Tecumseh Products Company

Richard T Ruebusch

Norman E Jolliff

Kevin L Johnson

Kevin J Johnson

Gordon C Dowen

Gary G Twaddle

Orville R McDonner

Vance E Coble

Douglas G Williams

Scott G Boyer

Joseph V Miller

Jason D Voyles

Phillip G Ross

Orville R Mcdonner

A method of manufacturing a plurality of left hand control hydrostatic transaxles and a plurality of right hand controlled hydrostatic transaxles. The method includes the steps of: providing a plurality of substantially identical axle modules; providing a plurality of left hand controlled hydrostatic transmission modules adapted to connect to respective axle modules to form left hand controlled hydrostatic transaxles, and a plurality of right hand controlled hydrostatic transmission modules adapted to connect to respective axle modules to form right hand controlled hydrostatic transaxles; attaching the plurality of left hand controlled hydrostatic transmission modules to a first quantity of the plurality of substantially identical axle modules to form a plurality of left hand controlled hydrostatic transaxles; and attaching the plurality of right hand controlled hydrostatic transmission modules to a second quantity of the plurality of substantially identical axle modules to form a plurality of right hand controlled hydrostatic transaxles. In one form of the invention, the transmission module is aligned with the axle module by piloting the output means of the motor of a hydrostatic transmission module to the input drive of a reduction gear train of the transmission module.

Method for manufacturing transaxles

A modular hydrostatic transaxle includes an axle module removably connected to a hydrostatic transmission module. The axle module includes a differential connected to a reduction gear train and disposed in an axle casing. A pair of axles are connected to the differential and supported within the axle casing. The hydrostatic transmission module comprises a transmission casing separate from the axle casing. The hydraulic motor output connection includes a shaft piloted to an input drive of the reduction gear train, which constitutes the alignment mechanism of the transmission and axle modules. A portion of the pump and motor block forms an inclined surface which supports a face of a thrust bearing. At least one homogeneous low friction bearing strip is confined between the swash plate and the interior portion of the casing. A disconnect mechanism includes a spring that urges a sleeve to engage the output and input shafts.

Hydrostatic transaxle having axial piston motor and method for manufacturing transaxles

A powertrain module for a zero turn radius vehicle, such as a tractor or mower, the powertrain module generally including a structural member or mounting plate to which an engine, a pair of hydrostatic transmission modules, and a pair of axle drive units are attached to form a self-contained powertrain module which may be shipped as a single packaged unit for installation into the zero turn radius implement. The mounting plate provides structural rigidity between the powertrain components attached thereto, and the mounting plate of the powertrain module may be attached directly to the frame of the vehicle, or alternatively, may itself serve as a structural frame member for the vehicle.

Powertrain module for zero turn radius vehicle

A hydrostatic transaxle including first and second hydrostatic transmission modules and an axle drive housing. Each module includes a transmission housing, a rotating fluid pump and a rotatable fluid motor with the pump being of variable displacement and the motor being rotated at various speeds and in forward and reverse directions in response to changes in pump displacement. The axle drive housing contains first and second gear trains and a pair of axles. One of the axles is operably coupled to the first transmission module motor through the first gear train, and the other of the axles is operably coupled to the second transmission module motor through the second gear train. Each of the hydrostatic transmission module housings is detachably fixed to the axle drive housing.

Modular hydrostatic transaxle for zero turn radius mower

A transaxle for a small utility vehicle or implement, including a casing, at least one rotatable shaft disposed in and extending from the casing, at least one brake disc rotatably fixed to the rotatable shaft for rotation therewith, and at least one braking mechanism with at least a portion of the braking mechanism being externally mounted on the casing proximate the rotatable shaft. The braking mechanism includes at least one friction puck disposed proximate the brake disc, and a brake shaft including a cam surface having a longitudinal edge, wherein the brake shaft has an engaged position in which the longitudinal edge is in operative engagement with the friction puck and the friction puck is in pressing engagement with the brake disc and a disengaged position in which the longitudinal edge is out of operative engagement with the friction puck.

Brake for a transaxle

A variable speed transmission including a housing, a drive shaft having an axis of rotation and rotatably supported in the housing, an output shaft having an axis of rotation and rotatably supported in the housing, a first pulley and a second pulley both having a common axis of rotation, a third pulley having an axis of rotation and rotatably attached to the drive shaft, and a belt. The output shaft is operatively connected to the drive shaft. The first pulley and the second pulley each have a variable pitch diameter and changes in the first and second pulley variable pitch diameters being inversely proportional. The third pulley and one of the first and the second pulleys are in engagement though the belt.

Variable speed transmission and electronic speed control therefor

An implement having an engine and a transaxle which may be rigidly and directly attached to one another in a vertically stacked orientation to form an engine and transaxle module. The implement also includes ground engaging wheels attached to the transaxle axles, a handle allowing control of the implement, and one of a plurality of interchangeable working devices attached to the engine and transaxle module. For example, the implement may be a snow thrower having an auger assembly which is operatively coupled to one of the engine and the transaxle. The transaxle may include a pair of axially aligned axles which are selectively coupled together, such that when the axles are coupled together, the wheels are rotatably fixed together, and when the axles are not coupled together, the wheels are free to rotate relative to each other. The transaxle may further include a pair of housing portions, at least one housing portion having a pair of recesses in which a pair of bushings are respectively disposed, each bushing supporting an end of each of a pair of shafts of the reduction gearing of the transaxle.

