Patent ID: 7047736

Claim:
A hydraulic drive apparatus, comprising: a center section having a first side and a second side opposite the first side; a first hydraulic porting formed in the center section and open to a first pump running surface formed on the first side and a second hydraulic porting formed in the center section and open to a second pump running surface formed on the first side; a first hydraulic pump located on the first pump running surface and in fluid communication with the first hydraulic porting; a first pump shaft drivingly engaged to the first hydraulic pump and extending into the center section; a second hydraulic pump located on the second pump running surface and in fluid communication with the second hydraulic porting; a second pump shaft drivingly engaged to the second hydraulic pump and extending into the center section; and a first set of check valves in communication with the first hydraulic porting and a second set of check valves in communication with the second hydraulic porting, wherein both sets of check valves are located in the center section in an area between the first pump shaft and the second pump shaft and each check valve comprises an opening located in the second side of the center section.