Articulated tractor

Claim 2

An articulated tractor comprising: a front frame structure; a rear frame structure; pivot means pivotally connecting the front and rear frame structures for articulation about a generally vertical axis; a transversely extending rear axle assembly rigidly connected to the rear frame structure and including a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of rear drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the rear frame structure; a transversely extending front axle assembly pivotally connected to the front frame structure for oscillating about a central fore- and-aft axis relative to the front frame structure and having a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of front drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the front frame structure; an engine mounted on the front frame structure and having a rearwardly extending output shaft rotating at engine speed; a first drive shaft means driven by and extending rearwardly from the engine output shaft and having front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation between the front and rear frame structures; a variable speed transmission means mounted on the rear frame structure and having a fore-and-aft output shaft with its rearward end drivingly connected to the rear differential and its forward end connected to a second drive shaft means below the first drive shaft means and including front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation; a gear box having an input shaft coaxially connected to and driven by the first drive shaft means, an output shaft parallel to and below the input shaft drivingly connected to the transmission means and driven by the input shaft by a first gear means; means drivingly connecting the forward end of the second drive shaft means to the front differential; a PTO drive shaft journaled on the rear frame structure, extending in a fore-and-aft direction below the transmission output shaft, and connected to and driven by the first gear means by a second gear means; and an operator''s station attached to the front frame structure rearwardly of the engine and generally above the axis of articulation.

Claim 3

The invention defined in claim 1 wherein the gear box is rigidly mounted on the rear frame structure forwardly of the transmission means, and the transmission output shaft extends forwardly through the gear box.

Claim 4

The invention defined in claim 2 wherein the second gear means includes an annular gear coaxially journaled on the transmission output shaft.

Claim 5

The invention defIned in claim 2 wherein the first and second gear means conjunctively comprise a train of axially parallel, meshing gears mounted in the gear box in the same vertical plane.

Claim 6

An articulated tractor comprising: a front frame structure; a rear frame structure; pivot means pivotally connecting the front and rear frame structures for articulation about a generally vertical axis; a transversely extending rear axle assembly rigidly connected to the rear frame structure including a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of rear drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the rear frame structure; a transversely extending front axle assembly pivotally connected to the front frame structure for oscillating about a central fore- and-aft axis relative to the front frame structure and having a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of front drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the front frame structure; an engine mounted on the front frame structure and having a rearwardly extending output shaft rotating at engine speed; a first drive shaft means driven by and extending rearwardly from the engine output shaft and having front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation between the front and rear frame structures; a variable speed transmission mounted on the rear frame structure and having a fore-and-aft output shaft with its rearward end drivingly connected to the rear differential and its forward end connected to a second drive shaft means below the first drive shaft means and including front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation; a gearbox having an upright front wall, an upright rear wall attached to the transmission housing, an input shaft extending through the front wall and coaxially connected to and driven by the first drive shaft means, an output shaft extending through the rear wall and drivingly connected to the transmission, and gear means within the gearbox drivingly connecting the input shaft to the output shaft and to a PTO drive shaft extending rearwardly through the rear wall, the transmission output shaft extending forwardly through the gearbox and being journaled therein below the gearbox output shaft; means drivingly connecting the forward end of the second drive shaft means to the front differential; and an operator''s station mounted on the front frame structure.

Claim 7

An articulated tractor comprising: a front frame structure; a rear frame structure; pivot means pivotally connecting the front and rear frame structures for articulation about a generally vertical axis; a transversely extending rear axle assembly rigidly connected to the rear frame structure including a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of rear drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the rear frame structure; a transversely extending front axle assembly pivotally connected to the front frame structure for oscillating about a central fore- and-aft axis relative to the front frame structure and having a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of front drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the front frame structure; an engine mounted on the front frame structure and having a rearwardly extending output shaft rotating at engine speed; a first drive shaft means driven by and extending rearwardly from the engine output shaft and having front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation between the front and rear frame structures; a variable speed transmission mounted on the rear frame structure and having a fore-and-aft output shaft with its rearward end drivingly connected to the rear differential and its forward end connected to a second drive shaft means below the first drive shaft means and including front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation; a gearbox having an upright front wall, an upright rear wall attached to the transmission housing, an input shaft extending through the front wall and coaxially connected to and driven by the first drive shaft means, an output shaft extending through the rear wall and drivingly connected to the transmission, and gear means within the gearbox drivingly connecting the input shaft to the output shaft and to a PTO drive shaft extending rearwardly through the rear wall, the transmission output shaft extending forwardly through the gearbox and being journaled therein below the gearbox output shaft; means drivingly connecting the forward end of the second drive shaft means to the front differential; and an operator''s station mounted on the front frame structure.

Claim 8

An articulated tractor comprising: a front frame structure; a rear frame structure; pivot means pivotally connecting the front and rear frame structures for articulation about a generally vertical axis; a transversely extending rear axle assembly rigidly connected to the rear frame structure including a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of rear drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the rear frame structure; a transversely extending front axle assembly pivotally connected to the front frame structure for oscillating about a central fore- and-aft axis relative to the front frame structure and having a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of front drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the front frame structure; an engine mounted on the front frame structure and having a rearwardly extending output shaft rotating at engine speed; a first drive shaft means driven by and extending rearwardly from the engine output shaft and having front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation between the front and rear frame structures; a variable speed transmission means mounted on the rear frame structure and having a fore-and-aft output shaft with its rearward end drivingly connected to the rear diffErential and its forward end connected to a second drive shaft means below the first drive shaft means and including front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation; means drivingly connecting the rearward end of the first drive shaft means to the transmission means; a third drive shaft means connecting the forward end of the second drive shaft to the front differential and including front and rear universal joints respectively adjacent to the front differential and to the forward end of the second drive shaft means; and an operator''s station mounted on the front frame structure rearwardly of the engine and generally above the axis of articulation.

