Abstract: In a motor vehicle with a clutch that is operable in an automated mode, parts (204) of the clutch-actuator and/or the control device of the actuator system are integrated in a carrier element (202) that is installed in an intermediate area between the clutch bell housing (203) and the transmission housing (201).

Abstract: A drive system for a grounds care device using two identical final drives in combination with two identical power units to provide directional drive to the wheels. The final drives and power units are assembled to each other differently for use on each side to provide the required relative reverse rotation of each drive wheel while maintaining the same direction of control movement for forward (or reverse) movement of each drive wheel (in regards to machine movement). Additionally, the drive belt for the cutting unit is routed between the power units (rather than under or over) to allow a lower center of gravity for increased stability.

Abstract: A splitter gearbox for a four wheel drive, hydrostatically driven tractor integrates both the input drive train and the output drive train into a single gearbox. The drive mechanism eliminates the need for a separate mechanical gearbox by establishing pre-set fixed displacement settings that are electronically controlled along with the variable displacement of the hydrostatic motor and hydrostatic pump, to provide a smooth power shift through all ranges without requiring the tractor to stop. The drive mechanism is configured so that essentially all components are individually controlled so that the entire power generated by the tractor engine can be diverted to any one of the traction drive, the PTO mechanism, the auxiliary hydraulic drive or, to a somewhat lesser extent, the tractor hydraulic system. The splitter gearbox is mounted to the rear axle housing to allow the sharing of a common oil sump.

Abstract: An axle driving unit having a housing (21,22) for supporting a first axle (17) for mounting thereon a first driving wheel (3L), and a longer second axle (18) for mounting thereon a second driving wheel (3R). The axle driving unit is eccentrically mounted on a body frame (1) in proximity to the first driving wheel (3L). A speed change transmission (T) is disposed in an enlarged region of the housing that extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the axles (17,18). The axle driving unit can thus be easily disposed to the side of a chute (6) of a rear-discharge type lawn tractor.

Abstract: A transmission (14) for a vehicle (2) having a motor (9) including a motor unit (33) and an output shaft, the motor (9) being arranged outside the longitudinal center plane (7) of the vehicle (2). The transmission (14) comprises a reducing transmission (19) including a housing (22) for a fixed connection to the motor unit (33) and an output shaft (37) arranged out of line with respect to its input shaft (16), a transfer transmission (21) for driving drive shafts (11) arranged in the region of the longitudinal center plane of the vehicle (2), the transfer transmission (21) including a housing (27) and an output shaft (18) arranged out of line with respect to its input shaft (38). The housing (27) of the transfer transmission (21) is provided for a fixed connection to the housing (22) of the reducing transmission (19).

Abstract: An axle driving unit having a housing (21,22) for supporting a first axle (17) for mounting thereon a first driving wheel (3L), and a longer second axle (18) for mounting thereon a second driving wheel (3R). The axle driving unit is eccentrically mounted on a body frame (1) in proximity to the first driving wheel (3L). A speed change transmission (T) is disposed in an enlarged region of the housing that extends substantially perpendicularly with respect to the axles (17,18). The axle driving unit can thus be easily disposed to the side of a chute (6) of a rear-discharge type lawn tractor.

Abstract: A drive system for a grounds care device using two identical final drives in combination with two identical power units to provide directional drive to the wheels.The final drives and power units are assembled to each other differently for use on each side to provide the required relative reverse rotation of each drive wheel while maintaining the same direction of control movement for forward (or reverse) movement of each drive wheel (in regards to machine movement).Additionally, the drive belt for the cutting unit is routed between the power units (rather than under or over) to allow a lower center of gravity for increased stability.

Abstract: The invention relates to a support arrangement for a divided articulated shaft in a vehicle comprising at least one driving axle (2) and at least one non-driving supporting axle (1), in which arrangement the articulated shaft (11) passes through the non-driving axle (1) and is supported near it to substantially follow the vertical movements of the non-driving axle (1), this axle being in turn supported from its middle to the frame (5) of the vehicle by means of an axle supporting unit (4). In order to avoid the lateral shifts and torsions of the articulated shaft (11), the shaft is supported onto said supporting unit (4) in the middle of the axle.

Abstract: An axle for a vehicle includes an elongated shaft having a first end, a second end and an intermediate portion being disposed therebetween. The elongated shaft includes a predetermined diameter extending over a portion thereof. The first end of the elongated shaft being designed for mounting a first wheel thereon. The second end of the elongated shaft being designed for mounting a second wheel thereon. The intermediate portion includes a flange extending a predetermined distance along the length of the axle, the flange being designed for mounting and positioning a drive gear assembly and a brake drum assembly relative to each other with the flange being disposed therebetween. The flange is provided as an enlarged diameter section having a diameter greater than the predetermined diameter extending over a portion thereof and is displaced to one side relative to a center section of the elongated shaft.

Abstract: An axle driving apparatus wherein a hydraulic motor and a hydraulic pump for a hydro-static-transmission are housed in a transmission casing of the axle driving apparatus and a center section for connecting the hydraulic motor and hydraulic pump is disposed in the transmission casing, the center section being fixed at the butt joint portion at the transmission casing, and an oil passage from the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor at the center section is bent at a right angle so as to extend the motor shaft in parallel to the axles, so that the rotation direction of the motor shaft conventionally changed by bevel gears is changed by the oil passages in the center section.

Abstract: A transmission and a continuously variable transmission are coaxially arranged to an engine. A front differential is perpendicularly suspended under the forward/reverse changeover apparatus. An axis of the differential crosses at a right angle of an axis of the speed reduction apparatus in an integral structure. The engine is longitudinally housed in a front portion of a toe board in an engine compartment of the motor vehicle. Thus, a compact structure is provided and the engine and the transmission can be arranged in an engine compartment without modifying a vehicle body structure. Further, a transfer apparatus is provided behind the speed reduction apparatus in an integral structure.

