Steerable transaxle

摘要

A vehicle and vehicle drive apparatus having a hydraulic pump and a first and second hydraulic motor, each disposed on a center section, is disclosed. A main housing having a housing cover contains the hydraulic pump and the first and second hydraulic motors, which in turn drive first and second motor shafts, respectively. The first and second motor shafts are enclosed in first and second motor shaft housings, respectively, and the main housing combined with the housing cover and the first and second motor shaft housings form a sealed sump. The main housing has mounted thereon a pinion shaft, a pinion gear and a steering rack meshed with the pinion gear. A first steering arm is rotatably mounted to the first motor shaft housing and connected to the steering rack and a second steering arm is rotatably mounted to the second motor shaft housing and connected to the steering rack.

主权项

1. A drive apparatus for a vehicle having a prime mover, the drive apparatus comprising:
a housing forming a sump and comprising a main housing member and a housing cover sealed thereto; a transmission disposed in the sump and comprising:
a center section containing porting;a hydraulic pump disposed on the center section; anda first hydraulic motor engaged to and driving a first motor shaft and a second hydraulic motor engaged to and driving a second motor shaft, wherein both hydraulic motors are disposed on the center section and in hydraulic communication with the hydraulic pump through the porting to form a hydraulic circuit; a first motor shaft housing joined to the main housing member and enclosing the first motor shaft, and a second motor shaft housing joined to the main housing member and enclosing the second motor shaft; a pinion shaft having a pinion gear and rotatably mounted on the main housing member; a steering rack having a sector gear meshed with the pinion gear and rotatably mounted on the main housing member; a first steering arm rotatably mounted to the first motor shaft housing and connected to the steering rack via a first connector; and a second steering arm rotatably mounted to the second motor shaft housing and connected to the steering rack via a second connector.