An endless track assembly that mounts to a wheeled vehicle. The assembly provides 1) a track suspension having fixed or adjustable, independently biased sets of idler wheels to vary the track contour without affecting track tension, 2) an eccentric bearing housing at a drive sprocket controls track
An endless track assembly that mounts to a wheeled vehicle. The assembly provides 1) a track suspension having fixed or adjustable, independently biased sets of idler wheels to vary the track contour without affecting track tension, 2) an eccentric bearing housing at a drive sprocket controls track tension, 3) a contoured peripheral edge at the drive sprocket prevents ice and mud buildup, 4) rubber-coated, plastic idler wheels facilitate track movement, 5) a multi-vehicle compatible adapter mounting plate accommodates a variety of vehicles, 6) a rotation limited torsion coupler and/or rotation limiting coupler arms prevent track contact with the vehicle, 7) a locking steering arm coupler prevents loss of steering control, and 8) shaped track lugs and channels clear and direct debris away from the track suspension and drive assembly. The improved suspension particularly supports sets of idler wheels in pivotal relation to the track support frame and resiliently biases a pre-tensioned rocker arm that links adjacent suspension arms mounted to the adjoining idler wheels. Suspension arm movement induces expansion and contraction of tension springs coupled to the rocker arms to augments shape changes at the track contact surface to optimize traction and steering control.
대표청구항▼
1. An endless track assembly for a vehicle comprising:a) a frame including a drive aperture; b) first and second suspension arms mounted to pivot from said frame and each supporting an axle; c) a plurality of idler wheels mounted to said frame and wherein a first idler wheel is mounted to the axle o
1. An endless track assembly for a vehicle comprising:a) a frame including a drive aperture; b) first and second suspension arms mounted to pivot from said frame and each supporting an axle; c) a plurality of idler wheels mounted to said frame and wherein a first idler wheel is mounted to the axle of said first suspension arm and a second idler wheel is mounted to the axle of said second suspension arm, wherein a linkage arm is coupled between said first and second suspension arms, and wherein a spring is mounted to bias movement of said linkage arm, such that a pivotal movement of either of said first and second idler suspension arms is resiliently opposed or assisted by said spring as the other of said first and second idler wheels attempts to follow; d) a drive sprocket mounted to said drive aperture; and e) an endless track trained under tension around said drive sprocket and said plurality of idler wheels and exhibiting a longitudinal profile, whereby undulations in the terrain are followed by pivotal rotation of said idler wheels to vary the longitudinal profile, without affecting track tension, to complement the undulations. 2. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring is mounted in a bore of said frame and wherein an adjuster member abuts said spring to establish a preset compression of said spring.3. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said spring is mounted to said frame and wherein an adjuster member is coupled to said spring to establish a pre-loaded condition of said spring.4. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein a housing having an eccentric surface is coupled to said drive sprocket and mounted in said drive aperture such that rotation of said housing in said drive aperture varies the tension of said track.5. A track assembly as set forth in claim 4 wherein said eccentric housing supports a bearing and is adapted for rotation with a wrench, and wherein a member fastened to said frame secures said housing to said frame to retain a selected rotation of said eccentric housing.6. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 including torsion means for biasing said track assembly when mounted to a vehicle to an equilibrium position and limiting the relative rotation of said track assembly to said vehicle to prevent contact therebetween.7. A track assembly as set forth in claim 6 including a linkage for coupling said torsion means to said vehicle and wherein a first coupler arm includes first and second flanged surfaces that contact first and second surfaces of a second coupler arm to define first and second stop limits and a range of relative rotation of said track assembly to said vehicle.8. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein a housing having an eccentric surface is coupled to said drive sprocket and mounted in said drive aperture such that rotation of said housing relative to said drive sprocket varies the tension of said track and including torsion means for biasing said track assembly when mounted to a vehicle to an equilibrium position and limiting the relative rotation of said track assembly to said vehicle to prevent contact therebetween.9. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 including an adapter plate that mounts to said drive sprocket and is configured to mount to a plurality of vehicles.10. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said track includes a plurality of outer lugs that project from an interior surface of said track along lateral outer peripheral edges of said track, wherein said lugs include leading and lagging tapered surfaces that collectively exhibit an inverted V-shape as they rise from the interior surface to an apex, and wherein an outer lateral lug surface tapers downward as it descends from said apex surface toward an outer lateral track edge, whereby said outer lugs direct debris upward and outward from an interior space of said track.11. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein a circumferential surface of each of said idler wheels include a rubber annulus that contacts an interior surface of said track.12. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein a peripheral edge of said drive sprocket exhibits a contoured profile that includes a plurality of radiused reliefs relative to an inverted V-shaped drive channel having a flat apex between adjacent lugs that rise from an interior surface of said track, whereby said sprocket directs debris away from said drive channel.13. