Patent ID: 7220204

Claim:
A hydrostatic transaxle apparatus comprising: a housing filled therein with fluid so as to serve as a fluid sump; a hydrostatic transmission disposed in said housing, said hydrostatic transmission including a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor and a center section, wherein said center section is formed therein with a port for fluidly connecting said hydraulic pump to said hydraulic motor, and wherein said hydraulic pump and motor are coaxially mounted onto respective opposite surfaces of said center section so as to be mutually fluidly connected through said port formed in said center section; and an axle disposed in said housing so as to be mechanically drivingly connected to said hydraulic motor of said hydrostatic transmission, wherein a coaxial rotary axis of said hydraulic pump and motor mounted on said center section is disposed substantially perpendicular to said axle, wherein said center section has an extended portion opposite to said axle with respect to said coaxial rotary axis, and wherein an outward opening communicating with said port is formed in said extended portion so as to receive fluid charged from said fluid sump.