Patent ID: 7921949

Claim:
A vehicle transaxle operatively connecting opposing associated axle portions, a first associated rotational motion source and a second associated rotational motion source, said vehicle transaxle comprising: a transaxle housing including a housing wall at least partially defining a housing cavity; a gear carrier assembly disposed within said housing cavity and including a carrier structure, first and second pinions supported in spaced relation on said carrier structure and operatively connected to the opposing axle portions, and third and fourth pinions supported in spaced relation on said carrier structure; a first gear disposed within said housing cavity and operatively connected to the first associated rotational motion source; a second gear disposed within said housing cavity and operatively connected to said first gear; a third gear disposed within said housing cavity and operatively connected to at least one of said third and fourth pinions, and said third gear operatively connected in rotationally-fixed relation to said second gear such that said second and third gears rotate at a common angular velocity; a fourth gear disposed within said housing cavity and operatively connected to at least one of said third and fourth pinions; and, a fifth gear disposed within said housing cavity and operatively connected to the second associated rotational motion source, and said fifth gear operatively connected in rotationally-fixed relation to said fourth gear such that said fourth and fifth gears rotate at a common angular velocity.