Abstract: A hydrostatic transmission assembly includes a main housing and a housing cap sealed to the main housing to form a sump wherein a pump and motor are rotatably disposed. A pump mount is located in the sump and engaged to the housing cap. The housing cap also includes a motor mount for an axial piston motor, and hydraulic fluid passages for connecting the pump to the motor. A pocket is located in the housing cap to rotationally support a swash plate for the pump.

Abstract: A drive train configuration is disclosed. The drive train configuration has a transmission or transaxle assembly which may be directly mounted to a vehicle frame. The drive train configuration also comprises an engine that may be attached to a housing of the transmission or transaxle portion. The drive train configuration may also have a power take off mechanism.

Abstract: A clutch/brake assembly is provided which includes a coil plate non-rotatably captured between the upper housing and the lower housing and having affixed thereon a ring shaped coil, a clutch rotor rotatably secured to the shaft and having a groove configured to accommodate therein the ring shaped coil, and a clutch output assembly having a clutch/brake disc and a clutch output shaft. The clutch/brake disc and the clutch output shaft are attached to one another by a plurality of springs. The clutch/brake assembly may be mounted on a deck of a lawnmower to drive a blade.

Abstract: A drive assembly is disclosed, with a hydraulic center section for a rotating kit disposed in a housing. A spring is disposed between the center section and an internal surface of the housing. The center section may include a main body having first and second running surfaces and at least one side wall, and internal porting formed in the main body to connect the first running surface with the second running surface. A pair of passages in communication with the internal porting may be formed in a structure having an external surface forming an alignment profile shaped to fit in a first internal housing pocket. A protrusion shaped to fit in second internal housing pocket extends from a side wall of the main body generally opposite to the structure, and the spring may engage the protrusion.

Abstract: A pump assembly includes a pair of rotatable pumps located in a housing and engaged to a pump support disposed on a support surface on which the rotatable pumps are mounted. The pump support may include a pair of parallel side walls and a pair of bearing supports for a pair of pump shafts. Each pump shaft is driven by a separate pump gear, and a distance between an axis of rotation of a first pump shaft and an axis of rotation of a second pump shaft is less than a sum of: (a) a minor radius of the first pump gear, and (b) a minor radius of the second pump gear.

Abstract: A clutch mechanism for a vehicle drive uses a drive gear having an interface element rotatable therewith, and a hub driving an output shaft. A ring is disposed proximate to and selectively engagable with the interface element. An adjustment mechanism moves the ring between an engaged position with the interface element to transfer rotational force from the drive gear to the shaft, and a disengaged position in which the ring is disengaged from the interface element. At least one spring engaged to the hub and the ring biases the ring to the engaged position.

Abstract: A transaxle for a vehicle is provided, including a pump assembly having an input shaft extending from a housing and driven by a prime mover and a pump disposed on a first hydraulic mounting member attached to a pump housing. An attached motor assembly includes a tubular axle/motor housing, a motor disposed on a second hydraulic mounting member therein and openings in the axle/motor housing to receive hydraulic fluid from the first mounting member. The pump hydraulically drives the motor through porting formed in the first and second hydraulic mounting members via protrusions extending from the first mounting member to the second mounting member. A pair of dual planetary gear reduction mechanisms may be driven by the motor output shaft to power one of a pair of driven wheels of the vehicle.

Abstract: A modular transmission assembly is disclosed, including a bracket having separate, integrally formed pump and motor mounting areas disposed generally perpendicular to one another, a pump assembly engaged and fastened to the bracket proximate to the pump mounting area, the pump assembly having an end cap secured to a pump housing and having at least two system ports on one side of the end cap, a motor assembly engaged and fastened to the bracket proximate to the motor mounting area, the motor assembly having a front housing with at least two motor system ports and an output shaft and at least two hoses connecting the pump system ports to the motor system parts to form a hydraulic circuit.

Abstract: A clutch for driving a pair of output axles for a drive mechanism includes a driven clutch bevel gear mounted on a clutch shaft. A pair of clutch rings is disposed on opposite sides of the bevel gear and slidable along a clutch shaft, to selectively engage a pair of driven gears. A pair of clutch arms engages the clutch rings for moving each clutch ring between its engaged and disengaged positions, and a plurality of springs disposed along the clutch shaft biases the clutch rings to their respective engaged positions. The drive mechanism may include a mounting member having a running surface for a hydraulic motor, a pair of arms on opposite sides and extending away from the running surface, wherein the clutch shaft extends between and is supported by the pair of arms.

Abstract: A clutch/brake assembly is provided which includes a coil plate non-rotatably captured between the upper housing and the lower housing and having affixed thereon a ring shaped coil, a clutch rotor rotatably secured to the shaft and having a groove configured to accommodate therein the ring shaped coil, and a clutch output assembly having a clutch/brake disc and a clutch output shaft. The clutch/brake disc and the clutch output shaft are attached to one another by a plurality of springs. The clutch/brake assembly may be mounted on a deck of a lawnmower to drive a blade.

