Hydro-gear Limited Partnership

Hydro-gear Ltd. Partnership

Todd Horton

John D Schreier

Matthew J Hansen

Ron Sporrer

Michael Lee Bennett

An axle assembly including a housing in which is mounted a transmission, axle shafts and a differential assembly including drive gears engaged to the axle shaft and at least one planet gear mounted on a shaft and engaged to the drive gears. The differential assembly includes a friction member on the shaft for engaging the planet gear.

Transaxle with controlled traction differential

An integrated hydrostatic transaxle including a housing in which is mounted a hydrostatic transmission having a hydraulic pump unit and a hydraulic motor unit with a motor shaft drivingly connected thereto. A differential assembly is drivingly linked to the motor shaft and is used to drive output axle shafts of the transaxle. The differential assembly includes a rotatable gear which is maintained in frictional engagement with at least one bearing surface for frictionally inhibiting the rotational movement thereof.

Controlled traction cartridge and differential for a hydrostatic transmission

Methods of controlling fluid pressure, including using a valve mechanism, are disclosed. In one embodiment, a valve mechanism for use in a hydrostatic transmission including a closed porting system for hydraulic fluid and a sump is provided. The valve mechanism includes a valve body mounted to the hydrostatic transmission whereby the valve body is open to the closed porting system at one end thereof and open to the sump at the other end thereof. The valve body has a first open position whereby hydraulic fluid is pulled into the closed system from the sump when the pressure of the fluid in the closed system is below a first pressure, a second open position whereby hydraulic fluid exists the closed system to the sump when the pressure of the fluid is at a second pressure higher than the first pressure, and a closed position when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the closed system is at a third pressure higher than the second pressure.

Method of making a hydrostatic transmission having controlled fluid pressure

An integrated hydrostatic transaxle including a housing in which a center section is supported. The center section supports a hydraulic pump unit and a hydraulic motor unit having a motor shaft drivingly connected thereto. A differential assembly is drivingly linked to the motor shaft and is used to drive a pair of axle shafts which are supported by the housing. The differential assembly includes a rotatable gear which is maintained in frictional engagement with at least one bearing surface for frictionally inhibiting the rotational movement thereof.

Integrated hydrostatic transaxle with controlled traction differential

A valve mechanism for use in a hydrostatic transmission including a closed porting system for hydraulic fluid and a sump is provided. The valve mechanism includes a valve body mounted to the hydrostatic transmission whereby the valve body is open to the closed porting system at one end thereof and open to the sump at the other end thereof. The valve body has a first open position whereby hydraulic fluid is pulled into the closed system from the sump when the pressure of the fluid in the closed system is below a first pressure, a second open position whereby hydraulic fluid exists the closed system to the sump when the pressure of the fluid is at a second pressure higher than the first pressure, and a closed position when the pressure of the hydraulic fluid in the closed system is at a third pressure higher than the second pressure.

Combination valve including improved neutral valve for use in

An integrated hydrostatic transaxle including a housing in which a center section is supported. The center section supports a hydraulic pump unit and a hydraulic motor unit having a motor shaft drivingly connected thereto. A differential assembly is drivingly linked to the motor shaft and is used to drive a pair of axle shafts which are supported by the housing. The differential assembly includes a rotatable gear which is maintained in frictional engagement with at least one bearing surfaces for frictionally inhibiting the rotational movement thereof.

A controlled traction cartridge for use in connection with a differential. The catridge generally comprises a shaft, a gear mounted on the shaft and rotatable with respect thereto, and an interior bearing surfaces associated with the shaft. The gear is maintained in frictional engagement with the interior bearing surface for inhibiting the rotation of the gear.

Growing community of inventors

Spring Hill, TN, United States of America

Todd Horton