Robert E Abend, Age 70299 Napa Dr, Augusta, GA 30909

6889793, May 10, 2005

Oct 21, 2003

10/688924

Hideaki Okada - Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo, JP
Michio Tsukamoto - Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo, JP
Robert Abend - Adairsville GA, US

B60K017/34

180435, 180420

An articulate vehicle comprises a first frame disposed at one of front and rear portions of the vehicle and a second frame disposed at the other of front and rear portions of the vehicle. The first frame supports a first transaxle apparatus supporting a first axle. The second frame supports a second transaxle apparatus supporting a second axle. Proximal ends of the frames with respect to the vehicle are coupled to each other through a coupling part so that the first and second frames are rotatable relative to each other around a vertical axis according to steering operation. An engine is mounted on the first frame. A first hydraulic motor is integrally assembled in the first transaxle apparatus so as to drive the first axle. A working vehicle is equipped at a distal side of the second frame with respect to the vehicle. A second hydraulic motor is integrally assembled in the second transaxle apparatus so as to drive the second axle.

6983815, Jan 10, 2006

May 18, 2004

10/847372

Robert Abend - Adairsville GA, US
Norihiro Ishii - Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo-ken, JP
Ryota Ohashi - Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo-ken, JP

B60K 17/00

180375, 74606 R, 180377, 180378

An axle driving unit having a housing including at least two housing parts joined to each other through a joint surface, at least one of the housing parts including a recess formed in a wall thereof. The axle driving unit further includes a pair of hydraulic devices mounted perpendicular to each other on corresponding mounting surfaces of a center section. The center section further includes a portion extending outwardly parallel to the joint surface, the portion being fitted into the recess of the housing part.

6990808, Jan 31, 2006

Mar 16, 2004

10/800638

Robert Abend - Adairsville GA, US
Hideaki Okada - Hyogo-ken, JP
Ryota Ohashi - Hyogo-ken, JP

F16D 39/00

60487, 92 122, 91505

An axle driving system which houses in a housing thereof a hydrostatic transmission, axles, and a driving gear train for connecting output means of the hydraulic transmission and axles, so as to transmit power from a driving source to the hydrostatic transmission and to change the speed, thereby driving the axles. A first chamber therein contains the hydrostatic transmission and a second chamber therein contains the driving gear train. Both the first and second chambers are independent of each other so as to prevent a foreign object, such as iron powder produced in the driving gear train, from entering the hydrostatic transmission. The system includes an L-like-shaped center section on which the hydrostatic transmission is offset such that an imaginary plane which includes a motor mounting surface passes in proximity to the axis of a pump shaft. The pump shaft is disposed perpendicular to the axles. The motor shaft is disposed in parallel thereto.

7090045, Aug 15, 2006

Apr 13, 2005

11/104562

Hideaki Okada - Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo, JP
Michio Tsukamoto - Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo, JP
Robert Abend - Adairsville GA, US

B60K 17/356

180242, 180307

An articulate vehicle comprises a first frame disposed at one of front and rear portions of the vehicle and a second frame disposed at the other of front and rear portions of the vehicle. The first frame supports a first transaxle apparatus supporting a first axle. The second frame supports a second transaxle apparatus supporting a second axle. Proximal ends of the frames with respect to the vehicle are coupled to each other through a coupling part so that the first and second frames are rotatable relative to each other around a vertical axis according to steering operation. An engine is mounted on the first frame. A first hydraulic motor is integrally assembled in the first transaxle apparatus so as to drive the first axle. A working vehicle is equipped at a distal side of the second frame with respect to the vehicle. A second hydraulic motor is integrally assembled in the second transaxle apparatus so as to drive the second axle.

