Axle driving apparatus

Abstract

An axle driving apparatus has in a housing a hydrostatic transmission with a variable displacement type hydraulic system having a slantingly movable swash plate. In one embodiment, the movable swash plate is manually slantingly operable. A leg member integrally extends from an inner wall of the housing, a lid for closing an opening of the housing, or a center section. The leg member has a support portion for supporting a shaft provided on an axis of rotation of the movable swash plate. Accordingly, the movable swash plate is suspended in the housing for slanting or pivoting movement.

What is claimed is:  
     
       1. An axle driving apparatus, comprising: 
       a housing having a first section;  
       an axle disposed within said housing;  
       a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axle comprising a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate and a cylinder block;  
       a shaft disposed on said movable swash plate, said shaft having a longitudinal axis which is along an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate; and  
       a leg positioned within said housing extending in a direction parallel to a rotary axis of said cylinder block, said leg member having a support for supporting said shaft on said movable swash plate, wherein said movable swash plate is supported in a suspended position within said housing.  
     
     
       2. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  1 , further comprising: 
       a recess coaxial with said shaft provided on a second side surface of said movable swash plate;  
       an opening formed in said first section of said housing;  
       a lid for closing said opening including an inner wall comprising a portion of said inner wall of said housing; and  
       a cylindrical member provided on said lid having a first end rotatably supported in said recess, wherein said shaft is on a first side surface of said movable swash plate, and said support rotatably holds said shaft.  
     
     
       3. An axle driving apparatus comprising: 
       a housing;  
       an opening disposed in said housing;  
       a lid for closing said opening in said housing;  
       an axle disposed within said housing;  
       a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axle, said hydrostatic transmission comprising a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate and a cylinder block;  
       a shaft projecting from said movable swash plate positioned on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate; and  
       a leg disposed on said lid, positioned within said housing and extending in a direction parallel to a rotary axis of said cylinder block, said leg having a support for supporting said shaft of said movable swash plate, wherein said movable swash plate is supported by said leg in a suspended position within said housing.  
     
     
       4. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  3 , wherein 
       said shaft comprises a pair of shafts formed on opposing side surfaces of said movable swash plate, and  
       said leg comprises a pair of legs disposed on said lid, said legs having supports for rotatably supporting said shaft of said movable swash plate.  
     
     
       5. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  4 , further comprising: 
       a holder detachably mounted to an end of said one leg, wherein said pair of shafts are non-rotatable and are integral with said movable swash plate, and  
       wherein said legs are integral with said lid, and at least one of said supports on one of said legs comprises a portion of said one leg.  
     
     
       6. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  3 , wherein said hydrostatic transmission further comprises: 
       another displacement hydraulic system in fluid communication with said displacement hydraulic system.  
     
     
       7. An axle driving apparatus, comprising: 
       a housing having a first section joined to a second section along a joint;  
       an axle disposed within said housing;  
       a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axle including a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate, a cylinder block and a rotary axis substantially perpendicular to said joint;  
       a shaft projecting from said movable swash plate positioned on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate; and  
       a leg disposed on an inner wall of said first housing section, said leg positioned within said housing and extending in a direction parallel to a rotary axis of said cylinder block, said leg having a support for supporting said shaft on said movable swash plate, wherein said movable swash plate is supported by said leg in a suspended position within said housing.  
     
     
       8. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  7 , wherein: 
       said shaft comprises a pair of shafts disposed on opposing side surfaces of said movable swash plate, and  
       said leg comprises a pair of legs each having a support for supporting said shaft.  
     
     
       9. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  7 , further comprising: 
       a holder detachably mounted to an end of said leg,  
       wherein said shaft is non-rotatable and is integral with said movable swash plate, wherein said leg is integral with said inner wall of said first section, and wherein said support comprises a portion of said leg.  
     
     
       10. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  7 , further comprising: 
       an opening formed in said first section of said housing;  
       a lid for closing said opening, wherein said shaft comprises a pair of shafts formed on opposing side surfaces of said movable swash plate; and  
       another support for one of said shafts disposed on an inner wall of said lid, wherein said another support comprises a portion of said inner wall of said housing.  
     
     
       11. An axle driving apparatus, comprising: 
       a housing;  
       an axle disposed within said housing;  
       a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axle comprising a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate and cylinder block;  
       a center section separably fixed in said housing, wherein said cylinder block is rotatably and slidably mounted on said center section;  
       a pair of shafts projecting from said movable swash plate being positioned on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate; and  
       a leg disposed on said center section, positioned within said housing and extending in a direction parallel to a rotary axis of said cylinder block, said leg having a support for supporting said shafts on said movable swash plate, wherein said movable swash plate is supported in a suspended position within said housing.  
     
     
       12. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  11 , wherein 
       said pair of shafts are disposed on opposing side surfaces of said movable swash plate,  
       said leg comprises a pair of legs on said center section disposed in a location corresponding to said shafts, and  
       said support of said leg rotatably holds said shafts.  
     
