Abstract: The invention relates to a mower comprising a chassis which is provided with an engine. The chassis consists of a front and a rear section each section being provided with a pair of wheels and the front section supports a cutting attachment. The front and at least a part of the rear section are pivotally connected to each other so that they can be turned mainly about a vertical steering axis and about a mainly horizontal swinging axis. The steering axis (29) and the swinging axix (42) is placed considerably closer to the wheel axis of the rear section (13) than the wheel axis of the front section (12) preferably so that the distance (a) between the steering axis (29) and the wheel axis of the rear section (13) is less than 1/3 of the distance (b) between the two wheel axis.

Abstract: An uneven ground vehicle comprises a plurality of running means each having a support frame for supporting wheels, tires, crawlers or the like. Each support frame is connected to the body of the vehicle so as to be swingable in the front and rear direction of the vehicle whereby the wheels, crawlers or the like can continue to contact a ground surface even when the vehicle runs on an uneven ground.

Abstract: A sod laying machine having front rear sections articulated together. A boom on the front section has arms extending forwardly, with gripper arms extending downwardly from the boom to grip a roll of sod. A control roller connected to the boom arms drives the sod roll to control its speed of unwinding. The sod roll has its grass side facing outwardly and its top unwinds rearwardly so an operator in a seat at the front of the machine, between the boom arms, has an unobstructed view of the critical area of sod extending in the air from the roll to the ground, to reduce the likelihood of buckles and tears therein. The machine passes over the sod after it is laid, to roll the sod.

Abstract: A wheeled building and constructional machine of the mechanical shovel, bulldozer or the like type has an articulated steering system and comprises a vehicle chassis, a plurality of wheel axles, a hydraulic suspension system for the wheel axles, and at least one transversely stabilizing valve. The hydraulic suspension system comprises a plurality of fluid cylinders which are disposed between pivoting levers which are rotatably mounted and hold the wheel axles, and the vehicle chassis, and rotatably mounted on these vehicle parts. The fluid cylinders are adapted for action upon both of sides and are connected to the stabilizing valve or valves.

Abstract: An articulated battery-powered electric tractor includes front and rear frame members which are pivotally connected for movement about a substantially vertical axis. A hydraulically-actuated articulation apparatus pivots the front and rear frame members with respect to each other. Wheels support the frame members for travel over the ground. A power-take-off shaft is mounted to the front frame member and is used for driving implements. Electric energy is stored in batteries which are mounted to the rear frame member. The first electric motor is mounted to the rear frame member and is used to drive the tractor wheels. A second electric motor is mounted to the front frame member and is used to drive the power-take-off shaft and the hydraulic articulation apparatus.

Abstract: The invention relates to a hydrostatic steering device having a servomotor connectable to wheels to be steered. The travel limits of the servomotor are sensed with position sensors which function to operate a locking apparatus which mechanically prevents further turning of the steering wheel upon a travel limit being reached in either direction.

Abstract: A transfer gear mechanism (24) for a four-wheel drive tractor (10) or the like includes a depending gear transfer train (28) that has an input gear (34) on an upper axis (36) and an output gear (38) on a lower axis (40). Housing means (26) are provided for supporting the gear transfer train (28), a pump (196) along the upper axis (36), and a PTO clutch assembly (52) along a third axis (54) between the upper and lower axes (b 36,40) such that the PTO clutch assembly (52) is disposed underneath the pump (196) at an effective location. A service brake assembly (44) is also disposed on the lower axis (40) and it, the pump (196), and the PTO clutch assembly (52) can be individually serviced.

Abstract: An articulated agricultural tractor of 100 horsepower or more having front and rear portions connected by an articulation joint, there being only one axle in each portion. The articulation joint is located just inside a vertical plane tangent to the rear treads of the front wheels mounted on the front axle. The engine and its casing are mounted completely forward of the front axle. Each axle carries four wheels with pneumatic tires mounted thereon, all wheels being of the same diameter. The tractor's body is relatively narrow. The operator's cab is located directly over the rear axle and is sufficiently wide that the operator can see rows just inside all of the front wheels. A three-point lifting device and towing bar extend rearwardly from the rear portion with the lifting device's lower links or those of the bar part extending normally outwardly relative to the tractor's body in the vicinity of adjacent central tires. The distance between the front and rear tires is about one-half the diameter of each tire.

Abstract: Two tractor units, each having a single axle with a plurality of wheels on the axle, are connected in tandem whereby they are pivotable relative to each other about a horizontal axis extending in the direction of normal travel of the tractor and a vertical axis, each unit including an engine which extends in front of its axle and is drivingly connected to its respective axle, the two engines being aligned. A cabin and controls for an operator are disposed in the rear unit and a coupling member for receiving agricultural implements extends to the rear of the rear unit. The forward unit has large heavy fuel tanks extending across its width which, even when empty, cause the center of gravity of the forward unit to be to the rear of the axle of the forward unit. The widths and lengths of the two units and the distance between the axles of the two units are all dimensionally about the same.

