US Patent 7487635 Hydrostatic transaxle

In a housing of a hydrostatic transaxle, an HST including mutually fluidly connected hydraulic pump and motor, an axle, and a deceleration gear train interposed between the hydraulic motor and the axle are disposed. The deceleration gear train includes an L-shaped counter shaft. The L-shaped counter shaft consists of mutually perpendicular first and second shaft portions. The first shaft portion is disposed in parallel to a motor shaft of the hydraulic motor. The second shaft portion is disposed in parallel to the axle. A first gear fitted on the motor shaft meshes with a second gear fitted on the first shaft portion. A third gear fitted on the second shaft portion meshes with a fourth gear fitted on the axle.