Land vehicles – Tank or boiler – Saddle type; vehicle frame straddling
Reexamination Certificate
2000-03-14
2001-09-11
Johnson, Brian L. (Department: 3618)
Land vehicles
Tank or boiler
Saddle type; vehicle frame straddling
C280S830000
Reexamination Certificate
active
06286870
ABSTRACT:
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates to devices and methods for mounting tank systems to tractors. More particularly, this invention relates to apparatuses and methods for mounting side tanks to the rear axle of a tractor.
BACKGROUND
Tanks may be used for a variety of purposes with tractors, including storage of fuel, chemicals, fertilizers, pesticides, and the like. Because large amounts of fuel or chemicals may be used during agricultural processes, it is desirable to allow for the mounting of large tanks to tractors so that the tractor operator will be able to more efficiently accomplish a task.
Several types of brackets and mounting systems are available to mount tanks to tractors. Typical tank mounting systems attach tanks to the side frame of the tractor so that the tanks are mounted substantially near the front axle and tires of the tractor. U.S. Pat. No. 2,743,934, issued to Chambers et al. on May 1, 1956, and U.S. Pat. No. 4,149,734, issued to Sylvester on Apr. 17, 1979, disclose such tractor tank mounting apparatuses. U.S. Pat. No. 3,311,183, issued to Phillips, discloses another tractor tank mounting apparatus that does not mount tanks to tractors in the most feasible manner.
Most prior art tank mounting devices, as noted above, mount the tanks substantially near the front axle and tires of the tractor so that the majority or a substantial portion of the weight of the tanks rests on the front axle and tires of the tractor. Several problems result from mounting tanks in such a manner. The front tires of tractors, which are typically much smaller than the rear tires, are not designed to carry as much weight as the rear tires. The typical placement of tanks near the front axle, therefore, place an undue amount of weight on the front axle and tires of the tractor. Not only does this increase the chance of malfunction of the front tires and axle, but it limits the size of the tanks that may be mounted to the tractor. If large tanks are mounted to the side of the tractor, tire manufacturer and tractor manufacturer maximum weight recommendations may well be exceeded.
A need exists for a tractor tank mounting apparatus that mounts a tank so that a substantial portion of the weight of the tank rests on the rear axle and tires of the tractor, so that the tractor operator has a clear field of vision, and so that a sufficiently large tank may be mounted to the tractor to aid in the efficiency of tractor operation.
SUMMARY
One embodiment of the invention is an apparatus for mounting a tank to a tractor. In this embodiment, the invention comprises a drum attachable to a rear axle of the tractor, the rear axle having a longitudinal axis of rotation, a spindle connectable to the drum along the longitudinal axis of the rear axle so that the drum can rotate with respect to the spindle, and a support structure connected to the spindle and connectable to the body of the tractor, wherein the support structure is adapted to mount a tank substantially adjacent a rear wheel of the tractor.
Another embodiment of the invention is an apparatus for mounting a tank to the rear axle of a tractor. In this embodiment, the invention comprises a first drum attachable to a first end of the rear axle and a second drum attachable to a second end of the rear axle, the rear axle having a longitudinal axis of rotation, a first spindle connectable to the first drum along the longitudinal axis of the rear axle so that the rear axle can rotate with respect to the first spindle, and a second spindle connectable to the second drum along the longitudinal axis of the rear axle so that the rear axle can rotate with respect to the second spindle, and a support structure connected to the first spindle, the second spindle, and the tractor body, wherein the support structure is adapted to mount a first tank substantially adjacent a first rear wheel of the tractor and a second tank substantially adjacent a second rear wheel of the tractor.
Yet another embodiment of the invention is a method for mounting a tank to the rear axle of a tractor. In this embodiment, the invention comprises attaching a drum to the rear axle, connecting a spindle to the drum such that the drum can rotate with respect to the spindle, wherein a support structure is connected to the spindle, and mounting a tank to the support structure substantially adjacent a rear wheel of the tractor so that the rear wheels of the tractor bear a majority of the weight of the tank.
The above embodiments of the invention have numerous advantages. An advantage of the present invention as described above is that it enables a substantial portion or a majority of the weight of the tanks to be carried by the rear axle and tires of the tractor, thus alleviating the stress cause by large weights on the front axle and tires of the tractor. Another advantage is that the tanks may be increased in size due to the weight distribution of the tanks on the rear axle and front axle (a substantial portion of the weight being on the rear axle).
Other features and advantages of the mounting apparatuses and methods of the present invention will become more fully apparent and understood with reference to the following description and drawings, and the appended claims.
REFERENCES:
patent: 2743934 (1956-05-01), Chambers et al.
patent: 3311183 (1967-03-01), Phillips
patent: 3900201 (1975-08-01), Johnson et al.
patent: 4149734 (1979-04-01), Sylvester
patent: 4351535 (1982-09-01), Mead
Mulder Brent
Mulder Ryan
Dethmers Manufacturing Company
Gilchrist Michael C.
Johnson Brian L.
Laurenzo Brian J.
Luby Matthew
LandOfFree
Tractor axle mounted tank system does not yet have a rating. At this time, there are no reviews or comments for this patent.
If you have personal experience with Tractor axle mounted tank system, we encourage you to share that experience with our LandOfFree.com community. Your opinion is very important and Tractor axle mounted tank system will most certainly appreciate the feedback.
Profile ID: LFUS-PAI-O-2510050