IPC분류정보
국가/구분 |
United States(US) Patent
등록
|
국제특허분류(IPC7판) |
|
출원번호 |
US-0711663
(2012-12-12)
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등록번호 |
US-8662214
(2014-03-04)
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발명자
/ 주소 |
- Zuchoski, Jérémie
- Boisvert, Denis
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출원인 / 주소 |
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대리인 / 주소 |
Finnegan Henderson Farabow Garrett & Dunner LLP
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인용정보 |
피인용 횟수 :
0 인용 특허 :
47 |
초록
▼
The present invention provides track assemblies and a method that allow bringing the contact patch towards the inside (the outside) of the suspension arm, by providing a asymmetric track assembly, either by lowering at least one inside (outside) support wheel relative to the remaining support wheels
The present invention provides track assemblies and a method that allow bringing the contact patch towards the inside (the outside) of the suspension arm, by providing a asymmetric track assembly, either by lowering at least one inside (outside) support wheel relative to the remaining support wheels, or by using a belt that comprises, transversally, at least one first profile on the outer (inner) side thereof lower than a second profile on an inner side thereof.
대표청구항
▼
1. A track assembly for providing traction to a vehicle on a ground surface, the track assembly comprising: a) an endless track comprising: a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground surface;an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; anda first lateral edge and a se
1. A track assembly for providing traction to a vehicle on a ground surface, the track assembly comprising: a) an endless track comprising: a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground surface;an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; anda first lateral edge and a second lateral edge defining a width of the endless track; andb) a track-engaging system for driving and guiding the endless track, the track-engaging system comprising: a drive wheel for driving the endless track; anda front corner wheel and a rear corner wheel spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly;the endless track being disposed around the track-engaging system, a lower run of the endless track defining a contact patch of the endless track with the ground surface; the track assembly having an asymmetric configuration such that the contact patch of the endless track is distributed more towards the first lateral edge of the endless track than towards the second lateral edge of the endless track. 2. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein: the endless track has a first half extending from a centerline of the endless track to the first lateral edge of the endless track and a second half extending from the centerline of the endless track to the second lateral edge of the endless track; and the track-engaging system is configured to apply more pressure on the first half of the endless track than on the second half of the endless track. 3. The track assembly claimed in claim 2, wherein: the track-engaging system comprises a plurality of support wheels disposed between the front corner wheel and the rear corner wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly; and a given one of the support wheels is disposed between the centerline of the endless track and the first lateral edge of the endless track and extends lower than any support wheel disposed between the centerline of the endless track and the second lateral edge of the endless track. 4. The track assembly claimed in claim 3, wherein; the given one of the support wheels is a first given one of the support wheels; and a second given one of the support wheels is disposed between the centerline of the endless track and the first lateral edge of the endless track and extends lower than any support wheel disposed between the centerline of the endless track and the second lateral edge of the endless track. 5. The track assembly claimed in claim 2, wherein a lowest point of the track-engaging system is closer to the first lateral edge of the endless track than to the second lateral edge of the endless track. 6. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein; the track-erigagimg system comprises a plurality of support wheels disposed between the front corner wheel and the rear corner wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly; and a first one of the support wheels is spaced apart from a second one of the support wheels in a widthwise direction of the track assembly, is closest to the second one of the support wheels in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly, is closer to the first lateral edge of the endless track than the second one of the support wheels, and extends lower than the second one of the support wheels. 7. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein a lowest point of the track-engaging system is closer to the first lateral edge of the endless track than to the second lateral edge of the endless track. 8. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein: the track-engaging system comprises a plurality of support wheels disposed between the front corner wheel and the rear corner wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly; the track assembly comprises a wheel-supporting arrangement supporting the front corner wheel, the rear corner wheel, and the support wheels; and a given one of the support wheels is disposed between the wheel-supporting arrangement and the first lateral edge of the endless track and extends lower than any support wheel disposed between the wheel-supporting arrangement and the second lateral edge of the endless track. 9. The track assembly claimed in claim 8, wherein the given one of the support wheels is mounted to the wheel-supporting arrangement at a lower position than any support wheel disposed between the wheel-supporting, arrangement and the second lateral edge of the endless track. 10. The track assembly claimed in claim 8, wherein: the given one of the support wheels is a first given one of the support wheels; and a second given one of the support wheels is disposed between the wheel-supporting arrangement and the first lateral edge of the endless track and extends lower than any support wheel disposed between the wheel-supporting arrangement and the second lateral edge of the endless track. 11. The track assembly claimed in claim 10, wherein the wheel-supporting arrangement comprises: a first wheel-supporting structure interconnecting the front corner wheel and the rear corner wheel; and a second wheel-supporting structure carrying the first given one of the support wheels and the second given one of the support wheels and pivotable relative to the first wheel-supporting structure. 