SUSPENDED DRIVE AXLE AND AGRICULTURAL TRACTOR WITH SAME

摘要

A suspended drive axle (26) and agricultural tractor (10) having same including a central housing having inboard final drives (52) and left and right axle housing (62) suspended therefrom by upper and lower control arms (64, 66) with axle shafts (44, 46) extending outwardly therefrom to which wheel and tire assemblies (14, 16) are mounted. A constant velocity universal joint (150) is provided between the inboard final drives (52) and the axle shafts (44, 46). The universal joint (150) having a pair of journal members (210, 212) and a coupling yoke (222) that radially surround the drive and driven yokes (174, 190) of the joint (150) whereby the axial length of the universal joint (150) is minimized to enable the wheels (14, 16) to be located on the axle shafts (44, 46) at 60 inch tread spacing. This allows the drive axle (26) to be used on a row crop tractor without altering the structure of the vehicle from a conventional row crop tractor whereby the characteristics of a row crop tractor are maintained.