Patent ID: 7047713
Filing Date: 2006-05-23
Classification: A01D,F16H,Y10S

Abstract:
1. An apparatus comprising: a gear box mounted to a mower deck of a riding mower, the gear box positioned between the mower deck and an operator platform and having a one-piece low-profile housing with a bottom having an opening with a first collar, four sides, and an at least partially open top, a cover over the at least partially open top having an internal recess and a second collar, an input shaft having a terminal end inserted through an opening in one of the sides, an output shaft perpendicular to the input shaft inserted through the opening in the bottom and having an end adjacent the top, a first roller bearing positioned in the first collar around the output shaft, a second roller bearing positioned in the second collar around the end of the output shaft, a first spiral bevel gear attached to the terminal end of the input shaft adjacent the opening through which the terminal end is inserted, the internal recess dimensioned to provide adequate clearance for the first spiral bevel gear and receiving the first bevel gear, and a second spiral bevel gear attached to the output shaft and being engageable with the first spiral bevel gear, the input shaft having an axis, the measurement from the axis of the input shaft to the bottom of the housing being greater than the measurement from the axis of the input shaft to the cover.