TITLE OF THE INVENTION : WHEEL BALLAST FOR AGRICULTURAL VEHICLES
FILED OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates generally to a wheel ballast. Particularly, the present invention relates to a wheel ballast that can be attached to agricultural vehicles for improving their traction.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Generally, agricultural vehicles comprise an engine at the front and storage capacity at the rear. Hence, such vehicles are unevenly weighted and there is a possibility of a reduction in traction at the rear end. Vehicle traction is predominantly important when road conditions are less than optimal, such as in paddy field or when the vehicle pulling heavy implements etc. Typically, vehicles have a rear-wheel drive, and drivers add load or weight at the vehicle rear and improve vehicle traction.
Conventionally, vehicle traction is achieved by attaching cast iron weights/moulded polyethylene weights to the vehicle's rear wheels or filling the rear wheel tubes of the vehicle with liquid like water. This conventional process suffers from several drawbacks such as the requirement for special equipment and skilled labour, tediousness, time consumption, lack of amenability to working field conditions, difficulty in manufacturing, lack of durability and pollution of the environment. Further, retraction of the moulded polyethylene may result in gaps through which water and dirt can enter. There is therefore a need in the art for a wheel ballast that can solve the above mentioned drawbacks and has the below mentioned objectives.
OBJECTIVES OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is to provide a wheel ballast for agricultural vehicles which is compact in design, easy to manufacture and is economic.

Another object of the present invention is to provide a wheel ballast for agricultural vehicles which is strong, durable and easy to handle.
Yet another object of the present invention is to provide a wheel ballast for agricultural vehicles which is degradable/recyclable and thus is environmental friendly.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To overcome the drawbacks of the prior art and accomplish the above mentioned objectives, a ballast that is attachable to a wheel of an agricultural vehicle for providing stability to said vehicle is disclosed. The wheel ballast comprises a bottom cover comprising a plurality of tubular inserts and a curved-in portion wherein iron ore is filled and packed equally all around the curved-in portion by means of vibration to achieve better traction and avoid uneven wear. The bottom cover further comprises an inward projected recess at the centre to facilitate proper positioning of the wheel ballast on a vehicle wheel. A top cover comprising a plurality of mounting holes is fixed on the bottom cover by matching and welding the plurality of mounting holes with the plurality of tubular inserts. The top cover and the bottom cover are welded together to prevent spillage of iron ore from the ballast and also to prevent the entry of dust, water or other foreign material into the ballast. The wheel ballast is compact in design, easy to manufacture, economic, durable and environmentally friendly.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
Figure 1 illustrates side view of an embodiment of the wheel ballast for agricultural vehicle in accordance with the present invention.
Figure 2 illustrates the bottom cover of the wheel ballast for agricultural vehicle without plurality of tubular inserts.
Figure 3 illustrates the bottom cover of the wheel ballast for agricultural vehicle with plurality of tubular inserts.

Figure 4 illustrates the top view of an embodiment of the wheel ballast for agricultural vehicle in accordance with the present invention.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
An embodiment of the wheel ballast for providing stability to agricultural vehicles such as tractors is illustrated in Figure 1. The wheel ballast comprises a bottom cover (1) comprising a plurality of tubular inserts (4), an inward projected recess (5) and a curved-in portion (6), and a top cover (2). Said wheel ballast is preferably circular in shape, as shown in Figures 2-4. The bottom cover (1) and the top cover (2) of the wheel ballast are preferably made up of sheet metal comprising steel or similar material.
The inward projected recess (5) at the centre of the bottom cover (1) facilitates proper positioning of the ballast on a vehicle wheel. A top outer surface of the top cover (2) comprises a plurality of oblong ducts (7), as depicted in Figure 4. The plurality of oblong ducts (7) are equidistant from one another and fold on the periphery of said surface throughout the circumference (not shown) to facilitate gripping and easy handling of the wheel ballast. Further, the top cover (2) also comprises a plurality of mounting holes (3).
Iron ore is filled and packed equally all around the curved-in portion (6) of the bottom cover (1) by means of vibration to achieve better traction and avoid uneven wear. The top cover (2) is fixed on the bottom cover (1) by matching and welding the plurality of mounting holes (3) on the top cover (2) with the plurality of tubular inserts (4) on the bottom cover (1). Also, the top cover (2) and the bottom cover (1) are welded properly to fuse both the bottom cover (1) and the top cover (2) together for avoiding the spillage of iron ore from the ballast and also for preventing the entry of dust, water or the like (other foreign materials) into the ballast. The plurality of tubular inserts (4), along with the plurality of mounting holes (3) facilitate the attachment of the wheel ballast on a vehicle wheel using fastening means such as nut and bolt or the like.
It will be apparent to a person skilled in the art that the above description is for illustrative purposes only and should not be considered as limiting. Various modifications, additions,

alterations, and improvements without deviating from the spirit and the scope of the invention may be made by a person skilled in the art.

We claim:

1. A ballast that is attachable to a wheel of an agricultural vehicle for providing stability to said
vehicle, comprising:
a), a bottom cover (1) comprising a plurality of tubular inserts (4) and a curved-in portion (6), wherein iron ore is filled and packed equally all around the curved-in portion (6) by means of vibration to achieve better traction and avoid uneven wear;
b). an inward projected recess (5) at the centre of the bottom cover (1) to facilitate proper positioning of the wheel ballast on a vehicle wheel; and
c). a top cover (2) comprising a plurality of mounting holes (3), wherein:
(i) the top cover (2) is fixed on the bottom cover (1) by matching and welding the plurality of mounting holes (3) with the plurality of tubular inserts (4); and
(iii) the top cover (2) and the bottom cover (1) are welded together to prevent spillage of iron ore from the ballast and also to prevent the entry of dust, water or other foreign material into the ballast.
2. A ballast that is attachable to a wheel of an agricultural vehicle for providing stability to said vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein a top outer surface of the top cover (2) comprises a plurality of equidistant oblong ducts (7) that fold on the periphery of said surface throughout the circumference to facilitate gripping and easy handling of the wheel ballast.
3. A ballast that is attachable to a wheel of an agricultural vehicle for providing stability to said vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the wheel ballast is circular in shape.
4. A ballast that is attachable to a wheel of an agricultural vehicle for providing stability to said vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the bottom cover (1) and the top cover (2) are made up of sheet metal comprising steel.
5. A ballast that can be attached to a wheel of an agricultural vehicle for providing stability to said vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the agricultural vehicle is a tractor.

TRACTORS AND FARM EQUIPMENT LIMITED Application No.: 3714/CHE/2013
LIST OF REFERENCE NUMERALS
1 - Bottom cover
2 - Top Cover
3 - Plurality of mounting holes 5 4 - Plurality of tubular inserts

5 - Inward projected recess
6 - Curved-in portion on bottom cover
7 - Plurality of oblong ducts