Abstract: An integrated hydrostatic transaxle having a common housing for a hydrostatic transmission and a pair of oppositely-extending differentially-connected axles to have the common housing provide a common sump therefor and with a specifically-shaped center section interconnecting the pair of hydraulic displacement units constituting the hydrostatic transmission. The center section is a unitary member separate from the common housing, with the exterior thereof exposed to the common sump. The center section has passages and arcuate ports which are interconnected by certain of said passages and which are located whereby the center section may be cast to minimize any machining required to finish the center section. Such casting can result in a porous center section with possible leakage from a passage having high pressure fluid.

Abstract: An insertable unit for a wheel bearing has an integrated constant velocity universal joint, which is axially insertable into the wheel carrier from the outside and which permits easy dismantling and re-assembly. The outer joint part at the wheel end can be inserted through the through-bore of the wheel carrier. The outer bearing ring is inserted into the through-bore and is secured against axial displacement. The inner diameter of the two-part inner bearing ring is smaller than the outer diameter of the outer joint part. The outer joint part and the wheel hub are welded to one another in the region of the axially inner end of the two-part inner bearing ring, with the outer joint part being supported on the inner bearing ring by a planar face.

Abstract: A mechanism for mounting an axle to a vehicle, and including a power output shaft drivingly coupled with a generally cylindrical coupler which is drivingly coupled with a first sleeve. A first axle is coupled for rotation with the first sleeve, and a first ground engaging wheel is coupled for rotation with the first axle and is thereby operatively driven by the output shaft. A first axle housing rotatably supporting the first axle is generally rigidly and releasably fixed to the frame of the vehicle. A first sprocket is fixed for rotation with the first sleeve, and a chain operatively extends between the first sprocket and a second sprocket which is fixed for rotation with a second sleeve. The second sleeve is operatively coupled with a second axle rotatably supported by a second axle housing, and therefore a second ground engaging wheel is driven with the first ground engaging wheel.

Abstract: A mechanism for coupling vehicle components to a vehicle frame made of a plastic material. A bolt is received by generally aligned openings defined by the frame and the component, and a first nut threaded onto the bolt securely presses the frame and component together. A spacer or second nut carried by the bolt between the first nut and the component is positioned within the opening in the frame. The spacer is slightly smaller in depth than the frame member, and allows the frame to become slightly compress. The spacer limits the travel of the nut on the threads, thereby preventing the frame from being compressed beyond the elastic range of deflection. A module plate having the vehicle engine thereattached is carried between the second nut and the vehicle component. The second nut keeps the module plate and the component securely coupled together when the first nut is removed from the bolt, such that the module plate, the engine and the vehicle component can be removed from the frame as a single unit.

Abstract: A joining structure of an automotive vehicle power plant including a transmission and a torque converter. The housing of the transmission is integrally formed with a generally annular flange which is joined with a generally annular flange of the casing of the torque converter by fastening bolts so that the joining surfaces of the transmission housing and the torque converter casing are in tight contact with each other. Each fastening bolt is disposed through the bolt holes which are respectively formed in the flanges of the transmission housing and the torque converter casing. A plurality of depressions are formed at the joining surface of the transmission housing flange in such a manner that each bolt hole merges in the depression, so that projected and depressed parts are formed in the joining surface. The projected part is in contact with the joining surface of the torque converter casing flange.

Abstract: A resilient, torque-transmitting coupling is utilized to coaxially interconnect driving and driven shafts. The coupling has a hollow outer member whose interior surface circumscribes an axis and has a square cross-section. An inner member having a slightly smaller square cross-section is axially received in the outer member and defines therein a square cross-sectioned cavity which laterally circumscribes the inner member. The cavity is filled with a resilient urethane material which is bonded to the laterally facing surfaces of the inner and outer coupling members. Corner portions of the inner member cooperate with the flat interior side surface portions of the outer member to limit relative axial rotation between the inner and outer members to thereby torsionally stress the urethane essentially entirely in tension and compression, and to prevent torsional "spin-out" between the inner and outer members.

Abstract: A wheel mounting apparatus includes a frame attached to an axle suspension of a vehicle. A riser extends downward from the frame. A universal joint attaches to an existing wheel hub of the vehicle. An axle extension extends from the universal joint. The axle extension is journaled in the frame. Journaled in the riser is a short axle. A drive means transfers torque between the axle extension and the short axle. A second wheel hub attaches to the short axle. A truck tire attaches to the second wheel hub. The wheel mounting apparatus, which must be used in sets of four, can be attached without any modification to the vehicle.

Abstract: A rotary hydraulic piston transmission located within an axle housing is provided that includes reduction gearing and a mechanical differential for the purpose of compactness and simplicity of manufacture. The axle housing comprises two main elements which, when attached together, form internal cavities, one cavity expressly used for the hydraulic transmission which comprises a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor mounted on either side of a partition member, and where the partition member divides the cavity into an upper and lower chamber for location of the hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor, respectively. The remaining cavities contain the reduction gearing and mechanical differential, and where the cavity containing the hydraulic transmission is purposely segregated from the remaining cavities in order to prevent material worn from the gears from entering the oil chambers of the hydraulic transmission.

Abstract: A transmission formed of aluminum die casting which has disposed therein a differential gear and speed reduction gears. The case is provided at the outer surface thereof with a hydro-static transmission system. The transmission case is divided horizontally into three sections at two planes, one of which passes through the axis of each driving axle of the tractor, the other of which passes through the axes of the speed reduction gears.