Abstract: A transaxle for a working vehicle including a housing, an integrated hydrostatic transmission (IHT) disposed within the housing, and a bi-directional overrunning clutch disposed within the housing and coupled to an output shaft of the IHT. The bi-directional overrunning clutch includes an input gear having a central opening, a roller assembly disposed within the central opening of the input gear, a plurality of rollers for selective engagement with the input gear, and a pair of hubs. Each hub is disposed at least partially within the roller assembly. The transaxle further includes a pair of clutch covers. Each clutch cover is disposed at either end of the roller assembly and each clutch cover is coupled directly to the roller assembly. The bi-directional overrunning clutch further includes a pair of friction members. Each friction member is disposed between one of the hubs and respective clutch cover. The transaxle also includes a pair of shaft segments of a primary drive axle.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transaxle comprises: a housing; an axle disposed in the housing; a hydraulic motor having a rotary axis disposed in the housing; an inward-and-outward opened hole formed in the housing and disposed on the rotary axis of the hydraulic motor; and first and second motor shafts prepared to serve as a motor shaft of the hydraulic motor for driving the axle. One of the first and second motor shafts is selected to be disposed on the rotary axis of the hydraulic motor in the housing. When the first motor shaft is selected, an outer end of the first motor shaft is disposed in the housing so as to face the hole. When the second motor shaft is selected, an outer end of the second motor shaft projects outward from the housing through the hole.

Abstract: A fluid passage member includes a pump mounting surface onto which a hydraulic pump having a rotary axis is mounted; first and second kidney ports opened at the pump mounting surface; a first fluid extraction port outwardly opened and connected to the first kidney port; a motor mounting surface onto which a hydraulic motor having a rotary axis is mounted so that the rotary axis of the hydraulic motor is parallel to the rotary axis of the hydraulic pump; third and fourth kidney ports opened at the motor mounting surface; and a second fluid extraction port outwardly opened and connected to the third kidney port.

Abstract: A hydraulic transaxle comprises a transaxle casing for supporting left and right axles, a pair of hydraulic motors disposed in the transaxle casing so as to drive the respective left and right axles, hydraulic ports provided in the transaxle casing so as to fluidly connect the pair of hydraulic motors in parallel to a common hydraulic pump, and a system for restricting or canceling differential rotation of the pair of hydraulic motors.

Abstract: A supplemental brake system of a zero turn vehicle has a prime mover, a brake pedal, a pair of axles, and a pair of transaxles driven by the prime mover so as to drive the respective axles. The transaxles include respective brakes for braking the respective axles according to depression of the brake pedal. Also included are supplemental braking means for stopping transmission of power from the prime mover to the pair of transaxles according to depression of the brake pedal.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a steering operation device, a pair of running-driving wheels, which differentially drive when the steering operation device is manipulated, a pair of steerable running wheels interlocking with the steering operation device, and a steering mechanism interposed between the steering operation device and the pair of running-driving wheels. The steering mechanism includes a pair of drive gears interlocking with the steering operation device and a pair of follower gears interlocking with the respective steerable running wheels. The drive gears mesh with the respective follower gears so as to control lateral turning of the respective steerable running wheels. A gear radius of the drive gear may be greater than that of the follower gear meshing with it. A gear ratio between the mutually meshing drive and follower gears may be variable.

Abstract: An axle driving apparatus comprises a housing. The housing contains a hydrostatic transmission, a differential unit driven by the hydrostatic transmission, a pair of axles mutually differentially connected through the differential unit, and a restricting mechanism for selectively restricting differential motion of the axles by manual operation. The differential unit comprises a ring gear serving as an input gear and a pair of bevel gears which can be differentially rotated by rotation of the ring gear. The restricting mechanism engages one of the bevel gears with the ring gear. If a pair of differential side gears fixed on the respective axles serve as the bevel gears, the restricting mechanism engages one of the bevel gear to the ring gear through a claw clutch or a friction clutch.