Abstract: A front steering module adapted for integration with the subframe of a zero-turn radius vehicle incorporating an electronic steering apparatus. The module provides both front wheel steering and corresponding control inputs for the electronic steering apparatus. The module has a frame member having a pair of steered wheel assemblies mounted thereto and a mounting member for attachment to the vehicle. The module further comprises a steering mechanism and a steering position sensor for providing input to the electronic steering apparatus.

Abstract: A drive train configuration is disclosed. The drive train configuration has a transmission or transaxle assembly which may be directly mounted to a vehicle frame. The drive train configuration also comprises an engine that may be attached to a housing of the transmission or transaxle portion. The drive train configuration may also have a power take off mechanism.

Abstract: A drive apparatus driven by a prime mover and having a variable speed transmission disposed within a housing is disclosed. A power take off is driven by an output shaft of the prime mover and selectively drives a power take off output shaft. The variable speed transmission drives a transmission output shaft, which in turn drives a first clutch mechanism and a second clutch mechanism. A first drive axle is engaged to and selectively driven by the first clutch mechanism and a second drive axle is engaged to and selectively driven by the second clutch mechanism.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a vehicle is provided, the vehicle having a frame, a prime mover and a pair of driven wheels. The drive assembly includes a transmission having a housing, an input shaft extending from the housing and driven by the prime mover, a pump and motor disposed on a hydraulic mounting member in the housing, the pump driven by the input shaft and correspondingly driving the motor through porting formed in the hydraulic mounting member. The transmission further includes an internal reduction gear assembly driven by the output shaft of the motor, a transmission output shaft disposed generally parallel to the motor output shaft and driven by the internal reduction gear assembly, the transmission output shaft extending from the transmission at both ends of the transmission output shaft. Each end of the transmission output shaft drives an external reduction assembly supported in part by the frame of the vehicle, the external reduction assemblies powering at least a driven wheel of the vehicle.

Abstract: A front steering module adapted for integration with the subframe of a zero-turn radius vehicle incorporating an electronic steering apparatus. The module provides both front wheel steering and corresponding control inputs for the electronic steering apparatus. The module has a frame member having a pair of steered wheel assemblies mounted thereto and a mounting member for attachment to the vehicle. The module further comprises a steering mechanism and a steering position sensor for providing input to the electronic steering apparatus.

Abstract: A fireplace liner comprising a first panel configured to be located in front of a fireplace burner assembly that has a lateral dimension that extends across a viewing window of a fireplace box. The first panel is configured to extend laterally along the lateral dimension, and, a rear end of the first panel, nearest to the burner assembly, includes a first trough having a vertical wall with a plurality of first slots therein. The liner comprises a second panel configured to be located behind the burner assembly in the box. The second panel is configured to extend laterally along the lateral dimension, and a front end of the second panel, nearest to the burner assembly, includes a second trough having another vertical wall with a plurality of second slots therein. The first and second slots permit secondary air flow there-through.

Abstract: A drive train configuration is disclosed. The drive train incorporates an engine having hydraulic pumps contained substantially inside the engine housing and with an engine shaft driving the hydraulic pumps. A porting block or center section is mounted to the engine housing to provide hydraulic communication between the hydraulic pumps located inside the engine housing and hydraulic motors located outside the engine housing. The hydraulic motor output shafts drive gears connected to axles to propel a vehicle.

Abstract: A transmission having an integrated gear and brake mechanism is disposed in a housing, the transmission having a variable drive mechanism, gear train, and an output axle engaged to the gear train. The output axle is driven by a final drive gear having an integrated drum brake within its circumference.

Abstract: A drive apparatus driven by a prime mover that has a prime mover output shaft is disclosed. The drive apparatus has a housing and a power take off. The power take off is driven by the prime mover output shaft and selectively drives a power take off output shaft. The drive apparatus further has a variable speed transmission disposed within the housing. The variable speed transmission drives a transmission output shaft, which in turn drives a first clutch mechanism and a second clutch mechanism. A first drive axle is engaged to and selectively driven by the first clutch mechanism and a second drive axle is engaged to and selectively driven by the second clutch mechanism.

Abstract: In a vehicle having an engine, crankshaft and pump assembly in an engine housing, the pump assembly includes a pair of rotatable pumps located in the engine housing and engaged to respective cradle bearing supports. A single pump shaft driven by the crankshaft has an axis of rotation parallel to that of the crankshaft, and engages and drives both rotatable pumps. The pump assembly also includes a first support plate on which one of the rotatable pumps is disposed and a second support plate on which the other of the rotatable pumps is disposed, and both cradle bearing supports are disposed between the first support plate and the second support plate.