Apparatus for protecting a track assembly of a tractor

An apparatus for protecting a track assembly of a tractor, wherein said track assembly includes a frame, an idler wheel mechanically coupled to said frame, a drive wheel mechanically coupled to said frame, an endless track disposed around said idler wheel and said drive wheel, and a number of mid-rollers interposed between said idler wheel and said drive wheel, comprising:

• a first protection member having a first upper edge and a first lower edge, said first protection member being securable adjacent to one of an outer side and an inner side of a portion of said frame;
• a number of first guard members secured to said first protection member so that said first guard members extend downwardly beyond said lower edge toward said endless track and said first guard members are spaced apart from each other along said first lower edge such that a gap is defined between adjacent first guard members;
• a second protection member having a second upper edge and a second lower edge, said second protection member being securable to said frame such that a portion of said frame is interposed between said first protection member and said second protection member;
• a number of second guard members secured to said second protection member so that said second guard members extend downwardly beyond said second lower edge toward said endless track and said second guard members are spaced apart from each other along said second lower edge such that a gap is defined between adjacent second guard members;
• and
• an end shield member secured to said first protection member and said second protection member so that when said end shield member is secured to said first and second protection members a portion of said idler wheel is located within an internal space defined by said end shield member.

A tractor, comprising:

• a track assembly which includes a frame, an idler wheel mechanically coupled to said frame, a drive wheel mechanically coupled to said frame, an endless track disposed around said idler wheel and said drive wheel, and a number of mid-rollers interposed between said idler wheel and said drive wheel;
• a first protection member having a first upper edge and a first lower edge, said first protection member being secured adjacent to one of an outer side and an inner side of a portion of said frame;
• and
• a number of first guard members secured to said first protection member so that said first guard members extend downwardly beyond said first lower edge toward said endless track and said first guard members are spaced apart from each other along said first lower edge such that a gap is defined between adjacent first guard members;
• a second protection member having a second upper edge and a second lower edge, said second protection member being secured to said frame such that a portion of said frame is interposed between said first protection member and said second protection member;
• a number of second guard members secured to said second protection member so that said second guard members extend downwardly beyond said second lower edge toward said endless track and said second guard members are spaced apart from each other along said second lower edge such that a gap is defined between said adjacent second guard members;
• an end shield member secured to said first protection member and said second protection member so that when said end shield member is secured to said first and second protection members a portion of said idler wheel is located within an internal space defined by said end shield member.