Abstract: A power take-off casing (47) including therein a rear-PTO shaft (12) and a transmission mechanism (50) therefor is mounted on an outer surface of a rear wall (3c) of the transmission casing (3) disposed between left and right rear wheels (4) which constitute drive wheels for a working vehicle, and a gear (52) constituting an input member of the transmission mechanism is operatively connected to a drive mechanism (46) for a mid-PTO shaft (9) which extends forwardly from the inside of transmission casing through a front wall (3a) thereof. A clutch (60) for selectively cutting-off the drive of the rear-PTO shaft is provided preferably such that it couples the gear selectively to a drive gear (58) which is rotatably mounted on the mid-PTO shaft. In a working vehicle in which a transmission casing is disposed between left and right front wheels constituting the drive wheels for the vehicle, a power take-off casing having a front-PTO shaft is mounted on an outer surface of a front wall of the transmission casing.

Abstract: A transaxle apparatus provided with a planetary gear type differential. The differential comprises a pair of co-axial axles, a sun gear, a center gear serving as a driving input gear, a pair of carriers, a pair of ring gears serving as steering input gears, and planet gears. The center gear interlocks with the sun gear. The pair of carriers are fixedly disposed around the respective axles oppositely to each other with respect to the center gear. The pair of ring gears are rotatably disposed around the respective carriers so as to slidably abut at their inner peripheral surfaces against outer peripheral surfaces of the respective carriers. Each of the ring gears is extended between the sun gear and each of the carriers disposed in the ring gear so as to be inner peripherally formed into an internal gear. Each of the carriers is integrally provided with a plurality of projections projecting toward the center gear between the sun gear and the internal gear.

Abstract: A transaxle apparatus is constructed so that left and right axles, two hydrostatic transmissions (HSTs), one for driving a vehicle and the other for steering it, and a differential unit for differentially connecting said axles with each other are together contained in a housing. The driving HST is disposed so that its hydraulic pump and motor are aligned along either a left or right side of the housing. The steering HST is disposed so that its hydraulic pump and motor are aligned along either a front or rear side of the housing. The differential unit is laterally opposite to the driving HST. Either the left or right axle crosses the driving HST between its hydraulic pump and motor. The two HSTs are provided with one or two flat center sections disposed in the housing. The cylinder blocks of the hydraulic pumps and motors of the two HSTs are mounted on either a top or bottom surface of the center section or sections.

Abstract: A working vehicle having a main transaxle casing supporting a first PTO shaft and a center-pivot transaxle casing supporting second PTO shaft, improved in a transmission system for the second PTO shaft. Particularly, the center-pivot transaxle casing is provided at the portion thereof lower than its pivot with the second PTO shaft. The output power of the first PTO shaft is transmitted to the second PTO shaft by a propeller shaft and universal joints. If a working machine to be driven by the first PTO shaft is disposed between the both transaxle casings, the output power of the first PTO shaft is transmitted to the working machine, and afterward to the second PTO shaft.

Abstract: A differential gear assembly includes a disc-shaped input gear receiving drive force and having a central portion, an outer portion around the central portion, and one or more open space portions formed between the central portion and the outer portion. A pair of output shafts extend opposite each other along the axis of the input gear and one end of each of the output shafts is loosely fitted in a central bore formed in the central portion of the input gear. A pair of side bevel gears is provided each of which is fixedly attached near the end of each output shaft closer to the input gear. One or more support shafts extend radially from the central portion into the open space portions of the input gear. One or more bevel pinions is rotatably supported on the one or more support shafts, respectively, to mesh with the pair of side bevel gears. A friction mechanism is located in at least one of one or more open space portions that permits the bevel pinion to rotate with rotational resistance.

Abstract: A differential locking system of an axle driving apparatus wherein left and right axles are rotatably supported within a housing consisting of an upper half housing and a lower half housing. The inner ends of the axles are facing each other and are rotatably inserted within a differential input gear. An engaged plate member is disposed at the right of the differential input gear. Engaged recesses of the differential input gear and engaged recesses of the engaged plate member are connected with each other. A pair of differential pinions are pivoted within the differential input gear, perpendicular to the axles. Both sides of each differential pinion are engaged with differential side gears fixed around the right and left axles, respectively. Pin passing holes are bored in the right differential side gear. A thrust collar is disposed on the right axle outside of the right differential side gear. A shifter fixing the differential locking pins is axially slidably disposed around the thrust collar.

