Abstract: A lawn mower including a frame, an engine having an electrical system and attached to the frame, a mower deck assembly connected to the frame and having a rotating blade selectively engaged with the engine, a reversible transmission driven by the engine and having a shift mechanism having forward and reverse positions, a switch in electrical communication with the electrical system and mower deck assembly, and a solenoid attached to the transmission, in electrical communication with the switch, and having a plunger. The plunger has an extended position when the switch is in its first position and the blade engages the engine, wherein the plunger blocks movement of the shift mechanism into its reverse position, and a retracted position when the switch is in its second position and the blade disengages the engine, wherein the plunger does not block movement of the shift mechanism into its reverse position.

Abstract: A transmission including an input, an output, a housing in which the input and output are operatively coupled and containing a quantity of fluid, and an outwardly flowing check valve in fluid communication with the interior of the housing. The check valve is biased into a closed position, and the transmission is substantially sealed when the check valve is in its closed position, whereby leakage of fluid from the transmission is prevented regardless of transmission orientation. The check valve has an open position when the fluid in the housing is pressurized to a predetermined level, whereby the pressurized fluid may be vented from the transmission.

Abstract: A walk-behind self-propelled implement, such as a snow thrower or lawnmower, for example, is provided. The implement includes first and second transmission modules associated with a common single axle to which a pair of drive wheels is attached. The first and second transmission modules are operable exclusively with respect to one another to drive the axle and the wheels in a forward and reverse direction, respectively. A control member mounted to the handle of the implement includes a forward bail member pivotable to rotate the control member in a first direction to urge the wheel to rotate in a forward direction, and a reverse bail member pivotable to rotate the control member in a second direction opposite the first direction to urge the wheel to rotate in a reverse direction.

Abstract: A power system including an engine having a crankcase and a vertical output shaft, and a pump unit having a housing fixed to the engine crankcase and including at least one hydrostatic pump operatively coupled to the engine output shaft. The hydrostatic pump has fluid ports through which the pump unit is placed in fluid communication with at least one hydrostatic motor located outside the pump unit housing.

Abstract: A transaxle for a small utility vehicle or implement, including a casing, at least one rotatable shaft disposed in and extending from the casing, at least one brake disc rotatably fixed to the rotatable shaft for rotation therewith, and at least one braking mechanism with at least a portion of the braking mechanism being externally mounted on the casing proximate the rotatable shaft. The braking mechanism includes at least one friction puck disposed proximate the brake disc, and a brake shaft including a cam surface having a longitudinal edge, wherein the brake shaft has an engaged position in which the longitudinal edge is in operative engagement with the friction puck and the friction puck is in pressing engagement with the brake disc and a disengaged position in which the longitudinal edge is out of operative engagement with the friction puck.

Abstract: A self-propelled, walk-behind implement including a body, an engine attached to the body and having an output shaft, ground-engaging drive wheels, and a transaxle. The transaxle includes a housing, a input shaft extending into the housing and selectively operatively engaged with the output shaft, an axle having an axis of rotation and extending through the housing, the drive wheels coupled to the axle, a rotatable driving member disposed within the housing and engaged with the input shaft, and a driven member disposed within the housing and driven by the driving member. The driven member has a first axial position along the axle in which the driven member is not engaging the axle and the axle is freely rotatable, and a second axial position in which the driven member is in operative engagement with the driving member and the axle and the input and output shafts are operatively engaged.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission including a fluid motor and a variable displacement fluid pump in fluid communication with the motor and having a first and a second, greater, fluid displacement rate. The pump is mounted on a block having an outer surface, a passage through which fluid flows from the pump to the motor, and a first and a second fluid bleed hole extending from the passage to the outer surface. The passage and a sump external to the pump are in fluid communication through the bleed holes and the void of an sliding element disposed within a bore in the block when the pump is operating at its first rate and the sliding element is in a first position. The first bleed hole and the sump are substantially out of fluid communication when the pump is operating at its second rate and the sliding element is in a second position.

