Patent ID: 6550558
Filing Date: 2003-04-22
Classification: B60K,B62D,Y10T

Abstract:
In a tractor having a wheel-supported chassis formed by an engine drivingly connected to a transmission, an operator's station affixed to the chassis, a power transfer mechanism interconnecting the transmission to a front axle, the front axle located generally below and at least partially forwardly of the engine, and a bolster affixed to the engine and extending away from the engine adjacent to and at least partially above the front axle, the improvement comprising:at least two vertical apertures through said bolster spaced apart across the front of the engine, each said aperture having a generally conical-shaped upper portion and a generally constant diameter lower section, each said aperture further having a horizontal annular groove in said lower section; a radiator having a bottom edge with at least two spaced-apart generally u-shaped legs thereon, each leg having an hole through the bottom of the u-shaped portion with a nut affixed to the inside thereof, the at least two legs located to generally align with the at least two apertures through said bolster; a bushing for each leg, each bushing having a rigid tube-like sleeve with a generally flat top surface and generally flat opposing bottom surface and a central bore therethrough, said sleeve being generally symmetrical about the longitudinal axis of said bore and having an outer surface that includes a tapered section spaced slightly from said top surface and extending toward said bottom surface over which the diameter of said sleeve is reduced, top to bottom, to form a smooth partially curved outer surface; an elastomeric molding affixed to said tapered section of said sleeve, said molding being generally symmetrical about said sleeve and extending from said bottom surface of said sleeve toward the top surface thereof and flaring upwardly and outwardly away from said sleeve at the point of maximum diameter of said sleeve to a diameter greater than the diameter of said aperture, said molding varying in thickness; a ring-like collar with a generally vertical outside edge and a curved inner surface, the diameter of the inside of the collar being larger than the diameter of said sleeve and said generally vertical outside edge has a diameter less than the diameter of said aperture, said outside edge having an annular horizontal groove therearound; said collar affixed to said molding and positioned on said sleeve and said molding generally adjacent said tapered section of said sleeve; a washer; a headed bolt extending through said washer and said central bore of said sleeve and in threaded engagement with said nut in said leg; and a spring clip is fitted in the annular grooves in said collar and said aperture; the length of said sleeve, the amount of flare on said molding, and the relative diameters of said aperture and said collar being such that said molding is compressed against said aperture, said leg and said washer to form a solid, yet shock absorbing connection between the radiator and the bolster.