Implement having engine and transaxle module

A hydrostatic transaxle assembly is drivingly connected to a power source and the power source is activated through an electric starter circuit. The hydrostatic transaxle includes an axial type hydrostatic transmission module having a pump which includes a plurality of axially arranged cylinders each including a piston therein. A tiltable swash plate includes a lateral surface rotatable within the hydrostatic transmission casing. The swash plate is in engagement with the plurality of pistons wherein tilting of the swash plate effectuates fluid displacement of the pump. A neutral switch is fixed relative to the transmission casing and includes a registering portion engaged with the swash plate to detect a neutral position and correspondingly allow starting of an electric starter through the starter circuit. A neutral adjustment assembly includes a control rod rotatably supported by the casing and a two piece shift lever is attached thereto. The two piece lever includes a first member attached to the control rod and a second member normally releasably fixed to the first member but selectively rotatable relative to the first member when loosened from the first member. A resilient biasing member has a first leg held substantially fixed to the casing and a second leg held substantially fixed to the second member of the shift lever to bias the first member of the shift lever into a neutral position and at least one fastener releasably fixes the first and second members together.

Neutral start switch and adjustment assembly for a hydrostatic transmission

A neutral brake system for use in a hydrostatic transmission to automatically apply a brake when the hydrostatic transmission is shifted to neutral. The neutral brake system includes a hydraulically-released, spring-activated brake mechanism in direct fluid communication with the main hydraulic passages which form a hydraulic circuit between the pump and the motor. When the hydrostatic transmission is shifted to neutral, a brake spring biases a brake lever into contact with a pair of friction pads to engage a brake disk splined to the output shaft of the motor to stop the vehicle. When the hydrostatic transmission is shifted out of neutral, a charge of hydraulic pressure within the hydraulic circuit causes a piston within a brake release chamber to override the biasing force of the brake spring, and to urge the brake lever out of contact with the friction pads such that the friction pads are disengaged from the brake disk, and the output shaft of the output shaft of the motor may freely rotate. A throttling orifice is provided in the hydraulic circuit to restrict hydraulic flow from the brake release chamber to prevent abrupt engaging of the brake mechanism when the transmission is shifted to neutral.

Neutral brake

A variable speed transmission including a rotatable input member, a fluid pump operatively engaged with the input member, a fluid in the pump being pumped in response to rotation of the input member, and a fluid motor in fluid communication with the fluid pump, fluid pumped by the pump being received by the fluid motor, the fluid motor being driven by fluid received by the fluid motor and having a variable output speed. Means are provided for selectively varying the displacement of the fluid pump or the fluid motor, whereby the output speed of the fluid motor is varied. A rotatable output member is operatively engaged with the fluid motor, and a reversible electric motor having an output shaft is provided, the output shaft having varying angular positions. The output shaft is in mechanical engagement with the displacement varying means, and the displacement of the one of the fluid pump and the fluid motor being varied in response to changes in the output shaft angular position.

Electric shifting of a variable speed transmission

A hydrostatic transmission assembly includes a hydraulic pump and motor mechanism having a pump, a motor and at least one fluid passageway therebetween, a source of transmission fluid, at least one projection attached to the hydrostatic pump and motor mechanism which has a suction port therein, and a filter assembly comprising a filter element attached to an impermeable wall. The pump and motor are fluidly connected through the passageway and the passageway is in fluid communication with the source of transmission fluid through the suction port. The impermeable wall includes at least one hole therethrough and the projection extends through the hole and is sealingly engaged with the impermeable wall. Substantially all transmission fluid received by the pump and motor mechanism is passed through the filter element.

Filter assembly for a hydrostatic transmission

A modular hydrostatic transaxle includes an axle module removably connected to a hydrostatic transmission module. The axle module includes a differential connected to a reduction gear train and disposed in an axle casing. A pair of axles are connected to the differential and supported within the axle casing. The hydrostatic transmission module comprises a transmission casing separate from the axle casing and hydraulically connected pump and motor disposed in the transmission casing. The motor output connection includes a shaft piloted to an input drive of the reduction gear train, which constitutes the alignment mechanism of the transmission and axle modules. The pump and motor cylinder barrels are hydraulically connected through the pump and motor block at 90&deg; orientation, and a portion of the pump and motor block forms an inclined surface which supports a face of a thrust bearing. At least one homogeneous low friction bearing strip is confined between the swash plate and the interior portion of the casing. A disconnect mechanism includes a spring that urges a sleeve to engage the output and input shafts. The brake disc is disposed on a distal end of the output shaft and a brake cover is fastened to the outer portion of the axle casing and substantially encloses the brake disc.

Growing community of inventors

New Albany, IN, United States of America

Richard T Ruebusch