     
       13. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  11 , wherein 
       said shafts are non-rotatable and are integral with said movable swash plate,  
       said leg is integral with said center section, and  
       said support comprises an end portion of said leg and a holder is detachably mounted to said end portion.  
     
     
       14. An axle driving apparatus, comprising: 
       a housing;  
       axles disposed within said housing;  
       a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axles comprising a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate and a cylinder block,  
       a shaft integral with said movable swash plate being positioned on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate,  
       an arm fixed to an end of said shaft portion, and  
       a control shaft rotatably disposed in said housing extending in a direction parallel to said rotary axis of said cylinder blocks, said control shaft having an engaging portion engaging said arm for controlling slanting movement of said movable swash plate; and  
       a leg member positioned in said housing extending in a direction parallel to a rotary axis of said cylinder block, said leg member having a support for supporting said shaft on said movable swash plate, wherein said movable swash plate is supported in an suspended position in said housing.  
     
     
       15. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  14 , wherein said hydrostatic transmission further comprises: 
       another displacement hydraulic system in fluid communication with said displacement hydraulic system.  
     
     
       16. An axle driving apparatus comprising: 
       a housing;  
       axles disposed within said housing;  
       a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axles comprising at least one displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate and a cylinder block,  
       a shaft integral with said movable swash plate being positioned on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate,  
       an arm positioned above said shaft portion on said movable swash plate;  
       a leg member positioned in said housing extending in a direction parallel to a rotary axis of said cylinder block, said leg member having a support for supporting said shaft on said movable swash plate, wherein said movable swash plate is supported in an suspended position in said housing, said leg member having an opening said arm of said movable swash plate being disposed in said opening; and  
       a control shaft rotatably disposed in said housing extending in a direction parallel to said rotary axis of said cylinder blocks, said control shaft having an engaging portion engaging said arm for controlling slanting movement of said movable swash plate.  
     
     
       17. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  16 , wherein said hydrostatic transmission further comprises: 
       another displacement hydraulic system in fluid communication with said displacement hydraulic system.  
     
     
       18. An axle driving apparatus, comprising: 
       a housing;  
       axles disposed within said housing;  
       a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axles comprising a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate and a cylinder block,  
       a shaft integral with said movable swash plate being positioned on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate, and  
       an arm fixed to an end of the shaft portion;  
       a swinging arm connected to said arm for pivoting around an axis parallel to said rotary axis;  
       a spring in relation with said swinging arm for biasing said movable swash plate to a neutral position;  
       a control shaft rotatably disposed in said housing extending in a direction parallel to said rotary axis of said cylinder block, said control shaft having an engaging portion engaging said arm for controlling slanting movement of said movable swash plate; and  
       a leg member positioned in said housing extending in a direction parallel to a rotary axis of said cylinder block, said leg member having a support portion for supporting said shaft on said movable swash plate, wherein said movable swash plate is supported in an suspended position in said housing.  
     
     
       19. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  18 , wherein said hydrostatic transmission further comprises: 
       another displacement hydraulic system in fluid communication with said displacement hydraulic system.  
     
     
       20. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  18 , wherein 
       said shaft comprises a pair of shafts disposed on opposing side surfaces of said movable swash plate,  
       said arm fixed to said end of said shaft is a first end of a first shaft of said pair of shafts,  
       a second shaft of said pair of shafts comprises a second end extending outwardly from said housing, and  
       a control arm is connected to said second end of said second shaft portion for being rotated.  
     
     
       21. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  20 , wherein said hydrostatic transmission further comprises: 
       another displacement hydraulic system in fluid communication with said displacement hydraulic system.  
     
     
       22. An axle driving apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a housing having a first housing part and a second housing part separably connected with each other;  
       
       
         an opening through an outside wall of said first housing part;  
       
       
         a lid for closing said opening;  
       
       
         a projection, disposed opposite to said lid, wherein said projection is integrally formed of said first housing part;  
       
       
         an axle disposed within said housing;  
       
       
         a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axle, said hydrostatic transmission comprising a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate and a cylinder block;  
       
       
         a center section separably fixed in said housing; and  
       
       
         a pair of shaft projecting from both side surfaces of said movable swash plate positioned on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate, wherein said movable swash plate is disposed between said projection and said lid so that said projection extends parallel to a rotary axis of said cylinder block, one of said pair of shafts being rotatably supported by said projection, and the other of said pair of shafts being rotatably supported by said lid.  
       
     
     
       23. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  22 , wherein a portion of said shaft which is rotatably supported by said lid extends outwardly through said lid.  
     
     
       24. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  23 , further comprising: 
       
         a control arm fixedly attached to said outwardly extending portion of said shaft from said lid.  
       
