摘要 |
<p>An axle drive mechanism comprises an input shaft (60) rotatably mounted in a housing (40) having bearings for supporting the input shaft at opposite ends of the housing. The input shaft includes a pinion gear (70) in meshed engagement with a driven gear (50) coaxially secured about the longitudinal axis of two axle shafts (42, 44) which extend outwardly from the housing. The housing (40) also includes openings (54, 58) at each end of the housing through which the end portions of the input shaft are exposed exteriorly of the housing so that either or both ends of the input shaft can be coupled to a drive line. There is preferably provided a closure cap (76) adapted to be received in the opening at one end of the housing for enclosing the housing and protecting the unused shaft end, when only one end of the input shaft (60) is connected to a drive line. <IMAGE></p> |