Patent ID: 7454908

Claim:
A transaxle comprising: first and second hydraulic pumps and first and second hydraulic motors disposed within a common transmission housing, wherein the first pump is hydraulically connected to the first motor through a first set of hydraulic porting disposed within the transmission housing and the second pump is hydraulically connected to the second motor through a second set of hydraulic porting disposed within the transmission housing; and a pair of axle drive mechanisms disposed at opposite ends of the transmission housing, each axle drive mechanism comprising: a gear housing having a first section secured to an end of the transmission housing and a second section offset from the transmission housing; a gear train disposed in the gear housing and extending from the first section to the second section; and an axle shaft driven by the gear train and extending from the gear housing, wherein each axle shaft has a longitudinal axis of rotation which does not intersect any portion of the transmission housing.