Patent ID: 6895748

Claim:
A hydrostatic transmission comprising: a hydraulic pump having an input; a hydraulic motor having an output; a center section to which said pump and motor are rotatably mounted, said center section being provided with a conduit through which said pump and motor are in fluid communication, said pump and motor being hydraulically coupled when said pump and motor are in operative fluid engagement with each other through fluid in said conduit, said center section having a valve with open and closed conditions; a housing in which said pump, motor and center section are disposed, said housing having a plurality of walls which at least partially define a sump, said conduit being in fluid communication with said sump through said valve when said valve is open, during which said pomp and motor are out of operative fluid engagement with each other, said conduit being out of fluid communication with said sump through said valve when said valve is closed; and a hydraulic disconnect mechanism comprising: a first portion which is moveable relative to said center section and extends through a said housing wall, said first portion being substantially rigid and having engaged and disengaged positions; a second portion operatively engaged with said first portion and which is moveable relative to said center section, said second portion being at least partially resilient and having a part which is substantially immobile relative to said housing; and wherein said valve is operably engaged with and opened by said hydraulic disconnect mechanism second portion in response to said hydraulic disconnect mechanism first portion being in its said engaged position, and said valve is not operably engaged with said second portion when said first portion is in its said disengaged position.