Abstract: A transmission for self-propelled walking lawn mowers, comprising: a casing 17; an input shaft 5 vertically inserted into the casing 17; an output shaft 10 extending horizontally through the casing 17; a small gear 20 fixed on the input shaft 5; a large gear 21 meshing with the small gear; a supporting shaft fixedly spporting the large gear; and first and second intermediate gears 24 and 25 mounted on the supporting shaft and the output shaft 10, respectively, wherein the input shaft 5 is arranged on the side of the. large gear facing opposite to the supporting shaft and is supported by the top and bottom walls of the casing. Accordingly, it is possible to reduce the size of the casing for self-propelled walking lawn mowers, thereby making a lawn mower compact.

Abstract: A transmission for self-propelled walking lawn mowers includes a casing, an input shaft inserted into an opening formed in the casing, an output shaft disposed perpendicular to the axis of the input shaft, a drive gear mounted on the input shaft, a drive gear mounted on the output shaft, a power transmission gear mechanism for transmitting drive power from the input shaft to the output shaft, and bearing structures for supporting the input shaft. The bearing structures include a lower supporting structure disposed adjacently below the lower end of the input shaft, and the lower supporting structure includes a supporting member which projects from the inner wall of the casing to a position adjacently below the lower end of the input shaft, wherein a lower-end face of the input shaft and an upper face of the supporting member are engaged to hold the input shaft at its horizontal position, thereby reducing the height of a lawn mower.

Abstract: An axle case, housing therein axles and a transmission for driving the axle, provided with a mount boss for being mounted to case mounting portions provided on a body frame of a vehicle and having insertion bores for mounting bolts, and including vibration isolating members which are each fixedly positioned on each mount boss and are provided with a portion positioned thereon and a portion extending into the insertion bore, so that, when the mount boss is coupled with the case mounting portion, the portion of the vibration isolating member positioned on the mount boss contacts with the case mounting portion. Thus, the axle case and body frame can be simply coupled with each other by using the vibration isolating members. The axle case is preferably divided vertically into an upper and a lower portion through a horizontal joint surface.

Abstract: A transmission for self-propelled walking lawn mowers comprising a casing (23); an input shaft (10) extending within the casing (23); an output shaft (13) penetrating the casing (23) and connected to drive wheels; an intermediate shaft (25) connected to the input shaft (10) via a transmission gear mechanism (24); a plurality of drive gears (26) and a plurality of driven gears (28) mounted on the output shaft (13) to mesh with each other; connecting means for connecting a gear selected from the plurality of driven gears (28) to the output shaft (13); and a clutch (27) mounted on the intermediate shaft (25) to engage or disengage the drive gear set (26) with or from the intermediate shaft (25). According to the present invention, the load imposed on the clutch is effectively reduced, thereby increasing the service life of the obtained product.

Abstract: In a transmission (10) comprising a casing (12), a vertical input shaft (13) having an upper end which extends upwardly of the casing and carries an input pulley (14), and a horizontal wheel axle (18) for driving a pair of mower-drive wheels (3), the input shaft intersects the wheel axle at a location in close proximity to the axle and is supported by top and bottom walls (12a, 12b) of the casing. The vertical shaft and horizontal axle are connected by a hypoid gearing (26) having a hypoid pinion (27) mounted on the shaft and a larger hypoid gear (29) mounted on the axle. The transmission has a compact configuration while the input shaft is supported in a stable manner and while the transmission efficiency between the shaft and axle is kept high. Preferably, the larger hypoid gear is rotatably mounted on the axle and a frictional clutch (32) is disposed between the gear and axle.

Abstract: A transmission for a self-propelled walking lawn mower is disclosed, the transmission comprising:i) a casing;ii) input and output shafts supported by the casing, the output shaft driving ground engaging wheels of the mower and the input shaft receiving drive force from an engine of the mower wherein the input shaft extends substantially perpendicular to the output shaft and is located almost directly above the output shaft;iii) a drive gear secured on the input shaft;iv) a driven gear rotatably mounted on the output shaft and meshing with the drive gear; andv) a clutch for transmitting the rotation of the driven gear to the output shaft.

Abstract: In a vehicle transmission comprising a hydrostatic transmission (13) and a rear-wheel drive assembly (20) including a two-stage speed change mechanism (28), a front-wheel drive assemly (22) having a front-wheel drive shaft (24) is disposed at a front side of the output shaft (17) and includes a clutch (55; 155; 255) such that when the change mechanism is shifted to its high-speed position the clutch is disengaged so as to provide a non-drive mode for front wheels. A selective drive mode is preferably provided by a one-way clutch (56) which is operable to connect the drive shaft to the output shaft only when forward directional rotation speed of the output shaft is larger than that of the drive shaft. In a preferred embodiment, the front-wheel drive assembly is shiftable at a low-speed position of the change mechanism between a constant drive mode and the selective drive mode.