Abstract: A snow thrower having a frame, an engine attached to the frame and having a horizontal output shaft, the output shaft having a first axis of rotation, a first rotary member rotatably fixed to the engine output shaft, and a rotating auger connected to the frame, the auger having a second axis of rotation. A second rotary member is rotatably fixed to the auger, the first and second rotary members forming a first pair of rotary members and being in selective operative engagement with each other, whereby the auger is selectively driven by the engine. An axle is connected to the frame and has a third axis of rotation, the first, second and third axes of rotation being substantially parallel. A third rotary member in is operative engagement with the axle, and a pair of ground-engaging wheels is attached to the axle.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transaxle having a hydrostatic transmission module including a transmission housing, a rotating fluid pump and a rotatable fluid motor, the pump being of variable displacement, the motor being rotated at various speeds and in forward and reverse directions in response to changes in pump displacement; an axle drive unit including a housing and a speed reduction gear train having an input and an output disposed in the axle drive housing, the motor being operably coupled to the gear train input; a differential assembly having a rotating casing, the rotating casing being external to the transmission housing and axle drive unit housing; and a pair of axles extending from the differential assembly casing.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission including a fluid motor and a variable displacement fluid pump in fluid communication with the fluid motor and having a first and a second, much greater, fluid displacement rate. The pump is mounted on a block having a cylindrical surface, a passage through which fluid flows from the pump to the motor, and a fluid bleed hole extending from the passage to the cylindrical surface. The passage and a sump external to the pump are in fluid communication through the bleed hole and the void of an annular element disposed about and in sliding contact with the cylindrical surface when the pump is operating at its first rate and the annular element is in a first position. The bleed hole and the sump are substantially out of fluid communication when the pump is operating at its second rate and the annular element is in a second position.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission assembly includes a hydraulic pump and motor mechanism having a pump, a motor and at least one fluid passageway therebetween, a source of transmission fluid, at least one projection attached to the hydrostatic pump and motor mechanism which has a suction port therein, and a filter assembly comprising a filter element attached to an impermeable wall. The pump and motor are fluidly connected through the passageway and the passageway is in fluid communication with the source of transmission fluid through the suction port. The impermeable wall includes at least one hole therethrough and the projection extends through the hole and is sealingly engaged with the impermeable wall. Substantially all transmission fluid received by the pump and motor mechanism is passed through the filter element.

Abstract: A method of manufacturing an implement, including providing a first group of engine types and a second group of transmission types at a common, first manufacturing facility, selecting a desired module configuration, selecting a desired engine from the first group, a desired transmission from the second group, connecting the selected engine and transmission together in the desired module configuration to provide a base of the implement, transporting the base to a second facility, providing a working device at the second facility, and connecting the working device to the base of the implement at the second facility.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission assembly includes a hydraulic pump and motor mechanism having a pump, a motor and at least one fluid passageway therebetween, a source of transmission fluid, at least one projection attached to the hydrostatic pump and motor mechanism which has a suction port therein, and a filter assembly comprising a filter element attached to an impermeable wall. The pump and motor are fluidly connected through the passageway and the passageway is in fluid communication with the source of transmission fluid through the suction port. The impermeable wall includes at least one hole therethrough and the projection extends through the hole and is sealingly engaged with the impermeable wall. Substantially all transmission fluid received by the pump and motor mechanism is passed through the filter element.

Abstract: A braking system for a small utility vehicle, such as a riding lawn mower or lawn tractor, comprising dual braking mechanisms each mounted on the transaxle of the vehicle proximal to the location at which the axles extend from the transaxle, which stop the vehicle by engaging a pair of brake discs each keyed to a respective one of the axles, where each of the braking mechanisms are actuated by the rotation of an attached brake arm having a cam surface that presses at least one friction puck against each respective brake disc.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transaxle assembly is drivingly connected to a power source and the power source is activated through an electric starter circuit. The hydrostatic transaxle includes an axial type hydrostatic transmission module having a pump which includes a plurality of axially arranged cylinders each including a piston therein. A tiltable swash plate includes a lateral surface rotatable within the hydrostatic transmission casing. The swash plate is in engagement with the plurality of pistons wherein tilting of the swash plate effectuates fluid displacement of the pump. A neutral switch is fixed relative to the transmission casing and includes a registering portion engaged with the swash plate to detect a neutral position and correspondingly allow starting of an electric starter through the starter circuit. A neutral adjustment assembly includes a control rod rotatably supported by the casing and a two piece shift lever is attached thereto.

Abstract: A variable speed transmission including a housing, a drive shaft having an axis of rotation and rotatably supported in the housing, an output shaft having an axis of rotation and rotatably supported in the housing, a first pulley and a second pulley both having a common axis of rotation, a third pulley having an axis of rotation and rotatably attached to the drive shaft, and a belt. The output shaft is operatively connected to the drive shaft. The first pulley and the second pulley each have a variable pitch diameter and changes in the first and second pulley variable pitch diameters being inversely proportional. The third pulley and one of the first and the second pulleys are in engagement though the belt.

Abstract: This container, through its pseudo-mobius strip design, will control the introduction of static electricity to the electronic circuits it houses. Static electricity would have to overcome it's tendency not to enter an internal surface, as demonstrated by Faraday. The internal surface presented in this container is uniquely more difficult for static electricity to enter than that of existing containers.