Patent ID: 7314110

Claim:
A vehicle comprising: a first transaxle including a first motor and a first axle driven by the first motor; a first wheel provided on the first axle; a first frame disposed at one of front and rear portions of the vehicle so as to support the first transaxle; a second transaxle including a second motor and a second axle driven by the second motor; a second wheel provided on the second axle; a second frame disposed at the other rear or front portion of the vehicle so as to support the second transaxle, wherein the first and second frames are pivotally connected to each other between the first and second wheels in the fore-and-aft direction of the vehicle so as to be rotatable relative to each other centered on a vertical axis; a prime mover mounted on either the first or second frame; a hydraulic pump mounted on either the first or second frame, the hydraulic pump being driven by the prime mover so as to hydraulically drive the first and second motors; a fluid tank which accumulates fluid leaked from each of the hydraulic pump and the first and second motors so as to compensate the accumulated fluid for fluid circulating among the hydraulic pump and the first and second motors; a first hydraulic pressure fluid pipe connected at one end thereof to the hydraulic pump and connected at the other end thereof to the first motor; a second hydraulic pressure fluid pipe connected at one end thereof to the hydraulic pump and at the other end thereof to the second motor; a third hydraulic pressure fluid pipe connected at one end thereof to the first motor and connected at the other end thereof to the second motor; a charge pipe connecting the fluid tank to the hydraulic pump so as to supply fluid to the hydraulic pump; a first drain pipe connecting the fluid tank to the hydraulic pump; a second drain pipe connecting the fluid tank to the first motor; a third drain pipe connecting the fluid tank to the second motor, wherein at least one of the first to third hydraulic pressure fluid pipes and at least one of the first to third drain pipes are disposed across the vertical axis, in the fore and aft direction of the vehicle and include respective flexible portions.