Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or other tracked vehicle
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B62D-055/14
B62D-055/02
B62D-055/065
B62D-055/075
B62D-055/084
B62K-005/01
B62M-027/02
출원번호
US-0767895
(2010-04-27)
등록번호
US-9033430
(2015-05-19)
발명자
/ 주소
Zuchoski, Jeremie
Bernard, Jean
Pilette, Stéphane
출원인 / 주소
CAMOPLAST SOLIDEAL INC.
대리인 / 주소
Amster, Rothstein & Ebenstein LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
3인용 특허 :
10
초록▼
A track assembly for providing traction to an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or other tracked vehicle. The track assembly may comprise a wheel device for contacting an inner side of an endless track such that a longitudinal end segment of the endless track turns around the wheel device. The wheel device
A track assembly for providing traction to an all-terrain vehicle (ATV) or other tracked vehicle. The track assembly may comprise a wheel device for contacting an inner side of an endless track such that a longitudinal end segment of the endless track turns around the wheel device. The wheel device allows a change in curvature of the longitudinal end segment of the endless track when the longitudinal end segment of the endless track contacts an obstacle on the ground. In some embodiments, the wheel device may comprise a resilient wheel that is elastically deformable. In other embodiments, the wheel device may comprise a wheel carrier carrying a plurality of carried wheels.
대표청구항▼
1. A track assembly for providing traction to a vehicle on a ground surface, the track assembly being mountable to an axle of the vehicle and comprising: a) an endless track comprising a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground surface and an inner side opposite to the ground-engaging oute
1. A track assembly for providing traction to a vehicle on a ground surface, the track assembly being mountable to an axle of the vehicle and comprising: a) an endless track comprising a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground surface and an inner side opposite to the ground-engaging outer side; andb) a track-engaging arrangement for driving and guiding the endless track, the endless track being disposed around the track-engaging arrangement, the track-engaging arrangement comprising: i. a drive wheel for driving the endless track when the axle of the vehicle rotates; andii. a plurality of idler wheels which includes a leading idler wheel and a trailing idler wheel spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly and contacting a bottom run of the endless track;wherein: each idler wheel of the plurality of idler wheels is resilient and comprises foam; the inner side of the endless track comprises a plurality of wheel-contacting projections for contacting at least one of the drive wheel and the plurality of idler wheels; and a width of the idler wheel in a widthwise direction of the track assembly is greater than a dimension of a given one of the wheel-contacting projections in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 2. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the foam of the idler wheel forms at least part of a periphery of the idler wheel. 3. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the track-engaging arrangement comprises a plurality of support wheels disposed between the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly and contacting the bottom run of the endless track, an outer diameter of the idler wheel being greater than an outer diameter of a given one of the support wheels. 4. The track assembly claimed in claim 3, comprising a frame supporting the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel, wherein the width of the idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly occupies at least a majority of a distance between a lateral surface of the idler wheel and a center of the frame in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 5. The track assembly claimed in claim 3, wherein the idler wheel is wider than the given one of the support wheels in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 6. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the idler wheel comprises a hub and a tire disposed around the hub and comprising the foam, the tire including a first lateral side, a second lateral side, and a circumferential surface extending from the first lateral side to the second lateral side, the tire having a single opening extending from the first lateral side to the second lateral side, the hub being located in the single opening of the tire. 7. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the foam of the idler wheel is closed-cell foam. 8. The track assembly claimed in claim 7, wherein the closed-cell foam is closed-cell polyurethane foam. 9. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein a radial extent of the idler wheel corresponding to at least 20% of an outer radius of the idler wheel is elastically deformable. 10. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, comprising a frame supporting the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel and mounted about an axis of rotation of the drive wheel. 11. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, comprising a frame supporting the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel and having a pivot point located between the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly. 12. The track assembly claimed in claim 11, wherein the pivot point of the frame corresponds to an axis of rotation of the drive wheel. 13. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, comprising a frame supporting the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel, an axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel being movable relative to an axis of rotation of the drive wheel when the track assembly traverses an uneven area of the ground surface. 14. