Patent ID: 8683796

Claim:
A drive apparatus, comprising: a housing forming a sump having a hydraulic pump disposed therein; a center section disposed in the housing and comprising a hydraulic circuit for connecting the hydraulic pump to a hydraulic motor and a pump running surface on which the hydraulic pump is rotatably disposed and connected to the hydraulic circuit; a pair of cylindrical openings formed on a second surface of the center section opposite the pump running surface; a first passage formed in the center section and connecting the pair of cylindrical openings; a pair of check valves disposed in the center section and connected to respective sides of the hydraulic circuit, each one of the pair of check valves being accessible to one of the pair of cylindrical openings; and a pair of caps disposed on the center section, each one of the pair of caps located in one of the pair of cylindrical openings, whereby the pair of caps close off a fluid gallery formed by the pair of cylindrical openings and the first passage, and the fluid gallery provides hydraulic fluid to the hydraulic circuit through the pair of check valves.