Suspended drive axle and agricultural tractor with same
US6915873B2 · kind B2 · utility
Assignee
Inventors
Key dates
| Filing date | Sep 4, 2003 |
| Grant date | Jul 12, 2005 |
| Priority date | — |
| Expiry date | Sep 4, 2023 |
Classification
- Technology area (CPC Y)Emerging Cross-Sectional Technologies
- CPC primaryY10S464/905
- WIPO fieldTransport
- WIPO sectorMechanical engineering
Abstract
A suspended drive axle and agricultural tractor having same including a central housing having inboard final drives and left and right axle housing suspended therefrom by upper and lower control arms with axle shafts extending outwardly therefrom to which wheel and tire assemblies are mounted. A constant velocity universal joint is provided between the inboard final drives and the axle shafts. The universal joint having a pair of journal members and a coupling yoke that radially surround the drive and driven yokes of the joint whereby the axial length of the universal joint is minimized to enable the wheels to be located on the axle shafts at 60 inch tread spacing. This allows the drive axle to be used on a row crop tractor without altering the structure of the vehicle from a conventional row crop tractor whereby the characteristics of a row crop tractor are maintained.
Source: USPTO / EPO open patent data. Objective bibliographic and citation counts.