A track assembly having a drive sprocket capable of concentrically supporting several detachable drive rings containing drive teeth shaped to rotate without interfering with track support idler wheels, to provide a reduced center of gravity and substantially provide the same vehicle operating charac
A track assembly having a drive sprocket capable of concentrically supporting several detachable drive rings containing drive teeth shaped to rotate without interfering with track support idler wheels, to provide a reduced center of gravity and substantially provide the same vehicle operating characteristic with tracks as with wheels. A track retainer guide member mounts along a peripheral edge of the track and overlies the track to resist track dislodgement. Independent and/or resiliently biased, rocker arms support track idler wheels to induce track flexion and conformance to encountered obstructions.
대표청구항▼
1. A track assembly for a vehicle comprising: a) a framework including a drive track, a drive sprocket and a plurality of idler wheels, wherein the drive track is trained to circumferentially rotate in endless fashion about said drive sprocket and idler wheels, wherein a plurality of drive lugs proj
1. A track assembly for a vehicle comprising: a) a framework including a drive track, a drive sprocket and a plurality of idler wheels, wherein the drive track is trained to circumferentially rotate in endless fashion about said drive sprocket and idler wheels, wherein a plurality of drive lugs project from an interior surface of said track in laterally displaced parallel columns, wherein said idler wheels are arranged in a plurality of sets, wherein each set comprises a plurality of laterally displaced idler wheels, wherein said idler wheels contact said interior surface intermediate and laterally adjacent the columns of drive lugs; andb) wherein said drive sprocket comprises a hub piece adapted to mount to a supporting vehicle, wherein a plurality of drive teeth are secured to said hub piece, wherein said drive teeth radially project from said hub and span the columns of drive lugs, wherein each of said drive teeth is shaped to include a plurality of drive surfaces that project from a link piece to contact the drive lugs in each of said columns, wherein a recessed channel is defined between the link piece and drive surfaces of each drive tooth, and wherein the idler wheels are vertically interlaced and aligned with the drive surfaces to permit the link pieces to pass over the idler wheels and the idler wheels to pass in the channel between and adjacent the drive surfaces without contacting the drive teeth and drive lugs. 2. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least two of said sets of idler wheels are mounted to a rocker arm that is resiliently mounted to pivot from said framework. 3. A track assembly as set forth in claim 2 wherein a third set of idler wheels is mounted to a second rocker arm resiliently mounted to pivot from said framework, wherein a compressively resilient member biases said second rocker arm relative to said framework. 4. A track assembly as set forth in claim 3 wherein said compressively resilient member comprises an air filled envelope mounted between surfaces of said second arm and said framework. 5. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 wherein said drive surfaces and link piece of each of said plurality of teeth exhibits a C-shape. 6. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a retainer member mounted to said framework to partially encompass one peripheral edge of said track to engage and prevent said track from laterally disengaging from said framework. 7. A track assembly as set forth in claim 6 wherein said retainer member includes a first flange piece that transversely projects to overlie a portion of a ground engaging surface of said track. 8. A track assembly as set forth in claim 7 wherein said retainer member includes a second flange piece that transversely projects at an acute angle relative to said ground engaging surface to contact said track and direct said track to maintain a predetermined alignment with said framework. 9. A track assembly as set forth in claim 1 including a ring piece mounted to radially project from the hub piece and support said drive teeth. 10. A track assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said link piece of each tooth is mounted to said ring piece. 11. A track assembly as set forth in claim 9 wherein said ring piece comprises first and second laterally displaced annular rings. 12. A track assembly as set forth in claim 11 wherein the link piece of each drive tooth transversely spans said first and second rings. 13. A track assembly as set forth in claim 8 wherein said second flange piece projects at an angle in the range of 20° to 50° relative to the ground engaging surface of said track. 14. A track assembly for a vehicle comprising: a) a framework including a drive track, a drive sprocket and a plurality of idler wheels, wherein the drive track is circumferentially trained about said drive sprocket and idler wheels to rotate in endless fashion, wherein a plurality of drive lugs project from an interior surface of said track in aligned rows along laterally displaced parallel columns, wherein said idler wheels are arranged in a plurality of sets, wherein each set comprises a plurality of laterally displaced idler wheels, wherein said idler wheels contact said interior surface intermediate and laterally adjacent the columns of drive lugs; andb) wherein said drive sprocket comprises a hub piece having a flange that radially projects from the hub, wherein a plurality of drive teeth are secured to said flange, wherein said drive teeth radially project from said flange and span the columns of drive lugs, wherein each of said drive teeth is shaped to include a plurality of drive surfaces that project from a link piece to contact the drive lugs in each of said rows, wherein a recessed channel is defined between the link piece and drive surfaces of each drive tooth, and wherein the idler wheels are vertically interlaced and aligned with the drive surfaces to permit the link pieces to pass over the idler wheels and the idler wheels to pass in the channel between and adjacent the drive surfaces without contacting the drive teeth and drive lugs. 15. A track assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein the drive surfaces project from opposite ends of the link piece of each of said plurality of drive teeth to exhibit a C-shape. 