Patent ID: 7621125

Claim:
A transaxle comprising: a housing; a first axle supported by the housing; a hydraulic pump disposed in the housing, the hydraulic pump including a pump shaft and a movable swash plate; a control shaft supported by the housing so as to control the movable swash plate; a hydraulic motor disposed in the housing, the hydraulic motor including a motor shaft for driving the axle; a center section disposed in the housing so as to fluidly connect the hydraulic pump to the hydraulic motor, wherein the center section defines positions of the hydraulic pump and motor in the housing so that the motor shaft is disposed perpendicular to the pump shaft and in parallel to the axle, and that the hydraulic pump is nearer to the axle than the hydraulic motor; an intermediate shaft in the housing; and an intermediate gear provided on the intermediate shaft so as to transmit power from the motor shaft to the axle, wherein, when viewed in plan, the control shaft and the intermediate shaft are disposed opposite to each other with respect to the hydraulic pump therebetween so that the control shaft, the hydraulic pump and the intermediate shaft are linearly aligned, and wherein, when viewed in front, the control shaft is higher than the axle, and the intermediate shaft is lower than the axle.