Vehicle, similar in type to a tractor, comprising a rigid assembly

Claim 1

A tractor vehicle comprising an engine, a driven axle, driving means attached to said driven axle for engagement with a supporting surface to provide movement of said vehicle, a transmission case coupling said engine to said driven axle, said engine, driven axle and transmission case being coupled together to define a unitary rigid drive component assembly, a separate equipment chassis completely separate from the unitary rigid drive component assembly, a piece of plant equipment mounted on said separate equipment chassis, resilient suspension means providing supporting connection between said unitary rigid drive component assembly and said equipment chassis and link means respectively hinged on opposite ends to said equipment chassis and to said rigid drive component assembly for restraining front to rear movement of said drive component assembly with respect to said equipment chassis, said resilient suspension means comprising compression type resilient members mounted in vertical alignment above said driven axle and below a rear portion of said equipment chassis maintained in compression between said driven axle and said equipment chassis by the weight of said equipment chassis and a tension type resilient member having an upper end attached to said equipment chassis and having a lower end attached to said rigid drive component assembly and extending between said unitary rigid drive component assembly and said separate equipment chassis in tension and in general alignment with the centerline of said vehicle and a second vehicle supporting axle attached to said chassis wherein said tension type resilient member is horizontally spaced between said second axle and said driven axle so that said separate equipment chassis can accept the stresses created by said plant equipment and absorb impacts and vibrations created by the plant equipment so as to lessen the impacts and vibrations conveyed to said unitary rigid drive component assembly.