GB2230499A

GB2230499A - Six-wheeled off-road vehicle, e.g. tractor

Info

Publication number: GB2230499A
Application number: GB9007997A
Authority: GB
Inventors: Liam Seamus Mckeefrey
Original assignee: Individual
Current assignee: Individual
Priority date: 1989-04-08
Filing date: 1990-04-09
Publication date: 1990-10-24
Also published as: GB9007997D0; GB8907972D0

Abstract

The vehicle has an elongate chassis (10) on which at least three pairs of ground-engaging wheels (12) are mounted. A driving cab (14) is provided at the front of the chassis (10) and a power-operated attachment linkage is provided at the rear and/or front. The front-mounted engine (20) drives a hydraulic pump (22) which supplies a motor (26) at each side of the chassis. Each motor (26) drives a sprocket wheel (28) meshing with a drive chain (18) entrained around sprocket wheels (19) on the inner side of each ground wheel (12). The attachment linkage(s) and p.t.o. shafts (48) are also driven hydraulically. The roll-bar (50) to the rear of the cab (14) may be used for connecting an attachment to the front of the vehicle. <IMAGE>

Description

VEHICLES.

This invention relates to vehicles, primarily but not exclusively to cross-terrain working tractors which can be used with attachments and/or trailers to perform various tasks, for example ploughing, slurry spreading, digging trenches and infilling in a manner similar to existing agricultural tractors.

A disadvantage of existing agricultural tractors is that they are unable to be used during extremely wet weather when the land is soft and soggy without the wheels churning up the land.

An object of the present invention is to provide a vehicle which obviates or mitigates this disadvantage.

Accordingly, the present invention is a vehicle having an elongate chassis on which at least three pairs of ground-engaging wheels are mounted with one of each pair on opposite lateral sides of the chassis, a driving position with controls being provided at one end and a power-operated attachment linkage being provided at the other end, and power means to propel the vehicle and operate the attachment linkage being provided at the one end.

Preferably, the wheels are all driven with motion being transferred by endless chain provided one on each lateral side of the chassis. The chains on both sides are preferably driven separately.

Preferably also, the power means includes an engine to drive a hydraulic pump in circuit with a supply of hydraulic fluid and a power source for each lateral set of wheels and the linkage. Each power source for the wheels is preferably a hydraulic motor whose output shaft carries a sprocket wheel whose teeth mesh with the respective chain, and the power source for the linkage is preferably a hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement.

Preferably further, the attachment linkage provides a three point connection in a triangular arrangement, one point being provided at the top of an upstand from the chassis and the other two, in horizontal alignment, being provided on the limbs of an 'U' bracket pivoted to the chassis about the web member with the limbs to extend outwardly, the bracket being pivotally connected to the piston and cylinder arrangement pivotally mounted to the chassis.

Power-take-off shafts are desirably provided at both ends of the chassis to be coupled to drive means of attachments secured to the one end and/or the other end.

A roll-bar is preferably provided immediately to the rear of the driving position and secured to the chassis. The web of the roll-bar can be provided with anchorages or linkage points for use in connecting an attachment to the front end.

An embodiment of the present invention will now be described, by way of example, with reference to the accompanying diagrammatic drawing, in which: Fig. 1 is a plan view of a vehicle according to the present invention; and Fig. 2 is a side view of the vehicle.

Referring to the drawing, a vehicle has an elongate ie. rectangular chassis 10 on which three pairs of ground-engaging wheels 12 are mounted with one of each pair on opposite lateral sides of the chassis 10.

Each pair of wheels is carried one on each opposite end of an axle 11 (designated by a line in Fig. 1), the axles 11 being mounted under the chassis 10 with the wheels 12 rotatable thereon.

A driving position defined by a cab 14 (Fig. 2) with controls 16, ie. ignition, brake, and operating switches or levers for the vehicle and also the attachments when fitted, is provided at one end ie. the forward end, and a power-operated attachment linkage is provided at the other or trailing end. The cab 14 is enclosed having an openable door for access. The door is at one side or may be at the front.

The wheels 12 are all driven with motion being transferred by an endless chain 18 provided one on each lateral side of the chassis 10. The chains 18 on both sides are driven separately. As shown in Fig. 2, the chain 18, on each lateral side of the chassis 10, is entrained around sprocket wheels 19 provided on the inside of each wheel, and are kept in meshing engagement by a series of jockey sprocket wheels 21, each carried on an arm connected to the respective lateral side of the chassis, the arms being spring-biased in a manner to keep the chain 18 in meshing engagement with the wheels 19.

