Abstract: A vehicle having an axle assembly and a wheel end support housing. The axle assembly may have a differential assembly. The wheel end support housing may be mounted to a frame rail and may be spaced apart from the axle assembly. A linkage may operatively connect the differential assembly to a wheel end assembly may be mounted to the wheel end support housing.

Abstract: A transaxle assembly is provided which is configured to be mounted to a frame of a vehicle. The transaxle assembly includes a transmission that has two separately attached pivotable knuckle assemblies. Each pivotable knuckle assembly can be independently steered and includes an axle driven by the transmission. Each axle drives a wheel of the vehicle. In another configuration, the two pivotable knuckle assemblies are joined by an integrally formed crossmember.

Abstract: A wireless switch detection system (10, 100) includes central transmitter (22, 109) for transmitting a transmitter signal. The system (10, 110) also includes a remote switch (28, 128) spaced apart from the central transmitter (22, 109) and having at least two states. A tag circuit (32, 136) is responsive to and powered by the transmitter signal. The tag circuit (32, 136) detects the state of the remote switch (28, 128) and, in response to the transmitter signal, provides a tag signal indicative of the state of the switch (28, 128). A central receiver (26, 111) receives the tag signal.

Abstract: The invention provides an axle reduction apparatus for a tractor having a planetary reduction mechanism mounted between an axle and an axle drive shaft. The axle carries an integrated gear consisting of an input gear to receive drive from the drive shaft and a sun gear of the planetary reduction mechanism.

Abstract: A vehicle such as an agricultural tractor comprises drivable ground wheels, each front wheel steerable about its king pin's axis. A drive shaft assembly in each king pin comprises two parts axially relatively displaceable so that loads supported by the wheel are transmitted not through the drive shaft assembly but through its housing. The housing is supported on a thrust bearing for steering movement. The thrust bearing has a greater diameter than bearings which support the shaft assembly and comprises a disc surrounded, above and below, by two flat rings, one of which is a two-part ring. In one embodiment, bevel gears under the wheel shaft turn the wheel shaft and the king pin is inclined to the underlying surface and largely contained within the wheel's rim. In the other embodiment the king pin is substantially vertical and received between a pair of wheels, an axle for such wheel pair driven by meshed bevel gears, one on the axle and the other above the axle.

Abstract: A front-wheel driving apparatus for use in tractors and the like has bevel-gear cases one each of which a front-wheel case is fitted for free rotation about a kingpin axis, the front-wheel case being adapted to support a front wheel and accommodate therein a bevel-gear train which is for incorporating the kingpin and the front wheel. Both upper and lower end portions of the kingpin are supported on the bevel-gear case via the respective bearings, and are provided with the respective bevel pinions as mounted thereon so as to exert axial thrusts on the kingpin in directions opposite to each other, and further with the respective thrust retainers as secured thereon for taking up any possible overall balance thrust. A hub base is consolidatedly incorporated in the front-wheel case, and on the hub base there is fitted, for free rotation, through a bevel gear fixture base a bevel gear which meshes with the lower bevel pinion on the kingpin.