Mounting arrangement for vehicle drive train

Claim 2

In a ground-engaging traction vehicle having a frame, drive wheel means supported by an axle housing means connected to said frame, and a drive train including an engine, transmission means, differential means including a differential housing and axle shaft means for transmitting rotary power from said engine means to said drive wheel means, a drive train mounting arrangement comprising: first connector means connecting said axle housing means to said frame in a manner so as to prevent any substantial vertical oscillation of said axle housing with respect to said frame, second connector means including first isolator means resiliently connecting said engine means to said frame, and means supporting said differential housing on said frame including second isolator means interposed between said differential housing and said frame in a manner so as to provide a resilient support for said differential housing on said frame, and so as to isolate said differential housing from said axle housing means and said frame so that wheel loads transmitted by said drive wheel means to said axle housing means and said frame are isolated from said engine and differential housing.

Claim 3

A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said differential housing includes means supporting said differential housing on said axle housing means in a manner such that said axle housing means supports said differential housing on said frame, said second isolator means being interposed between said differential housing and said axle housing means to isolate said differential housing from loads imposed on said axle housing means.

Claim 4

Apparatus according to claim 2 wherein said second isolator means comprises the only direct connection between said axle housing means and said differential housing.

Claim 5

A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said second isolator means isolates said differential housing from both torsional and linear loads transmitted by said drive wheel means to said axle housing means or frame.

Claim 6

A mounting arrangement according to claim 1 wherein said second isolator means mounts said differential housing in a manner permitting both rotational motion and linear motion of said differential housing with respect to said frame.

Claim 7

Apparatus according to claim 1 wherein said second isolator means is positioned in the only direct load-transmitting path between said differential housing and said frame.

Claim 8

A drive train mounting arrangement for a wheel-supported traction vehicle having a frame and a unitized drive train including an engine, transmission means, differential means including a differential housing and axle shaft means operably interconnected for transmitting rotary power from said engine means to a drive wheel means along a fixed power transmission path, said mounting arrangement comprising: axle housing means connected to said wheel means, first connector means connecting said axle housing means to said frame in a manner to prevent any substantial vertical oscillation of said axle housing means with respect to said frame, second connector means including first isolator means resiliently connecting said engine to said frame, and means resiliently supporting said differential housing on said frame including second isolator means interposed between said differential housing and said frame in a manner such that loads imposed on said drive wheeL means are transmitted directly to said axle housing means and said frame and isolated from said engine, differential housing and portions of said drive train supported by said engine and differential housing.

Claim 9

A drive train mounting arrangement for a wheel-supported traction vehicle having a frame and a unitized drive train including an engine, transmission means, differential means including a differential housing and axle shaft means operably interconnected for transmitting rotary power from said engine means to a drive wheel means along a fixed power transmission path, said mounting arrangement comprising: axle housing means connected to said wheel means, first connector means connecting said axle housing means to said frame in a manner to prevent any substantial vertical oscillation of said axle housing means with respect to said frame, second connector means including first isolator means resiliently connecting said engine to said frame, and means resiliently supporting said differential housing on said frame including second isolator means interposed between said differential housing and said frame in a manner such that loads imposed on said drive wheeL means are transmitted directly to said axle housing means and said frame and isolated from said engine, differential housing and portions of said drive train supported by said engine and differential housing.

Claim 10

A drive train mounting arrangement for a wheel-supported traction vehicle having a frame and a unitized drive train including an engine, transmission means, differential means including a differential housing and axle shaft means operably interconnected for transmitting rotary power from said engine means to a drive wheel means along a fixed power transmission path, said mounting arrangement comprising: axle housing means connected to said wheel means, first connector means connecting said axle housing means to said frame in a manner so as to prevent substantial vertical oscillation of said axle housing means with respect to said frame, second connector means including first isolator means resiliently connecting said engine to said frame, and means separating said differential housing from said axle housing means in a manner such that torsional loads transmitted by said drive wheel means to said axle housing means and said frame are isolated from said engine, differential housing and portions of said drive train supported by said engine and differential housing.

Claim 11

A drive train mounting arrangement for a wheel-supported traction vehicle having a frame and a unitized drive train including an engine, transmission means, differential means including a differential housing and axle shaft means operably interconnected for transmitting rotary power from said engine means to a drive wheel means along a fixed power transmission path, said mounting arrangement comprising: axle housing means connected to said wheel means, first connector means connecting said axle housing means to said frame in a manner so as to prevent substantial vertical oscillation of said axle housing means with respect to said frame, second connector means including first isolator means resiliently connecting said engine to said frame, and means separating said differential housing from said axle housing means in a manner such that torsional loads transmitted by said drive wheel means to said axle housing means and said frame are isolated from said engine, differential housing and portions of said drive train supported by said engine and differential housing.

