Patent ID: 6779615
Filing Date: 2004-08-24
Classification: B60K

Abstract:
A self-contained powertrain module, comprising:a structural member; an engine attached to said structural member, said engine including an output shaft; first and second hydrostatic transmission modules connected to said structural member, each said hydrostatic transmission module comprising a transmission housing, a rotating fluid pump disposed within said housing, and a rotatable fluid motor disposed within said housing and in fluid communication with said pump, said pump being driven by said engine output shaft and being of variable displacement, each said motor being rotated at various speeds and in forward and reverse directions in response to changes in pump displacement. the displacement of each said pump being variable independent of the displacement of the other said pump; first and second axle drive units connected to said structural member, each said axle drive unit comprising a housing and a speed reduction gear train disposed within said housing, each said speed reduction gear train having an input and an output, said first hydrostatic transmission module motor being operably coupled to said first axle drive unit gear train input, said second hydrostatic transmission module motor being operably coupled to said second axle drive unit gear train input; and first and second axles, said first axle being operably coupled to said first gear train output, said second axle being operably coupled to said second gear train output, said first and second axles respectively extending through said first and second axle drive unit housings.