FINAL DRIVE MECHANISM FOR A VEHICLE

Final Drive Mechanism for a Vehicle A final drive mechanism for an earthmoving excavator or the like includes a drive wheel assembly defining an inner side portion, and outer side portion, and a shaft assembly releasably connecting the side portions together and defining an annular gap therebetween. A hollow frame extends radially inwardly through the gap and rotatably supports the wheel assembly at a location laterally away from the central longitudinal plane of the excavator, and a gear train within the hollow frame powerably rotates the wheel assembly through a torque transmitting path directed radially inwardly through the gap. The gear train includes a planetary gear set and two interconnected cluster gears to obtain the desired speed ratio reduction. The mechanism is particularly adaptable to driving an endless drive belt entrained about the drive wheel assembly and an idler wheel assembly, and is compactly contained primarily within the space envelope of the drive belt. The drive belt loads are effectively directed from the drive wheel assembly into the hollow frame and into the roller frame of the excavator.