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein a distance between an axis of rotation of the drive wheel and an axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly is different from a distance between the axis of rotation of the drive wheel and an axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly. 15. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the leading idler wheel is a first leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel is a first trailing idler wheel, and the plurality of idler wheels includes a second leading idler wheel spaced apart from the first leading idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly, and a second trailing idler wheel spaced apart from the first trailing idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 16. The track assembly claimed in claim 1, wherein the inner side of the plurality of wheel-contacting projections comprises a plurality of drive projections and the drive wheel comprises a sprocket for engaging the drive projections. 17. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) comprising a set of four track assemblies, wherein each of at least two of the four track assemblies is as claimed in claim 1. 18. A track assembly for providing traction to a vehicle on a ground surface, the track assembly being mountable to an axle of the vehicle and comprising: a) an endless track comprising a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground surface and an inner side opposite to the ground-engaging outer side;b) a track-engaging arrangement for driving and guiding the endless track, the endless track being disposed around the track-engaging arrangement, the track-engaging arrangement comprising: i. a drive wheel for driving the endless track when the axle of the vehicle rotates; andii. a plurality of idler wheels which includes a leading idler wheel and a trailing idler wheel spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly and contacting a bottom run of the endless track;wherein: each idler wheel of the plurality of idler wheels is resilient and elastically deformable when the endless track contacts an obstacle on the ground surface; the inner side of the endless track comprises a plurality of wheel-contacting projections for contacting at least one of the drive wheel and the plurality of idler wheels; and a width of the idler wheel in a widthwise direction of the track assembly is greater than a dimension of a given one of the wheel-contacting projections in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 19. The track assembly claimed in claim 18, wherein the idler wheel comprises foam. 20. The track assembly claimed in claim 19, wherein the foam of the idler wheel forms at least part of a periphery of the idler wheel. 21. The track assembly claimed in claim 19, wherein the foam of the idler wheel is closed-cell foam. 22. The track assembly claimed in claim 21, wherein the closed-cell foam is closed-cell polyurethane foam. 23. The track assembly claimed in claim 18, wherein the track-engaging arrangement comprises a plurality of support wheels disposed between the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly and contacting the bottom run of the endless track, an outer diameter of the idler wheel being greater than an outer diameter of a given one of the support wheels. 24. The track assembly claimed in claim 23, comprising a frame supporting the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel, wherein the width of the idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly occupies at least a majority of a distance between a lateral surface of the idler wheel and a center of the frame in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 25. The track assembly claimed in claim 23, wherein the idler wheel is wider than the given one of the support wheels in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 26. The track assembly claimed in claim 18, wherein the idler wheel comprises a hub and a tire disposed around the hub and comprising the foam, the tire including a first lateral side, a second lateral side, and a circumferential surface extending from the first lateral side to the second lateral side, the tire having a single opening extending from the first lateral side to the second lateral side, the hub being located in the single opening of the tire. 27. The track assembly claimed in claim 18, wherein a radial extent of the idler wheel corresponding to at least 20% of an outer radius of the idler wheel is elastically deformable. 28. The track assembly claimed in claim 18, comprising a frame supporting the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel and mounted about an axis of rotation of the drive wheel. 29. The track assembly claimed in claim 18, comprising a frame supporting the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel and having a pivot point located between the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly. 30. The track assembly claimed in claim 29, wherein the pivot point of the frame corresponds to an axis of rotation of the drive wheel. 31. The track assembly claimed in claim 18, comprising a frame supporting the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel, an axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel being movable relative to an axis of rotation of the drive wheel when the track assembly traverses an uneven area of the ground surface. 32. The track assembly claimed in claim 18, wherein a distance between an axis of rotation of the drive wheel and an axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly is different from a distance between the axis of rotation of the drive wheel and an axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly. 33. The track assembly claimed in claim 18, wherein the leading idler wheel is a first leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel is a first trailing idler wheel, and the plurality of idler wheels includes a second leading idler wheel spaced apart from the first leading idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly and a second trailing idler wheel spaced apart from the first trailing idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 34. The track assembly claimed in claim 18, wherein the plurality of wheel-contacting projections comprises a plurality of drive projections and the drive wheel comprises a sprocket for engaging the drive projections. 35. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) comprising a set of four track assemblies, wherein each of at least two of the four track assemblies is as claimed in claim 18. 36. A track assembly for providing traction to a vehicle on a ground surface, the track assembly being mountable to an axle of the vehicle and comprising: a) an endless track comprising: i. a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground surface; andii. an inner side opposite to the ground-engaging outer side and comprising a plurality of wheel-contacting projections;b) a track-engaging arrangement for driving and guiding the endless track, the endless track being disposed around the track-engaging arrangement, the track-engaging arrangement comprising: i. a drive wheel for driving the endless track when the axle of the vehicle rotates;ii. a plurality of idler wheels which includes a leading idler wheel and a trailing idler wheel spaced apart in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly and contacting a bottom run of the endless track; andiii. a plurality of support wheels disposed between the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly and contacting the bottom run of the endless track;wherein each idler wheel of the plurality of idler wheels is resilient and elastically deformable when the endless track contacts an obstacle on the ground surface, an outer diameter of the idler wheel is greater than an outer diameter of a given one of the support wheels, and a width of the idler wheel in a widthwise direction of the track assembly is greater than a dimension of a given one of the wheel-contacting projections in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 37. The track assembly claimed in claim 36, wherein the wheel-contacting projections are drive projections for engaging the drive wheel. 38. The track assembly claimed in claim 36, wherein: the leading idler wheel is a first leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel is a first trailing idler wheel; the plurality of idler wheels includes a second leading idler wheel spaced apart from the first leading idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly and a second trailing idler wheel spaced apart from the first trailing idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly; the first leading idler wheel and the second leading idler wheel collectively occupying a majority of a span of the first leading idler wheel and the second leading idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly; and the first trailing idler wheel and the second trailing idler wheel collectively occupying a majority of a span of the first trailing idler wheel and the second trailing idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 39. The track assembly claimed in claim 36, wherein the idler wheel comprises foam. 40. The track assembly claimed in claim 39, wherein the foam of the idler wheel forms at least part of a periphery of the idler wheel. 41. The track assembly claimed in claim 39, wherein the foam of the idler wheel is closed-cell foam. 42. The track assembly claimed in claim 41, wherein the closed-cell foam is closed-cell polyurethane foam. 43. The track assembly claimed in claim 36, comprising a frame supporting the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel, wherein the width of the idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly occupies at least a majority of a distance between a lateral surface of the idler wheel and a center of the frame in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 44. The track assembly claimed in claim 36, wherein the idler wheel is wider than the given one of the support wheels in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 45. The track assembly claimed in claim 36, wherein the idler wheel comprises a hub and a tire disposed around the hub and comprising the foam, the tire including a first lateral side, a second lateral side, and a circumferential surface extending from the first lateral side to the second lateral side, the tire having a single opening extending from the first lateral side to the second lateral side, the hub being located in the single opening of the tire. 46. The track assembly claimed in claim 36, wherein a radial extent of the idler wheel corresponding to at least 20% of an outer radius of the idler wheel is elastically deformable. 47. The track assembly claimed in claim 36, comprising a frame supporting the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel and mounted about an axis of rotation of the drive wheel. 48. The track assembly claimed in claim 36, comprising a frame supporting the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel and having a pivot point located between the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly. 49. The track assembly claimed in claim 48, wherein the pivot point of the frame corresponds to an axis of rotation of the drive wheel. 50. The track assembly claimed in claim 36, comprising a frame supporting the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel, an axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel being movable relative to an axis of rotation of the drive wheel when the track assembly traverses an uneven area of the ground surface. 51. The track assembly claimed in claim 36, wherein a distance between an axis of rotation of the drive wheel and an axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly is different from a distance between the axis of rotation of the drive wheel and an axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly. 52. