Patent ID: 6926109
Filing Date: 2005-08-09
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
1. A vehicle comprising: a frame; a hydrostatic motor mounted to the frame, the hydrostatic motor having an output shaft; a drive system supported by the frame; a driveshaft connected to the drive system; and a clutch mechanism disposed between the output shaft and the driveshaft, the clutch mechanism having (a) an engaged position in which the driveshaft and the output shaft are rotationally engaged with each other, and (b) a disengaged position in which the driveshaft and the output shaft are rotationally disengaged from each other, wherein the driveshaft and the output shaft have a common rotational axis, and wherein a first axially-extending spline is disposed on the driveshaft, and wherein a second axially-extending spline is disposed on the output shaft, and wherein the clutch mechanism comprises a clutch shaft having a third axially-extending spline, the clutch shaft being selectively movable along the rotational axis, the first and second splines rotationally engaging the third spline when the clutch mechanism is in the engaged position, the third spline being disengaged from one of the first and second splines when the clutch mechanism is in the disengaged position.