12. The track assembly claimed in claim 11, wherein the wheel-supporting arrangement comprises a resilient bushing disposed between the first wheel-supporting structure and the second wheel-supporting structure to cushion against shocks. 13. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein: the endless track has a first half extending from a centerline of the endless track to the first lateral edge of the endless track and a second half extending from the centerline of the endless track to the second lateral edge of the endless track; and the first half of the endless track is configured to apply more pressure on the ground surface than the second half of the endless track. 14. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein: the endless track has a first half extending from a centerline of the endless track to the first lateral edge of the endless track and a second half extending from the centerline of the endless track to the second lateral edge of the endless track; and the first half of the endless track has a greater volume than the second half of the endless track. 15. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein: the endless track has a first half extending from a centerline of the endless track to the first lateral edge of the endless track and a second half extending from the centerline of the endless track to the second lateral edge of the endless track; and the first half of the endless track has a greater average thickness than the second half of the endless track. 16. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein a greatest thickness of the endless track is located closer to the first lateral edge of the endless track than to the second lateral edge of the endless track. 17. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein: the endless track comprises a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface; the traction projections vary in height in a widthwise direction of the endless track; and the traction projections are higher closer to the first lateral edge of the endless track than to the second lateral edge of the endless track. 18. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein: the endless track has a first half extending from a centerline of the endless track to the first lateral edge of the endless track and a second half extending from the centerline of the endless track to the second lateral edge of the endless track; the endless track comprises a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface; the traction projections vary in height in a widthwise direction of the endless track; and an average height of the traction projections in the first half of the endless track is greater than an average height of the traction projections in the second half of the endless track. 19. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein: the endless track comprises a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface; the traction projections vary in height in a widthwise direction of the endless track; and a greatest height of the traction projections is located closer to the first lateral edge of the endless track than to the second lateral edge of the endless track. 20. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein: the endless track has a first half extending from a centerline of the endless track to the first lateral edge of the endless track and a second half extending from the centerline of the endless track to the second lateral edge of the endless track; the endless track comprises a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface; and the traction projections occupy more volume in the first half of the endless track than in the second half of the endless track. 21. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the endless has a generally convex shape in a widthwise direction of the endless track. 22. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the endless track comprises a first lateral edge portion and a second lateral edge portion that are respectively adjacent to the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge of the endless track and that bend away from the ground surface. 23. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the first lateral edge of the endless track is located closer to a center of the vehicle than the second lateral edge of the endless track when the track assembly is mounted to the vehicle. 24. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the track assembly is configured such that a highest pressure exerted by the contact patch of the endless track is closer to the first lateral edge of the endless track than to the second lateral edge of the endless track. 25. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein: the track assembly is mountable to the vehicle in place of a ground-engaging wheel comprising a tire; and the track assembly is configured such that a highest pressure exerted by the contact patch of the endless track is located where a contact patch of the tire would be located. 26. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the lower run of the endless track includes a front segment under the front corner wheel, a rear segment under the rear corner wheel, and an intermediate segment under the support wheels and extending lower than the front segment of the lower run of the endless track. 27. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the track assembly is steerable by a steering device of the vehicle to turn the vehicle. 28. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the track assembly is pivotable relative to a body of the vehicle about an axis of rotation of the drive wheel. 29. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an ATV. 30. The track assembly claimed in claim 29, wherein the ATV comprises handlebars for steering the ATV. 31. A set of four track assemblies for providing traction to a vehicle on a ground surface, the set of four track assemblies comprising a track assembly as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of at least two track assemblies of the set of four track assemblies is steerable by a steering device of the vehicle to turn the vehicle. 