An all terrain vehicle and suspension providing frame members that pivot relative to each other and independent of supported track assemblies. Suspension frame sections pivot at supported bearings and torsion couplers. An endless track of each track assembly is trained around a framework having a dr
An all terrain vehicle and suspension providing frame members that pivot relative to each other and independent of supported track assemblies. Suspension frame sections pivot at supported bearings and torsion couplers. An endless track of each track assembly is trained around a framework having a drive sprocket and sets of idler wheels. The track assemblies independently pivot relative to the vehicle from a track suspension frame and supported sets of idler wheels mounted to torsion biased rocker arms that resist and bias the rocker arms and idler wheels to an equilibrium position and conformally shape the track to the terrain. Improved track drive lug surfaces are shaped to prevent track derailment. The vehicle frame and track assemblies independently rise, fall and pivot as obstacles of differing configurations and types are encountered to stabilize and maintain an operator body substantially parallel to the ground.
대표청구항▼
1. A vehicle comprising: a) a chassis framework supporting a body and comprising first and second longitudinal frame sections, wherein said first and second longitudinal frame sections extend in substantially parallel relation to each other, wherein said first and second longitudinal frame sections
1. A vehicle comprising: a) a chassis framework supporting a body and comprising first and second longitudinal frame sections, wherein said first and second longitudinal frame sections extend in substantially parallel relation to each other, wherein said first and second longitudinal frame sections are coupled to said body, wherein a first pivot axle couples said first and second longitudinal frame sections together to permit laterally offset fore and aft ends of said first and second longitudinal frame sections to pivot independent of each other and said body;b) a plurality of drive axles mounted to transversely extend from the fore and aft ends of said first and second longitudinal frame sections;c) first and second cross frame sections extending between laterally opposed displaced portions of said first and second longitudinal frame sections, wherein a plurality of pivot couplers couple the ends of the first and second cross frame sections to pivot at the coupling points to said first and second longitudinal frame sections, and first and second torsion couplers mounted to said first and second cross frame sections and coupled to said body, and including torsion means for resiliently resisting and torsionally biasing rotation of each of said first and second cross frame sections relative to said body to an equilibrium position; andd) a plurality of rotating members coupled to pivot about each of said drive axles to support said chassis framework and body, and including means for resiliently biasing each rotating member to an equilibrium position relative to said first and second longitudinal frame sections, whereby each rotating member is able to resiliently pivot relative to the first and second longitudinal frame sections and independent of movement of the first and second cross frame sections and the first and second longitudinal frame sections upon encountering changing terrain contours to maintain a horizontal orientation of said body relative to the terrain. 2. A vehicle comprising: a) a chassis framework supporting a body and comprising first and second longitudinal frame sections, wherein said first and second longitudinal frame sections extend in substantially parallel relation to each other, wherein said first and second longitudinal frame sections are coupled to said body, wherein a first pivot axle couples said first and second longitudinal frame sections together to permit laterally offset fore and aft ends of said first and second longitudinal frame sections to pivot independent of each other and said body;b) a plurality of drive axles mounted to transversely extend from the fore and aft ends of said first and second longitudinal frame sections;c) first and second cross frame sections extending between laterally opposed displaced portions of said first and second longitudinal frame sections, wherein a plurality of pivot couplers couple the ends of the first and second cross frame sections to pivot at the coupling points to said first and second longitudinal frame sections, and first and second torsion couplers mounted to said first and second cross frame sections and coupled to said body, and including torsion means for resiliently resisting and torsionally biasing rotation of each of said first and second cross frame sections relative to said body to an equilibrium position; andd) a plurality of track assemblies, wherein each track assembly is coupled to pivot about one of said drive axles to support said chassis framework and body, wherein each track assembly includes a drive sprocket, a plurality of idler wheels and a track trained about said sprocket and idler wheels to rotate and direct vehicle movement, and wherein each track assembly is resiliently biased to an equilibrium position relative to said first and second longitudinal frame sections, whereby each track assembly is able to resiliently pivot relative to the first and second longitudinal frame sections and independent of movement of the first and second cross frame sections and the first and second longitudinal frame sections upon encountering changing terrain contours to maintain a horizontal orientation of said body relative to the terrain. 3. A vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein at least one of said track assemblies includes first and second yokes pivotally coupled to a track support frame member, wherein each of said first and second yokes are coupled to at least two of said idler wheels, and including yoke biasing means for torsionally biasing said first and second yokes to resist and bias rotation of said first and second yokes to an equilibrium position and such that the contour of said track can change shape to conform to encountered obstacles and as said track assembly pivots from one of said first and second longitudinal frame sections. 4. A vehicle as set forth in claim 2, wherein at least one of the drive sprockets is electrically driven. 5. A vehicle as set forth in claim 2 wherein said first and, second torsion couplers comprise of a plurality of resilient elastomer members mounted to resist and bias rotation of said first and second cross frames and said first and second longitudinal frame sections to an equilibrium position. 6. A vehicle comprising: a) a chassis framework supporting a body and comprising first and second longitudinal frame sections, wherein said first and second longitudinal frame sections extend in substantially parallel relation to each other, wherein first and second brackets couple said first and second longitudinal frame sections to said body, wherein a first pivot axle couples said first and second brackets to said first and second longitudinal frame sections to permit laterally offset fore and aft ends of said first and second longitudinal frame sections to pivot independent of each other and said body;b) a plurality of drive axles mounted to transversely extend from the fore and aft ends of said first and second longitudinal frame sections;c) first and second cross frame sections mounted between displaced fore and aft ends of said first and second longitudinal frame sections, wherein a plurality of pivot couplers couple ends of the first and second cross frame sections to pivot at the fore and aft ends of said first and second longitudinal frame sections, and first and second torsion couplers mounted to said first and second cross frame sections and coupled to said body, and including torsion means for resiliently resisting and torsionally biasing rotation of each of said first and second cross frame sections relative to said body to an equilibrium position; andd) a plurality of track assemblies, wherein each track assembly is coupled to pivot about one of said drive axles to support said chassis framework and body, wherein each track assembly includes a drive sprocket, a plurality of idler wheels and a track trained about said sprocket and idler wheels to rotate and direct vehicle movement, and wherein each track assembly is resiliently biased to an equilibrium position relative to said first and second longitudinal frame sections, whereby each track assembly is able to resiliently pivot relative to the first and second longitudinal frame sections and independent of movement of the first and second cross frame sections and the first and second longitudinal frame sections upon encountering changing terrain contours to maintain a horizontal orientation of said body relative to the terrain. 7. A vehicle as set forth in claim 6 wherein at least one of said track assemblies includes first and second yokes pivotally coupled to a track support frame member, wherein each of said first and second yokes are coupled to at least two of said idler wheels, and including yoke biasing means for torsionally biasing said first and second yokes to resist and bias rotation of said first and second yokes to an equilibrium position and such that the contour of said track can change shape to conform to encountered obstacles and as said track assembly pivots from said chassis framework.
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