Patent ID: 7430862

Claim:
An axle driving apparatus, comprising: first and second axle driving units which are substantially identical, wherein each of the first and second axle driving units includes, a housing having first and second side walls, a hydrostatic transmission including a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor disposed in the housing, and a first bearing support, formed in the housing adjacent to the first side wall, defining a first bearing seat, and a second bearing support, formed in the housing adjacent to the second side wall, defining a second bearing seat; wherein the housing forms an oil sump for the hydrostatic transmission; a first axle supported by the first and second bearing supports in the first housing and being drivingly connected to the hydrostatic transmission of the first axle driving unit, wherein a portion of the first axle is within the oil sump of the first housing; and a second axle supported by the first and second bearing supports in the second housing and being drivingly connected to the hydrostatic transmission of the second axle driving unit, wherein a portion of the second axle is within the oil sump of the second housing; wherein each driving unit includes a first plane crossing the first bearing support perpendicular to the axle, and a second plane crossing the second bearing support perpendicular to the axle, wherein the hydraulic pump and hydraulic motor of each driving unit are disposed between the first plane and the second plane.