Power means to propel the vehicle and operate the attachment linkage are provided at the forward end. The power means includes an engine, shown generally at 20, to drive a hydraulic pump, shown generally at 22, in circuit with a supply of hydraulic fluid in a tank, shown generally at 24, and a power source for each lateral set of wheels 18 and the linkage.

A fuel tank, shown generally at 25, for the engine 20 is mounted at the forward end adjacent to the tank 24.

Each power source for the wheels 18 is a hydraulic motor 26 whose output shaft carries a sprocket wheel 28 whose teeth mesh with the respective chain 18. The power source for the linkage is a hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement 30 (Fig. 2). The arrangement 30 and motors 26 are both connected through piping to the hydraulic pump.

The attachment linkage provides a three point connection in a triangular arrangement as in a conventional three point linkage. One point, ie. a bore 32, of the linkage is provided at the top of an upstand 34 from the chassis 10. The upstand 34 is supported on the chassis 10 by a brace 36 (Fig. 1). The other two points, ie. bores 38, whose axes are in horizontal alignment, are provided on the limbs 40 of an 'U' bracket 42 pivoted to the trailing end part of the chassis 10 about the web member 44 with the limbs 40 to extend outwardly, ie. rearwardly. The bracket 42 is pivotally connected to the piston and cylinder arrangement 30 as shown and is pivotally mounted under the chassis 10 as shown.

Power-take-off shafts 48 are provided at both the front and trailing ends of the chassis 10 to be coupled to drive means of attachments secured to the front end and/or the trailing end. The shafts 48 are driven hydraulically from the power means through interconnecting piping.

A roll-bar 50, ie. an inverted "U" frame, is provided immediately to the rear of the driving position, ie. cab 14, and secured to the chassis 10. The web of the roll-bar 50 is provided with anchorages or linkage points (not shown) for use in connecting an attachment to the front end.

Vehicle lights are provided as are necessary for road use andare operated from a battery provided at the front end. One or more spot lamps can be provided for giving visibility in darkness. A braking system is provided.

A vehicle as described above is beneficial in that it allows cross-terrain movement over water-logged or soggy land without churning the ground up while actually working in the same manner as an agricultural tractor can perform when the ground is firm. The weight distribution, ie. by having the power means at the forward end, is beneficial in this respect.

In a modification, mounting brackets 46 can be provided at the forward end to enable the, or a second, attachment linkage to be mounted thereon.

Variations and modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention described above.

Claims

CLAIMS:

1. A vehicle having an elongate chassis on which at least three pairs of ground-engaging wheels are mounted with one of each pair on opposite lateral sides of the chassis, a driving position with controls being provided at one end and a power-operated attachment linkage being provided at the other end, and power means to propel the vehicle and operate the attachment linkage being provided at the one end.

2. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, wherein the wheels are all driven with motion being transferred by endless chain provided one on each lateral side of the chassis.

3. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 2, wherein the chains on both sides are driven separately.

4. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 1, 2 or 3, wherein the power means includes an engine to drive a hydraulic pump in circuit with a supply of hydraulic fluid and a power source for each lateral set of wheels and the linkage.

5. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 4, wherein each power source for the wheels is a hydraulic motor whose output shaft carries a sprocket wheel whose teeth mesh with the respective chain.

6. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 4 or 5, wherein the power source for the linkage is a hydraulic piston and cylinder arrangement.

7. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein the attachment linkage provides a three point connection in a triangular arrangement, one point being provided at the top of an upstand from the chassis and the other two, in horizontal alignment, being provided on the limbs of an 'U' bracket pivoted to the chassis about the web member with the limbs to extend outwardly, the bracket being pivotally connected to the piston and cylinder arrangement pivotally mounted to the chassis.

8. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein power-take-off shafts are provided at both ends of the chassis to be coupled to drive means of attachments secured to the one end and/or the other end.

9. A vehicle as claimed in any one of the preceding Claims, wherein a roll-bar is provided immediately to the rear of the driving position and secured to the chassis.

10. A vehicle as claimed in Claim 9, wherein the web of the roll-bar is provided with anchorages or linkage points for use in connecting an attachment to the front end.

11. A vehicle substantially as hereinbefore described with reference to the accompanying drawing.