Patent ID: 6487857
Filing Date: 2002-12-03
Classification: F01B,F16H

Abstract:
A zero-turn transaxle, comprising:a casing adapted to carry a single axle in one of a left-handed or a right-handed drive position; a hydraulic transmission mounted within the casing comprising a rotatable hydraulic pump in fluid communication with a rotatable hydraulic motor and a moveable swash plate cooperable with the rotatable hydraulic pump for controlling the speed and direction of rotation of the rotatable hydraulic motor, the rotatable hydraulic motor being used to drive the axle; a rotatable trunnion arm coupled to the moveable swash plate, the rotatable trunnion arm extending from the casing; and a speed adjusting mechanism mounted to the casing and drivingly coupled to the rotatable trunnion arm, the speed adjusting mechanism being used to rotate the rotatable trunnion arm to change the orientation of the swash plate to change the speed and direction of rotation of the rotatable hydraulic motor, the speed adjusting mechanism including a return to neutral mechanism for biasing and moving the rotatable trunnion arm to a neutral position where the swash plate does not influence the speed and direction of rotation of the rotatable hydraulic motor comprised of a return arm that is mounted to the casing in a fixed position indicative of the neutral position, a control arm that is mounted to the rotatable trunnion arm, and a pair of scissor return arms which are adapted to move the control arm in cooperation with the return arm for the purpose of moving the rotatable trunnion arm to the neutral position, wherein the return arm has a plurality of openings for accepting a bolt used to mount the return arm to the casing and the control arm has a plurality of openings adapted to engage the bolt to provide a limit to the degree of movement afforded to the control arm.