Patent ID: 8245509

Claim:
A drive mechanism comprising: a transmission housing comprising a main housing portion closed by a cover, the main housing portion having a first end and a second end opposite the first end; a transmission disposed entirely within the main housing portion and driven by a prime mover; a first output shaft driven by the transmission and extending from the first end of the main housing portion; a first axle drive mechanism disposed in a first housing and driven by the first output shaft; a first drive axle extending from the first housing and driven by the first axle drive mechanism, the first drive axle drivingly engaged to a first driven wheel; a second output shaft driven by the transmission and extending from the second end of the main housing portion; a second axle drive mechanism disposed in a second housing and driven by the second output shaft, wherein the transmission housing, the first housing and the second housing at least partially define an operable space; a second drive axle extending from the second housing and driven by the second axle drive mechanism, the second drive axle drivingly engaged to a second driven wheel; and an input shaft drivingly engaged to the transmission and driven by the prime mover and extending from the main housing portion into the operable space.