16. A track assembly as set forth in claim 14 including a retainer member mounted to partially encompass a portion of only one peripheral edge of said track to direct said track to maintain a predetermined alignment to said framework. 17. A track assembly as set forth in claim 16 wherein said retainer member includes a first flange piece that orthogonally projects to overlie a portion of a ground engaging surface of said track. 18. A track assembly as set forth in claim 17 wherein said retainer member includes a second flange piece that projects at an angle in the range of 20° to 50° relative to the ground engaging surface of said track to contact and direct said track to maintain the predetermined mounting alignment. 19. A track assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein a plurality of said idler wheels are mounted to a rocker arm and a compressively resilient member biases said rocker arm to pivot from said framework. 20. A track assembly as set forth in claim 14 including a retainer member mounted to said framework to overlie and engage one peripheral edge of said track to prevent said track from detaching from said framework. 21. A track assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein a plurality of said idler wheels are mounted to a plurality of rocker arms and including a compressively resilient member mounted to resiliently bias one of said rocker arms to pivot from said framework. 22. A track assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said flange includes a detachable ring piece comprising first and second laterally displaced annular rings and wherein each drive tooth transversely spans between said first and second rings. 23. A track assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein said drive surfaces project in parallel relation from opposite ends of said link piece. 24. A track assembly as set forth in claim 21 including a retainer member having a first flange piece that transversely projects to overlie one peripheral edge portion of a ground engaging surface of said track and a second flange piece that projects at an acute angle relative to said ground engaging surface to contact said track and direct said track to maintain a predetermined alignment with said framework. 25. A track assembly as set forth in claim 14 wherein fore and aft sets of idler wheels are rigidly mounted to fore and aft ends of said framework, wherein a third set of idler wheels is mounted intermediate said fore and aft sets of idler wheels to a rocker arm resiliently mounted to pivot from said framework, and wherein a compressively resilient member resiliently biases said rocker arm relative to said framework and said third set of idler wheels into contact with the interior surface of said track. 26. A track assembly for a vehicle comprising: a) a framework including a drive track, a drive sprocket and a plurality of sets of laterally displaced idler wheels spanning and supporting the interior surface of said drive track, wherein first and second sets of idler wheels are rigidly mounted to said framework to rotate at fore and aft ends of said framework, wherein a third set of idler wheels is mounted intermediate said fore and aft sets to a rocker arm resiliently mounted to pivot from said framework, and wherein a compressively resilient member biases said rocker arm relative to said framework and said third set of idler wheels into contact with said interior surface, wherein the drive track is circumferentially trained about said drive sprocket and idler wheels to rotate in endless fashion, wherein a plurality of drive lugs project from the interior surface of said track in laterally displaced parallel columns, and wherein said idler wheels contact said interior surface adjacent and intermediate the columns of drive lugs;b) wherein said drive sprocket comprises a hub piece adapted to mount to a supporting vehicle, wherein a plurality of drive teeth are secured to said hub piece, wherein said drive teeth radially project from said hub and span the columns of drive lugs, wherein each of said drive teeth is shaped to include a plurality of drive surfaces that project from a link piece to contact the drive lugs in each of said columns, wherein a recessed channel is defined between the link piece and drive surfaces of each drive tooth, and wherein the idler wheels are vertically interlaced and aligned with the drive surfaces to permit the link pieces to pass over the idler wheels and the idler wheels to pass in the channel between and adjacent the drive surfaces without contacting the drive teeth and drive lugs; andc) a retainer member including a first flange piece that transversely projects to overlie a ground engaging track surface and a second flange piece that transversely projects at an acute angle relative to the ground engaging surface to contact said track and direct said track to maintain a predetermined mounting orientation to said framework.
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이 특허에 인용된 특허 (13)
Burckhartzmeyer Jerry J. ; Crabb Elmer R. ; Lehnhoff Terry F. ; Watson ; Jr. Alva L., Belted work machine.
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