Vehicle Transmission

Abstract

A vehicle transmission having a pair of left and right HSTs for driving respective axles is applicable for a riding lawn mower. The transmission comprises a center casing incorporating a distributing drive train. In the fore-and-aft direction, an input shaft of the distributing drive train projects from the center casing toward a prime mover, and a PTO shaft for driving a mower unit projects from the center casing opposite to the prime mover. A pair of left and right deceleration drive train casings for incorporating respective deceleration gear trains and supporting the respective axles are disposed on respective left and right sides of the center casing. A pair of left and right stepless transmission mechanisms, each of which is drivingly interposed between the distributing drive train and each of the deceleration gear trains in the deceleration gear train casings, are mounted on left and right side portions of the center casing opposite to the prime mover in the fore-and-aft direction.

1 . An axle driving apparatus comprising: 
 a common input shaft;    a pair of left and right symmetric drive assemblies disposed opposite to each other with respect to the input shaft, wherein each of the left and right symmetric drive assemblies includes a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor driven by the hydraulic pump, and an axle driven by the hydraulic motor; and    a gear train interposed between the common input shaft and the pair of left and right symmetric drive assemblies so as to distribute a rotary force of the input shaft between the hydraulic pumps of the respective left and right drive assemblies, wherein the left and right symmetric drive assemblies are juxtaposed so as to substantially align the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic motor and the axle in each of the drive assemblies on a line extended perpendicular to the input shaft.    
   
   
       2 . The axle driving apparatus according to  claim 1 , further comprising: 
 a housing for supporting the common input shaft, wherein the housing accommodates the gear train and the hydraulic pumps of the left and right drive assemblies.    
   
   
       3 . The axle driving apparatus according to  claim 2 , wherein the housing further accommodates the hydraulic motors and the axles of the left and right drive assemblies.  
   
   
       4 . The axle driving apparatus according to  claim 1 , wherein the axles are disposed coaxially to each other and to the hydraulic motors.