Abstract: A hydraulic transaxle comprises: a housing having a fluid sump therein, the housing including mutually joined housing parts; a pair of first wheels disposed at one of front and rear portions of the vehicle; an axle disposed in the housing; a center section disposed in the housing, the center section being formed therein with a pair of fluid ducts; a hydraulic pump disposed in the housing, fitted to the center section, and communicating with the fluid ducts; and a hydraulic motor disposed in the housing, fitted to the center section, and communicating with the fluid ducts so as to be fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic motor includes a cylindrical motor shaft relatively rotatably and coaxially penetrated by the axle and drivingly connected to the axle.

Abstract: Presented herein are four-wheel drive systems incorporating a bi-directional overrunning clutch design to control the torque transmission between front and rear transaxles. In accordance with one aspect of the present invention, there is provided a four-wheel drive system comprising a front transaxle, a rear transaxle, a transmission receiving drive power from a prime mover, and a bi-directional overrunning clutch drivingly coupled to an output shaft of the transmission and selectively coupled to the front and rear transaxle.

Abstract: A steerable hydraulic transaxle comprises: a kingpin relatively rotatably supported by a vehicle chassis; a housing fixed to the kingpin; a single axle disposed in the housing; a single wheel fixed onto the single axle out of the housing; and a hydraulic motor disposed in the housing so as to drive the single axle.

Abstract: A transaxle for a working vehicle including a housing, an integrated hydrostatic transmission (IHT) disposed within the housing, and a bi-directional overrunning clutch disposed within the housing and coupled to an output shaft of the IHT. The bi-directional overrunning clutch includes an input gear having a central opening, a roller assembly disposed within the central opening of the input gear, a plurality of rollers for selective engagement with the input gear, and a pair of hubs. Each hub is disposed at least partially within the roller assembly. The transaxle further includes a pair of clutch covers. Each clutch cover is disposed at either end of the roller assembly and each clutch cover is coupled directly to the roller assembly. The bi-directional overrunning clutch further includes a pair of friction members. Each friction member is disposed between one of the hubs and respective clutch cover. The transaxle also includes a pair of shaft segments of a primary drive axle.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a steering operation device, a pair of running-driving wheels, which differentially drive when the steering operation device is manipulated, a pair of steerable running wheels interlocking with the steering operation device, and a steering mechanism interposed between the steering operation device and the pair of running-driving wheels. The steering mechanism includes a pair of drive gears interlocking with the steering operation device and a pair of follower gears interlocking with the respective steerable running wheels. The drive gears mesh with the respective follower gears so as to control lateral turning of the respective steerable running wheels. A gear radius of the drive gear may be greater than that of the follower gear meshing with it. A gear ratio between the mutually meshing drive and follower gears may be variable.

Abstract: An axle driving apparatus comprises a housing. The housing contains a hydrostatic transmission, a differential unit driven by the hydrostatic transmission, a pair of axles mutually differentially connected through the differential unit, and a restricting mechanism for selectively restricting differential motion of the axles by manual operation. The differential unit comprises a ring gear serving as an input gear and a pair of bevel gears which can be differentially rotated by rotation of the ring gear. The restricting mechanism engages one of the bevel gears with the ring gear. If a pair of differential side gears fixed on the respective axles serve as the bevel gears, the restricting mechanism engages one of the bevel gear to the ring gear through a claw clutch or a friction clutch.

Abstract: A hydraulic transaxle comprises: a housing having a fluid sump therein, the housing including mutually joined housing parts; a pair of first wheels disposed at one of front and rear portions of the vehicle; an axle disposed in the housing; a center section disposed in the housing, the center section being formed therein with a pair of fluid ducts; a hydraulic pump disposed in the housing, fitted to the center section, and communicating with the fluid ducts; and a hydraulic motor disposed in the housing, fitted to the center section, and communicating with the fluid ducts so as to be fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic motor includes a cylindrical motor shaft relatively rotatably and coaxially penetrated by the axle and drivingly connected to the axle.

