Combination drive and suspension system for a vehicle
AssigneeAGCO Corporation
InventorJohn Buschena
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The invention is a combination drive and suspension system that includes an upper drive assembly and a lower drive assembly pivotally connected. The pivoting drive system provides improved ground clearance for a farm vehicle capable of carrying a large quantity of field application material.
Claims19
A drive system for use with a farm vehicle, said system comprising:
- a first drive assembly;
- a second drive assembly,
- at least one of said drive assemblies extending in a substantially upright direction;
- and
- a pivoting joint operably connecting said drive assemblies.
A farm vehicle configured to provide increased ground clearance as the vehicle moves over terrain, said vehicle comprising:
- a main frame including a first frame member and a second frame member;
- a power source mounted on the first frame member;
- a wheel supporting said main frame;
- and
- a first drive and suspension system mounted on the second frame member including:
- a first drive assembly,
- said first drive assembly being in driving communication with the power source;
- a second drive assembly,
- said second drive assembly being in driving communication with the first drive assembly,
- at least one of said drive assemblies extending in a substantially upright direction;
- a pivoting joint operably connecting said drive assemblies;
- and
- a suspension device operably extending between the second frame member and the second drive assembly to bias the first drive and suspension system away from a fully compressed condition,
- said wheel being in driving communication with the second drive assembly.
A method of shifting an output drive relative to an input power source in a farm vehicle, such that an effective driven axle height is axially spaced from than the drive line height, said shifting method comprising the steps of:
- (a) driving a first drive assembly with the power source;
- (b) driving a second drive assembly with an output of the first drive assembly, said drive assemblies being pivotally coupled to one another;
- and
- (c) powering a drive wheel with an output of the second drive assembly, said outputs of the drive assemblies being at least substantially vertically spaced from one another.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.