Claim 9

An articulated tractor comprising: a front frame structure; a rear frame structure; pivot means pivotally connecting the front and rear frame structures for articulation about a generally vertical axis; a transversely extending rear axle assembly rigidly connected to the rear frame structure including a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of rear drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the rear frame structure; a transversely extending front axle assembly pivotally connected to the front frame structure for oscillating about a central fore- and-aft axis relative to the front frame structure and having a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of front drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the front frame structure; an engine mounted on the front frame structure and having a rearwardly extending output shaft rotating at engine speed; a first drive shaft means driven by and extending rearwardly from the engine output shaft and having front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation between the front and rear frame structures; a variable speed transmission means mounted on the rear frame structure and having a fore-and-aft output shaft with its rearward end drivingly connected to the rear diffErential and its forward end connected to a second drive shaft means below the first drive shaft means and including front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation; means drivingly connecting the rearward end of the first drive shaft means to the transmission means; a third drive shaft means connecting the forward end of the second drive shaft to the front differential and including front and rear universal joints respectively adjacent to the front differential and to the forward end of the second drive shaft means; and an operator''s station mounted on the front frame structure rearwardly of the engine and generally above the axis of articulation.

Claim 10

An articulated tractor comprising: a front frame structure including a pair of rearwardly extending, vertically spaced, generally horizontal plates connected by an upright transverse plate; a rear frame structure including a pair of forwardly extending, vertically spaced, generally horizontal plates respectively adjacent to and partially overlapping the rearwardly extending plates on the front frame structure; a pair of axially aligned, generally vertical pivot pins respectively connecting the upper and lower overlapping plates providing articulation between the front and rear frame structures about a generally vertical axis; a transversely extending rear axle assembly rigidly connected to the rear frame structure and including a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of rear drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the rear frame structure; a transversely extending front axle assembly pivotally connected to the front frame structure for oscillating about a central fore-and-aft axis relative to the front frame structure and having a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of front drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the frame structure; an engine mounted on the front frame structure and having a rearwardly extending output shaft rotating at engine speed and including a main drive clutch means mounted in a housing rigidly connected to said upright plate; a first drive shaft means driven by and extending rearwardly from the engine output shaft and having front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation; a gearbox including a housing rigidly connected to the horizontal plates of the rear frame structure, an input shaft coaxially connected to and driven by the first drive shaft means, an output shaft parallel to and below the input shaft and driven by the input shaft by gear means; a variable speed transmission means including a housing rigidly connected to the gearbox housing, an input shaft connected to and driven by the gearbox output shaft, and an output shaft having its rearward end drivingly connected to the rear differential and its forward end connected to a second drive shaft means below the first drive shaft means, said second drive shaft means including front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation; and a third drive shaft means extending through and journaled in said upright plate and having its rearward end drivingly connected to the forward end of said second drive shaft means and its forward end connected to the front differential.

Claim 11

An articulated tractor comprising: a front frame structure including a pair of rearwardly extending, vertically spaced, generally horizontal plates connected by an upright transverse plate; a rear frame structure including a pair of forwardly extending, vertically spaced, generally horizontal plates respectively adjacent to and partially overlapping the rearwardly extending plates on the front frame structure; a pair of axially aligned, generally vertical pivot pins respectively connecting the upper and lower overlapping plates providing articulation between the front and rear frame structures about a generally vertical axis; a transversely extending rear axle assembly rigidly connected to the rear frame structure and including a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of rear drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the rear frame structure; a transversely extending front axle assembly pivotally connected to the front frame structure for oscillating about a central fore-and-aft axis relative to the front frame structure and having a differential and a pair of oppositely extending drive axles with a pair of front drive wheels respectively connected to and driven by the drive axles on opposite sides of the frame structure; an engine mounted on the front frame structure and having a rearwardly extending output shaft rotating at engine speed and including a main drive clutch means mounted in a housing rigidly connected to said upright plate; a first drive shaft means driven by and extending rearwardly from the engine output shaft and having front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation; a gearbox including a housing rigidly connected to the horizontal plates of the rear frame structure, an input shaft coaxially connected to and driven by the first drive shaft means, an output shaft parallel to and below the input shaft and driven by the input shaft by gear means; a variable speed transmission means including a housing rigidly connected to the gearbox housing, an input shaft connected to and driven by the gearbox output shaft, and an output shaft having its rearward end drivingly connected to the rear differential and its forward end connected to a second drive shaft means below the first drive shaft means, said second drive shaft means including front and rear universal joints respectively disposed forwardly and rearwardly of the axis of articulation; and a third drive shaft means extending through and journaled in said upright plate and having its rearward end drivingly connected to the forward end of said second drive shaft means and its forward end connected to the front differential.

Claim 12

The invention defined in claim 7 and including an operator''s station mounted on the front frame structure rearwardly of the engine and generally above the axis of articulation.

Claim 13

The invention defined in claim 8 including manually actuatable transmission control lever means at the operator''s station and flexible means extending across the pivot means and operatively connecting the control lever means to the transmission for shifting the transmission in response to movement of the control lever means.

Claim 14

The invention defined in claim 8 wherein the operator''s station includes a floor spaced above and overlying the upper pair of overlapping frame structure plates.