Abstract: A hydraulic transaxle comprises: a housing having a fluid sump therein, the housing including mutually joined housing parts; a pair of first wheels disposed at one of front and rear portions of the vehicle; an axle disposed in the housing; a center section disposed in the housing, the center section being formed therein with a pair of fluid ducts; a hydraulic pump disposed in the housing, fitted to the center section, and communicating with the fluid ducts; and a hydraulic motor disposed in the housing, fitted to the center section, and communicating with the fluid ducts so as to be fluidly connected to the hydraulic pump. The hydraulic motor includes a cylindrical motor shaft relatively rotatably and coaxially penetrated by the axle and drivingly connected to the axle.

Abstract: A vehicle comprises a steering operation device, a pair of running-driving wheels, which differentially drive when the steering operation device is manipulated, a pair of steerable running wheels interlocking with the steering operation device, and a steering mechanism interposed between the steering operation device and the pair of running-driving wheels. The steering mechanism includes a pair of drive gears interlocking with the steering operation device and a pair of follower gears interlocking with the respective steerable running wheels. The drive gears mesh with the respective follower gears so as to control lateral turning of the respective steerable running wheels. A gear radius of the drive gear may be greater than that of the follower gear meshing with it. A gear ratio between the mutually meshing drive and follower gears may be variable.

Abstract: A bi-directional overrunning clutch comprising an input gear, a pair of hubs, and a roller assembly is provided. Each hub is engaged to an end of one of a pair of shaft segments of a primary drive axle. The roller assembly is disposed within the input gear and about at least a portion of each hub. The roller assembly includes spring pins, extending from the roller assembly, with ball locks adapted to engage detents on the surface of each hub, so as to form spring pin engagements between the roller assembly and the hubs. In operation, rotation of the input gear causes rotation of the roller assembly. Thereafter, rotation of the roller assembly causes rotation of the hubs via the spring pin engagements. The spring pins, however, are generally adapted to disengage the spring pin engagements when one of the hubs rotates faster than the other hub.

Abstract: A fluid passage member includes a pump mounting surface onto which a hydraulic pump having a rotary axis is mounted; first and second kidney ports opened at the pump mounting surface; a first fluid extraction port outwardly opened and connected to the first kidney port; a motor mounting surface onto which a hydraulic motor having a rotary axis is mounted so that the rotary axis of the hydraulic motor is parallel to the rotary axis of the hydraulic pump; third and fourth kidney ports opened at the motor mounting surface; and a second fluid extraction port outwardly opened and connected to the third kidney port.

Abstract: A bidirectional overrunning clutch comprising an input gear, a pair of hubs, and a roller assembly is provided. Each hub is engaged to an end of one of a pair of shaft segments of a primary drive axle. The roller assembly is disposed within the input gear and about at least a portion of each hub. The roller assembly includes rollers disposed within recesses of the roller assembly. The roller assembly also includes a spring extending from the roller assembly to exert frictional forces between the roller assembly and the hubs. In operation, rotation of the input gear causes rotation of the roller assembly. Thereafter, rotation of the roller assembly causes rotation of the hubs via the engagements between the rollers and the hubs.

Abstract: An axle driving apparatus comprises a housing. The housing contains a hydrostatic transmission, a differential unit driven by the hydrostatic transmission, a pair of axles mutually differentially connected through the differential unit, and a restricting mechanism for selectively restricting differential motion of the axles by manual operation. The differential unit comprises a ring gear serving as an input gear and a pair of bevel gears which can be differentially rotated by rotation of the ring gear. The restricting mechanism engages one of the bevel gears with the ring gear. If a pair of differential side gears fixed on the respective axles serve as the bevel gears, the restricting mechanism engages one of the bevel gear to the ring gear through a claw clutch or a friction clutch.