57 years ago Wheel Horse History was made.

[953 nut 56,308]

6-13-1961

CECIL E. POND patents POWER DRIVE MECHANISM

CECIL E. POND was issued United States Patent 2,988,185 POWER DRIVE MECHANISM Cecil E. Pond, South Bend, Ind., and assignor to Wheel-Horse Products, Inc. South Bend, Ind., a corporation of Indiana Filed Sept. 8, 1958. The present invention relates to a power drive mechanism for vehicles and more particularly a transmission for vehicles, such as for example tractors, small trucks and power implements for lawn, garden and farm cultivation.

One of the principal objects of the present invention is to provide a compact, easy to operate drive unit for vehicles, containing a transmission, differential, gear reduction, clutch and a braking mechanism all controlled by a single lever and a foot pedal.

Another object of the invention is to provide a drive mechanism of the foregoing type for a tractor or the like which is relatively simple in construction and operation and which can be assembled as a separate unit and then mounted in the vehicle as an integral part of the frame.

Still another object is to provide a sturdy, durable transmission and differential combination unit which can be easily serviced and repaired and which requires only a relatively small amount of lubrication to maintain it in optimum operating condition.

A further object of the invention is to provide a drive mechanism having a brake and clutch operated by a single pedal such that the mechanism is automatically declutched whenever braking action is required.

Another object of the invention is to provide a relatively small powerful transmission mechanism for tractors or the like, having three speeds forward and a reverse and containing a single braking mechanism adapted to effectively and efficiently brake the two rear wheels of the tractor.

Another object is to provide durable, light weight operating parts for the aforesaid transmission, which can be easily and accurately fabricated and which will withstand prolonged rigorous operating conditions.

The present power drive mechanism is designed primarily for tractors and lawn care and soil cultivating equipment for use in suburban areas, by inexperienced, mechanically untrained and unskilled operators and consequently must be relatively light in weight, sturdy and versatile and must be capable of long use and wear with little attention and servicing. The present drive mechanism has been developed and constructed to meet these conditions fully and to be handled and operated efficiently and safely without special instructions or mechanical skill. These and other objects and advantages will become readily apparent from the following description and the accompanying drawings, wherein:

FIGURE 1 is a perspective view of a suburban type tractor with one of the rear wheels broken away to show the position and relative size of my power drive mechanism in the tractor;

Referring more specifically to the drawings and to FIGURE 1 in particular, numeral 30 designates generally a small tractor designed primarily for suburban use, including a frame 32, front wheels 34 and 36, rear wheels 38 and 40, a steering mechanism 42, and a hood 44 enclosing a fuel tank 46 and gasoline engine 48. Numeral 50 indicates my power drive mechanism which is shown rigidly secured to and forming a part of the tractor frame and which is driven by engine or motor 48 through its pulley 51 and a V-belt 5'2 and is connected to the rear wheels by an axle 54. The operator sits on a seat 56 mounted on the housing of the drive mechanism and controls mechanism by manipulating gear shift lever 58 and brake and clutch pedal 60. A hand lever 62 conveniently located on the tractor is provided for controlling the implements being pulled or driven by the tractor. For the purpose of the present description the parts of the tractor not forming a part of my power drive mechanism and the controls therefor may be considered conventional in construction and operation and will not be described in detail herein.

The present power drive mechanism 50 includes a transmission 70, differential 72, and speed reduction gearing 74, operatively connected in a compact arrangement and enclosed in a housing 76 with side plates 78 and 80 thereof supporting the various parts of these mechanisms, the housing including the side plates forming a sealed chamber 82 for retaining a lubricant for said mechanisms. The transmission is driven from belt 52 through a pulley 84 mounted on a power input shaft 86 which in turn is journaled in a bearing 88 secured to side plate 78. A spline shaft 90 is axially aligned with shaft 86 and journaled at one end in a bearing recess 94 of a gear 96 rigidly secured to shaft 86 and journaled at the other end in a bearing 98 secured to shaft 86 and journaled at the other end in a bearing 98 secured to the internal wall of plate 80, shafts 86 and 90 being adapted for independent relative rotation. Two gears 100 and 102 are mounted on spline shaft 90 for rotation therewith and are adapted to move axially thereon, gear 100 being the high gear and gear 102 being the low and reverse gear.

[peter lena 8,908]

I think it was part of the mind set of the era, make things that work ,and make things possible . also make it overbuilt to live on in your work, no plastic or oriental junk, (  remember the beer can toys from japan ? ). I remember stockyards filled with dodge power wagons in crate form, for quick build up . its great  to have a gear driven tractor today, that you can make live on , because of its basic no failure , design. when I first bought my black hood  1982  c/85 , I regularly heard " those things are tough " , going on 37 years , I have to agree.pete