Articulated work vehicle

A work vehicle comprising:

• a front section supporting an engine;
• a rear section supporting a transmission, the front section being joined to the rear section by an articulation joint;
• first and second pivotal support bearings sharing a common substantially vertical rotational axis defining a rotational axis of the joint and defining a first substantially vertical plane;
• a first drive shaft extending below the first support bearing and above the second support bearing and intersecting the first vertical plane and extending through the joint for transmitting drive power between the engine and the transmission for driving the transmission, a second drive shaft extending below the second support bearing and intersecting the first vertical plane and extending through the joint for transmitting drive power between the transmission and driven wheels supporting the front section, the first drive shaft lying substantially in a second common plane with first drive train elements in the front and rear sections of the vehicle and the second drive shaft lying substantially in a third common plane with second drive train elements in the front and rear sections of the vehicle, the second and third planes being vertically spaced from one another and substantially perpendicular to the rotational axis;
• and
• a pair of steering actuators coupled between the front and rear sections of the vehicle for selectively articulating the joint.

A work vehicle having an articulation joint between a front section and a rear section of the vehicle, the articulation joint comprising:

• first and second pivotal support bearings intersecting a common plane and sharing a common substantially vertical rotational axis defining a rotational axis of the joint, the first pivotal support bearing being vertically spaced above the second support bearing;
• a first drive shaft for transmitting power between the front and rear sections of the vehicle, the first drive shaft being located between the first support bearing and the second support bearing and intersecting the common plane;
• a second drive shaft for transmitting power between the front and rear sections of the vehicle, the second drive shaft being located below the second support bearing and intersecting the common plane;
• and
• a pair of steering actuators coupled between the front and rear sections of the vehicle for selectively articulating the joint.