Patent ID: 7191594
Filing Date: 2007-03-20
Classification: B60K,F16H

Abstract:
1. A transaxle comprising: a common housing filled with fluid so as to serve as a fluid sump; a hydraulic pump disposed in the housing and driven by a prime mover, the hydraulic pump including a movable swash plate, wherein the movable swash plate is operated by an external operation force so as to change the fluid delivery amount and direction of the hydraulic pump; a hydraulic motor disposed in the housing and driven by fluid delivered from the hydraulic pump; an axle disposed in the housing and driven by output force of the hydraulic motor; a center section on which the hydraulic pump and motor are mounted; a closed hydraulic circuit formed in the center section so as to hydraulically connect the hydraulic pump and motor to each other; and a valve disposed within the center section, wherein a valve port of the valve to be selectively opened or closed is disposed within the center section, and wherein the valve mechanically interlocks with the movable swash plate so as to release fluid from a hydraulically high-pressurized portion of the closed hydraulic circuit to a hydraulically depressed portion of the transaxle through the opened valve port in correspondence to a condition of fluid flowing in the hydraulic circuit.