Hydro-gear Limited Partnership

Hydro-gear Limited Parntership

Shane A Deters

Thomas J Langenfeld

Matthew C Roney

Raymond M Hauser

Daryl Smothers

J David Pratt

Eric S Phanco

Jesse L Probst

Joseph P Niemerg

Craig Wigness

Scott W Keller

Michael Lee Bennett

Ryan S Buescher

Tyler J Hermann

A drive device includes a housing forming a sump. A pump and motor are mounted on a center section having a porting system and a pair of ports with check plugs disposed therein. A bypass arm is engaged to one end of a bypass shaft external to the housing and rotates the bypass shaft to selectively cause engagement fingers to move each check plug to an open position. A housing projection is contacted by the bypass arm to selectively limit rotation thereof. The axes of rotation of a swash plate trunnion shaft, a pump input shaft and a motor output shaft may all be disposed in a single plane. The input shaft is supported by a housing bearing and an opening in the center section and is restrained from axial movement by the bearing and a thrust surface on the center section.

Transmission assembly

A hydrostatic transaxle with a bypass mechanism is disclosed, the transaxle having a center section attached to a housing, an axial piston pump disposed on the center section and driven by an input shaft, and an axial piston motor disposed on the center section having a cylinder block engaged to a motor output shaft. The bypass actuation rod has a cam formed on a first end that engages a block lift member. When the bypass actuation rod is rotated, the cam causes two legs of the block lift member to engage the cylinder block on either side of the motor output shaft and cooperatively lift the cylinder block of the axial piston motor off of center section.

Drive apparatus

A drive device incorporating a hydraulic pump having a swash plate. At least two structural ribs and skirting ribs are located on and extend along the length of the swash plate. A plurality of thrust ribs may be formed on an inner housing surface and adjacent to respective contact surfaces on the swash plate, the thrust ribs being located so that at least one, but fewer than all, of the ribs can be in contact with its respective contact surface on the swash plate at a time, permitting rotation while limiting axial movement of the swash plate. A trunnion shaft includes a free end disposed so as to be accessible from outside the housing through a bore formed therein, and a control arm having a shaft portion extends into and supports the distal free end of the trunnion shaft within the bore.

A hydrostatic transaxle with a bypass mechanism is disclosed, the transaxle having a center section engaged to a housing, an axial piston pump disposed on the center section and driven by an input shaft, and an axial piston motor disposed on the center section having a cylinder block engaged to a motor output shaft. The pump is controlled by a swash plate having a pair of openings through which the input shaft and a bypass actuation rod pass. The bypass actuation rod has a cam formed on a first end that engages a block lift member. When the bypass actuation rod is rotated, the cam causes the block lift member to engage and lift the cylinder block of the axial piston motor off of the center section. A brake mechanism using brake puck disposed in a pocket formed in the center section is also disclosed.

Compact drive apparatus

A hydrostatic transaxle with a bypass mechanism is disclosed, the transaxle having a center section engaged to a housing, an axial piston pump disposed on the center section and driven by an input shaft, and an axial piston motor disposed on the center section having a cylinder block engaged to a motor shaft. The pump is controlled by a swash plate having a pair of openings through which the input shaft and a bypass actuation rod pass. The bypass actuation rod has a cam formed on a first end that engages a block lift member. When the bypass actuation rod is rotated, the cam causes the block lift member to engage and lift the cylinder block of the axial piston motor off of the center section. A brake mechanism using brake puck disposed in a pocket formed in the center section is also disclosed.

A hydraulic drive device having a pump and motor is disclosed, where the pump swash plate includes a pair of structural ribs and the housing has a pair of thrust ribs on an inner surface. Only one thrust rib is in contact with one of the structural ribs at a time, to permit arcuate rotation of the swash plate while limiting axial movement of the swash plate. The axes of rotation of the swash plate trunnion, input shaft and output shaft are in a common plane. A rotary bypass shaft for engaging transmission check plugs includes an external bypass arm. A pair of detents are externally formed on the housing, and the bypass arm includes separate pairs of openings to engage the pair of detents when the bypass arm is in different positions.

A cylinder block brake for a hydrostatic transmission or transaxle is provided. A braking member is located in a housing adjacent to a motor cylinder block and has a first position where it is not engaged to the motor cylinder block and a second, braking position where it is engaged to the motor cylinder block. A brake actuation shaft is located in the housing and has a cam portion located along its longitudinal axis. The cam portion is positioned to engage the braking member so that rotation of the brake actuation shaft moves the braking member between the engaged and disengaged positions.

Variable drive apparatus

A drive apparatus is provided with a center section in a housing and having a hydraulic circuit formed therein with pump and motor running surfaces for connecting a hydraulic pump to a hydraulic motor. A pair of cylindrical openings may be formed on the center section opposite the pump running surface, and a passage in the center section connects the pair of cylindrical openings to form a fluid gallery to provide hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic circuit through a pair of check valves. A pair of caps on the center section to close off the fluid gallery, and an external charge pump to provide charged fluid to the fluid gallery, may also be provided.

A variable drive apparatus having a housing in which a motor is located, the motor being engaged to and driving a motor shaft. The motor may be a hydraulic motor, and a hydraulic pump, center section and gear train may also be located in the housing. Formed on internal surfaces of the housing are a first pocket that supports and rotatably confines one end of the motor shaft, and a second pocket that supports and rotatably confines the other end of the motor shaft.

Hydraulic drive apparatus

A drive mechanism comprising a transmission housing with a transmission disposed therein and driven by a prime mover. A first axle drive mechanism is disposed in a first housing and driven by a first output shaft that extends from a first end of the transmission housing. A first drive axle is driven by the first axle drive mechanism and drives a first wheel. A second axle drive mechanism is disposed in a second housing and driven by a second output shaft that extends from a second end of the transmission housing. A second drive axle is driven by the second axle drive mechanism and drives a second driven wheel. The transmission housing, the first housing and the second housing at least partially define an operable space. An input shaft is engaged to the transmission extends into the operable space.

Zero turn transaxle

A hydraulic motor assembly having a motor, gear reduction set and axle disposed in a housing is disclosed. A brake assembly may be mounted externally to the axle housing portion of the assembly to provide braking for the output axle. The housing may be formed of separate components, including the axle housing portion, an external surface of a ring gear and a hydraulic motor port block.

Hydraulic motor apparatus

A transaxle including a hydrostatic transmission mounted in a transmission housing and having a pair of hydraulic pumps and hydraulic motors operatively connected together. First and second axle housings are mounted on opposite ends of the transmission housing, with output axles mounted in the axle housings, where each output axle is connected to its respective hydraulic motor through a gear train in the axle housing. A brake is provided on each axle housing to directly engage one of the gears in the gear train to provide a braking force for the output axles.

In a hydraulic drive apparatus such as a transaxle, a rotatable hydraulic pump and rotatable hydraulic motor are disposed in a housing forming a sump. A hydraulic mounting member such as a center section is disposed in the sump and includes a pump mounting surface for the pump and a motor mounting surface for the motor, with hydraulic porting formed in the center section for connecting the mounting surfaces. The center section includes a channel formed on an external surface thereof, and at least one of the housing members is engaged to the center section to close the channel and form a fluid passage in the center section. This engagement is either direct, such as through sealant, or indirect through a cover.

A hydraulic motor assembly having a motor and gear reduction set mounted in a housing. A brake assembly may be mounted in the port block to provide braking for the output axle or it may be located externally to the axle housing portion of the assembly. The housing may be formed of separate components, including the external surface of the ring gear and the hydraulic motor port block.

Growing community of inventors

Mattoon, IL, United States of America

Shane A Deters