Abstract: An agricultural tractor having at least four side-by-side pneumatic rear tires which provide a relatively narrow path of travel, there being a narrow rear portion of the tractor's body having about the same width or less as seen in plan as each of the tires and which is centrally disposed between the tires. A three-point lifting device extends rearwardly from the rear body portion. A front body portion carries an engine and the two body portions are pivotable relative to one another about a substantially vertical axis. An operator's seat and operating controls in a console are located within a cabin mounted above the rear wheels, the console being turnable through substantially 180.degree. about a substantially vertical axis so that the operator occupies a turnable seat which faces either generally forward or generally to the rear whereby the operator has a direct view of an implement attached to the lifting device.

Abstract: A self-propelled farm implement has independent front and rear, wheel supported frames articulated therebetween for execution of turns by operator steering of the front frame from within a cab that is, in turn, mounted on the front frame. The rear frame carries a crop receiving bin which, except for my oscillator limit incorporated in the combination, would be engaged by the cab under certain unlevel ground conditions, causing substantial damage. The front frame is tiltable about a fore and aft axis within a range defined by interengageable stops between the front frame and its coupling link. The stops on the front link are in the form of pivoted members which abut lugs on the rear frame causing the members to swing about their pivots during turning movements. The effect is to progressively limit the extent of tilt as full turns are approached to prevent cab-bin interengagement regardless of the nature of ground contour as the vehicle is steered off a straight path of travel.

Abstract: A tractor with two engines arranged in tandem, each carried by a frame portion pivotable relative to the other about a vertical axis in a first pivot member under the rear engine and a horizontal axis from second pivot member located in part between two of the tractor's front wheels. The tractor's body is narrow forward and to the rear wherein axles for front and rear sets of ground engaging wheels extend laterally and mount six wheels each. The front engine and rear engines extend completely forward of the respective supporting front and rear sets of ground wheels. Steering is accomplished by the relative pivoting of the front and rear frame portions about the aforesaid vertical axis. A fuel tank extends over all six of the rear set of wheels and includes a depression for an operator's seat. It is optionally hinged at its outer portions so the tractor's width is reduced by removing the outer wheels and pivoting the fuel tank's outer portions to the rear.

Abstract: An oscillating rear axle assembly (30) and associated drawbar (40) which oscillates therewith. The rear axle (24) protrudes from an axle housing (32) which is joined to a support structure (34) extending forwardly therefrom. The support structure (34) is oscillatably joined to a rear frame (14) by two axially separated bearings (36,38) disposed therebetween. The drawbar (40) is laterally guided by the rear axle assembly (30) and a pivot support structure (84) and is axially fixed as well as oscillatably joined to the rear frame (14) by a spherical bearing (52) to permit drawbar oscillation with the rear axle assembly (30).

Abstract: A tractor having two power units supported on respective frame portions which are pivotably connected in tandem, each power unit operatively connected to its respective fore or after axle which respectively mounts four or six wheels. The frame portions supporting the power units are joined between the fore and aft axles by vertical and horizontal solid steel pivotable shafts so as to be pivotable within limits about both a vertical axis and a horizontal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tractor. Hydraulic piston and cylinder units extending from the frame portion of one power unit to the other on either side of the vertical pivotable shaft provide steering from controls located in a cabin suspended by an inverted "U" structure included in the frame portion of the after power unit. Both power units are provided with large capacity fuel tanks which extend transversely above each set of wheels and have a configuration whereby they function as fenders or mudguards.

Abstract: A steering mechanism for an articulated vehicle having first and second frame sections with one of the frame sections having a pair of idler links pivotally mounted thereto at laterally spaced points, and the other frame section having a pair of drive links pivotally connected thereto at laterally spaced points. The free ends of adjacent drive and idler links on each side of the vehicle are pivotally interconnected and the relative lengths of the drive and idler links as well as the location of the pivot connections joining the drive and idler links to the first and second frame sections and to each other is such that the return steering torque at 90.degree. steer angle is at least equal to the steering torque available at 0.degree. steer angle.

Abstract: An articulated agricultural tractor of 100 horsepower or more having front and rear portions connected by an articulation joint, there being only one axle in each portion. The articulation joint is located just inside a vertical plane tangent to the rear treads of the front wheels mounted on the front axle. The engine and its casing are mounted completely forward to the front axle. Each axle carries four wheels with pneumatic tires mounted thereon, all wheels being of the same diameter. The rear portion of the tractor's body is narrow, about the same width or less as seen in plan of each of the tires. The operator's cab and seat are located directly over the rear axle where the operator can see rows just inside all of the front wheels. A three-point lifting device and towing bar extend rearwardly from the rear portion with the lower links of the lifting device or bar part extending normally outwardly relative to the body of the tractor in the vicinity of adjacent central tires.

