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A recoil and tensioning assembly for the track and idler of a self-laying track vehicle maintains a constant tensioning force on the endless track. The assembly provides recoiling of the idler wheel during shock loading of the idler wheel or during ingestion of foreign material between the track and

A recoil and tensioning assembly for the track and idler of a self-laying track vehicle maintains a constant tensioning force on the endless track. The assembly provides recoiling of the idler wheel during shock loading of the idler wheel or during ingestion of foreign material between the track and the idler and drive wheels. The recoil and tensioning assembly includes a recoil member which telescopes into a cylinder and includes a first chamber filled with a compressible gas and a second chamber filled with a non-compressible oil. A floating piston separates the two chambers and serves to compress the gas during a recoil cycle. Conventional recoil systems for self-laying track-type vehicles utilize pre-compressed large diameter steel coil springs to resist recoiling during light loading of the idler wheel and to return the idler wheel to normal position after recoiling during heavy loading. These coil springs are quite bulky and heavy, require considerable space, and must be maintained in a pre-compressed state under large forces. This requires extremely sturdy spring retaining devices and special assembly and disassembly procedures. The subject recoil and tensioning assembly incorporates a compressible gas spring in place of the large coil steel spring, thereby requiring less space, less weight, and easier assembly and disassembly. The subject assembly maintains a constant tension force on the endless track and responds immediately to recoil situations.

대표청구항 ▼

A recoil assembly for controllably resisting movement of an idler of a belted track vehicle, comprising: a cylinder having first and second end portions and an open chamber in said first end portion; an actuator having first and second end portions and an open chamber in said second end portion, sai

A recoil assembly for controllably resisting movement of an idler of a belted track vehicle, comprising: a cylinder having first and second end portions and an open chamber in said first end portion; an actuator having first and second end portions and an open chamber in said second end portion, said actuator first end portion being connectable to said idler and said actuator second end portion being slidably positioned within said cylinder chamber; a closure having first and second end portions and an open chamber in said closure second end portion, said closure first end portion being seated in said cylinder second end portion and said closure second end portion being slidably positioned within said actuator chamber; a piston positioned within and slidably movable along said actuator chamber; and inlet and outlet valves communicating with said actuator chamber, and inlet and outlet valves communicating with said closure chamber.