Hydraulic Transaxle Splittable Casing and Metal Top Cover
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Solution Overview
Problem
Conventional hydraulic transaxles with integral swash plates and trunnion shafts are complex, expensive, and require additional components and labor for installation and removal, increasing costs and complexity.
Innovation Solution
A hydraulic transaxle design featuring a splittable casing with a metal top cover that supports a bearing, reducing component count and noise, and includes a fluid inspection rod, breather, and heat radiation fin, while eliminating the need for managing fastening torque and providing efficient heat dissipation.
Engineering Contradictions & Design Principles
Engineering Contradiction Analysis
1Reliability
If the swash plate is formed integrally with trunnion shafts projecting from feet, then the swash plate can be pivotally supported by the transaxle casing, but the swash plate becomes complex in shape and expensive to manufacture
Solution Approach 1:
The swash plate assembly is divided into separate components: the swash plate body and the trunnion shafts are manufactured as distinct parts that are assembled together, rather than as a single integral component. This segmentation simplifies the manufacturing of each individual part while maintaining the pivotal support function through separate assembly.
2Stability of the object's composition
If the swash plate is formed integrally with trunnion shafts, then the assembly is structurally unified, but additional components and labor are required for installation and removal
Solution Approach 1:
The trunnion shafts are extracted as separate serviceable components from the swash plate assembly. This allows the swash plate to be installed and removed independently without necessarily requiring removal of the trunnion shafts, reducing installation complexity and labor while maintaining structural unity during operation.
3Ease of operation
If a large opening is provided in the transaxle casing for swash plate installation, then the swash plate can be moved in the axial direction, but the casing requires additional cover components to seal the opening
Solution Approach 1:
The transaxle casing is segmented into modular sections that allow access to the swash plate installation area without requiring a large external opening. The casing design incorporates access ports or removable sections that provide sufficient clearance for axial movement of the swash plate while minimizing the need for additional cover components.
Applied Scientific Principles
This section explains which scientific principles are used to turn an abstract innovation direction into a practical engineering solution.
Function Achieved in This Case
This design reduces manufacturing costs, simplifies assembly, minimizes noise leakage, and enhances thermal management, ensuring reliable and efficient operation of the transaxle.
Implementation Method 1
a bearing supported by the upper casing and the top cover
Implementation Method 2
heat radiation fin
Data Source
AI summary
A hydraulic transaxle includes a transaxle casing including an upper transaxle housing and a lower casing, hydrostatic transmission (“HST”), and an axle. The HST has a hydraulic pump and a hydraulic motor that are fluidly connected to each other. The hydraulic motor has a motor shaft that is drivingly connected to the axle through a reduction gear train that is disposed between the hydraulic pump and the axle. Reduction gear train has a gear shaft supported by the upper transaxle housing via a ball bearing. At least a part of the upper transaxle housing is formed by a gear top cover made of metal and covering the reduction gear train. Ball bearing is supported by the upper transaxle housing and the gear top cover.