Suspension for Tracked Tractors

This idea won an innovation award at Agritechnica 2017, Hanover, Germany

Tracked and semi-tracked tractors are rarely used for swift road travel because they offer very little operator comfort. While wheeled tractors offer significantly better comfort in road work, high-power models cannot offer the level of soil protection provided by a tracked machine.

The semi-tracked Claas Axion 900 is the first tractor that has a suspended front and rear axle. This brings a significant improvement in operator comfort compared to triangle-design semi-tracked tractors. The Claas Axion 900 semi-tracked model also has a substantially larger contact area compared to Triangle tracks, which results in excellent directional stability, both in the field and in swift road travel.

Optimum adaptation to the ground contours is key for low compaction. This is achieved by a 15-degree pivot range, and the fact that the machine weight is distributed to all track rollers hydraulically. The pivot point was moved forward, which shifts more weight to the rear axle. This benefits from a larger contact area and so can transmit tractor power to the ground more effectively while keeping compaction low.

The machine transfers more than 450hp engine power to the ground without causing damage to the soil. At the same time, it does not exceed the statutory road width limit.