32. An endless track for a track assembly providing traction to a vehicle on a ground surface, the track assembly comprising a track-engaging system for driving and guiding the endless track, the track-engaging system comprising: a drive wheel for driving the endless track; and a front corner wheel and a rear corner wheel spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly, the endless track being mountable around the track-engaging system, the endless track comprising: a) a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground surface;b) an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; andc) a first lateral edge and a second lateral edge defining a width of the endless track;a lower run of the endless track defining a contact patch of the endless track with the ground surface, the endless track having a first half extending from a centerline of the endless track to the first lateral edge of the endless track and a second half extending from the centerline of the endless track to the second lateral edge of the endless track, the endless track being asymmetric relative to the centerline of the endless track such that the contact patch of the endless track is distributed more towards the first lateral edge of the endless track than towards the second lateral edge of the endless track. 33. The endless track claimed in claim 32, wherein the first half of the endless track is configured to apply more pressure on the ground surface than the second half of the endless track. 34. The endless track claimed in claim 32, wherein the first half of the endless track has a greater volume than the second half of the endless track. 35. The endless track claimed in claim 32, wherein the first half of the endless track has a greater average thickness than the second half of the endless track. 36. The endless track claimed in claim 32, wherein a greatest thickness of the endless track is located closer to the first lateral edge of the endless track than to the second lateral edge of the endless track. 37. The endless track claimed in claim 32, comprising a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface, the traction projections varying in height in a widthwise direction of the endless track, the traction projections being higher closer to the first lateral edge of the endless track than to the second lateral edge of the endless track. 38. The endless track claimed in claim 32, comprising a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface, the traction projections varying in height in a widthwise direction of the endless track, an average height of the traction projections in the first half of the endless track being greater than an average height of the traction projections in the second half of the endless track. 39. The endless track claimed in claim 32, comprising a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface, the traction projections varying in height in a widthwise direction of the endless track, a greatest height of the traction projections being located closer to the first lateral edge of the endless track than to the second lateral edge of the endless track. 40. The endless track claimed in claim 32, comprising a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface, the traction projections occupying more volume in the first half of the endless track than in the second half of the endless track. 41. The endless track claimed in claim 32, wherein the endless has a generally convex shape in a widthwise direction of the endless track. 42. The endless track claimed in claim 32, comprising a first lateral edge portion and a second lateral edge portion that are respectively adjacent to the first lateral edge and the second lateral edge of the endless track and that bend away from the ground surface. 43. The endless track claimed in claim 32, wherein the first lateral edge of the endless track is located closer to a center of the vehicle than the second lateral edge of the endless track when the track assembly is mounted to the vehicle. 44. The endless track claimed in claim 32, wherein the endless track is configured such that a highest pressure exerted by the contact patch of the endless track is closer to the first lateral edge of the endless track than to the second lateral edge of the endless track. 45. The endless track claimed in claim 32, wherein: the track assembly is mountable to the vehicle in place of a ground-engaging wheel comprising a tire; and the endless track is configured such that a highest pressure exerted by the contact patch of the endless track is located where a contact patch of the tire would be located. 46. The endless track claimed in claim 32, comprising a plurality of driving projections projecting from the inner surface to engage the drive wheel. 47. The endless track claimed in claim 32, wherein the track assembly is steerable by a steering device of the vehicle to turn the vehicle. 48. A track assembly for providing traction to a vehicle on a ground surface, the track assembly comprising: a) an endless track comprising: a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground surface;an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; anda first lateral edge and a second lateral edge defining a width of the endless track; andb) a track-engaging system for driving and guiding the endless track, the track-engaging system comprising: a drive wheel for driving the endless track; anda front corner wheel and a rear corner wheel spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly;the endless track being disposed around the track-engaging system, a lower run of the endless track defining a contact patch of the endless track with the ground surface; the track assembly being configured such that, when an axis of rotation of the drive wheel is horizontal, the contact patch of the endless track is distributed more towards the first lateral edge of the endless track than towards the second lateral edge of the endless track. 49. A track assembly for providing traction to a vehicle on a ground surface, the track assembly comprising: a) an endless track comprising: a ground-engaging outer surface for engaging the ground surface;an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; anda first lateral edge and a second lateral edge defining a width of the endless track; andb) a track-engaging system for driving and guiding the endless track, the track-engaging system comprising: a drive wheel for driving the endless track; anda front corner wheel and a rear corner wheel spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly;the endless track being disposed around the track-engaging system, a lower run of the endless track defining a contact patch of the endless track with the ground surface; the track assembly being configured such that a highest pressure exerted by the contact patch of the endless track is closer to the first lateral edge of the endless track than to the second lateral edge of the endless track.
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