But after that, the A220 gets very different from its relations. On the normal skid-steer, the wheels are powered though an axle shaft driven off the chain case, with bearing support on both the inside and outside of the chain case. On the A220, the axle is supported by a single Torrington spherical roller bearing mounted in the chain case housing.The Bobcat-built axle shaft is splined to a specially designed single cardan, lubed-for-life Mentor U-joint housed within a cast iron hub and swivel housing cast by Grede. The hub section incorporates a pair of Timken bearings on the outer hub, along with a Purvis shaft seal. "Our main bearings that carry all the load are in the outer hub portion," said Krause. "And that''s where all the weight of the machine is carried, which is why we only need the single bearing on the other end, because none of that weight is actually transferred into the axle back there."

Another question is whether the router antennae eventually can be mounted on apparatus randomly dispersed at the scene instead of hand-positioned on tripods around the building, the inconvenient and cumbersome current method. Not only does it take personnel who would otherwise be used to attack the fire to position the tripods, but fences, buildings and other obstacles could conceivably inhibit prompt, proper positioning."Placing the routers on fire trucks is not feasible at this point, although MeshNetworks engineers are looking a different antenna configurations," Godfrey says.

Though light in weight, Airbor magnetic drill has a powerful 1.6-hp air motor and 1,600-lb magnetic holding strength. With its extra rack, stroke length is extended to 10 1/4 in. Annular cutter capacity is up to 2 1/16 in. diam. Geared chuck adapter converts the unit to a standard drill press. The Slugger Air Force pneumatic drill, at 24 lbs, 6 1/4" high, is useful for confined area drilling. The drill''s features include a permanent magnet that turns on or off by air power, a cutter capacity of up to 1 1/16" diameter x 3/4" depth and the ability to use ShortSlugger cutters and frame cutters. These cutters'' geometry allows the operator to drill multi-layered truck frames in a single pass.

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