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a coupler housing that couples to a steering member of said vehicle and wherein the housing includes a fastener mounted to said housing to draw said steering member into compression with said housing.14. An endless track assembly comprising:a) a frame including a drive aperture; b) first and second and third and fourth suspension arms mounted to pivot from said frame and each supporting an axle; c) a plurality of idler wheels, wherein a first pair and a second pair of idler wheels are mounted to the axles of said first and second suspension arms and a third pair and a fourth pair of idler wheels are mounted to the axles of said third and fourth suspension arms, wherein a first linkage arm is coupled between said first and second suspension arms and a second linkage arm is coupled between said third and fourth suspension arms, and wherein first and second springs bias movement of said first and second linkage arms, such that a pivotal movement of either of said first and second suspension arms or either of said third and fourth suspension arms is resiliently opposed or assisted by said first and second springs as the other of said first and second suspension arms or of said third and fourth suspension arms attempts to follow; d) a drive sprocket mounted to said drive aperture; and e) an endless track trained around said drive sprocket and said plurality of idler wheels and exhibiting a longitudinal profile, whereby undulations in the terrain are followed by pivotal rotation of said idler wheels to vary the longitudinal profile, without affecting track tension, to complement the undulations. 15. A track assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein an adjuster member is coupled to vary a pre-loaded condition of one of said first and second springs relative to said first and second linkage arms.16. A track assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first and second linkage arms are each supported to said frame, wherein said first and second springs are mounted in first and second bores of said frame and wherein first and second adjuster members are coupled to said first and second springs to vary a pre-loaded compression of said first and second springs relative to said first and second linkage arms.17. A track assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein a housing having an eccentric surface is coupled to said drive sprocket and mounted in said drive aperture such that rotation of said housing relative to said drive sprocket varies the tension of said track.18. A track assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein a cap is fastened to said eccentric housing and wherein said cap is adapted to rotate said eccentric housing.19. A track assembly as set forth in claim 14 including torsion means for biasing said track assembly when mounted to a vehicle to an equilibrium position and limiting a rotation of said track assembly from said equilibrium position to prevent contact with said vehicle.20. A track assembly as set forth in claim 19 including a linkage for coupling said torsion means to said vehicle and wherein a first coupler arm includes first and second flanged surfaces that contact first and second surfaces of a second coupler arm to define first and second stops and a range of relative rotation of said track assembly to said vehicle.21. A track assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said first and second springs are mounted to said frame and wherein first and second adjuster members threadably coupled to said frame vary a pre-loaded condition of said first and second springs.22. An endless track assembly comprising:a) a frame including a drive sprocket and a plurality of idler wheels mounted to said frame; b) an endless track trained under tension around said drive sprocket and said plurality of idler wheels; c) a housing coupled to said drive sprocket and mounted to rotate in said frame and wherein said housing has an eccentric surface and rotation of said eccentric surface varies the tension of said track; and d) a fastener for securing said housing at a selected rotation. 23. A track assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein said housing supports a bearing, wherein a cap is fastened to said housing and is adapted to rotate said eccentric housing, and wherein a fastener secured to said frame and coupled to said eccentric housing restrains said eccentric housing to said frame.24. A track assembly as set forth in claim 22 wherein a circumferential surface of each of said idler wheels includes a rubber annulus that contacts an interior surface of said track.25. An endless track assembly comprising:a) a frame including a drive sprocket and a plurality of idler wheels mounted to said frame; b) an endless track trained under tension around said drive sprocket and said plurality of idler wheels; c) a member having an eccentric surface coupled to said drive sprocket and mounted to rotate at said frame such that rotation of said member varies the tension of said track; and d) a fastener for securing said member at a selected rotation. 26. An endless track assembly for a vehicle comprising:a) a frame; b) first and second suspension arms mounted to pivot from said frame; c) a first idler wheel mounted to said first suspension arm and a second idler wheel mounted to said second suspension arm, wherein a linkage arm is coupled between said first and second suspension arms, and wherein a spring is mounted to bias movement or said linkage arm, such that a pivotal movement of either of said first and second suspension arms is resiliently opposed or assisted by said spring as the other of first and second suspension arms attempts to follow; and d) an endless track trained around said first and second idler wheels.
Albright, Larry E.; Homola, Gary J.; Homola, legal representative, Maria C; Koch, Rodney; Tuhy, Lance; Roan, Thomas J., Track vehicle having drive and suspension systems.
※ AI-Helper는 부적절한 답변을 할 수 있습니다.