Track laying accessory for a tractor

Claim 2

For use with a tractor having a set of supporting wheels which pivot to steer the tractor and a set of powered drive axles which are extended and adapted to fit into and rotate large drive wheels; a track laying accessory comprising a rigid frame, a track sprocket on the frame, a guide wheel on the frame, an endless track trained over the track sprocket and guide wheel and being engaged with the track sprocket so that when the track sprocket rotates the track is driven across and rotates the guide wheel, a hub journalled in the frame and offset from the center of the frame, the hub having a bore sized to receive the drive axle of the tractor from either of its ends whereby the major portion of the track laying accessory can project either forwardly or rearwardly from the tractor drive axle, connecting means for securing the hub to the axle so that the two are locked together and rotate in unison, and drive transfer means connecting the hub with the track sprocket for transferring torque applied to the drive axle to the track sprocket, whereby the track is powered by the drive axle and propels the tractor along the ground.

Claim 3

A structure according to claim 1 wherein the track sprocket is fitted to an axle shaft which is journaled on the frame; and wherein the transfer means includes a drive sprocket on the hub, a driven sprocket on the axle shaft; and a drive chain trained over the drive and driven sprockets.

Claim 4

A structure according to claim 2 wherein the drive and driven sprockets are detachable from the hub and axle shaft, respectively.

Claim 5

A structure according to claim 3 wherein the drive and driven sprockets are interchangeable so that the speed ratio between the axle shaft and the track sprocket can be varied.

Claim 6

A structure according to claim 4 wherein drive and driven sprockets are bolted respectively to the hub and the axle shaft.

Claim 7

A structure according to claim 1 wherein the track sprocket is at one end of the frame, the guide wheel is at the opposite end of the frame, and the hub is journaled closer to the track sprocket than to the guide wheel.

Claim 8

A structure according to claim 6 and further characterized by bogie wheels on the underside of the frame between the track sprocket and the guide wheel for backing the lower pass of the track and for supporting the frame on the track.

Claim 9

A structure according to claim 1 and further characterized by a stabilizer bar extending between the frame and the tractor ahead of the drive axle.

Claim 10

A structure according to claim 1 wherein the bore of the hub is larger in diameter than the axle; and wherein the connecting means comprises bushings fitted around the axle and inserted into the bore of the hub.

Claim 11

For use with a tractor having a set of supporting wheels which pivot to steer the tractor and a set of powered drive axles which are extended and adapted to fit into and rotate laRge drive wheels; a track laying accessory comprising: a rigid frame; a track sprocket on the frame; a guide wheel on the frame; an endless track trained over the track sprocket and guide wheel and being engaged with and driven by the track sprocket so that when the track sprocket rotates the track is driven across and rotates the guide wheel; a hub journaled in the frame and having a bore larger in diameter than the drive axle of the tractor; connecting means for securing the hub to the axle so that the two are locked together and rotate in unison, the connecting means including adapter bushings fitted around the axle and inserted into the bore of the hub, and keys between the adapter bushings and the hub and between the hub and axle; and drive transfer means connecting the hub with the track sprocket for transferring torque applied to the drive axle to the track sprocket, whereby the track is powered by the drive axle and propels the tractor along the ground.

Claim 12

For use with a tractor having a set of supporting wheels which pivot to steer the tractor and a set of powered drive axles which are extended and adapted to fit into and rotate laRge drive wheels; a track laying accessory comprising: a rigid frame; a track sprocket on the frame; a guide wheel on the frame; an endless track trained over the track sprocket and guide wheel and being engaged with and driven by the track sprocket so that when the track sprocket rotates the track is driven across and rotates the guide wheel; a hub journaled in the frame and having a bore larger in diameter than the drive axle of the tractor; connecting means for securing the hub to the axle so that the two are locked together and rotate in unison, the connecting means including adapter bushings fitted around the axle and inserted into the bore of the hub, and keys between the adapter bushings and the hub and between the hub and axle; and drive transfer means connecting the hub with the track sprocket for transferring torque applied to the drive axle to the track sprocket, whereby the track is powered by the drive axle and propels the tractor along the ground.

Claim 13

A structure according to claim 10 wherein the adapter bushings are split axially so that each comprises a pair of generally semi-circular segments.

Claim 14

For use with a tractor having a set of supporting wheels which pivot to steer the tractor and an axle housing from which powered drive axles extend for engagement with large drive wheels, the projection of the drive axles being substantially greater than the length of the portions of the large drive wheels which they are adapted to engage so that the spacing between the drive wheels may vary; a track laying accessory comprising: a rigid frame; a track sprocket on the frame; a guide wheel on the frame; an endless track trained over the track sprocket and guide wheel and being engaged with and driven by the track sprocket so that when the track sprocket rotates the track is driven across and rotates the guide wheel; a rotatable hub journaled in the frame and having a bore sized to receive the extended drive axle of the tractor; connecting means for securing the hub to the axle so that the hub and axle rotate in unison and such that the hub may be spaced at selected distances from the axle housing with the hub engaged with and supporting only the drive axle; and drive transfer means connecting the hub with the track sprocket for transferring torque applied to the drive axle to the track sprocket, whereby the track is powered by the drive axle and propels the tractor along the ground.

Claim 15

For use with a tractor having a set of supporting wheels which pivot to steer the tractor and an axle housing from which powered drive axles extend for engagement with large drive wheels, the projection of the drive axles being substantially greater than the length of the portions of the large drive wheels which they are adapted to engage so that the spacing between the drive wheels may vary; a track laying accessory comprising: a rigid frame; a track sprocket on the frame; a guide wheel on the frame; an endless track trained over the track sprocket and guide wheel and being engaged with and driven by the track sprocket so that when the track sprocket rotates the track is driven across and rotates the guide wheel; a rotatable hub journaled in the frame and having a bore sized to receive the extended drive axle of the tractor; connecting means for securing the hub to the axle so that the hub and axle rotate in unison and such that the hub may be spaced at selected distances from the axle housing with the hub engaged with and supporting only the drive axle; and drive transfer means connecting the hub with the track sprocket for transferring torque applied to the drive axle to the track sprocket, whereby the track is powered by the drive axle and propels the tractor along the ground.