Articulated vehicle transmission assembly

Claim 2

In an articulated tractor of the type including front and rear traction-wheel-supported frame sections pivotally interconnected by hinge joint means defining a vertical pivot axis located on the fore-and-aft centerline of the tractor, a transmission and a power shaft drivable auxiliary device being respectively mounted on the front and rear frame sections, the transmission comprising a fore-and-aft extending housing having a rear end terminating just forwardly of said axis and having located therein a range-speed section, an intermediate speedchange section and a rearward power output section; the latter section including vertically spaced traction wheel drive and auxiliary device drive shafts located on said centerline, and the traction wheel drive shaft being driven through a constant mesh gear train including a pinion gear mounted on an output shaft of the speed-change section, an idler gear and a driven gear mounted on the traction wheel drive shaft, the improvement comprising: said idler gear having an opening extending axially therethrough and said auxiliary device drive shaft extending axially through said idler gear opening.

Claim 3

The articulated tractor defined in claim 1 wherein said winch drive shaft is driven through a gear train including a pinion gear being mounted on an output shaft of the range-speed section and being meshed with an idler gear, the latter being in turn meshed with a driven gear mounted on a countershaft, a pinion gear being mounted on the last-named countershaft and meshed with a driven gear mounted on said winch drive shaft; and a pump located within the transmission housing and including a drive shaft having a driven gear mounted thereon and meshed with the last-named pinion gear.

Claim 4

The articulated tractor defined in claim 2 wherein the hinge joint means is of a type wherein a pair of vertically spaced pivot pins define the pivot axis; said auxiliary device drive shaft being located on a level approximately half-way between the pins and said pump including an annular housing extending through and being removably secured to the rear end of the housing at a location slightly above the level of the auxiliary device drive shaft and to one side the rear of the transmission housing rear end, whereby the pump housing is in an easily accessible position from the hinge area of the tractor when the front and rear frame sections are pivoted relative to each other to a position of fore-and-aft misalignment to permit the pump housing to be withdrawn from the transmission housing for servicing.

Claim 5

The articulated tractor defined in claim 3 wherein the pump housing includes an end cap removably secured over that end of the housing which projects through the transmission housing end wall and said pump drive shaft having an end adapted for connection to an auxiliary pump and being accessible for such connections by removal of the end cap.

Claim 6

In an articulated tractor of the type including front and rear traction-wheel-supported frame sections pivotally interconnected by hinge joint means defining a vertical pivot axis located on the fore-and-aft centerline of the tractor, a transmission housing and a winch respectively mounted on the front and rear frame sections, said transmission housing containing first and second drive shafts respectively for the traction wheels and winch and having rear ends supported by and projecting through the housing rear end at vertically spaced locations on the tractor centerline; said first drive shaft being driven through a gear train including a driven gear mounted on the first drive shaft, an idler gear meshed with the driven gear and a pinion gear meshed with the idler gear, the improvement comprising: said second drive shaft being loosely and coaxially received in said idler gear.

Claim 7

In an articulated tractor of the type including front and rear traction-wheel-supported frame sections pivotally interconnected by hinge joint means defining a vertical pivot axis located on the fore-and-aft centerline of the tractor, a transmission housing and a winch respectively mounted on the front and rear frame sections, said transmission housing containing first and second drive shafts respectively for the traction wheels and winch and having rear ends supported by and projecting through the housing rear end at vertically spaced locations on the tractor centerline; said first drive shaft being driven through a gear train including a driven gear mounted on the first drive shaft, an idler gear meshed with the driven gear and a pinion gear meshed with the idler gear, the improvement comprising: said second drive shaft being loosely and coaxially received in said idler gear.

Claim 8

The articulated tractor defiNed in claim 5 and further including a pump located within the transmission housing and including a pump drive shaft extending parallel to the second drive shaft; said second drive shaft being driven through a gear train including a driven gear fixed to the second drive shaft and a pinion gear fixed to a countershaft and meshed with the drive gear; and said pump drive shaft having a driven gear fixed thereto and meshed with the last-mentioned pinion gear.

Claim 9

The articulated vehicle defined in claim 6 wherein the pump includes an annular housing having one end extending through and releasably secured to the rear end of the transmission housing.

Claim 10

The articulated vehicle defined in claim 6 wherein said pump housing is disposed such that the pump drive shaft is located slightly above the level of the second drive shaft and to one side of the transmission rear ends, whereby the pump is easily accessible for servicing from the hinge area of the tractor.

Claim 11

The articulated tractor defined in claim 8 wherein the pump housing includes an end cap removably secured over that end of the housing which projects through the transmission housing end wall and said pump drive shaft having an end adapted for connection to an auxiliary pump and being accessible for such connections by removal of the end cap.

Claim 12

In an articulated tractor of the type including front and rear frame sections hingedly interconnected by means defining a vertical pivot axis, a winch mounted centrally on the rear frame section, a transmission having fore-and-aft extending parallel shafts being mounted on the front frame section and including a forward range-speed section, an intermediate speed-change section and a rearward output section, said range-speed section including at least one output shaft constantly driven at engine speed and at least a second selectively engageable output shaft, the second output shaft being connected to the speed-change section, said one output shaft having a pinion gear fixed thereto; a first idler gear being meshed with said pinion gear, a countershaft carrying a first driven gear meshed with the first idler gear and further carrying a pinion gear, said output section including a winch drive shaft carrying a second driven gear meshed with said second pinion, said output section further including a traction wheel drive shaft carrying a driven gear, a second idler gear meshed with the driven gear and with a pinion gear carried by an output shaft of said speed-change section, and said winch drive and traction wheel drive shafts being vertically spaced and located on the tractor fore-and-aft extending centerline, the improvement comprising: said traction drive shaft extending axially through and being loosely received in said second idler gear.

Claim 13

In an articulated tractor of the type including front and rear frame sections hingedly interconnected by means defining a vertical pivot axis, a winch mounted centrally on the rear frame section, a transmission having fore-and-aft extending parallel shafts being mounted on the front frame section and including a forward range-speed section, an intermediate speed-change section and a rearward output section, said range-speed section including at least one output shaft constantly driven at engine speed and at least a second selectively engageable output shaft, the second output shaft being connected to the speed-change section, said one output shaft having a pinion gear fixed thereto; a first idler gear being meshed with said pinion gear, a countershaft carrying a first driven gear meshed with the first idler gear and further carrying a pinion gear, said output section including a winch drive shaft carrying a second driven gear meshed with said second pinion, said output section further including a traction wheel drive shaft carrying a driven gear, a second idler gear meshed with the driven gear and with a pinion gear carried by an output shaft of said speed-change section, and said winch drive and traction wheel drive shafts being vertically spaced and located on the tractor fore-and-aft extending centerline, the improvement comprising: said traction drive shaft extending axially through and being loosely received in said second idler gear.