     
     
       25. An axle driving apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a housing consisting of a first housing part and a second housing part separably connected with each other;  
       
       
         a projection integrally formed of said first housing part so as to divide an interior of said first housing part;  
       
       
         an axle disposed within said housing;  
       
       
         a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axle, said hydrostatic transmission comprising a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate and a cylinder block;  
       
       
         a center section separably fixed to in said housing; and  
       
       
         a pair of shafts projecting from both side surfaces of said movable swash plate positioned on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate, wherein said movable swash plate is disposed adjacently to said projection so that said projection extends parallel to a rotary axis of said cylinder block, one of said pair of shafts being rotatably supported by said projection.  
       
     
     
       26. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  25 , wherein said hydrostatic transmission further comprises: 
       
         an input shaft of said hydrostatic transmission disposed substantially vertically, wherein said pair of shafts project substantially perpendicularly to a rotational axis of said input shaft.  
       
     
     
       27. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  25 , wherein an outside wall of said housing, disposed opposite to said projection with respect to said movable swash plate, has a hole formed therein for supporting the other of said pair of shafts.  
     
     
       28. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  25 , further comprising: 
       
         an opening through an outside wall of said housing, wherein said opening is disposed opposite to said movable swash plate; and  
       
       
         a lid for closing said opening, wherein said lid has a hole formed therethrough for supporting the other of said pair of shafts.  
       
     
     
       29. An axle driving apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a housing consisting of a first housing part and a second housing part separably connected with each other;  
       
       
         an opening through an outside wall of said first housing part;  
       
       
         a lid for closing said opening;  
       
       
         a projection, disposed opposite to said lid, said projection integrally formed of said first housing part so as to divide an interior of said first housing part, said projection extending toward the end of said first housing part in connection with said second housing part,  
       
       
         an axle disposed within said housing;  
       
       
         a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axle, said hydrostatic transmission comprising a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate and a cylinder block;  
       
       
         a center section separably fixed in said housing; and  
       
       
         a pair of shafts projecting from both side surfaces of said movable swash plate on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate, wherein said movable swash plate is disposed between said projection and said lid so that said projection extends parallel to a rotary axis of said cylinder block, one of said pair of shafts being rotatably supported by said projection, and the other of said pair of shafts being rotatably supported by said lid.  
       
     
     
       30. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  29 , wherein a portion of said shaft rotatably supported by said lid extends outwardly through said lid.  
     
     
       31. An axle driving apparatus according to claim  29 , further comprising: 
       
         a control arm fixedly attached to said outwardly extending portion of said shaft from said lid.  
       
     
     
       32. An axle driving apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a housing having an opening;  
       
       
         a lid for closing said opening;  
       
       
         an axle disposed within said housing;  
       
       
         a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axle, said hydrostatic transmission comprising a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate and a cylinder block;  
       
       
         a center section separably fixed in said housing;  
       
       
         a pair of shafts projecting from both side surfaces of said movable swash plate positioned on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate, wherein one of said pair of shafts is rotatably supported by said housing and the other of said pair of shafts is rotatably supported by said lid so as to be extended outwardly; and  
       
       
         a control arm provided on the outwardly extending portion of said shaft.  
       
     
     
       33. An axle driving apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a housing;  
       
       
         an axle disposed within said housing;  
       
       
         a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axle, said hydrostatic transmission comprising a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate and a cylinder block of a hydraulic pump, wherein said hydraulic pump has a pump shaft;  
       
       
         a center section separably fixed in said housing;  
       
       
         a pair of shafts projecting from both side surfaces of said movable swash plate positioned on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate by a control arm interconnected to one of said shafts, wherein said pair of shafts is disposed substantially perpendicular to the pump shaft; and  
       
       
         a spring interconnected to said movable swash plate, wherein said spring biases said swash plate toward a neutral position.  
       
     
     
       34. An axle driving apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a housing;  
       
       
         an axle disposed within said housing;  
       
       
         a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axle, said hydrostatic transmission comprising a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate and a cylinder block;  
       
       
         a center section separably fixed in said housing; and  
       
       
         a pair of shafts projecting from both side surfaces of said movable swash plate positioned on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate, wherein each of said pair of shafts is rotatably supported by said housing.  
       
     
     
       35. An axle driving apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a housing;  
       
       
         an axle disposed within said housing;  
       
       
         a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axle, said hydrostatic transmission comprising a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate, a center section separably fixed in said housing, and a cylinder block disposed on the center section; and  
       
       
         a pair of shafts projecting from both side surfaces of said movable swash plate positioned on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate, wherein each of said pair of shafts is rotatably supported by said housing.  
       
     
     
       36. An axle driving apparatus, comprising: 
       
         a housing;  
       
       
         an axle disposed within said housing;  
       
       
         a hydrostatic transmission disposed within said housing for driving said axle, said hydrostatic transmission comprising a displacement hydraulic system having a movable swash plate and a cylinder block;  
       
       
         a center section separably fixed in said housing; and  
       
       
         a pair of shafts projecting from both side surfaces of said movable swash plate positioned on an axis of slanting movement of said movable swash plate, wherein said housing is dividable into two housing parts along the longitudinal direction of said pair of shafts, so that each of said two housing parts support said pair of shafts, respectively.