Transaxle including brake

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9964126-B2
Application number	US-201514738410-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jun 12, 2015
Priority date	Jun 12, 2015
Publication date	May 8, 2018
Grant date	May 8, 2018

Abstract

A transaxle comprises a transaxle casing, axle, brake, brake arm, first and second link members, and relay arm. The brake includes a brake operation shaft pivotally supported by the transaxle casing for shifting between brake activation and inactivation states. A starting end of the first link member is connected to a manipulator, and a terminal end of the second link member is connected to the brake arm. The relay arm is pivotally centered on a first pivotal axis outside of the transaxle casing, and includes a first arm portion extended from the first pivotal axis to a first end and a second arm portion extended from the first pivotal axis to a second end. A terminal end of the first link member is connected to the first arm portion, and a starting end of the second link member is connected to the second arm portion.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A transaxle comprising:
a transaxle casing;
an axle supported by the transaxle casing;
a brake, wherein the brake includes a brake operation shaft pivotally supported by the transaxle casing so as to rely on rotation of the brake operation shaft for shifting the brake between an activation state to brake the axle and an inactivation state to unbrake the axle;
a brake arm disposed outside of the transaxle casing and connected to the brake operation shaft pivotally on an axis of the brake operation shaft so that rotation of the brake arm causes the rotation of the brake operation shaft;
a first link member having a starting end and a terminal end, wherein the starting end of the first link member is connected to a manipulator operated for shifting the brake between the activation state and the inactivation state;
a second link member having a starting end and a terminal end, wherein the terminal end of the second link member is connected to the brake arm; and
a relay arm pivotally centered on a first pivotal axis outside of the transaxle casing, wherein the first pivotal axis is parallel to the axis of the brake operation shaft, wherein the relay arm includes first and second ends opposite each other with respect to the first pivotal axis, a first arm portion extended from the first pivotal axis to the first end, and a second arm portion extended from the first pivotal axis to the second end, wherein the terminal end of the first link member is connected to the first arm portion of the relay arm, and wherein the starting end of the second link member is connected to the second arm portion of the relay arm.

2. The transaxle according to claim 1 , further comprising:
a hydrostatic transmission disposed in the transaxle casing, wherein the hydrostatic transmission includes a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor fluidly connected to each other, wherein the hydraulic pump includes a movable swash plate having a trunnion shaft, and wherein the trunnion shaft projects outward from the transaxle casing so as to have the relay arm pivoted thereon so that a rotary axis of the trunnion shaft serves as the first pivotal axis.

Assignees

• Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg Co Ltd

Inventors

• Murashima Daisuke
• NIENKE Trevor
• Yasuda Toshifumi
• Iwaki Koji
• Iida Masaru

Classifications

• F16H63/3416 Primary

  Parking lock mechanisms or brakes in the transmission · CPC title

• F16H39/12

  with stationary cylinders · CPC title

• A01D69/03

  fluid · CPC title

• B60T1/062

  acting on transmission parts · CPC title

• F15B15/02 Primary

  Mechanical layout characterised by the means for converting the movement of the fluid-actuated element into movement of the finally-operated member · CPC title