7127890, Oct 31, 2006

Dec 7, 2005

11/295430

Robert Abend - Adairsville GA, US
Hideaki Okada - Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo-ken, JP
Ryota Ohashi - Amagasaki-shi, Hyogo-ken, JP

F16D 39/00
F16D 31/00
F16D 37/00

60487, 92 122

An axle driving system which houses in a housing thereof a hydrostatic transmission, axles, and a driving gear train for connecting output means of the hydraulic transmission and axles, so as to transmit power from a driving source to the hydrostatic transmission and to change the speed, thereby driving the axles. A first chamber therein contains the hydrostatic transmission and a second chamber therein contains the driving gear train. Both the first and second chambers are independent of each other so as to prevent a foreign object, such as iron powder produced in the driving gear train, from entering the hydrostatic transmission. The system includes an L-like-shaped center section on which the hydrostatic transmission is offset such that an imaginary plane which includes a motor mounting surface passes in proximity to the axis of a pump shaft. The pump shaft is disposed perpendicular to the axles. The motor shaft is disposed in parallel thereto.

7225618, Jun 5, 2007

Oct 27, 2006

11/553808

Robert Abend - Adairsville GA, US
Hideaki Okada - Hyogo-ken, JP
Ryota Ohashi - Hyogo-ken, JP

F16D 39/00
F01D 31/00
F01D 37/00

60487, 92 122

An axle driving system which houses in a housing thereof a hydrostatic transmission, axles, and a driving gear train for connecting output means of the hydraulic transmission and axles, so as to transmit power from a driving source to the hydrostatic transmission and to change the speed, thereby driving the axles. A first chamber therein contains the hydrostatic transmission and a second chamber therein contains the driving gear train. Both the first and second chambers are independent of each other so as to prevent a foreign object, such as iron powder produced in the driving gear train, from entering the hydrostatic transmission. The system includes an L-like-shaped center section on which the hydrostatic transmission is offset such that an imaginary plane which includes a motor mounting surface passes in proximity to the axis of a pump shaft. The pump shaft is disposed perpendicular to the axles. The motor shaft is disposed in parallel thereto.

7340891, Mar 11, 2008

May 31, 2007

11/756346

Robert Abend - Adairsville GA, US
Hideaki Okada - Hyogo-ken, JP
Ryota Ohashi - Hyogo-ken, JP

Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd. - Hyogo-ken
Tuff Torq Corp. - Morristown TN

F16D 39/00

60487, 91505, 92 122

An axle driving system which houses in a housing thereof a hydrostatic transmission, axles, and a driving gear train for connecting output means of the hydraulic transmission and axles, so as to transmit power from a driving source to the hydrostatic transmission and to change the speed, thereby driving the axles. A first chamber therein contains the hydrostatic transmission and a second chamber therein contains the driving gear train. Both the first and second chambers are independent of each other so as to prevent a foreign object, such as iron powder produced in the driving gear train, from entering the hydrostatic transmission. The system includes an L-like-shaped center section on which the hydrostatic transmission is offset such that an imaginary plane which includes a motor mounting surface passes in proximity to the axis of a pump shaft. The pump shaft is disposed perpendicular to the axles. The motor shaft is disposed in parallel thereto.

7387185, Jun 17, 2008

Jan 8, 2007

11/620979

Robert Abend - Adairsville GA, US
Norihiro Ishii - Amagasaki, JP
Ryota Ohashi - Hyogo-ken, JP

Kanzaki Kokyukoki Mfg. Co., Ltd. - Hyogo

B60K 17/00

180306, 60487, 180375, 180378

An axle driving unit includes a pair of axles, a differential unit for differently connecting the pair of axles to each other, a hydraulic pump, a hydraulic motor, a motor shaft, an output gear on said motor shaft for drivingly connecting to said differential unit, a center section having a pump mounting surface and a motor mounting surface onto which said hydraulic pump and the hydraulic motor are mounted respectively, a housing constituted by a first housing part and a second housing part joined to each other at a joint surface, and a fastener fastening the center section to the first housing part. The center section is entirely disposed in the first housing part, whereby the hydraulic pump, the hydraulic motor and the output gear are entirely contained in the first housing part. The motor mounting surface may be disposed in parallel to the joint surface of the housing. The hydraulic pump may be located a distance from said pair of axles that is greater than a distance from the hydraulic motor to the pair of axles.