Abstract: A hydrostatic apparatus is disclosed. The hydrostatic apparatus comprises a pump, an input shaft, a fan and a fan shroud. The pump comprises a housing, an end cap, a first end and a second end. The input shaft extending from the first end and the second end of the pump. The fan is attached to one end of the input shaft. The fan shroud is also attached to the pump.

Abstract: A control system for use in a vehicle having left and right clutch assemblies, each clutch assembly including a brake mechanism and a drive mechanism. The control system includes a steering switch having a left steering position to actuate the left brake mechanism and the right drive mechanism, a neutral steering position to actuate the left and right drive mechanisms, and a right steering position to actuate the left drive mechanism and the right brake mechanism. The system may also include an operator switch having a first position to actuate brake mechanisms and disable the steering switch, and a second position that passes control of both brake clutch assemblies to the steering switch. The system may further include a brake switch having a brake position that actuates both brake mechanisms and disables the operator switch and the steering switch, and a drive position that passes control of both clutch assemblies to the operator switch.

Abstract: A vehicle includes a transmission housing disposed on a frame to independently drive a pair of wheels. The transmission includes first and second motor having collinear motor shafts and first and second pump hydraulically connected to the respective motors and having collinear pump shafts. An input shaft extends into the housing and drives both pump shafts and has an axis of rotation that is perpendicular to the pump shaft axes of rotation.

Abstract: A hydrostatic apparatus is disclosed. The hydrostatic apparatus comprises a pump, an input shaft, a fan and a fan shroud. The pump comprises a housing, an end cap, a first end and a second end. The input shaft extending from the first end and the second end of the pump. The fan is attached to one end of the input shaft. The fan shroud is also attached to the pump.

Abstract: A control system for use in a vehicle having left and right clutch assemblies, each including a brake mechanism and a drive mechanism. The control system includes a steering switch having multiple steering positions to actuate the corresponding brake mechanism and opposite drive mechanism and a neutral position to actuate both drive mechanisms. The system may also include an operator switch having a first position to actuate the brake mechanisms and disable the steering switch, and a second position that enables control of the brake clutch assemblies by the steering switch. The system may include a brake switch having a brake position that actuates both brake mechanisms and disables the operator and steering switches, and a drive position that passes control of both clutch assemblies to the operator switch.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for a zero turn vehicle or similar application comprising a pair of pumps mounted in a common housing and having coaxial input shafts and an input shaft mounted in the common housing perpendicular to the two pump shafts. A pair of center sections or end caps including hydraulic porting are mounted to opposite ends of the common housing, and each center section has a hydraulic motor mounted thereon external to the common housing.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for a zero turn vehicle or similar application comprising a housing forming a cavity and having an input shaft driving a continuously variable transmission comprising first and second rotatable elements and output shaft is driven by the second rotatable element.

Abstract: A dual pump apparatus having two pumps mounted in a housing, where the housing comprises two elements mounted on opposite sides of a hydraulic mounting member or center section. The pumps are mounted on one side of the hydraulic mounting member in a pump cavity, and the hydraulic mounting member and second housing element form a drive cavity in which gears or an endless coupling member such as a chain or belt to connect the two pump input shafts are located.

Abstract: A control system for use in a vehicle having left and right clutch assemblies, each clutch assembly including a brake mechanism and a drive mechanism. The control system includes a steering switch having a left steering position to actuate the left brake mechanism and the right drive mechanism, a neutral steering position to actuate the left and right drive mechanisms, and a right steering position to actuate the left drive mechanism and the right brake mechanism. The system may also include an operator switch having a first position to actuate brake mechanisms and disable the steering switch, and a second position that passes control of both brake clutch assemblies to the steering switch. The system may further include a brake switch having a brake position that actuates both brake mechanisms and disables the operator switch and the steering switch, and a drive position that passes control of both clutch assemblies to the operator switch.

