Mounting of hydrostatic transmission for riding lawn mower

Abstract

A hydrostatic transmission including a pump and motor connected by supply and return lines. The hydrostatic transmission can be an integrated unit mountable to a vehicle frame as a unit. The motor portion of the transmission is configured to be at least partially received within a wheel to which an output shaft of the motor can be directed connected. Accordingly, the output shaft of the motor can be configured to function as a wheel axle.

1 . A hydrostatic transmission mountable as a unit to a frame of a vehicle, the transmission comprising: 
 a housing assembly having a pump portion, a motor portion, and a bridge portion between the pump and motor portions;    a pump contained within the pump portion, the pump configured to be driven by an input shaft of the hydrostatic transmission; and    a motor contained within the motor portion and connected to the pump via supply and return lines, the motor configured to drive an output shaft of the hydrostatic transmission;    wherein the housing assembly includes a mounting surface for enabling the hydrostatic transmission to be secured to the frame such that the output shaft and motor portion of the housing extend outwardly from the frame such that when the output shaft is connected to a wheel, the motor portion of the housing can be at least partially received within the wheel.    
   
   
       2 . A hydrostatic transmission as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein a distal end of the output shaft is configured to be an axle for supporting a wheel.  
   
   
       3 . An hydrostatic transmission as set forth in  claim 1 , wherein the mounting surface is associated with the motor portion of the housing such that radial loads applied to the output shaft are transmitted to the frame via the motor housing portion when the transmission is mounted to the frame.  
   
   
       4 . A vehicle comprising a frame, the hydrostatic transmission set forth in  claim 1 , and a wheel mounted to the output shaft of the hydrostatic transmission for supporting the vehicle for movement over a surface.  
   
   
       5 . A hydraulic motor assembly within a housing mountable to a frame of a vehicle, the motor assembly including a rotatably driven output shaft, wherein a distal end of the output shaft is configured to be an axle for supporting a wheel, and wherein the output shaft is connectable to a hub of a wheel such that the hydraulic motor assembly is at least partially received within the wheel when connected thereto.  
   
   
       6 . A hydrostatic transmission assembly including a pump assembly connected via supply and return lines to the hydraulic motor assembly set forth in  claim 5 .  
   
   
       7 . A hydrostatic transmission assembly as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the pump assembly and motor assembly are contained within the housing, and the housing is mountable to the frame as a unit.  
   
   
       8 . A hydrostatic transmission assembly as set forth in  claim 6 , wherein the housing has a motor housing portion containing the motor assembly, a pump housing portion containing the pump housing portion, and a bridge member between the pump housing portion and motor housing.  
   
   
       9 . A vehicle comprising: 
 a frame;    a hydraulic motor assembly supported by the frame, the motor assembly including a housing and a rotatably driven output shaft; and    a wheel mounted to the output shaft of the motor assembly for supporting the vehicle for movement over a surface;    wherein the hydraulic motor assembly is at least partially received within the wheel.    
   
   
       10 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the hydraulic motor assembly is external to the frame.  
   
   
       11 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 9 , further comprising a hydraulic pump assembly connected to the hydraulic motor assembly by supply and return lines.  
   
   
       12 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 11 , wherein the hydraulic pump assembly and hydraulic motor assembly are part of a hydrostatic transmission assembly mounted to the frame as a unit.  
   
   
       13 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the housing assembly includes the motor housing, a pump housing, and a bridge member between the motor housing and the pump housing.  
   
   
       14 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 12 , wherein the hydraulic pump assembly is located inwardly of the frame towards the longitudinal axis of the vehicle and the hydraulic motor assembly is located outwardly from the frame away from the longitudinal axis of the vehicle.  
   
   
       15 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 9 , wherein the motor housing supports the output shaft of the motor for transmitting radial loads applied to the output shaft to the frame.  
   
   
       16 . A vehicle as set forth in  claim 9 , further comprising a brace member secured to the motor housing and the frame for resisting torsion resulting from radial loads applied to the output shaft.