Patent ID: 7900447

Claim:
A hydraulic drive apparatus comprising: a pump housing comprising: a first portion having an opening; a second portion attached to the first portion and covering the opening to form a sump; first and second pump ports and first and second motor ports formed in the second portion; and a first generally linear passage formed in the second portion and connecting the first pump port to the first motor port and a second generally linear passage formed in the second portion and connecting the second pump port to the second motor port; a variable output pump disposed in the sump and in communication with the first and second generally linear passages; and a motor housing disposed on the second portion of the pump housing; a motor disposed in the motor housing and in fluid communication with the first and second motor ports; an output shaft engaged to and driven by the motor and extending from the motor housing, the output shaft having a first axis of rotation; and an input shaft drivingly connected to the variable output pump, the input shaft having a second axis of rotation oriented generally perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.