Patent ID: 7204340

Claim:
An agricultural tractor having a sprung rear suspension, the tractor comprising: a longitudinally extending chassis; a left suspension arm pivotally coupled to the chassis at a first pivot point to pivot about a first pivot axis; a right suspension arm pivotally coupled to the chassis at a second pivot point to pivot about a second pivot axis; a first spring coupled to and between the left suspension arm and the chassis; a second spring coupled to and between the right suspension arm and the chassis; a first planetary gear casing fixed to the left suspension arm, said first gear casing housing a first ring gear fixed with respect to the left arm and a first planetary gear carrier, said first planetary gear casing further housing a first sun gear; a second planetary gear casing fixed to the right suspension arm, said second gear casing housing a second ring gear fixed with respect to the right arm and a second planetary gear carrier, said second planetary gear casing further housing a second sun gear; a left axle having a first rotational axis, wherein the first rotational axis is located above and behind the first and second pivotal axes, said left axle being fixed to the first planetary gear carrier; a right axle having a second rotational axis, wherein the second rotational axis is located above and behind the first and second pivotal axes, said right axle being fixed to the second planetary gear carrier; and wherein the tractor further comprises first and second drive shafts having dual flexible couplings; said first and second drive shafts being coupled to the first and second sun gears, respectively, to drive said first and second sun gears.