Patent ID: 8479418

Claim:
A drive apparatus for a work vehicle, comprising: a variable speed transaxle disposed in a transaxle housing and driving a pair of axles extending horizontally from opposite sides of the transaxle housing, wherein the transaxle housing comprises an external mounting surface and the pair of axles have a first axis of rotation; a prime mover mounted on the external mounting surface of the transaxle housing to drive the variable speed transaxle; a driven gear disposed in the transaxle housing and powered by the prime mover; and a power take-off assembly engaged to and driven by the driven gear, wherein at least a portion of the power take-off assembly is disposed in the transaxle housing, the power take-off assembly further comprising a power take-off shaft having a second axis of rotation extending horizontally from the transaxle housing in a direction perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.