Claim 12

A mounting arrangement according to claim 8 wherein said drive wheel means includes a pair of drive wheels, said differential means being positioned between said drive wheels, said axle housing means comprising a first axle housing extending between one of said drive wheels and said differential means and a second axle housing extending between the other of said drive wheels and said differential means, both of said axle housings being rigidly and fully supported by said frame.

Claim 13

A mounting arrangement according to claim 8 wherein said differential housing includes means supporting said differential housing on said axle housing means in a manner such that said axle housing means supports said differential housing on said frame, said separating means being interposed between said differential housing and said axle means to isolate said differential housing from axle housing loads.

Claim 14

In a ground-engaging traction vehicle having a frame, drive wheel means supported by an axle housing means connected to said frame, and a drive train including an engine, transmission means, differential means including a differential housing and axle shaft means for transmitting rotary power from said engine means to said drive wheel means, a drive train mounting arrangement comprising: connector means including first isolator means resiliently connecting said engine means to said frame, and means supporting said differential housing on said frame including second isolator means interposed between said differential housing and said frame in a manner so as to provide a resilient support for said differential housing on said frame, and so as to isolate said differential housing from said axle housing means and said frame so that wheel loads transmitted by said drive wheel means to said axle housing means and said frame are isolated from said engine and differential housing, said drive wheel means including a pair of drive wheels, said differential means being positioned between said drive wheels, said axle housing means comprising a first axle housing extending between one of said drive wheels and said differential means and a second axle housing extending between the other of said drive wheels and said differential means, both of said axle housings being rigidly connected to said frame.

Claim 15

In a ground-engaging traction vehicle having a frame, drive wheel means supported by an axle housing means connected to said frame, and a drive train including an engine, transmission means, differential means including a differential housing and axle shaft means for transmitting rotary power from said engine means to said drive wheel means, a drive train mounting arrangement comprising: connector means including first isolator means resiliently connecting said engine means to said frame, and means supporting said differential housing on said frame including second isolator means interposed between said differential housing and said frame in a manner so as to provide a resilient support for said differential housing on said frame, and so as to isolate said differential housing from said axle housing means and said frame so that wheel loads transmitted by said drive wheel means to said axle housing means and said frame are isolated from said engine and differential housing, said drive wheel means including a pair of drive wheels, said differential means being positioned between said drive wheels, said axle housing means comprising a first axle housing extending between one of said drive wheels and said differential means and a second axle housing extending between the other of said drive wheels and said differential means, both of said axle housings being rigidly connected to said frame.

Claim 16

In a ground-engaging traction vehicle having a frame, drive wheel means supported by an axle housing means connected to said frame, and a drive train including an engine, transmission means, differential means including a differential housing and axle shaft means for transmitting rotary power from said engine means to said drive wheel means, a drive tRain mounting arrangement comprising: connector means including first isolator means resiliently connecting said engine means to said frame, and means supporting said differential housing on said frame including second isolator means interposed between said differential housing and said frame in a manner so as to provide a resilient support for said differential housing on said frame, and so as to isolate said differential housing from said axle housing means and said frame so that wheel loads transmitted by said drive wheel means to said axle housing means and said frame are isolated from said engine and differential housing, said differential housing including a differential sleeve means extending inwardly of said axle housing means, said second isolator means being interposed between said differential sleeve means and said axle housing means in a manner so as to support said differential housing on said axle housing means and thereby indirectly on said frame, whereby in the event of failure of said second isolator means said differential housing is supported directly by said axle housing means on said frame.

Claim 17

In a ground-engaging traction vehicle having a frame, drive wheel means supported by an axle housing means connected to said frame, and a drive train including an engine, transmission means, differential means including a differential housing and axle shaft means for transmitting rotary power from said engine means to said drive wheel means, a drive tRain mounting arrangement comprising: connector means including first isolator means resiliently connecting said engine means to said frame, and means supporting said differential housing on said frame including second isolator means interposed between said differential housing and said frame in a manner so as to provide a resilient support for said differential housing on said frame, and so as to isolate said differential housing from said axle housing means and said frame so that wheel loads transmitted by said drive wheel means to said axle housing means and said frame are isolated from said engine and differential housing, said differential housing including a differential sleeve means extending inwardly of said axle housing means, said second isolator means being interposed between said differential sleeve means and said axle housing means in a manner so as to support said differential housing on said axle housing means and thereby indirectly on said frame, whereby in the event of failure of said second isolator means said differential housing is supported directly by said axle housing means on said frame.

