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.

Provided is a trailing arm riding mower suspension system that includes trailing arms adapted to support hydraulic motor units and having leading ends pivotally coupled to a mower frame by way of leading end spherical joints and trailing ends having hydraulic drive unit mounts, where the trailing arms are adapted to pivot about leading end pivot locations defined by the leading end spherical joints.

A transaxle casing has a fluid sump having a gear top cover, an HST, a reduction gear train and at least one axle disposed in the transaxle casing. The gear top cover accommodates a part of a rotation portion of the reduction gear train. An air supply and exhaust hole is disposed on an upper surface of the gear top cover facing an air sump and is arranged at a position different from a point above a bevel gear. A breather is attached at the air supply and exhaust hole, and a first inner wall extending downward from the upper surface of the upper casing member, is positioned between the part of the bevel gear and the air supply and exhaust hole.

Some embodiments of the invention provide a transaxle drive system for ride-on equipment. The transaxle drive system can include a frame supporting at least one power source and at least two subframes, the at least one power source including at least one drive pulley. The system can also include transaxle assemblies driven by at least a portion of at least one belt from the at least one drive pulley. The transaxle assemblies can include a first transaxle assembly supported by a subframe, the first transaxle assembly coupled to the at least one drive pulley with at least one belt, and a second transaxle assembly supported by another subframe, the second transaxle assembly coupled by at least one belt to the at least one drive pulley. The transaxle assemblies can be independently pivoted with respect to each other, the frame, and the power source.

An axle assembly (200) includes a first axle housing (102), a second axle housing (104), a first wheel end (216), a second wheel end (218), and at least one drive shaft (150) extending through the first axle housing (102) and the second axle housing (104) and coupled to the first and second wheel ends (216, 218). The axle assembly (200) also includes a gearbox (210) having a body (240) with first and second portions (242, 244) defining a cavity (246) with the first axle housing (102) coupled to the first portion (242) and the second axle housing (104) coupled to the second portion (244). The axle housing (200) further includes an electric motor (122) coupled to the first portion (242) of the body (240). The gearbox (210) includes a gear train (153) having an input shaft (160) having one end coupled to the electric motor (122) and an output shaft (172) rotatably coupled to the input shaft (160). The gear train (153) further includes a clutch (174) having a shifting fork (178) movable between an engaged state and a disengaged state to couple the output shaft (172) to the drive shaft (150) such that the electric motor (122) drives the drive shaft (150) and to uncouple the output shaft (172) from the drive shaft (150) such that the drive shaft (150) is able to rotate independently from the electric motor (122).

A check valve for use with a hydraulic drive apparatus includes a check ball disposed in a cage portion for engaging a valve seat to close the valve. The cage portion has a plurality of flexible ribs composed of a flexible material which permits the check ball to be inserted into to ball retaining area during assembly and to be retained in the ball area after assembly. A filter housing connected to a mounting member has a pair of openings formed in a first surface, and a pair of deformable lips surrounding each opening. A filter screen permits hydraulic fluid to enter a filter housing from a sump. A pair of check valves are disposed in a pair of check valve ports. An external surface of each check valve is engaged to one of the deformable lips to sealingly engage the check valve to the filter housing.

A transaxle includes a braking unit disposed in the transaxle casing, the braking unit configured to brake the axle. The braking unit includes an operating shaft projecting from one side of the transaxle casing. A link mechanism of the transaxle is includes a relay arm rotatably pivoted on a shaft provided on the one side of the transaxle casing, a brake arm fixed to the operating shaft, the brake arm being configured to rotate between a braking position and an unbraking position of the braking unit together with the operating shaft, a first link configured to manipulate the relay arm, and a second link configured to join the relay arm to the brake arm. The link mechanism constrains motion of the brake arm through the second link such that an external force on the braking unit cannot cause an unexpected release from the braking state.

A hydraulic transaxle includes a transaxle casing including an upper transaxle housing and a lower casing, hydrostatic transmission (HST), and an axle. The HST has a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor that are fluidly connected to each other. The hydraulic motor has a motor shaft that is drivingly connected to the axle through a reduction gear train that is disposed between the hydraulic pump and the axle. Reduction gear train has a gear shaft supported by the upper transaxle housing via a ball bearing. At least a part of the upper transaxle housing is formed by a gear top cover made of metal and covering the reduction gear train. Ball bearing is supported by the upper transaxle housing and the gear top cover.

A hydraulic transaxle of the present invention includes an axle, a hydraulic static transmission (HST), a center case that has pair of oil passages for circulating the hydraulic oil between the hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor, and a gear mechanism that transmits an output of the HST to the axle. A case supports the axle and accommodates the HST while also forming an oil reservoir. A hydraulic motor of the HST includes a motor shaft, a cylinder block with a plurality of cylinders fixed to the motor shaft, a plurality of pistons inserted into the cylinders, a fixed swash plate abutted by the plurality of pistons, and a fixed swash plate holder that supports the fixed swash plate with respect to the case. The motor shaft of the hydraulic motor is supported by the center case and the fixed swash plate holder.