Hydrostatic transaxle assembly and improved coupling arrangement therefor

摘要

A hydrostatic transaxle is disclosed of the type including a hydrostatic transmission (11;221), a differential gear means (19;243), and first (21;213) and second (23;215) axle shafts. The hydrostatic transmission includes a transmission case (34;229,231) having a second case portion (31;231) including an output hub portion (97;235). The transaxle includes axle housing casing halves 133,135:209,211) joined together on a plane containing the axis of rotation of the axle shafts, and including an output portion (163,165;209,211) in tight engagement about the output hub portion. Another portion (173;229,231,249) of the transmission case cooperates with one of the axle casing halves to define a secondary mounting means and a torque reaction means which, together with the output hub portion, comprise the only portions of the transmission case operatively associated with the axle housing (131;208). The disclosed mounting or coupling of the hydrostatic transmission and the axle housing makes it possible to integrate the hydrostatic transmission and gear axle assembly, while at the same time segregating the hydraulic fluid of the hydrostatic transmission from the lubricant of the gear axle assembly, but still simplifying the overall structure of the assembly.