Apparatus for converting a wheeled vehicle to a tracked vehicle
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B62D-055/04
B62D-055/30
B62D-011/20
B62D-055/065
B62D-055/125
B62D-055/10
B62D-055/14
B62D-055/084
출원번호
US-0478808
(2014-09-05)
등록번호
US-9352776
(2016-05-31)
발명자
/ 주소
Hansen, Ronald S.
출원인 / 주소
Vermeer Manufacturing Company
대리인 / 주소
Lathrop & Gage LLP
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
1인용 특허 :
144
초록▼
The invention relates to track systems 14, 14′ that may be used to convert steerable, all-wheel drive construction equipment to steerable, multi-track construction vehicles 10. A preferred embodiment of the track system 14, 14′ includes a frame 60, 182 having a reinforcing enclosure 150, 230, a plur
The invention relates to track systems 14, 14′ that may be used to convert steerable, all-wheel drive construction equipment to steerable, multi-track construction vehicles 10. A preferred embodiment of the track system 14, 14′ includes a frame 60, 182 having a reinforcing enclosure 150, 230, a plurality of track engaging rollers 82-86, 202-206, a sprocket 102, 214, and an endless track 76, 198 operatively connected to the frame 60, 182. Tension on the endless track 76, 198 is maintained with two tensioning members 170, 244 operatively connected to the forwardmost roller 82, 202. The track system 14, 14′ preferably includes a limiting apparatus 300 that is configured to restrict the rotational movement “r” of the frame 60, 182 relative to a vehicle axle 16 to which it is attached. The limiting apparatus 300 has a first component 40, which is associated with the vehicle axle 16, is configured and arranged to interact with a second component 262, which is associated with the frame of the track system 14, 14′. Preferably, the limiting apparatus 300 is adjustable such that the range of rotational movement “r” can be varied.
대표청구항▼
1. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame;a drive axle coupled to the vehicle frame, the drive axle comprising a hub, the hub being mounted for rotation about a drive axis, the hub being pivotally mounted to the drive axle by way of a steering housing, and the hub including a hub housing body and a t
1. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame;a drive axle coupled to the vehicle frame, the drive axle comprising a hub, the hub being mounted for rotation about a drive axis, the hub being pivotally mounted to the drive axle by way of a steering housing, and the hub including a hub housing body and a torque transfer flange that projects radially outwardly from an inboard end of the hub housing body;a steering arm coupled to the steering housing for pivoting the steering housing about a steering pivot axis;a track system including: a track frame supporting end rollers, the track frame being rotatably mounted to the drive axle;a sprocket that rotates with the hub about the drive axis;a track routed about the sprocket and the end rollers; anda limiting apparatus secured to the steering housing, the limiting apparatus including an arrangement of separate pieces fastened together by fasteners so as to be separable from one another by disengaging the fasteners, the arrangement of separate pieces including at least a first piece fastened to a first side of the steering housing and a second piece fastened to an opposite second side of the steering housing, wherein the limiting apparatus further comprises a collar extending completely around an exterior of the drive axle and carrying the first and second pieces, wherein the collar is configured and arranged to engage the track frame. 2. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the track frame is rotatably mounted to the drive axle to rotate about the drive axis. 3. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the limiting apparatus mechanically interfaces with the track frame to restrict a range of rotational motion of the track frame with respect to the drive axle. 4. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the limiting apparatus is configured and arranged to engage the track frame to restrict a range of rotational motion of the track frame with respect to the drive axle. 5. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first side of the steering housing is a top side and the second side of the steering housing is a bottom side. 6. The vehicle of claim 5, wherein the steering arm is coupled to a steering knuckle integrated with the steering housing, the steering knuckle being positioned higher than the bottom side of the steering housing and lower than the top side of the steering housing. 7. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the first side of the steering housing is a top side and the second side of the steering housing is a bottom side. 8. The vehicle of claim 7, wherein the steering housing has a width defined by a distance from the top side to the bottom side of the steering housing, and wherein the torque transfer flange has a diameter larger than the width of the steering housing. 9. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the hub is adjacent the steering pivot axis. 10. The vehicle of claim 1, wherein the drive axis extends through the collar. 11. The vehicle of claim 10, wherein the collar includes first and second collar sections connected to one another with fasteners. 12. The vehicle of claim 11, wherein the first and second pieces extend in an axial direction from the first and second collar sections, respectively. 13. A vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame;a drive axle coupled to the vehicle frame, the drive axle including a hub that is rotatably driven about a drive axis, the drive axle also including a steering housing for pivotally moving the hub about a steering axis relative to the vehicle frame during steering;a steering arm for pivoting the steering housing about the steering axis;a track system including: a track frame supporting end rollers, the track frame being rotatable relative to the drive axle to allow the track frame to rotate relative to the drive axle as the grade of the ground changes and as the vehicle encounters obstacles on the ground;a sprocket that rotates with the hub about the drive axis;a track routed about the sprocket and the end rollers; anda limiting apparatus associated with the steering housing that constrains movement of the track frame in at least one orientation relative to the drive axle, the limiting apparatus including an arrangement of separate pieces fastened together by fasteners so as to be separable from one another by disengaging the fasteners, the arrangement of separate pieces including at least a first piece fastened to a first side of the steering housing and a second piece fastened to an opposite second side of the steering housing, the first and second pieces extending from a curved interconnect member extending completely around the drive axis. 14. