gear and the motor shaft. 5. The drive apparatus of claim 2, further comprising: a stationary pin adjacent to a first face of the first stage gear;a brake stator capable of bearing against the first stage gear and positioned on a second face of the first stage gear opposite the first face;a brake rotor having an inner gear form engaging the teeth of the second pinion gear; anda brake puck capable of bearing against the brake rotor. 6. The drive apparatus of claim 5, further comprising a brake arm having a cam pocket in which the brake puck is disposed. 7. A hydraulic drive apparatus, comprising: a housing forming a hydraulic sump;a hydraulic pump disposed in the housing;a hydraulic motor disposed in the housing and driving a motor shaft;an output pinion gear fixed on the motor shaft;a first axle shaft having a first end extending from the housing and a second end engaged to and driven by a drive gear;a first stage gear disposed about and rotatably journalled on the first axle shaft, the first stage gear comprising a first set of outer gear teeth drivingly engaged to the output pinion gear and a first inner diameter gear form;a second pinion gear rotatably journalled on the first axle shaft and drivingly engaged to the first inner diameter gear form;a second stage gear rotatably journalled on the motor shaft, the second stage gear comprising a second set of outer gear teeth drivingly engaged to the second pinion gear and a second inner diameter gear form; anda third pinion gear rotatably journalled on the motor shaft and drivingly engaged to the second inner diameter gear form, and also drivingly engaged to the drive gear. 8. The hydraulic drive apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a first set of bearings disposed between the second pinion gear and the first axle shaft and a second set of bearings disposed between the third pinion gear and the motor shaft. 9. The hydraulic drive apparatus of claim 7, further comprising: a stationary pin adjacent to a first face of the first stage gear;a brake stator capable of bearing against the first stage gear and positioned on a second face of the first stage gear opposite the first face;a brake rotor having an inner gear form that engages the teeth of the second pinion gear; anda brake puck capable of bearing against the brake rotor. 10. The hydraulic drive apparatus of claim 9, further comprising a brake arm having a cam in which the brake puck is disposed. 11. The hydraulic drive apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a center section having a first running surface for the hydraulic motor on one side thereof and a thrust spacer mounted on a side of the center section opposite the first running surface. 12. The hydraulic drive apparatus of claim 11, wherein the thrust spacer comprises arms disposed about a portion of the circumference of the output pinion gear, wherein the arms clear the teeth of the output pinion gear and are adjacent to and capable of engaging the first stage gear in the event of thrust of the first stage gear toward the output pinion gear. 13. The hydraulic drive apparatus of claim 11, wherein the thrust spacer is comprised of a spacer cup having a circular cup wall, the spacer cup being mounted to the center section, wherein the output pinion gear is located in an internal volume of the spacer cup and openings are formed in the circular cup wall to permit oil flow from the sump into and out from the internal volume of the spacer cup and to provide an area for the output pinion gear to engage with the first stage gear. 14. The hydraulic drive apparatus of claim 13, wherein the spacer cup further comprises a first flange and a second flange, the first flange being shaped to fit within pockets formed on the center section to prevent rotation of the spacer cup with respect to the center section and the second flange abutting against a washer adjacent to the first stage gear. 15. The hydraulic drive apparatus of claim 11, further comprising a pump input shaft rotatably driving a pump cylinder block adjacent to a second running surface for the hydraulic pump formed on the center section and hydraulic porting in the center section to connect the hydraulic motor to the hydraulic pump. 16. The hydraulic drive apparatus of claim 7, further comprising a second axle shaft having a first end extending from the housing and a second end engaged to the drive gear, wherein the drive gear comprises a differential bull gear. 17. The hydraulic drive apparatus of claim 16, further comprising: a plurality of differential bevel gears engaged to the differential bull gear;a first output bevel gear fixed on one end of the first axle shaft and drivingly engaged to the plurality of differential bevel gears; anda second output bevel gear fixed on one end of the second axle shaft, and drivingly engaged to the plurality of differential bevel gears. 18. The hydraulic drive apparatus of claim 17, further comprising a plurality of pins in radially oriented bores formed in the differential bull gear, each pin supporting one of the plurality of differential bevel gears. 19. A drive apparatus, comprising: a housing;a pump and a motor connected to the pump;a motor shaft engaged to and driven by the motor;an output pinion gear fixed on the motor shaft;a differential gear drive disposed in the housing;a first axle shaft having a first end engaged to and driven by the differential gear drive and a second end extending from a first side of the housing;a second axle shaft having a first end engaged to and driven by the differential gear drive and a second end extending from a second side of the housing opposite the first side;a reduction gear set comprising a plurality of reduction gears disposed between the output pinion gear and the differential gear drive for transmitting rotating force from the motor shaft to the first axle shaft and the second axle shaft, wherein at least one of the plurality of reduction gears is rotatably disposed on the motor shaft. 20. The drive apparatus of claim 19, wherein at least two of the plurality of reduction gears are rotatably disposed on the motor shaft and at least two of the plurality of reduction gears have an axis of rotation that is coaxial with the axis of rotation of the first axle shaft and the second axle shaft. 21. The drive apparatus of claim 19, further comprising a center section comprising a motor running surface on a first side thereof and a thrust spacer mounted on a second side of the center section opposite the motor running surface. 22. The drive apparatus of claim 21, wherein the thrust spacer has arms disposed about a portion of the circumference of the output pinion gear, wherein the arms clear the teeth of the output pinion gear and are adjacent to and capable of engaging one of the plurality of reduction gears to prevent contact between said one of the plurality of reduction gears and the output pinion gear. 23. The drive apparatus of claim 21, wherein the thrust spacer is comprised of a spacer cup having a circular cup wall, the spacer cup being mounted to the center section, wherein the output pinion gear is located in an internal volume of the spacer cup and openings are formed in the circular cup wall to permit oil flow from a sump formed in the housing into and out from the internal volume of the spacer cup and to provide an area for the output pinion gear to engage with one of the plurality of reduction gears. 24. The drive apparatus of claim 23, wherein the spacer cup further comprises a first flange and a second flange, the first flange being shaped to fit within pockets formed on the center section to prevent rotation of the spacer cup with respect to the center section and the second flange abutting against a washer adjacent to one of the plurality of reduction gears.