Abstract: A system for unloading and conveying material includes a drive over dump conveyor apparatus including a main frame with opposite lateral sides and a conveyor assembly. The system includes at least one ramp assembly mounted on one of the lateral sides and extendable to a utilization condition of the ramp assembly and retractable to a transport condition of the ramp assembly. The ramp assembly may include inboard and outboard ramp portions accordion foldable inwardly to the transport condition and foldable outwardly to the utilization condition. The system may include a movement assembly configured to move the ramp assembly between the transport and utilization conditions, actively extend the inboard ramp portion and passively extend the outboard ramp portion to the utilization position, and actively retract the inboard ramp portion and passively retract the outboard ramp portion to the transport position.

Abstract: A reduced weight underbelly mower has a cutting deck suspended beneath a frame by a deck height adjustment mechanism with a pivotable scissor configuration. The deck height adjustment mechanism cooperates with the mower frame so as manually or through a motorized jack to adjust the cutting height. Due to the mower's reduced weight and the scissor-like configuration of the deck height adjustment mechanism, an operator can manually lift the mower front end and swing the deck rear swinging forward, such that the mower rests stabilly on the deck rear and the deck underside is exposed for maintenance procedures.

Abstract: A reduced weight underbelly mower has a cutting deck suspended beneath a frame by a deck height adjustment mechanism with a pivotable scissor configuration. The deck height adjustment mechanism cooperates with the mower frame so as manually or through a motorized jack to adjust the cutting height. Due to the mower's reduced weight and the scissor-like configuration of the deck height adjustment mechanism, an operator can manually lift the mower front end and swing the deck rear swinging forward, such that the mower rests stabilly on the deck rear and the deck underside is exposed for maintenance procedures.

Abstract: A flexible coupling for use in connecting a vehicle's drive shaft to a vehicle's wheel flange. The coupling includes first and second flexible disc members with opposed portions of the first flexible disc member rigidly connected to each other and to opposed portions on the second flexible disc member.

Abstract: A constant velocity flexible coupling for direct drive to the wheels of a low speed light duty wheeled vehicle or 4-wheel drive steer lawn tractor having discs which flexibly couple a drive shaft to a wheel flange.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transaxle is disclosed of the type having a central manifold (13) and right and left motor axle assemblies (15, 17). Each motor axle assembly includes a fluid motor (35) and a speed reduction gear set (51). The manifold defines a pair of aligned openings (81R, 81L) and disposed therein is a pair of elongated brake actuation members (83R, 83L), each member being axially moveable in its opening away from a central reference plane (RP). A cam means (95) defines right and left cam surfaces (107R, 107L) engaging the brake actuation members. Movement of the cam means forces the actuation members axially outward, until each engages friction pad (109), providing braking of a reaction plate (115) between the friction pad and a back up plate (119). The disclosed braking arrangement is simple and inexpensive, and achieves braking upstream of the reduction gear set, thus requiring less braking torque than would be required in the case of a conventional wheel brake. Also disclosed is an embodiment (FIG.

Abstract: A neutral centering mechanism (15) is disclosed of the type which may be used with a variable pump (11) of the type including a control shaft (33) rotatable about its axis of rotation (35) from a neutral position to first and second operating positions (FIGS. 12 and 13). A control handle (61) is rotatably fixed to the control shaft. The centering mechanism includes a stop plate (41) defining a fixed stop surface (43) and a spring plate (49) which is rotatable about the axis of rotation and defines a movable stop surface (79) in engagement with the handle (61) in the neutral position. The stop plate includes an adjustment screw (45) which adjusts the rotational position of the spring plate to a position in which the movable stop surface is disposed for neutral centering of the control handle and control shaft. A spring (59) biases the handle toward the movable stop surface, when the handle is rotated away from neutral to a first operating position.

Abstract: A transaxle assembly (T) is disclosed for transmitting drive torque from an engine (E) to a pair of drive wheels (W). The assembly (T) includes an open differential (11) including a pair of output shafts (25) which transmit drive torque to right and left axle shafts (31) and (33). Disposed between the axle shafts is a locking differential and parking brake mechanism (35) including an engagement mechanism (39) and an actuation mechanism (41). When a manual selector lever (37) is in its N mode, the engagement mechanism (39) is not actuated and normal differentiation can occur between the axle shafts (31) and (33). The actuation mechanism (41) can be actuated by the lever (37) to either a locking differential or L mode (FIG. 5) or a braking or B mode (FIG. 6). In the L mode, the axle shafts (31) and (33) are fixed relative to each other but are free to rotate relative to the vehicle frame (F).

Abstract: A hydrostatic transaxle assembly T is disclosed including a pump (11), a manifold portion (13), and right and left motor axle assemblies (15 and 17). Each of the motor axle assemblies includes a radial ball motor (41), the output of which is the input to a gear reduction section (53). Each gear reduction section (53) includes primary and secondary planetary gear sets (55) and (57) including a planet carrier (79) driving the respective axle shaft. The transaxle assembly T includes a locking differential and parking brake mechanism (87) which comprises an engagement mechanism (89) and an actuation mechanism (91). When the engagement mechanism (89) is disengaged, the motor assemblies (15) and (17) are free to operate at different speeds for normal differentiation. The actuation mechanism (91) can be actuated to either a locking differential mode (FIG. 8) or a parking brake mode (FIG. 9).

Abstract: A hydrostatic transaxle assembly (11) is disclosed including a central manifold portion (15) and left and right axle assemblies (17 and 19). The axle assemblies include hydraulic motors (37 and 39) connected in parallel through the manifold 15 to the output of a variable displacement pump (13). The transaxle assembly includes a differential mechanism (111), including fluid displacement mechanisms (113) and (115) of which the inner rotors (127) are connected for common rotation by a shaft (117). The differential mechanism (111) includes a selector valve (119; 161) which can either interconnect left and right passages (33b and 35b), downstream of the mechanisms (113 and 115) to permit normal differentiating action, or can prevent such communication between the passages (33b) and (35b) to cause limited differentiating action of the transaxle assembly.