Abstract: A mechanism for sensing the direction of a vehicle, or other application using a drive device such as a hydrostatic transmission. An actuation mechanism is mounted to a rotatable shaft or gear in the drive device and has an actuated position when the shaft or gear is rotating in a first direction and an unactuated position when the shaft or gear is rotating in the opposite direction.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for a zero turn vehicle or similar application comprising a pair of pumps mounted in a common housing and having coaxial input shafts and an input shaft mounted in the common housing perpendicular to the two pump shafts. A pair of center sections or end caps including hydraulic porting are mounted to opposite ends of the common housing, and each center section has a hydraulic motor mounted thereon external to the common housing.

Abstract: A dual pump apparatus having two pumps mounted in a housing, where the housing comprises two elements mounted on opposite sides of a hydraulic mounting member or center section. The pumps are mounted on one side of the hydraulic mounting member in a pump cavity, and the hydraulic mounting member and second housing element form a drive cavity in which gears or an endless coupling member such as a chain or belt to connect the two pump input shafts are located.

Abstract: A dual pump apparatus for use on a vehicle or industrial application and having a pair of hydraulic pumps that are disposed in separate chambers within a housing. A pair of input shafts are disposed within the housing to drive the respective hydraulic pumps and one of the input shafts engages a prime mover. A charge pump may be mounted on an end cap, and trunnion arms for controlling the hydraulic pumps may extend out of opposite sides of the housing. An auxiliary pump may also be mounted on one of the input shafts and may be located either at the input end thereof or on the opposite side of the housing.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for a zero turn vehicle or similar application comprising a pair of pumps mounted in a common housing and having coaxial input shafts and an input shaft mounted in the common housing perpendicular to the two pump shafts. A pair of center sections or end caps including hydraulic porting are mounted to opposite ends of the common housing, and each center section has a hydraulic motor mounted thereon external to the common housing.

Abstract: A system and method for electronically controlling the displacement of hydraulic pumps, transmissions or transaxles. A moveable swash plate is cooperable with a rotatable hydraulic pump for controlling the output thereof, and a rotatable trunnion arm is coupled to the moveable swash plate. A pair of switches may be mounted in separate locations to detect the position of a control arm used to rotate the trunnion arm. The control arm may be connected to an electronic actuation drive used to electronically control the rotatable control arm.

Abstract: A system for use with a vehicle such as a tractor having an output device such as a mower deck or snow thrower comprising a sensor positioned to detect the rotational direction of a shaft such as an output axle. The operational status of the output device can be changed depending on the rotational direction of the shaft.

Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission mountable to a vehicle frame. The hydrostatic transmission is adapted to removeably receive an axle shaft. The hydrostatic transmission is also adapted to be mounted to at least one of two opposed side members of the vehicle frame. The opposed side members have openings through which the axel shaft passes. The vehicle may be a snow thrower.

Abstract: A drive apparatus for a zero turn vehicle or similar application comprising a pair of pumps mounted in a common housing and having coaxial input shafts and a main input shaft mounted in the common housing perpendicular to the two pump shafts. A pair of center sections or end caps including hydraulic porting are mounted to opposite ends of the common housing, and each center section has a hydraulic motor mounted thereon external to the common housing. A power take off unit may also be mounted to the common housing and driven by the main input shaft.

Abstract: An embodiment of the present invention involves a zero turn drive apparatus. The zero turn drive apparatus has a housing, which has a first and a second end. The housing has a first end cap mounted on the first end of the housing, and a second end cap mounted on the second end of the housing. A hydraulic pump is rotatably mounted on each end cap, and each hydraulic pump is driven by a pump input shaft. A gear chamber is interposed between each pump. A power take off mechanism is engaged to the housing, and an output shaft extends from the power take off mechanism. An input shaft, which is engaged to each of the pump input shafts, extends into the power take off mechanism and is selectively engaged to the output shaft.

Abstract: A dual pump apparatus for use on a vehicle or industrial application having a housing in which a pair of hydraulic pumps are mounted, having a cooling fan mounted on the primary or secondary input shaft on the opposite side of the pulley used to engage the prime mover. A charge pump may be mounted on the end cap, and the trunnion arms for controlling the hydraulic pumps extend out of opposite sides of the housing. An auxiliary pump may also be mounted on the primary input shaft and may be located either at the input end thereof adjacent to the pulley, or on the opposite side of the housing.