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the steering housing includes a knuckle to which the steering arm attaches. 15. The vehicle of claim 13, wherein the limiting apparatus defines first and second rotation stops extending radially from the curved interconnect member that engage structure associated with the track frame to restrict a range of rotational movement of the track frame relative to the drive axle as the grade of the ground changes and as the vehicle encounters obstacles on the ground. 16. The vehicle of claim 15, wherein the track frame rotates about the drive axis as the grade of the ground changes and as the vehicle encounters obstacles on the ground. 17. A quad track vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame;a steering housing that pivots relative to the vehicle frame about a steering pivot axis, the steering housing having a main housing body that defines an inboard end and an outboard end, the main housing body also having a first structural component attachment surface and a second structural component attachment surface positioned at opposite sides of the steering housing, the steering housing also including a steering knuckle that projects outwardly from the main housing body;a steering arm for pivoting the steering housing about the steering pivot axis for steering the vehicle, the steering arm being coupled to the steering knuckle;an axle hub mounted at the outboard end of the main housing body of the steering housing, the axle hub including a hub housing body and a torque transfer flange that projects radially outwardly from an inboard end of the hub housing body;a track system including: a track frame supporting end rollers, the track frame being rotatable about a generally horizontal axis;a drive sprocket driven by torque transferred from the axle hub through the transfer flange;a track routed in a generally triangular path about the drive sprocket and the end rollers, the track being driven by the drive sprocket about the generally triangular path when the drive sprocket is rotated; anda structural component attached to the steering housing inboard of the axle hub, wherein the structural component is configured to mechanically interface with the track frame, the structural component being fastened to the steering housing at first and second structural component attachment surfaces, the structural component including an arrangement of separate pieces fastened together by fasteners so as to be separable from one another by disengaging the fasteners, the arrangement of separate pieces including a first piece fastened to the first structural component attachment surface and a second piece fastened to the second structural component attachment surface, the first and second pieces extending from a curved interconnect member that extends completely around an exterior of the drive axle. 18. The quad track vehicle of claim 17, wherein the first structural component attachment surface is a top structural component attachment surface and the second structural component attachment surface is a bottom structural component attachment surface, and wherein the steering knuckle is positioned higher than the bottom structural component attachment surface and lower than the top structural component attachment surface. 19. The quad track vehicle of claim 17, wherein the structural component includes a limiting apparatus that restricts a range of rotational movement of the track frame about the generally horizontal axis relative to the vehicle frame. 20. The quad track vehicle of claim 19, wherein the horizontal axis is co-axially aligned with a drive axis of the drive sprocket. 21. The vehicle of claim 17, wherein the curved interconnect member includes first and second sections connected to one another with fasteners such that the curved interconnect member extends completely around the drive axis, and wherein the first and second pieces extend in an axial direction from the first and second sections, respectively. 22. A quad track vehicle comprising: a vehicle frame;a steering housing that pivots relative to the vehicle frame about a steering pivot axis, the steering housing having a main housing body that defines an inboard end and an outboard end, the main housing body also having a top structural component attachment surface and a bottom structural component attachment surface, the steering housing also including a steering knuckle that projects outwardly from a side of the main housing body at a height that is lower than a height of the top structural component attachment surface and higher than a height of the bottom structural component attachment surface;a steering rod for pivoting the steering housing about the steering pivot axis for steering the vehicle, the steering rod being coupled to the steering knuckle;an axle hub mounted at the outboard end of the main housing body of the steering housing, the axle hub including a cylindrical housing body and a torque transfer flange that projects radially outwardly from an inboard end of the cylindrical housing body;a track system including: a track frame supporting end rollers, the track frame being rotatable relative to the vehicle frame about a generally horizontal axis to allow the track system to follow ground contours during operation of the vehicle;a drive sprocket driven by torque transferred from the axle hub through the torque transfer flange;a track routed in a generally triangular path about the drive sprocket and the end rollers, the track being driven by the drive sprocket about the generally triangular path when the drive sprocket is rotated; anda structural component attached to the steering housing inboard of the axle hub, the structural component including a stop-defining structure for limiting a range of rotational movement of the track frame about the generally horizontal axis, the structural component including a first and second flanges being fastened to the steering housing at the top and bottom structural component attachment surfaces, respectively, wherein the first and second flanges extend from a collar that completely surrounds the axle hub. 23. The quad track vehicle of claim 22, wherein the structural component includes an arrangement of separate pieces fastened together by fasteners so as to be separable from one another by disengaging the fasteners, the arrangement of separate pieces including first and second collar sections that form the collar.
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