| 摘要 |
<p>An improved transaxle having an intermediate shaft (14) on which is freely journalled a plurality of forward gears (54,56,58) and a reverse gear (62) in close proximity thereto, and a positive-neutral-position collar (60) disposed between the spur gears and the reverse gear. A shifting key (92,94) is axiaily slidable disposed on the intermediate shaft and has an end portion (98) thereof which is yieldably biased radially outwardly from the outer surface of the intermediate shaft for selectively engaging separately each of the gears (54,56,58,62) freely journalled thereon. The positive-neutral-position collar (60) has a recess (90) radially outwardly disposed in ire bore and which recess is formed to receive the yieldable biased end portion of the shifting key therein when the shift key is moved between the forward gears and reverse gears, thereby providing the user a positive indication of neutral gear position. A ring gear assembly (140) is also provided with the improved transaxle, and includes a ring gear (136) carrying a bevel gear assembly in its interior, both of which are contained in a cavity in the housing (12) for the improved transaxle. A pair of bearing shoes (148,150) are directly disposed between the teeth of the ring gear (136) and the housing cavity (12) and between the opposite sides of the ring gear and the housing cavity. The bearing shoes (148,150) have an arcuately-shaped inner surface (168) against which the ring gear teeth (136) are rotatably placed. During rotation of the ring gear, bearing surface therefor is provided by the teeth of the ring gear and the inner surfaces of the bearing shoes.</p> |
