초록 ▼

A modular track suspension system is readily adapted for attachment to any presently manufactured full-size automotive vehicle built with a load-carrying frame, being easily substituted for the vehicle's conventional wheeled undercarriage either during or following final assembly. The module uses a

A modular track suspension system is readily adapted for attachment to any presently manufactured full-size automotive vehicle built with a load-carrying frame, being easily substituted for the vehicle's conventional wheeled undercarriage either during or following final assembly. The module uses a pair of endless rubber tracks, one track under each respective side of the vehicle; and each track is frictionally driven by tandem pairs of dual-wheels with rubber tires, each tandem pair of wheels being driven, respectively, by an intermediately positioned drive-unit axle. The dual-wheels are each movable in a vertical plane, and each dual-wheel can move separately and independently of the similar independent movement of the other dual-wheel with which it is tandemly paired. Each dual-wheel is also resiliently biased in the direction of the terrain on which the vehicle is standing or moving. Driving torque is delivered to the two endless tracks through a plurality of differentials appropriately and simply connected directly with the vehicle's drive shaft. In all preferred embodiments, an additional differential that is connected with, and is responsive to, the operation of the vehicle's steering wheel superimposes additive and subtractive steering torques to the already differentiated driving torques being delivered to the left-side and right-side tracks for controlling the vehicle's direction.

대표청구항 ▼

[ We claim:] [1.] A modular track-laying suspension system for attachment to a vehicle designed for moving loads over terrain, said vehicle having (a) a load-bearing frame and (b) a drive train including an engine for delivering a driving torque to a vehicle drive shaft, said suspension system compr

[ We claim:] [1.] A modular track-laying suspension system for attachment to a vehicle designed for moving loads over terrain, said vehicle having (a) a load-bearing frame and (b) a drive train including an engine for delivering a driving torque to a vehicle drive shaft, said suspension system comprising:a right-side endless track and a left-side endless track;two drive units associated with each said endless track, each said drive unit having (a) a pair of tandem wheels in contact with said endless track and (b) a respective drive-unit axle positioned intermediate said tandem wheels;each wheel of each said tandem pair being (a) independently movable in a perpendicular vertical plane about the axis of said respective drive-unit axle and (b) resiliently biased in the direction of the terrain;a central drive assembly, positioned for attachment to and rotation by said vehicle drive shaft, for dividing and delivering said driving torque to said respective left-side and right-side endless tracks;at least one wheel of one of said drive units of each said endless track being driven by said respective drive-unit axle; andstructural members for supporting each said endless track and said central drive assembly, said structural members being provided with connection elements for aligning said modular suspension system with and fixing said suspension system to said load-bearing frame of said vehicle to position said endless tracks in supporting relation to said vehicle.