Patent ID: 6047785
Filing Date: 2000-04-11
Classification: B62D

Abstract:
A mobile construction vehicle having a vehicle chassis with a pair of side frame members, the chassis including a superstructure having an operator station for vehicle function control, the vehicle comprising:(a) a pair of parallel first and second track assemblies for moving said vehicle chassis along a surface, each of said track assemblies being connected, respectively, to a separate one of said vehicle side frame members at a front and a rear vehicle axle assembly;(b) each said track assembly having a continuous, toothed, drive belt driven by a drive wheel, each said drive wheel being mounted on a separate one of said rear axle assemblies and including a substantially circular tubular body circumscribing a central axis;(c) each said rear axle assembly comprising:(i) hydraulic motor means adjacent a rear end of said side frame member, for providing rotary movement to said drive wheel;(ii) planetary gear reduction means connected to said hydraulic motor means, for controlling rotary movement to a preselected gear speed;(d) means for connecting said hydraulic motor means and said planetary gear reduction means, to provide a planetary connection joint whereby a first portion of said planetary gear reduction means, positioned outwardly toward an outer side of said vehicle, rotates with respect to a second portion of said planetary gear reduction means positioned inwardly toward said vehicle frame;(e) means for non-rotatably connecting said second, inner portion of said planetary gear reduction means to said vehicle frame; and(f) debris deflecting means for deflecting debris, falling from a rotating drive wheel, away from said planetary connection joint and including a first shield means spaced radially outwardly from said planetary connection joint with respect to said central axis, said drive wheel tubular body having a sufficient length so as to extend along said central axis a sufficient distance to overlap said connection joint to provide said first shield means.