Multihog R&d Limited

Daniel McElchar

James McAdam

Gerard McHugh

Dallan McHugh

Samuel Hampshire

Anthony Duff

A wheeled work vehicle () comprises a forward chassis part () and a rearward chassis part () pivotally connected about a substantially vertically extending primary pivot axis () for steering thereof. A pair of forward ground engaging wheels () are carried on a forward suspension unit (), and a pair of rearward ground engaging wheels () are carried on a rearward suspension unit (). The forward suspension unit () is pivotally connected to the forward chassis part () by a pair of main forward transverse pivot shafts () pivotally coupled to the forward chassis part () by corresponding main forward pivot mountings (). The main forward transverse pivot shafts () defines a main forward transverse pivot axis () about which the forward suspension unit () is pivotal relative to the forward chassis part (). The forward suspension unit () comprises a pair of spaced apart trailing arms () which are joined by a torsion shaft () of tubular steel, which is rigidly connected to the trailing arms (). The torsion shaft () defines a torsional axis (), and permits limited upward and downward pivotal type torsional deflection of the trailing arms () relative to each other. The rearward suspension unit () is substantially similar to the forward suspension unit () and is coupled to the rearward chassis part () about a pair of main rearward transverse pivot shafts () in a similar manner as the forward suspension unit () is coupled to the forward chassis part ().

Wheeled work vehicle and a suspension unit for a wheeled work vehicle

A work vehicle () comprising a forward part () and a rearward part () pivotally coupled about a main vertical pivot axis () for steering thereof. A power take-off shaft () is located adjacent a forward end () of the forward part () and is mechanically driven from a main output drive shaft () of an engine () located in the rearward part (). A step-up gearbox () steps up the speed from the main output drive shaft () onto first and second output shafts () for driving first and second hydraulic pumps () which provide hydraulic supplies for motive power and for operating attachments attached to the forward end () of the forward part (). A step-down gearbox () receives drive directly from the main output drive shaft () of the engine () and produces a stepped-down drive on an output shaft () of the step-down gearbox () with a gear ratio of 2:1. A main drive transmission shaft () transmits drive from the step-down gearbox () to the power take-off shaft () at the regulatory speed of a power take-off shaft in the range of 540 rpm to 1000 rpm, thereby minimising the speed of the mechanical drive required from the rearward part () to the forward part (), and reducing the mechanical drives required from the rearward part () to the forward part () to a single mechanical drive.

Work vehicle

A work vehicle () comprises a coupling apparatus () for coupling an attachment to the forward end () of the work vehicle (). The coupling apparatus () comprises a three point linkage mechanism having a pair of lower coupling elements () and an upper coupling element (). A first carrier element () is pivotally coupled to a forward chassis part () of the work vehicle () by a pair of main transverse pivot shafts () which define a main transverse pivot axis (). A second carrier element () carries the lower coupling elements () and is pivotally coupled to the forward chassis part () about the main transverse pivot axis () and about a main longitudinal pivot axis (). A main longitudinal pivot shaft () extending rigidly from the second carrier element () pivotally engages the first carrier element () and terminates in a swivel bearing () which pivotally and swivelably couples the main longitudinal pivot shaft () to an intermediate transverse pivot shaft () which also defines the main transverse pivot axis (), so that the second carrier element () and the first carrier element () are pivotal about the main transverse pivot axis (), and the second carrier element () is pivotal about the main longitudinal pivot axis () to facilitate upward and downward movement of an attachment coupled to the coupling apparatus () about the main transverse pivot axis () and tilting movement of the attachment about the main longitudinal pivot axis ().

Growing community of inventors

Castlefin, Ireland

Daniel McElchar