IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
공개
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0197371
(2002-07-17)
|
공개번호 |
US-0011574
(2004-01-22)
|
발명자
/ 주소 |
- Borgwarth, Dennis W.
- Breeggemann, Brad J.
|
대리인 / 주소 |
PATTERSON, THUENTE, SKAAR & CHRISTENSEN, P.A.
|
인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
0 |
초록
▼
A vehicle for use on a battlefield, having a hull with at least one endless track unit mounted underneath, and with a plurality of selectively vertically moveable wheels. The endless track unit may cover substantially all of the bottom side of the vehicle and may wrap upward to cover a portion of th
A vehicle for use on a battlefield, having a hull with at least one endless track unit mounted underneath, and with a plurality of selectively vertically moveable wheels. The endless track unit may cover substantially all of the bottom side of the vehicle and may wrap upward to cover a portion of the front of the vehicle. The vehicle may be operated with only the wheels, the wheels and the endless track unit in combination, or only the endless track unit in contact with the ground. The vehicle has a height variable suspension element, which may be a hydro-pneumatic spring, coupled to each wheel. The suspension elements are connected with a power unit and a control unit to allow selective controllability of suspension height, and corresponding extension or retraction of the wheels. The wheels may also be provided with a resilient suspension mechanism that is either separate or formed by the height variable suspension elements. The vehicle may have a plurality of motors, each motor driving a separate wheel, and the wheels may be operable at separately selectable speeds. The endless track unit may have multiple driving rollers, each driving roller having a separate driving motor. Further, the endless track unit may have a rigid suspension.
대표청구항
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1. A vehicle for use on a battlefield, comprising:a hull; at least one endless track unit mounted under said hull; and a plurality of selectively vertically moveable wheels mounted on said hull; whereby said vehicle may be operated with only said plurality of wheels, said plurality of wheels and sai
1. A vehicle for use on a battlefield, comprising:a hull; at least one endless track unit mounted under said hull; and a plurality of selectively vertically moveable wheels mounted on said hull; whereby said vehicle may be operated with only said plurality of wheels, said plurality of wheels and said endless track unit in combination, or only said endless track unit in contact with the ground. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of height variable suspension elements, a power unit, and a control unit, each of said height variable suspension elements coupled to a separate one of said plurality of selectively vertically moveable wheels and disposed so as to vertically move each said wheel with movement of said height variable suspension elements, said plurality of height variable suspension elements being connected to said power unit, and said height variable suspension elements being controllable with said control unit. 3. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein each of said plurality of selectively vertically moveable wheels has a resilient suspension mechanism. 4. The vehicle of claim 2, wherein each said height variable suspension element is a hydro-pneumatic spring. 5. The vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a plurality of motors, each said motor driving a separate one of said plurality of selectively vertically moveable wheels. 6. The vehicle of claim 5, further comprising control means for operating each of said plurality of motors at a separately selectable speed. 7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said hull has a back surface, a front surface, and a bottom surface, said bottom surface having an upwardly sloped front portion, and wherein said endless track unit is disposed proximate and substantially parallel with said bottom surface, substantially covering said bottom surface from a point proximate said back surface to said front surface, and covering a portion of said front surface. 8. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said endless track unit has a plurality of driving rollers, and wherein each of said plurality of driving rollers has a separate driving motor. 9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said endless track unit has a rigid suspension. 10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein said endless track unit has an elastomeric track. 11. A vehicle for use on a battlefield, comprising:a hull; at least one endless track unit mounted under said hull; a plurality of wheels mounted on said hull, each of said plurality of wheels being vertically movable with respect to said hull; and means for selectively vertically moving said each of said plurality of wheels so that said vehicle may be operated with only said plurality of wheels, said plurality of wheels and said endless track unit in combination, or only said endless track unit in contact with the ground. 12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said means for selectively vertically moving each of said plurality of wheels comprises a hydro-pneumatic suspension system. 13. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said means for selectively vertically moving each of said plurality of wheels compri ses a plurality of height variable suspension elements, a power unit, and a control unit, each of said height variable suspension elements coupled to a separate one of said plurality of wheels and disposed so as to vertically move each said wheel with movement of said height variable suspension elements, said plurality of height variable suspension elements being connected to said power unit, and said height variable suspension elements being controllable with said control unit. 14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein each of said plurality of wheels has a resilient suspension mechanism. 15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein each said height variable suspension element is a hydro-pneumatic spring. 16. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising a plurality of motors, each said motor driving a separate one of said plurality of wheels. 17. The vehicle of claim 11, further comprising control means for operating each of said plurality of motors at a separately selectable speed. 18. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said hull has a back surface, a front surface, and a bottom surface, a portion of said bottom surface sloping upwardly to the front surface, and wherein said endless track unit is disposed proximate and substantially parallel with said bottom surface, substantially covering said bottom surface from a point proximate said back surface to said front surface, and covering a portion of said front surface. 19. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said endless track unit has a plurality of driving rollers, and wherein each of said plurality of driving rollers has a separate driving motor. 20. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said endless track unit has a rigid suspension. 21. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein said endless track unit has an elastomeric track. 