An agricultural tractor is a traction machine intended primarily for off-road usage and designed primarily to supply power to implements. An agricultural tractor propels itself and provides a force in the direction of travel and may provide mechanical, hydraulic and/or electrical power to implements to enable them to perform their intended functions. A typical agricultural tractor however does not have provision for carrying materials or other cargo. A utility transport tractor is a specialty type of agricultural tractor that combines the primary function of an agricultural tractor described above with the capability to transport materials. Configurations may include cargo boxes or tanks for transport of materials.

As used herein the term"tractor"refers to a traction machine intended primarily for off-road use and designed to supply power to an implement. However, it is not limited to tractors solely for agricultural use but tractors that are also used in other contexts, such as in grounds care, golf course maintenance, park maintenance, forestry service, etc.

It is an object of the present invention to provide a tractor with which the recited problems are overcome and the desires are met. In particular it is an object of the present invention to provide a tractor with a hitch ball which enables a closer coupling of the tractor and trailer and which provides improved maneuverability.

This object is solved according to the invention by the teaching of one of the claims 1 and 3. Further advantageous arrangements and developments of the invention appear from the dependent claims.

A preferred tractor of the present invention is similar in configuration to an agricultural tractor, having larger rear drive wheels. However, the operator's station is moved forward of the rear axle and a cargo box, preferably a dump box, is mounted to the tractor behind the operator's station and above the rear axle. A standard three-point hitch extends rearward from the rear axle, as does a draw bar for towing implements. To provide further utility, a hitch ball is removably mounted above the rear axle of the tractor to enable a portion of the towed load to be transmitted onto the tractor chassis. By mounting the hitch ball above the rear axle as opposed to mounting the hitch ball at the end of the draw bar, a closer coupling of the tractor and trailer is achieved, providing improved maneuverability.

Since both the hitch ball and the cargo box are mounted above the axle, the cargo box is provided with an opening in the floor through which the hitch ball extends. Furthermore, the hitch ball is removably mounted to the tractor so that it can be removed when not in use. A cover closes the opening in the cargo box floor when the hitch ball is not in use. The cargo box is removably mounted to the tractor.

When removed, the hitch ball remains available for use as it is separately mounted to the tractor and not mounted through the cargo box.

The inventive arrangement enables the hitch ball to be used when the cargo box is mounted to the tractor. Furthermore, since the hitch ball is mounted to the axle and not the cargo box, greater load carrying capacity is achieved and the hitch can be used when the cargo box is removed from the tractor.

The invention and further advantageous developments and arrangements of the invention will now be described and explained in more detail by way of example and with reference to the accompanying drawings in which: Figure 1 is a perspective view of the tractor of the present invention, Figure 2 is a side view of the tractor of the present invention, Figure 3 is a perspective view of the power train portion of the tractor chassis, Figure 4 is a fragmentary perspective view of the rear axle and hitch ball mounting structure, Figure 5 is a rear perspective view of the tractor with the cargo box removed, Figure 6 is a rear perspective view similar to Figure 5 with the cargo box attached to the tractor, Figure 7 is a perspective view of the hitch ball mounting bracket, Figure 8 is a sectional view as seen from substantially the line 8-8 through the hitch ball mounting bracket with the ball removed, Figure 9 is a perspective view of the steel structure of the cargo box and Figure 10 is a perspective view of the left side molded plastic side panel for the cargo box.

With reference to Figure 1, the tractor of the present invention is shown and designated generally at 10. The tractor 10 has a front hood 12 covering an engine 13, Fig. 3 The tractor further includes rear drive wheels 14 on a rear axle 15 and front wheels 16 on a front axle 17, all part of the tractor chassis 19. The front wheels 16 can be driven or non-driven. An operator's station 18 is located forward of the rear wheels and includes a center seat 20 for an operator 102 and left and right passenger seats 22,24. A cargo box 26 is located rearward of the operator's station 18 and generally above the rear axle 15. A three point hitch 28, Fig. 2, is mounted behind the rear axle and beneath the cargo box 26. The three point hitch includes a pair of draft links 30 and an upper link 32.

The cargo box 26 has a generally horizontal floor 34, an upright front wall 36, left and right side walls 38 and a tailgate 40. The cargo box side walls 38 form wheel wells for the rear wheels with a portion of the cargo box 26 being disposed above each rear wheel. Fenders 43 are attached to the tractor chassis and are shaped to partially fit within the cargo box wheel wells. The cargo box 26 also has a pair of side frame rails 108.

The powertrain portion of the chassis 19 is shown in greater detail in Figure 3. There the engine 13 is shown together with a transmission 46 leading to the rear drive axle 15. The rear drive axle 15 includes left and right axle housings 48 as shown in Figure 4 and a central differential housing 50 shown in Figure 3. The chassis further includes frame rails 52 that are used primarily to mount and support the cargo box 26. The cargo box 26 is pivotally mounted at the mounting bosses 54 at the rear of the frame rails 52. Lift cylinders 56 extend from the axle housings 48 to the cargo box and are extendable to tilt the cargo box 26 to a raised dump position.

A hitch ball 60 is mounted to and above the axle 15 through a mounting bracket 62 coupled to each of the left and right axle housings 48. A pair of laterally extending braces 64 further couples the bracket 62 to one frame rail 52. The hitch ball 60 is removably mounted to the bracket 62 as described below. When the hitch ball 60 is mounted to the bracket 62 and the cargo box 26 is also mounted, the hitch ball 60 extends through an opening in the cargo box floor 34 as shown in Figures 2 and 6. By extending through the cargo box floor 34, the hitch ball 60 can be mounted directly to the chassis and still be available for use with the cargo box 26 attached to the vehicle. This provides greater load carrying capacity with the ball 60 mounted to the chassis then if the ball is mounted to the cargo box 26. Furthermore, the hitch ball 60 is available during time periods when the cargo box 26 is removed from the tractor.

With reference to Figures 7 and 8, the removable mounting of the hitch ball 60 is shown in greater detail. The top plate 70 of the bracket 62 has left and right weldments 72 welded thereto. The weldments 72 each consist of two metal strips welded together to the top plate 70. The weldments 72 form channels 74 that receive opposite edges of a base plate 76 to which the hitch ball 60 is fixed. The weldments 72 taper toward one another in one direction forming a wedge fitting for the base plate 76. A catch strap 78 is inserted across the two channels 74 to trap the base plate 76 therein. In Figure 4, the weldments taper toward the rear of the tractor 10 while in Figure 5 the weldments taper toward the front of the tractor 10. Either direction can be used.

With reference to Figure 9, the steel components of the cargo box are shown. The floor 34 and lower portions 80 of the two side walls are made of steel.

The steel components also include the cargo box frame rails 108, side brackets 82 and an upper frame 84 the top of the side and front walls. A cover 86 is placed in the opening in the cargo box floor that provides access for the hitch ball 60. An upper portion 88 of the box left side wall is shown in Figure 10. The upper portion 88 is a plastic molded body that is bolted to the lower portion 80 of the side wall as well as the upper frame 84. The right side upper panel is similarly constructed. The front wall 36 is also a plastic molded panel that is bolted to the in-turned flanges 90 of the side wall lower portions, to the up-turned front flange 92 on the bottom of the floor 34 and to the upper frame 84. By constructing the cargo box 26 of both plastic and metal components, the overall weight of the cargo box can be reduced while still providing high strength load carrying structure of the cargo box 26.

Having described the preferred embodiment, it will become apparent that various modifications can be made without departing from the scope of the invention as defined in the accompanying claims.