A transaxle with a brake of the present invention includes the braking device comprising a plurality of brake discs, fixing plates, and a brake operating member, wherein the brake discs have an inner gear tooth portion that can be fitted to an outer gear tooth portion of an output gear of the motor shaft so as not to rotate relative to the outer gear tooth portion and is slidably fixed in the axial direction of the motor shaft, wherein the fixing plates are fixed to the transaxle casing so as not to rotate relative to each other and are slidably fixed in the axial direction of the motor shaft, and wherein the brake operating member provides a predetermined gap between the fixing plates and the brake discs when the brake discs are not pressed.

A transaxle with a brake of the present invention includes the braking device comprising a plurality of brake discs, fixing plates, and a brake operating member, wherein the brake discs have an inner gear tooth portion that can be fitted to an outer gear tooth portion of an output gear of the motor shaft so as not to rotate relative to the outer gear tooth portion and is slidably fixed in the axial direction of the motor shaft, wherein the fixing plates are fixed to the transaxle casing so as not to rotate relative to each other and are slidably fixed in the axial direction of the motor shaft, and wherein the brake operating member provides a predetermined gap between the fixing plates and the brake discs when the brake discs are not pressed.

A vehicle control system and method utilize a transmission control module configured to generate a first target speed for a torque generating system for executing a downshift of an automatic transmission and a torque generating system control module configured to determine a second target speed for the torque generating system for executing the downshift of the automatic transmission, determine upper and lower target speed limits for the torque generating system for executing the downshift of the automatic transmission, based on the first and second target speeds and the upper and lower target speed limits, determine a final target speed for the torque generating system for executing the downshift of the automatic transmission, determine a target torque output for the torque generating system based on a current speed of and the final target speed for the torque generating system, and control the torque generating system based on the target torque output.

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 in which a pump and motor may be disposed. The transmission may be pivotally mounted to the frame and movable between at least two positions. The transmission may include an internal reduction gear assembly driven by a motor output shaft, 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 thereof. Each end of the transmission output shaft may drive an external reduction assembly supported in part by the frame, and the external reduction assemblies power at least a driven wheel of the vehicle.

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 in which a pump and motor may be disposed. The transmission may be pivotally mounted to the frame and movable between at least two positions. The transmission may include an internal reduction gear assembly driven by a motor output shaft, 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 thereof. Each end of the transmission output shaft may drive an external reduction assembly supported in part by the frame, and the external reduction assemblies power at least a driven wheel of the vehicle.

A hydrostatic transmission assembly includes a first housing member and a housing cap sealed to the first housing member 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.

A hydrostatic transmission assembly includes a first housing member and a housing cap sealed to the first housing member 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.

A vehicle control system and method utilize a transmission control module configured to generate a first target speed for a torque generating system for executing a downshift of an automatic transmission and a torque generating system control module configured to determine a second target speed for the torque generating system for executing the downshift of the automatic transmission, determine upper and lower target speed limits for the torque generating system for executing the downshift of the automatic transmission, based on the first and second target speeds and the upper and lower target speed limits, determine a final target speed for the torque generating system for executing the downshift of the automatic transmission, determine a target torque output for the torque generating system based on a current speed of and the final target speed for the torque generating system, and control the torque generating system based on the target torque output.

An example pump includes: (i) a swash block having (a) a first trunnion arm, (b) a second trunnion arm, and (c) a first curved support surface and a second curved support surface disposed on an exterior surface of the swash block; and (ii) a housing comprising (a) a first bore, (b) a second bore, and (c) an internal chamber having a first curved bushing and a second curved bushing, where the swash block is supported within the internal chamber of the housing by the first trunnion arm being positioned in the first bore of the housing, the second trunnion arm being positioned in the second bore of the housing, the first curved support surface being positioned against the first curved bushing of the housing, and the second curved support surface being positioned against the second curved bushing of the housing.

An example pump includes: (i) a swash block having (a) a first trunnion arm, (b) a second trunnion arm, and (c) a first curved support surface and a second curved support surface disposed on an exterior surface of the swash block; and (ii) a housing comprising (a) a first bore, (b) a second bore, and (c) an internal chamber having a first curved bushing and a second curved bushing, where the swash block is supported within the internal chamber of the housing by the first trunnion arm being positioned in the first bore of the housing, the second trunnion arm being positioned in the second bore of the housing, the first curved support surface being positioned against the first curved bushing of the housing, and the second curved support surface being positioned against the second curved bushing of the housing.