22. A vehicle for use on a battlefield, comprising:a hull; at least one endless track mechanism fixedly coupled to said hull; at least one ground engaging traction mechanism operably coupled to said hull; a suspension assembly for shifting said at least one ground engaging traction mechanism along a path of travel between a first position operably engaging the ground of said battlefield and a second position clearing said ground, whereby said vehicle may be selectively self-transported over said ground by said at least one endless track mechanism, said at least one ground engaging traction mechanism, or by said at least one endless track mechanism and said at least one ground engaging traction mechanism in combination. 23. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein said at least one ground engaging traction mechanism is a plurality of wheels. 24. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein said suspension assembly comprises a plurality of height variable suspension elements, a power unit, and a control unit, each of said height variable suspension elements coupled to a separate one of said plurality of wheels and disposed so as to vertically move each of said plurality of wheels with movement of said height variable suspension elements, said plurality of height variable suspension elements being connected to said power un it, and said height variable suspension elements being controllable with said control unit. 25. The vehicle of claim 23, wherein each of said plurality of wheels has a resilient suspension mechanism. 26. The vehicle of claim 24, wherein each said height variable suspension element is a hydro-pneumatic spring. 27. The vehicle of claim 23, further comprising a plurality of motors, each said motor driving a separate one of said plurality of wheels. 28. The vehicle of claim 27, further comprising control means for operating each of said plurality of motors at a separately selectable speed. 29. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein said hull has a back surface, a front surface, and a bottom surface, said bottom surface having an upwardly sloped front portion, and wherein said at least one endless track mechanism is disposed proximate and substantially parallel with said bottom surface, substantially covering said bottom surface from a point proximate said back surface to said front surface, and covering a portion of said front surface. 30. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein said endless track mechanism has a plurality of driving rollers, and wherein each of said plurality of driving rollers has a separate driving motor. 31. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein said endless track mechanism has a rigid suspension. 32. The vehicle of claim 22, wherein said endless track mechanism has an elastomeric track belt. 33. A vehicle for use on a battlefield, comprising:a hull having a front portion and a back portion, said hull comprising at least a back surface, a front surface, a first side surface, an opposing second side surface, and a bottom surface, said bottom surface having an upwardly sloped front portion; at least one endless track unit disposed under and substantially parallel with said bottom surface, said endless track unit extending from a point proximate said back surface to said front surface, and covering a portion of said front surface, said endless track unit being rigidly connected to said hull, said endless track unit having a plurality of driving rollers, each of said driving rollers having a separate track driving motor; a first pair of selectively vertically moveable wheels coupled with said hull, each of said first pair of selectively vertically moveable wheels disposed proximate to a separate one of said first side surface and said second side surface; a first pair of motors, each of said first pair of motors coupled to a separate one of said first pair of selectively vertically moveable wheels; at least a second pair of selectively vertically moveable wheels coupled with said hull, each of said second pair of selectively vertically moveable wheels disposed proximate to a separate one of said first side surface and said second side surface; and a second pair of motors, each of said second pair of motors coupled to a separate one of said second pair of selectively vertically moveable wheels. 34. The vehicle of claim 33, further comprising a hydro-pneumatic suspension system, said hydro-pneumatic suspension system being adapted to resiliently couple each of said first pair of selectively vertically moveable wheels and each of said second pair of selectively vertically moveable wheels with said hull. 35. The vehicle of claim 34, wherein said hydro-pneumatic suspension system has a control unit adapted to selectively vertically move each of said first pair of selectively vertically moveable wheels and each of said second pair of selectively vertically moveable wheels. 36. The vehicle of claim 33, further comprising a first pair of height variable suspension elements, a second pair of height variable suspension elements, a power unit, and a control unit, each of said first pair of height variable suspension elements coupled to a separate one of said first pair of selectively vertically moveable wheels, each of said second pair of height variable suspension elements coupled to a separate one of said second pair of selectively vertically moveable wheels, each of said first and second and second pairs of height variable suspension elements disposed so as to be capable of vertically moving the wheel to which it is coupled, said first and second pairs of height variable suspension elements being connected to said power unit, and said first and second pairs of height variable suspension elements being controllable with said control unit. 37. The vehicle of claim 36, wherein each said height variable suspension element is a hydro-pneumatic spring. 38. The vehicle of claim 36, wherein each of said plurality of wheels has a resilient suspension mechanism. 39. The vehicle of claim 33, wherein said endless track unit has an elastomeric track. 40. The vehicle of claim 33, further comprising a motor control unit, said motor control unit connected to each of said first pair of motors and each of said second pair of motors, said motor control unit adapted to operate each of said first pair of motors and said second pair of motors at a separately selectable speed. 41. A method of traversing soft terrain using a vehicle, comprising:providing a vehicle having a hull with at least one endless track unit mounted under said hull, said endless track unit having a plurality of driving rollers, each of said plurality of driving rollers having a separate driving motor, said hull further having a plurality of selectively vertically moveable wheels mounted on said hull, each of said plurality of wheels being coupled to a separate motor; vertically moving said plurality of wheels downward so that only said wheels are in contact with the ground; driving said vehicle onto the soft terrain; vertically moving said plurality of wheels upward so that said endless track is in contact with the soft terrain; and applying power to said driving motors of said plurality of driving rollers of said endless track unit so as to propel said vehicle across the soft terrain. 42. The method of claim 41, further comprising the step of selectively applying power to at least one of the separate motors connected to said wheels simultaneously with applying power to said driving motors of said plurality of driving rollers of said endless track unit.
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