Abstract: A double arch center frame employs a depending center arch to mount by a ball and socket connection the leading end of a draw bar and yoke assembly. Bell cranks pivotably mounted to yoke plates borne by the arched center frame intermediate of the center arch and the rear arch have arms pivotably coupled to respective hydraulic lift cylinders disposed on opposite sides of the center frame and to a like member common to the bell cranks. A side shift hydraulic cylinder is pivotably connected at one end to one side of a subframe rotatably supporting a mold board assembly and at the other end to a link member intermediate of its pivot connections to a second arm of the bell crank members. The forward arched end of the center frame is articulated to a front single axle tractor for rotation about right angle, vertical and horizontal axes, and the rear arched end of the center frame is hinge connected to a rear single axle tractor for pivoting about a horizontal axis.

Abstract: A tractor of acceptable width for highway travel having a narrow body portion between the front and rear wheels, such width being less than the width of each pneumatic tire mounted on the wheels. Four side-by-side rotatably mounted tires on each axle have narrow body portions disposed centrally and closely between them, such body portions having an articulated connection about a vertical axis at the after part of the front wheels with the forward body portion extending forward from the front wheels where it mounts the engine and fuel tanks in a body part which is substantially wider than the portions to the rear thereof. The engine powers the front wheels and a power transmitting linkage connects it with the rear wheels through the front and rear body portions which, with lateral projections, house a differentials and the necessary shaft bearings.

Abstract: An improvement in an articulated tractor which has front and rear sections pivotally connected along a vertical axis of articulation. Each of the sections is supported by a pair of ground engaging wheels that are drivingly connected to a differential input by a differential and an axle. The improvement includes an engine mounted on the front section forward of the front section differential with the engine's output element disposed longitudinally of the tractor. The engine's output element extends rearwardly toward the front section differential and is vertically positioned in close proximity to the top of the front section differential. The improvement also includes a power train connected to the engine's output element which provides for the transmittal of engine power rearwardly from the engine output element along a first path over the front section differential, to and through the axis of articulation.

Abstract: An off road vechile of the kind having fluid-distensible bag rollers for supporting the vehicle load uses bag rollers which are constructed to afford maximum flexibility in both the walls and tread and which are also constructed to be dynamically balanced. The vehicle also incorporates suspensions which effectively dampen oscillation of the bag rollers to facilitate and to permit high speed operations of the vehicle across rough terrain. A top drive roller is associated with a bag roller in certain embodiments of the off road vehicle in ways which minimize bag wear. Specific bag constructions are provided are improved operation of the off road vehicle for on-highway use. The vehicle includes two frame sections which are connected to permit frame (yaw) steering and swiveling (roll) between the two sections while preventing a bending between the frame sections (pitch) to thereby provide a strong back mode of opertion.

Abstract: A guard for a constant-rotating drive shaft in an articulated farm tractor in which a pair of universal joints are connected on either side of a sliding coupler in the drive shaft, the guard having a pair of U-shaped members, one member affixed to a wall with a bearing supporting the drive shaft from the engine on the front frame and the other member affixed to a transfer case on the rear frame. The two members are spaced apart a slight distance in the straight ahead position, but a portion of one member nests within the other member during articulation of the tractor.

Abstract: An articulated vehicle includes front and rear vehicle portions connected by a floating connector member having upper and lower vertically aligned pivot connections to the rear vehicle portion and horizontally aligned front and rear pivot connections to the front vehicle portion with wear takeup means in the pivot connections.

Abstract: An implement hitch for an articulated agricultural four-wheel drive tractor includes draft links secured to the rear section of the tractor by spherical bearings and carrying couplers to connect an implement. Loads applied by the implement act along lines through spherical bearings in the ends of each draft link and extend into the tractor to converge and intersect slightly in front of the rear axle of the rear section of the articulated tractor.

Abstract: A rugged maneuverable articulate mine service vehicle includes a power unit and a utility formed from welded steel plate, which units are interconnected by an articulated joint having a pivot axis and an axis of rotation. Each of the units has a pair of drive wheels with each drive wheel being powered by its own hydraulic motor. The power wheels are directly secured to the respective units. A hydraulic crane is pviotally mounted on the utility unit with the mast of the crane in close proximity to the articulated joint connecting the utility unit to the power unit. Hydraulic steering cylinders are connected between one of the units and the articulated joint and cause relative rotation of one unit of the vehicle about the pivot axis of the joint with respect to the other to steer the vehicle. Hydraulic outriggers are located at opposite corners of the front of the utility unit.

Abstract: A tractor having two power units supported on respective frame portions which are pivotably connected in tandem, each power unit operatively connected to its respective fore or after axle which respectively mounts four or six wheels. The frame portions supporting the power units are joined between the fore and aft axles by vertical and horizontal solid steel pivotable shafts so as to be pivotable within limits about both a vertical axis and a horizontal axis aligned with the longitudinal axis of the tractor. Hydraulic piston and cylinder units extending from one power unit to the other on either side of the vertical pivotable shaft provide steering from controls located in a cabin suspended by an inverted "U" structure included in the frame of the after power unit. Both power units are provided with large capacity fuel tanks which extend transversely above each set of wheels and have a configuration whereby they function as fenders or mudguards.