Patent ID: 7448209
Filing Date: 2008-11-11
Classification: A01D,F16D,F16H

Abstract:
1. An axle driving apparatus for a vehicle, comprising: a single axle; a single hydraulic pump having a vertical pump shaft, a cylinder block engaged with the pump shaft containing a reciprocally movable piston therein, and a movable swash plate for receiving thrust from a head of the piston; a single hydraulic motor driven by pressurized oil from the hydraulic pump, the motor including a motor shaft drivingly connected to the single axle; a reduction gear mechanism mechanically connecting the single axle and the motor shaft for reducing a speed; and a housing entirely containing the single hydraulic pump, the single hydraulic motor, the single axle, and the reduction gear mechanism, the housing having a first housing member and a lid separably joined along a vertical plane perpendicular to a longitudinal axis of the single axle; wherein the hydraulic pump is entirely disposed in the first housing member and the pump shaft extends outwardly from an upper surface of the first housing member; wherein the single axle includes a proximal end portion rotatably mounted in the housing, and includes a distal end portion extending outwardly from a first side of the housing; wherein the movable swash plate includes a pair of trunnion shafts provided coaxially at respective opposite sides of the movable swash plate, a rotary axis of the trunnion shafts is substantially perpendicular to the vertical plane, each of the trunnion shafts is rotatably supported by one of the first housing member and the lid, the movable swash plate is slantingly rotatably supported in the housing, and one of the trunnion shafts extends outwardly from the housing to be fixed to an arm linked with a speed changing member equipped on the vehicle; wherein the housing defines a length greater than a width thereof, wherein the length of the housing extends in a direction perpendicular to the axle, and the width of the housing extends in a direction parallel to the axle.