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) comprising a set of four track assemblies, wherein each of at least two of the four track assemblies is as claimed in claim 36. 53. A track assembly for providing traction to a vehicle on a ground surface, the track assembly being mountable to an axle of the vehicle and comprising: a) an endless track comprising a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground surface and an inner side opposite to the ground-engaging outer side; andb) a track-engaging arrangement for driving and guiding the endless track, the endless track being disposed around the track-engaging arrangement, the track-engaging arrangement comprising: i. a drive wheel for driving the endless track when the axle of the vehicle rotates; andii. a plurality of idler wheels which includes: a first leading idler wheel and a second leading idler wheel that are spaced apart from one another in a widthwise direction of the track assembly; andfirst trailing idler wheel and a second trailing idler wheel that are spaced apart from one another in the widthwise direction of the track assembly, the first trailing idler wheel and the second trailing idler wheel being spaced apart from the first leading idler wheel and the second leading idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly;wherein: each idler wheel of the plurality of idler wheels is resilient and elastically deformable when the endless track contacts an obstacle on the ground surface; the first leading idler wheel and the second leading idler wheel collectively occupy a majority of a span of the first leading idler wheel and the second leading idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly; and the first trailing idler wheel and the second trailing idler wheel collectively occupy a majority of a span of the first trailing idler wheel and the second trailing idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 54. The track assembly claimed in claim 53, wherein the idler wheel comprises foam. 55. The track assembly claimed in claim 54, wherein the foam of the idler wheel forms at least part of a periphery of the idler wheel. 56. The track assembly claimed in claim 54, wherein the foam of the idler wheel is closed-cell foam. 57. The track assembly claimed in claim 56, wherein the closed-cell foam is closed-cell polyurethane foam. 58. The track assembly claimed in claim 53, wherein the track-engaging arrangement comprises a plurality of support wheels disposed between (i) the first leading idler wheel and the second leading idler wheel and (ii) the first trailing idler wheel and the second trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly and contacting the bottom run of the endless track, an outer diameter of the idler wheel being greater than an outer diameter of a given one of the support wheels. 59. The track assembly claimed in claim 58, comprising a frame supporting the plurality of idler wheels, wherein a width of the idler wheel in the widthwise direction of the track assembly occupies at least a majority of a distance between a lateral surface of the idler wheel and a center of the frame in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 60. The track assembly claimed in claim 58, wherein the idler wheel is wider than the given one of the support wheels in the widthwise direction of the track assembly. 61. The track assembly claimed in claim 53, wherein the idler wheel comprises a hub and a tire disposed around the hub and comprising the foam, the tire including a first lateral side, a second lateral side, and a circumferential surface extending from the first lateral side to the second lateral side, the tire having a single opening extending from the first lateral side to the second lateral side, the hub being located in the single opening of the tire. 62. The track assembly claimed in claim 53, wherein a radial extent of the idler wheel corresponding to at least 20% of an outer radius of the idler wheel is elastically deformable. 63. The track assembly claimed in claim 53, comprising a frame supporting the plurality of idler wheels and mounted about an axis of rotation of the drive wheel. 64. The track assembly claimed in claim 53, comprising a frame supporting the plurality of idler wheels and having a pivot point located between (i) the first leading idler wheel and the second leading idler wheel and (ii) the first trailing idler wheel and the second trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly. 65. The track assembly claimed in claim 64, wherein the pivot point of the frame corresponds to an axis of rotation of the drive wheel. 66. The track assembly claimed in claim 53, comprising a frame supporting the plurality of idler wheels, an axis of rotation of the first leading idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the first trailing idler wheel being movable relative to an axis of rotation of the drive wheel when the track assembly traverses an uneven area of the ground surface. 67. The track assembly claimed in claim 53, wherein a distance between an axis of rotation of the drive wheel and an axis of rotation of the first leading idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly is different from a distance between the axis of rotation of the drive wheel and an axis of rotation of the first trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly. 68. The track assembly claimed in claim 53, wherein the inner side of the endless track comprises a plurality of drive projections and the drive wheel comprises a sprocket for engaging the drive projections. 69. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) comprising a set of four track assemblies, wherein each of at least two of the four track assemblies is as claimed in claim 53.
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