Claim 18

In a ground-engaging traction vehicle having a frame, drive wheel means supported by an axle housing means connected to said frame, and a drive train including an engine, transmission means, differential means including a differential housing and axle shaft means for transmitting rotary power from said engine means to said drive wheel means, a drive train mounting arrangement comprising: connector means including first isolator means resiliently connecting said engine means to said frame, and means supporting said differential housing on said frame including second isolator means interposed between said differential housing and said frame in a manner so as to provide a resilient support for said differential housing on said frame, and so as to isolate said differential housing from said axle housing means and said frame so that wheel loads transmitted by said drive wheel means to said axle housing means and said frame are isolated from said engine and differential housing, said drive wheel means including a pair of drive wheels, said differential means being positioned between said drive wheels, said axle shaft means including a pair of axle shafts extending from said differential means to said pair of drive wheels, said axle housing means including a pair of separate axle housings each extending between said differential means and one of said drive wheel means in surrounding relationship to one of said axle shafts, means connecting each of said axle housings rigidly to said frame, bearing means rotatably connecting said axle shafts one to each of said axle housings, said differential housing having a pair of sleeve portions extending one within an inner end of each said axle housing between said axle housing and its associated said axle shaft, said second isolator means including a pair of elastomer bushing means, one extending between each of said differential housing sleeve portions and their respective axle housings so as to permit relative rotational and linear movement between said axle housings and said differential housing and so as to resiliently support said differential housing on said axle housing, whereby wheel and brake loads transmitted by said drive wheels to said axle housings and frame are isolated from said differential housing and connected drive train components.

Claim 19

In a ground-engaging traction vehicle having a frame, drive wheel means supported by an axle housing means connected to said frame, and a drive train including an engine, transmission means, differential means including a differential housing and axle shaft means for transmitting rotary power from said engine means to said drive wheel means, a drive train mounting arrangement comprising: connector means including first isolator means resiliently connecting said engine means to said frame, and means supporting said differential housing on said frame including second isolator means interposed between said differential housing and said frame in a manner so as to provide a resilient support for said differential housing on said frame, and so as to isolate said differential housing from said axle housing means and said frame so that wheel loads transmitted by said drive wheel means to said axle housing means and said frame are isolated from said engine and differential housing, said drive wheel means including a pair of drive wheels, said differential means being positioned between said drive wheels, said axle shaft means including a pair of axle shafts extending from said differential means to said pair of drive wheels, said axle housing means including a pair of separate axle housings each extending between said differential means and one of said drive wheel means in surrounding relationship to one of said axle shafts, means connecting each of said axle housings rigidly to said frame, bearing means rotatably connecting said axle shafts one to each of said axle housings, said differential housing having a pair of sleeve portions extending one within an inner end of each said axle housing between said axle housing and its associated said axle shaft, said second isolator means including a pair of elastomer bushing means, one extending between each of said differential housing sleeve portions and their respective axle housings so as to permit relative rotational and linear movement between said axle housings and said differential housing and so as to resiliently support said differential housing on said axle housing, whereby wheel and brake loads transmitted by said drive wheels to said axle housings and frame are isolated from said differential housing and connected drive train components.

Claim 20

In a ground-engaging traction vehicle having a frame, drive wheel means supported by an axle housing means connected to said frame, and a drive train including an engine, transmission means, differential means including a differential housing and axle shaft means for transmitting rotary power from said engine means to said drive wheel means, a drive train mounting arrangement comprising: connector means including first isolator means resiliently connecting said engine means to said frame, and means supporting said differential housing on said frame including second isolator means interposed between said differential housing and said frame in a manner so as to provide a resilient support for said differential housing on said frame, and so as to isolate said differential housing from said axle housing means and said frame so that wheel loads transmitted by said drive wheel means to said axle housing means and said frame are isolated from said engine and differential housing, said axle housing including a differential supporting portion in surrounding relationship to a supported portion of said differential housing, said second isolator means being interposed between said supporting and said supported portions.

Claim 21

In a ground-engaging traction vehicle having a frame, drive wheel means supported by an axle housing means connected to said frame, and a drive train including an engine, transmission means, differential means including a differential housing and axle shaft means for transmitting rotary power from said engine means to said drive wheel means, a drive train mounting arrangement comprising: connector means including first isolator means resiliently connecting said engine means to said frame, and means supporting said differential housing on said frame including second isolator means interposed between said differential housing and said frame in a manner so as to provide a resilient support for said differential housing on said frame, and so as to isolate said differential housing from said axle housing means and said frame so that wheel loads transmitted by said drive wheel means to said axle housing means and said frame are isolated from said engine and differential housing, said axle housing including a differential supporting portion in surrounding relationship to a supported portion of said differential housing, said second isolator means being interposed between said supporting and said supported portions.