Abstract:
An axle assembly for a work vehicle may generally include a hub, a casing at least partially received within the hub, and a shaft configured to be received within the casing. The hub defines a tapered inner surface and the casing defines a tapered outer surface. The tapered inner surface of the hub defines a first keyway portion defining a first keyway surface, and the tapered outer surface of the casing defines a second keyway portion defining a second keyway surface. The tapered surfaces of the hub and the casing together define a tapered interface and a keyway. The first and second keyway surfaces of the keyway extend in a direction non-parallel to the tapered interface.
Abstract:
A tractor having a front end and a rear end adaptable for a variety of different environments. Methods related to the conversion of the tractor are also disclosed. In one embodiment, the invention includes a front wheel assembly that is removably attached to the front end of the tractor to facilitate adaptation of the tractor a various environments. Also, a steering actuator is removably attached to the front wheel assembly and fixedly attached to the chassis of the tractor.
Abstract:
An adjustable wheel assembly which facilitates the positioning of a wheel on an axle. The wheel assembly includes an elongated axle having a rack and a keyway, a wheel hub, and two pairs of arc-shaped wedges positioned between the axle and the wheel hub. Two of the four arc-shaped wedges are inserted into a tapered bore on one side of the wheel hub and the remaining two wedges are inserted into a second tapered bore on the opposite side of the wheel hub. Each of the four arc-shaped wedges further contains a radial flange with bolt holes therethrough so that each wedge can be bolted to the wheel hub. In addition, one of the wedges contains a radial opening housing pinion gear which meshes with the rack on the axle so as to axially move the wheel hub along the axle. The wheel assembly also contains a pair of jackscrews which are used to force two of the oppositely aligned wedges axially apart thereby allowing the wheel hub to be released from the axle.