Tracked suspension

A tracked suspension for an agricultural tractor having at least one suspension beam extending from a side of the tractor and a drive wheel axle, the suspension comprising:

• an endless track;
• a suspension frame configured to be removably mounted to at least one suspension beam;
• a beam extending parallel to a direction of travel and pivotally coupled to the suspension frame about a first pivotal axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel;
• a first idler wheel coupled to a forward portion of the beam and rotatable with respect thereto;
• a second idler wheel coupled to a rearward portion of the beam and rotatable with respect thereto;
• a belt tensioner configured to tension the endless track;
• a drive wheel support fixed to the suspension frame;
• a drive wheel rotatably coupled to the wheel support and having a drive wheel rotational axis, wherein the drive wheel is configured to be removably coupled to the drive wheel axle;
• and
• wherein the belt tensioner is disposed to tension the track about the periphery of the drive wheel and the first and second idler wheels without transferring tension to the drive wheel axle.

An agricultural tractor comprising:

• front frame;
• first and second front suspension beams extending from opposite sides of the front frame;
• first and second front axles extending from opposite sides of the front frame;
• an engine fixedly mounted to the front frame;
• first and second front tracked suspensions mounted to the front frame, each of the first and second front tracked suspensions including:
• an endless track;
• a suspension frame mounted to one of the first and second front suspension beams;
• an idler beam extending parallel to a direction of travel and pivotally coupled to the suspension frame about a first pivotal axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel;
• a first idler wheel coupled to a forward portion of the idler beam and rotatable with respect thereto;
• a second idler wheel coupled to a rearward portion of the idler beam and rotatable with respect thereto;
• a belt tensioner configured to tension the endless track;
• a drive wheel support fixed to the suspension frame;
• a drive wheel operably coupled to one of the first and second front axles and rotatably coupled to the wheel support and having a drive wheel rotational axis;
• and
• a drive wheel axle rotationally coupled to the drive wheel to drive the drive wheel in rotation;
• wherein the belt tensioner is disposed to tension the track about the periphery of the drive wheel and the first and second idler wheels without transferring tension to the drive wheel axle;
• a front differential fixedly mounted to the front frame to drive front tracked suspensions;
• a transmission rotationally coupled to and driven by the engine;
• a rear frame pivotally coupled to the front frame;
• first and second rear suspension beams extending from opposite sides of the rear frame;
• first and second rear axles extending from opposite sides of the rear frame;
• first and second rear tracked suspensions mounted to the rear frame each of the first and second rear tracked suspensions including:
• an endless track;
• a suspension frame mounted to one of the first and second rear suspension beams;
• an idler beam extending parallel to a direction of travel and pivotally coupled to the suspension frame about a first pivotal axis substantially perpendicular to the direction of travel;
• a first idler wheel coupled to a forward portion of the idler beam and rotatable with respect thereto;
• a second idler wheel coupled to a rearward portion of the idler beam and rotatable with respect thereto;
• a belt tensioner configured to tension the endless track;
• a drive wheel support fixed to the suspension frame;
• a drive wheel operably coupled to one of the first and second rear axles and rotatably coupled to the wheel support and having a drive wheel rotational axis;
• and
• a drive wheel axle rotationally coupled to the drive wheel to drive the drive wheel in rotation;
• wherein the belt tensioner is disposed to tension the track about the periphery of the drive wheel and the first and second idler wheels without transferring tension to the drive wheel axle;
• and
• a rear differential fixedly mounted to the rear frame to drive the first and second rear tracked suspensions.

A tracked suspension for use with a work vehicle having a drive axle and at least one laterally extending suspension beam, the suspension comprising:

• a suspension frame configured to be removably coupled to the at least one suspension beam;
• a drive wheel rotatably supported by the suspension frame and configured to be removably coupled to the drive axle;
• a plurality of idler wheels rotatably supported by the suspension frame;
• and
• a track supported by the drive wheel and the plurality of idler wheels.

A work vehicle comprising:

• a frame;
• a drive axle extending from the frame;
• a suspension beam extending from the frame;
• and
• a suspension including:
• a suspension frame coupled to the suspension beam;
• a drive wheel rotatably supported by the suspension frame and operably coupled to the drive axle;
• a plurality of idler wheels rotatably supported by the suspension frame;
• and
• a track supported by the drive wheel and the plurality of idler wheels.