Transaxle drive differential assembly

Claim 2

A transaxle drive differential assembly powered by an input drive and connected to a pair of axle shafts, said differential assembly comprising: a housing comprised of a first housing section and a second housing section wherein at least one of said housing sections has a bearing surface; a ring gear drivingly linked to said input drive having an inner circumference which is supported on said bearing surface; and a differential drivingly linked to said ring gear, said differential adapted to drive said pair of axle shafts.

Claim 3

The differential assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said bearing surface is a stepped bearing surface.

Claim 4

The differential assembly as recited in claim 1, further comprising a carrier plate drivingly linked to said ring gear and carrying said differential.

Claim 5

The differential assembly as recited in claim 3, wherein said inner circumference of said ring gear has a plurality of recesses formed therein and wherein said carrier plate is floatingly positioned within said recesses.

Claim 6

The differential assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said bearing surface travels through 360 degrees.

Claim 7

The differential assembly as recited in claim 1, wherein said first housing section and said second housing section are joined along a substantially vertically oriented plane.

Claim 8

The differential assembly as recited in claim 6, further comprising a carrier plate drivingly linked to said ring gear and carrying said differential.

Claim 9

The differential assembly as recited in claim 7, wherein said carrier plate lies within said vertically oriented plane.

Claim 10

A transaxle drive differential assembly powered by an input drive and connected to a pair of axle shafts, said differential assembly comprising: a housing comprised of a first housing section and a second housing section wherein said first housing section and said second housing section each has a bearing surface; a ring gear drivingly linked to said input drive having an inner circumference which is supported on both of said bearing surfaces; and a differential drivingly linked to said ring gear, said differential adapted to drive said pair of axle shafts.

Claim 11

A transaxle drive differential assembly powered by an input drive and connected to a pair of axle shafts, said differential assembly comprising: a housing comprised of a first housing section and a second housing section wherein said first housing section and said second housing section each has a bearing surface; a ring gear drivingly linked to said input drive having an inner circumference which is supported on both of said bearing surfaces; and a differential drivingly linked to said ring gear, said differential adapted to drive said pair of axle shafts.

Claim 12

The differential assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein both of said bearing surfaces are stepped bearing surfaces.

Claim 13

The differential assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein said first housing section and said second housing section are joined along a substantially vertically oriented plane.

Claim 14

The differential assembly as recited in claim 11, wherein said bearing surfaces are symmetrically arranged around said vertically oriented plane.

Claim 15

The differential assembly as recited in claim 11, further comprising a carrier plate drivingly linked to said ring gear and carrying said differential.

Claim 16

The differential assembly as recited in claim 13, wherein said carrier plate lies within said vertically oriented plane.

Claim 17

The differential assembly as recited in claim 9, further comprising a carrier plate drivingly linked to said ring gear and carrying said differential.

Claim 18

The differential assembly as recited in claim 15, wherein said ring gear has a plurality of recesses and said carrier plate is floating positioned within said recesses.

Claim 19

The differential assembly as recited in claim 9, wherein both of said bearing surfaces travels through 360 degrees.

Claim 20

A transaxle drive differential assembly powered by an input drive and connected to a pair of axle shafts, said differential assembly comprising: a housing comprised of a first housing section and a second housing section wherein said first housing section has a first bearing surface and said second housing section has a second bearing surface; a ring gear drivingly linked to said input drive having an inner circumference which is supported on said first bearing surface; a carrier plate drivingly carried by said ring gear and disposed between said first bearing surface and said second bearing surface; and a differential carried by said carrier plate, said differential adapted to drive said pair of axle shafts.

Claim 21

A transaxle drive differential assembly powered by an input drive and connected to a pair of axle shafts, said differential assembly comprising: a housing comprised of a first housing section and a second housing section wherein said first housing section has a first bearing surface and said second housing section has a second bearing surface; a ring gear drivingly linked to said input drive having an inner circumference which is supported on said first bearing surface; a carrier plate drivingly carried by said ring gear and disposed between said first bearing surface and said second bearing surface; and a differential carried by said carrier plate, said differential adapted to drive said pair of axle shafts.

Claim 22

A hydrostatic transaxle powered by an input drive and connected to a pair of wheels, comprising: a housing comprised of a first housing section and a second housing section wherein at least one of said housing sections has a bearing surface; a hydrostatic transmission mounted within said housing comprising a center section on which is mounted a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, said hydraulic pump being drivingly engaged to said input drive and drivingly linked to said hydraulic motor; a ring gear drivingly linked to said hydraulic motor having an inner circumference which is supported on said bearing surface; a pair of axle shafts supported by said housing on which said wheels are mounted; and a differential drivingly linked to said ring gear, said differential adapted to drive said pair of axle shafts and, accordingly, said wheels.

Claim 23

A hydrostatic transaxle powered by an input drive and connected to a pair of wheels, comprising: a housing comprised of a first housing section and a second housing section wherein at least one of said housing sections has a bearing surface; a hydrostatic transmission mounted within said housing comprising a center section on which is mounted a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor, said hydraulic pump being drivingly engaged to said input drive and drivingly linked to said hydraulic motor; a ring gear drivingly linked to said hydraulic motor having an inner circumference which is supported on said bearing surface; a pair of axle shafts supported by said housing on which said wheels are mounted; and a differential drivingly linked to said ring gear, said differential adapted to drive said pair of axle shafts and, accordingly, said wheels.

Claim 24

The transaxle as recited in claim 19, wherein said bearing surface is a stepped bearing surface.

Claim 25

The transaxle as recited in claim 19, further comprising a carrier plate drivingly linked to said ring gear and carrying said differential.

Claim 26

The transaxle assembly as recited in claim 21, wherein said inner circumference of said ring gear has a plurality of recesses formed therein and wherein said carrier plate is floatingly positioned within said recesses.

Claim 27

The transaxle as recited in claim 19, wherein said bearing surface travels through 360 degrees.

Claim 28

The transaxle as recited in claim 19, wherein said first housing section and said second housing section are joined along a substantially vertically oriented plane.

Claim 29

The transaxle as recited in claim 24, further comprising a carrier plate drivingly linked to said ring gear and carrying said differential.

Claim 30

The transaxle as recited in claim 25, wherein said carrier plate lies within said vertically oriented plane.