Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 14
Claim 1
Independent Claim
96 words
In combination, a hydraulic displacement unit having a swashplate and a two-part housing therefor, a drive output shaft extending from said unit, said two-part housing having a split line between housing parts with said drive output shaft centerline being located in the plane coincident with said split line, said swashplate extending across said split line, and means on one housing part only providing the only support for the swashplate relative to hydraulic forces imposed thereon including means for providing support integral with said one housing part and which extends across the split line between housing parts.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
96 words
In combination, a hydraulic displacement unit having a swashplate and a two-part housing therefor, a drive output shaft extending from said unit, said two-part housing having a split line between housing parts with said drive output shaft centerline being located in the plane coincident with said split line, said swashplate extending across said split line, and means on one housing part only providing the only support for the swashplate relative to hydraulic forces imposed thereon including means for providing support integral with said one housing part and which extends across the split line between housing parts.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
24 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said means for providing support comprises a plurality of fingers which extend across said plane.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
65 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein the housing parts have seal and bearing cavities, and said means for providing support includes a planar surface on said one housing part which extends above and to either side of the bearing cavity in said one housing part and which terminates in a pair of fingers extending across the plane coincident with the split line.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
27 words
The combination as set forth in claim 1 wherein said swashplate is non-adjustable in operation and has a central opening through which said drive output shaft extends.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
147 words
An integrated hydrostatic transaxle having a two-part common housing for a hydrostatic transmission and a pair of oppositely-extending differentially-connected axles, said hydrostatic transmission comprising a pair of hydraulically interconnected displacement units each having a swashplate with at least one swashplate having a central opening, a drive output shaft extending from one of said displacement units through the swashplate central opening, said drive output shaft and said axles having their rotation axes in a common plane, said two-part housing having a split line between housing parts which is in or closely adjacent to said common plane, said one swashplate extending across a plane containing said split line, and means on one housing part only for support of the swashplate relative to hydraulic forces imposed thereon including means for providing support integral with one housing part and which extends across said plane containing said split line between housing parts.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
147 words
An integrated hydrostatic transaxle having a two-part common housing for a hydrostatic transmission and a pair of oppositely-extending differentially-connected axles, said hydrostatic transmission comprising a pair of hydraulically interconnected displacement units each having a swashplate with at least one swashplate having a central opening, a drive output shaft extending from one of said displacement units through the swashplate central opening, said drive output shaft and said axles having their rotation axes in a common plane, said two-part housing having a split line between housing parts which is in or closely adjacent to said common plane, said one swashplate extending across a plane containing said split line, and means on one housing part only for support of the swashplate relative to hydraulic forces imposed thereon including means for providing support integral with one housing part and which extends across said plane containing said split line between housing parts.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
21 words
An integrated hydrostatic transaxle as defined in claim 5 wherein said for providing support means comprises a plurality of support elements.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
18 words
An integrated hydrostatic transaxle as defined in claim 6 wherein said support elements are a plurality of fingers.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
40 words
An integrated hydrostatic transaxle as defined in claim 5 and having a bearing and a seal for said drive output shaft, and each housing part having cavities to provide a support mounting for a part of said bearing and seal.
Claim 11
Dependent Claim
81 words
An integrated hydrostatic transaxle as set forth in claim 8 and wherein said means for providing support includes a planar surface on said one housing part which extends above and to either side of the cavity for said bearing and which terminates in a pair of fingers extending across said plane containing said split line, said fingers lying generally in the plane of the bearing cavity in the other housing part and positioned at opposite sides thereof to straddle said bearing.
Claim 12
Dependent Claim
108 words
A hydraulic displacement unit and a two-part housing therefor comprising, a swashplate for the hydraulic displacement unit and having a central opening, a drive output shaft extending from said displacement unit and through the swashplate central opening, said two-part housing having a split line between housing parts which is in a plane generally coincident with the centerline of the drive output shaft, said swashplate extending across said plane, and means on one housing part only for support of the swashplate relative to hydraulic forces imposed thereon comprising a planar surface on said one housing part and integral fingers which extend across said plane into the other housing part.
Claim 13
Dependent Claim
108 words
A hydraulic displacement unit and a two-part housing therefor comprising, a swashplate for the hydraulic displacement unit and having a central opening, a drive output shaft extending from said displacement unit and through the swashplate central opening, said two-part housing having a split line between housing parts which is in a plane generally coincident with the centerline of the drive output shaft, said swashplate extending across said plane, and means on one housing part only for support of the swashplate relative to hydraulic forces imposed thereon comprising a planar surface on said one housing part and integral fingers which extend across said plane into the other housing part.
Claim 14
Dependent Claim
63 words
A combination as set forth in claim 10 wherein said housing parts have sections of a bearing cavity for a drive output shaft bearing, said planar surface generally surrounds the bearing cavity section in said one housing part, and said fingers straddle the bearing cavity section in the other housing part to have a size adequate to withstand forces imposed on said swashplate.