A clutch mechanism for a vehicle drive uses a drive gear having an interface element rotatable therewith, and a hub driving an output shaft. A ring is disposed proximate to and selectively engagable with the interface element. An adjustment mechanism moves the ring between an engaged position with t
A clutch mechanism for a vehicle drive uses a drive gear having an interface element rotatable therewith, and a hub driving an output shaft. A ring is disposed proximate to and selectively engagable with the interface element. An adjustment mechanism moves the ring between an engaged position with the interface element to transfer rotational force from the drive gear to the shaft, and a disengaged position in which the ring is disengaged from the interface element. At least one spring engaged to the hub and the ring biases the ring to the engaged position.
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1. A drive mechanism for a vehicle, the drive mechanism comprising: a drive gear comprising a first side, a second side opposite the first side and gear teeth formed on an edge surface between the first and second sides;an interface element engaged to the drive gear and rotatable therewith;an axle s
1. A drive mechanism for a vehicle, the drive mechanism comprising: a drive gear comprising a first side, a second side opposite the first side and gear teeth formed on an edge surface between the first and second sides;an interface element engaged to the drive gear and rotatable therewith;an axle shaft engaged to a hub, the hub comprising a plurality of hub slots;a ring disposed proximate to, and selectively engagable with, the interface element, the ring comprising a plurality of protrusions extending therefrom, wherein each protrusion may be selectively located within one of the plurality of hub slots, whereby the hub rotates with the ring;an adjustment mechanism capable of moving the ring between a first position, in which the ring is engaged to the interface element to transfer rotational force from the drive gear to the axle shaft, and a second position, in which the ring is disengaged from the interface element; andat least one spring engaged to the hub and the ring to bias the ring toward the first position. 2. The drive mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of interface slots formed on the interface element, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions on the ring engages one of the plurality of interface slots when the ring is in the first position. 3. The drive mechanism of claim 2, wherein the width of each interface slot is greater than the width of each protrusion. 4. The drive mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of openings on the drive gear and extending from the first side to the second side thereof, and a plurality of extensions formed on the interface element, each extension engaged to an opening of the plurality of openings on the drive gear. 5. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least one spring is engaged to the hub by at least one snap fitting. 6. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the at least one spring comprises a plurality of fingers, wherein each finger is engaged to one of the plurality of protrusions. 7. The drive mechanism of claim 1, comprising a plurality of springs, wherein each spring is engaged to the hub and to one of the plurality of protrusions. 8. The drive mechanism of claim 7, wherein each spring is slidingly engaged to one of the plurality of protrusions, such that a first location on each spring is engaged to one of the plurality of protrusions when the ring is engaged to the interface element, and a second location on each spring is engaged to one of the plurality of protrusions when the ring is disengaged from the interface element. 9. The drive mechanism of claim 7, wherein the adjustment mechanism is further proximate to the interface element. 10. The drive mechanism of claim 1, wherein the adjustment mechanism is proximate to the ring. 11. The drive mechanism of claim 1, further comprising a motor output shaft having an output gear formed thereon to power the drive gear, the motor output shaft engaged to and driven by a hydraulic motor. 12. A drive mechanism for a vehicle having a pair of driven axles having a common axis of rotation, the drive mechanism comprising: a transmission disposed in a housing and powering a drive gear,a first clutch mechanism disposed on a first side of the drive gear and a second clutch mechanism disposed on a second side of the drive gear, each clutch mechanism being disposed in the housing and comprising: an interface element engaged to one of the sides of the drive gear to rotate therewith;a hub drivingly engaged to one of the pair of driven axles;a ring element having a plurality of protrusions formed therewith, each of the plurality of protrusions being engaged to a portion of the hub whereby the hub rotates with the ring element, wherein each of the plurality of protrusions are engageable with one of a plurality of openings formed on the interface element, the ring element being moveable axially along the common axis of rotation between an engaged position where the ring element is engaged with and driven by the interface element and a disengaged position where the ring element is disengaged from the interface element;an actuator extending between the interface element and the ring element, whereby the actuator is capable of moving the ring element axially away from the interface element from the engaged position to the disengaged position; anda spring disposed on the hub and having a plurality of elements engaged to the ring element to bias the ring element to the engaged position. 13. The drive mechanism of claim 12, wherein the transmission comprises a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor disposed on a common center section, the hydraulic motor is engaged to and drives a motor output shaft and the hydraulic pump is driven by an input shaft extending into the housing. 14. The drive mechanism of claim 13, wherein the input shaft has a first axis of rotation and the motor output shaft has a second axis of rotation that is parallel to and offset from the first axis of rotation, and the first and second axes of rotation are perpendicular to the common axis of rotation of the pair of driven axles. 15. The drive mechanism of claim 14, wherein each actuator comprises a fork, and each fork is rotatable by a respective handle that is located external to the housing, and each fork has an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the common axis of rotation of the pair of driven axles. 16. The drive mechanism of claim 13, further comprising a worm gear formed on the motor output shaft and engaged to a gear form on the drive gear. 17. The drive mechanism of claim 12, comprising a plurality of springs, wherein each spring is engaged to the hub and slidingly engaged to one of the plurality of protrusions, such that a first location on each spring is engaged to one of the plurality of protrusions when the ring element is engaged to the interface element, and a second location on each spring is engaged to one of the plurality of protrusions when the ring element is disengaged from the interface element. 18. A drive mechanism for a vehicle having a pair of driven axles having a common axis of rotation, the drive mechanism comprising: a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor disposed on a common center section located in a housing, wherein the hydraulic pump is driven by an input shaft extending into the housing and having a first axis of rotation and the hydraulic motor is engaged to and drives a motor output shaft having a second axis of rotation that is parallel to and offset from the first axis of rotation, and the first and second axes of rotation are perpendicular to the common axis of rotation of the pair of driven axles;a drive gear driven by the motor output shaft and having a first side and a second side; anda first clutch mechanism disposed on a first side of the drive gear and a second clutch mechanism disposed on a second side of the drive gear, each clutch mechanism being disposed in the housing and comprising: an interface element engaged to one of the sides of the drive gear to rotate therewith;a hub drivingly engaged to one of the pair of driven axles, the hub being moveable axially along the common axis of rotation between an engaged position where the hub is rotated by the interface element and a disengaged position where the hub is not rotated by the interface element; anda fork extending between the interface element and the hub, whereby the fork is capable of moving the hub axially away from the interface element from the engaged position to the disengaged position, wherein each fork is rotatable by a respective handle that is located external to the housing, and each fork is rotatable about an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the common axis of rotation of the pair of driven axles. 19. The drive mechanism of claim 18, further comprising a spring disposed on the hub and biasing the hub to the engaged position. 20. The drive mechanism of claim 18, further comprising a worm gear formed on the motor output shaft and engaged to a gear form on the drive gear, wherein the gear form is located on an edge surface of the drive gear between the first side and the second side.
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