The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document.
The patent badge is an abbreviated version of the USPTO patent document. The patent badge covers the following: Patent number, Date patent was issued, Date patent was filed, Title of the patent, Applicant, Inventor, Assignee, Attorney firm, Primary examiner, Assistant examiner, CPCs, and Abstract. The patent badge does contain a link to the full patent document (in Adobe Acrobat format, aka pdf). To download or print any patent click here.
Patent No.:
Date of Patent:
Nov. 06, 2001
Filed:
Jan. 24, 2000
Koji Irikura, Amagasaki, JP;
Norihiro Ishii, Amagasaki, JP;
Ryota Ohashi, Amagasaki, JP;
Kenichi Takada, Amagasaki, JP;
Hirohiko Kawada, Amagasaki, JP;
Robert Abend, Morristown, TN (US);
Keith J. Andrews, Morristown, TN (US);
Toshiyuki Hasegawa, Morristown, TN (US);
Hiroaki Shimizu, Morristown, TN (US);
Abstract
A transaxle apparatus is constructed so that left and right axles, two hydrostatic transmissions (HSTs), one for driving a vehicle and the other for steering it, and a differential unit for differentially connecting said axles with each other are together contained in a housing. The driving HST is disposed so that its hydraulic pump and motor are aligned along either a left or right side of the housing. The steering HST is disposed so that its hydraulic pump and motor are aligned along either a front or rear side of the housing. The differential unit is laterally opposite to the driving HST. Either the left or right axle crosses the driving HST between its hydraulic pump and motor. The two HSTs are provided with one or two flat center sections disposed in the housing. The cylinder blocks of the hydraulic pumps and motors of the two HSTs are mounted on either a top or bottom surface of the center section or sections. Power transmission mechanisms for transmitting output power from the hydraulic motors of the two HSTs into the differential unit are disposed on an opposite side of the center section(s) as the cylinder blocks. A charge pump may be attached onto the center section, and a conduit for sending fluid discharged from the charged pump into one or both HSTs may be partly extended outside the housing so as to be cooled by the atmosphere.