A transaxle includes a continuously variable transmission including a speed control arm and a neutral return spring allowing a biasing force to act on the speed control arm toward a neutral position, the speed control arm configured to operate from the neutral position to a forward position or a backward position to perform a continuous speed variation. The biasing force does not act on the speed control arm when the neutral return spring ranges from the neutral position to a predetermined speed position on a forward movement side, and the biasing force acts on the speed control arm when the neutral return spring ranges from the predetermined speed position to a maximum speed position on the forward movement side.

A control assembly for use with a vehicle having a pivot arm for controlling output of the vehicle includes a bracket, a yoke attached to the pivot arm, and a shaft engaged to the yoke and extending into the bracket. The pivot arm is rotatable about a first axis of rotation between a neutral position and a plurality of forward positions and a plurality of reverse positions. When in the neutral position, the pivot arm may also rotate about a second axis of rotation between an operative position and a stopped position, and a switch may be engaged when the pivot arm is rotated to the stopped position. A return to neutral assembly may provide a return force to the pivot arm when it is rotated about the first axis of rotation away from the neutral position.

A method for controlling a gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission vehicle includes: a step of detecting a position of a shift lever by a controller; a step of checking, by the controller, a gear ratio variation based on a difference between a desired stage gear ratio and a current gear ratio in a continuously variable transmission when the shift lever is detected to be positioned in a manual range; a step of calculating, by the controller, a gear ratio correction value based on a rate of change of engine RPM when the gear ratio variation is checked as being other than zero after the step of checking the gear ratio variation; and a step of correcting, by the controller, the gear ratio variation in response to the calculated gear ratio correction value after the calculation step.

A method for controlling a gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission vehicle includes: a step of detecting a position of a shift lever by a controller; a step of checking, by the controller, a gear ratio variation based on a difference between a desired stage gear ratio and a current gear ratio in a continuously variable transmission when the shift lever is detected to be positioned in a manual range; a step of calculating, by the controller, a gear ratio correction value based on a rate of change of engine RPM when the gear ratio variation is checked as being other than zero after the step of checking the gear ratio variation; and a step of correcting, by the controller, the gear ratio variation in response to the calculated gear ratio correction value after the calculation step.

A method for controlling a gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission vehicle includes: a step of detecting a position of a shift lever by a controller; a step of checking, by the controller, a gear ratio variation based on a difference between a desired stage gear ratio and a current gear ratio in a continuously variable transmission when the shift lever is detected to be positioned in a manual range; a step of calculating, by the controller, a gear ratio correction value based on a rate of change of engine RPM when the gear ratio variation is checked as being other than zero after the step of checking the gear ratio variation; and a step of correcting, by the controller, the gear ratio variation in response to the calculated gear ratio correction value after the calculation step.

A method for controlling a gear ratio of a continuously variable transmission vehicle includes: a step of detecting a position of a shift lever by a controller; a step of checking, by the controller, a gear ratio variation based on a difference between a desired stage gear ratio and a current gear ratio in a continuously variable transmission when the shift lever is detected to be positioned in a manual range; a step of calculating, by the controller, a gear ratio correction value based on a rate of change of engine RPM when the gear ratio variation is checked as being other than zero after the step of checking the gear ratio variation; and a step of correcting, by the controller, the gear ratio variation in response to the calculated gear ratio correction value after the calculation step.

A transaxle includes a continuously variable transmission including a speed control arm and a neutral return spring allowing a biasing force to act on the speed control arm toward a neutral position, the speed control arm configured to operate from the neutral position to a forward position or a backward position to perform a continuous speed variation. The biasing force does not act on the speed control arm when the neutral return spring ranges from the neutral position to a predetermined speed position on a forward movement side, and the biasing force acts on the speed control arm when the neutral return spring ranges from the predetermined speed position to a maximum speed position on the forward movement side.

The invention refers to hydraulic rotation transmissions and can be used in power transmissions and transmissions where the stepless ratio variation is essential. It can also be used as stepless speed transmission for vehicles (FIG. 1). Getting any transmission ratio with higher performance factor is achieved by applying in the hydraulic transmission new scheme, including motionless and movable bodies containing two coupled rotors, composing of camshafts with pistons and separated by motionless wall. Transmission ratio varies from 0 to maximal value displacing the movable body in axial direction by means of overhanging control arm.

The invention refers to hydraulic rotation transmissions and can be used in power transmissions and transmissions where the stepless ratio variation is essential. It can also be used as stepless speed transmission for vehicles (FIG. 1). Getting any transmission ratio with higher performance factor is achieved by applying in the hydraulic transmission new scheme, including motionless and movable bodies containing two coupled rotors, composing of camshafts with pistons and separated by motionless wall. Transmission ratio varies from 0 to maximal value displacing the movable body in axial direction by means of overhanging control arm.

A control assembly for a lawn mower includes a shaft configured to rotate about a first axis and a pivot bar coupled to and configured to rotate with and pivot relative to the shaft. The pivot bar is configured to rotate with the shaft between a forward position, a neutral position, and a rear position about the first axis and pivot relative to the shaft between an operative position and a stopped position about a second axis. The control assembly includes a magnet coupled to an end of the shaft, a position sensor positioned to interact with a magnetic field of the magnet to detect rotation of the pivot bar about the first axis, and a return-to-neutral assembly configured to bias the pivot bar toward the neutral position about the first axis.