Hydro-gear Limited Partnership

Herb M Poplawski

Thomas D Wiley

John D Schreier

Michael W Taylor

Ryan S Buescher

Raymond M Hauser

Thomas J Langenfeld

Michael Lee Bennett

Lonnie E Holder

Jeffrey A Wilson

Neil Brandenburg

Ralph A McClelland

A hydrostatic transmission mountable to a vehicle frame. The hydrostatic transmission is adapted to removeably receive an axle shaft. The hydrostatic transmission is also adapted to be mounted to at least one of two opposed side members of the vehicle frame. The opposed side members have openings through which the axel shaft passes. The vehicle may be a snow thrower.

Hydrostatic transmission

A control mechanism for a hydraulic drive apparatus such as a transaxle having a hydraulic pump and moveable swash plate mounted in a housing including a control arm for moving the swash plate between forward and reverse positions and a unidirectional return to neutral mechanism for biasing and returning the swash plate to a neutral position when the control arm is in one of the reverse or forward positions but not from the other position.

Hydraulic apparatus with return to neutral mechanism

A control mechanism for a hydraulic assembly is disclosed. The control mechanism comprises a hydraulic pump, a swash plate, a control arm, a return to neutral mechanism and a cruise control arm. The control arm is linked to the swash plate and is moveable in such a manner so as to provide the swash plate with a plurality of non-discrete angular orientations with respect to the hydraulic pump. The return to neutral mechanism is used to move the control arm from a driving position to a neutral position. The cruise control arm is moveable between a first position and a second position. In the first position, the cruise control arm is disengaged from the control arm. In the second position, the cruise control arm engages the control arm to resist movement of the control arm from one of a plurality of non-discrete forward driving positions to the neutral position under the influence of the return to neutral mechanism.

Cruise control system

A cruise control system for use in connection with a control arm linked to a swash plate that is moveable to provide the swash plate with a plurality of non-discrete angular orientations to affect fluid displacement of a hydraulic pump and a return to neutral mechanism for moving the control arm from a driving position to a position in which the swash plate does not affect fluid displacement of the hydraulic pump. The cruise control system includes a cruise control arm having a portion occupying a plane in common with a portion of the control arm. The cruise control arm is moveable to place the portion of the cruise control arm into contact with the portion of the control arm to prevent the control arm from moving from one of a plurality of non-discrete forward driving positions to the neutral position under the influence of the return to neutral mechanism.

A control system for a vehicle having a hydraulic drive device such as a hydrostatic transmission or integrated hydrostatic transaxle with a return to neutral feature and a brake mechanism. The system includes a pair of linkages connected to the vehicle brake pedal; one is engaged to the return to neutral arm and the other is engaged to the brake of the drive device, so that actuation of the vehicle brake pedal first causes the return to neutral feature of the drive device to engage to reduce vehicle speed and eventually to return the device to the neutral position. As the vehicle brake pedal is further actuated, the brake mechanism of the drive device is also engaged.

Control assembly for a hydraulic device

A cruise control assembly for use in connection with a hydraulic pump and a control arm linked to a swash plate that is moveable to provide the swash plate with a plurality of non-discrete angular orientations to affect fluid displacement of the hydraulic pump. The cruise control assembly generally includes a rod connected to and moveable with the control arm and a clamp for selectively engaging the rod to inhibit movement of the control arm so as to maintain the swash plate in one of the plurality of non-discrete angular orientations.

Clamping cruise control system

A hydrostatic transmission may be placed in a free-wheeling state by rotating a bypass actuator that lifts the motor from a motor running surface whereby hydraulic fluid flows into a transmission cavity. A bypass arm connected to the bypass actuator and to a bypass rod may be used to engage and disengage the bypass actuator via operation of the rod. Further, a bypass latch may be used to lock the bypass arm in an engaged position whereby the bypass actuator is engaged and the transmission is disengaged. The bypass latch arm is preferably linked to the brake pedal whereby actuation of the brake pedal disengages the bypass actuator through operation of the latching arm. The system may be designed to provide dynamic braking through transmission resistivity prior to application of a brake force to the axles or wheels by unlatching the bypass arm prior to actuating the brake arm.

Hydrostatic transmission bypass latch

A control apparatus for use with a hydraulic device such as a pump or hydrostatic transmission having a swash plate which may be moved between forward, reverse and neutral positions by a rotatable shaft. The apparatus provides cruise control in only one of the forward or reverse directions and a return to neutral force in the other direction. A control arm is engaged to the shaft to move the swash plate between the forward, revere and neutral positions. A cruise control arm is also mounted on and rotatable about the shaft, and a linkage connects the control arm to the cruise control arm, which only moves between the neutral and forward positions. A spring device is compressed when the control arm is moved from the neutral position to a reverse position to force the control am to return the shaft to the neutral position.

Control mechanism for hydraulic devices

A speed adjusting mechanism for use in connection with a hydrostatic transaxle comprising a casing in which is mounted a rotating hydraulic pump in fluid communication with a rotating hydraulic motor, a moveable swash plate cooperable with the rotating pump for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of the hydraulic motor, and a trunnion arm linked to the moveable swash plate for adjusting the orientation of the swash plate. The speed adjusting mechanism includes a return arm adapted to be mounted to the casing in a fixed position indicative of a neutral position of the trunnion arm. A control arm is mounted to the trunnion arm and a pair of scissor return arms are provided which cooperate with the return arm to move the control arm to the neutral position. The control arm is adapted to be mounted to the trunnion arm in any one of a plurality of different positions and the return arm is capable of being mounted to the casing in a corresponding position such that the return arm can be aligned with the control arm to establish the neutral position.

Zero-turn transaxle with mounted return to neutral mechanism

A speed adjusting mechanism for use in connection with, a hydrostatic transaxle comprising a casing in which is mounted a rotating hydraulic pump in fluid communication with a rotating hydraulic motor, a moveable swash plate cooperable with the rotating pump for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of the hydraulic motor, and a trunnion arm linked to the moveable swash plate for adjusting the orientation of the swash plate. The speed adjusting mechanism includes a return arm adapted to be mounted to the casing in a fixed position indicative of a neutral position of the trunnion arm. A control arm is mounted to the trunnion arm and a pair of scissor return arms are provided which cooperate with the return arm to move the control arm to the neutral position. The control arm is adapted to be mounted to the trunnion arm in any one of a plurality of different positions and the return arm is capable of being mounted to the casing in a corresponding position such that the return arm can be aligned with the control arm to establish the neutral position.

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Racine, WI, United States of America

Herb M Poplawski