초록 ▼

The present invention is concerned with track assemblies for an all-terrain vehicle, which make it maneuverable and effective upon a variety of unstable, uneven, stable and even surfaces, while designed to maintain tension upon the endless track belts to keep them in their due course and prevent acc

The present invention is concerned with track assemblies for an all-terrain vehicle, which make it maneuverable and effective upon a variety of unstable, uneven, stable and even surfaces, while designed to maintain tension upon the endless track belts to keep them in their due course and prevent accidental loosening while having a punctually localized surface contact with a ground surface, and at the same time reducing the damages inflicted on the terrain.

대표청구항 ▼

1. An all-terrain vehicle comprising at least two track assemblies to support the all-terrain vehicle onto a ground surface, each one of said at least two track assemblies comprising:a longitudinal endless track belt provided with an inner surface provided with a plurality of inner lugs and an outer

1. An all-terrain vehicle comprising at least two track assemblies to support the all-terrain vehicle onto a ground surface, each one of said at least two track assemblies comprising:a longitudinal endless track belt provided with an inner surface provided with a plurality of inner lugs and an outer surface provided with a plurality of external lugs; a track driving wheel having a peripheral portion, said track driving wheel being operatively engaged with said endless track belt to drive said endless track belt; at least one inside idler wheel and at least one idler outside wheel, each having a peripheral portion in contact with said endless track belt, said endless track belt being wounded around said track driving wheel, said at least one inside idler wheel, and said at least one outside idler wheel; and a mounting structure to mount said track driving wheel, said at least one inside idler wheel, and said at least one outside idler wheel to said vehicle, said mounting structure has an interconnecting arm between said track driving wheel and said idler wheels, said interconnecting arms includes an angled connecting element provided with a short arm having a free end to which said at least one inside idler wheel is rotatably mounted and a long arm having a free end to which said outside idler wheel is rotatably mounted, the peripheral portion of said track driving wheel in contact with the lower portion of said endless track belt being below the lower peripheral portion of said idler wheels in contact with said endless track belt; whereby, when said vehicle is disposed on a flat surface only a portion of said endless track belt under said track driving wheel is in contact with said flat surface. 2. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said longitudinal endless track belt has an overall transversal profile generally convex.3. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said longitudinal endless track belt further include at least one transversal stiffening rod.4. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 3, wherein said stiffening rod includes fiber glass material.5. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 2, wherein said plurality of external lugs form a lug arrangement comprising at least two successive transverse rows of lugs arranged in a staggered relationship.6. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 5, wherein said lug arrangement comprises a first row of lugs and a second row of lugs, said first row of lugs being arranged in a first sequence comprising a first lateral lug, a central lug and a second lateral lug; said second row of lugs being arranged in a second sequence comprising a first intermediate lug, a first external lug and a second intermediate lug.7. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said track driving wheel is provided with equidistant teeth contacting the inner surface of the endless track belt, said teeth being so located as to cooperate in a meshing engagement with said inner lugs of the endlesss track belt.8. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 7, wherein said track driving wheel includes a first mounting plate and a second mounting plate mounted thereto by a bolt and spacer assembly supporting said teeth.9. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said track driving wheel is mounted to a hub of the all-terrain vehicle.10. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 1, wherein said at least one interconnecting arm further includes an elbowed connection element interconnecting said inside idler wheel and said outside idler wheel, whereby said inside idler wheel is rotatably mounted to a first end of said elbowed connection element while said outside idler wheel is rotatably mounted to a second end thereof.11. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 10, wherein said endless track belt is under a tension that may be adjusted by a tension adjusting assembly mounted to said at least one interconnecting arm.12. The all-terrain vehicle according to claim 11, wherein said tension adjusting assembly includes: a cam element rotatably and slidably mounted to a slotted aperture of said at least one interconnecting arm; and a pin fixedly mounted to said at least one interconnecting arm to contact the cam element; wherein one of said inside and outside idler wheels is so rotatably mounted to said cam elements as to be moved by a rotation of said cam element, thereby adjusting the tension of said endless track belt.