A track system for use as a replacement of a steerable wheel on a normally wheeled vehicle, is configured to improve the handling of the vehicle when operated over hard surface (e.g. packed dirt, pavement, concrete, etc.). The track system generally comprises a drive wheel configured to be mounted t
A track system for use as a replacement of a steerable wheel on a normally wheeled vehicle, is configured to improve the handling of the vehicle when operated over hard surface (e.g. packed dirt, pavement, concrete, etc.). The track system generally comprises a drive wheel configured to be mounted to the vehicle, a support frame mounted to the drive wheel or to the vehicle, front and rear idler wheels respectively pivotally mounted at the front and at the rear of the support frame, road wheels pivotal mounted along the length of the support frame, and a traction band disposed about the wheels and configured to be driven by the drive wheel. The road wheels are particularly configured to improve the handling of the vehicle when the track systems are operated over hard surface.
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1. A track system attachable to a vehicle having a rotatable wheel hub structured for mechanical attachment to a wheel thereto, the system comprising: a drive wheel assembly structured to be mechanically attachable to the rotatable wheel hub of the vehicle when the wheel is absent,a support frame at
1. A track system attachable to a vehicle having a rotatable wheel hub structured for mechanical attachment to a wheel thereto, the system comprising: a drive wheel assembly structured to be mechanically attachable to the rotatable wheel hub of the vehicle when the wheel is absent,a support frame attached at least one of rotatably to the sprocket wheel assembly, to a suspension assembly of the vehicle, and to a steering assembly of the vehicle,front and rear idler wheel assemblies rotatably attached to the support frame,a plurality of road wheel assemblies disposed intermediate the front and rear idler wheels, at least indirectly rotatably attached to the support frame, each of the road wheel assemblies having at least one road wheel,an endless traction band disposed about the sprocket wheel assembly, the idler wheels assemblies and the road wheel assemblies and,when the track system is mounted on a vehicle and is on a planar horizontal ground surface, and only one of the road wheel assemblies of the plurality of road wheel assemblies defines a lower road wheel assembly which extends vertically lower than the other road wheel assemblies, and engages the planar horizontal ground surface is the lower road wheel assembly. 2. The track system of claim 1, wherein the lower road wheel assembly has a pair of concentrically aligned lower road wheels. 3. The track system of claim 2, wherein a longitudinal distance T1 is measured between intersections of the planar horizontal ground surface with a steering axis and with a lateral plane defined by the vertical projection of a rotation axis of the pair of lower road wheels; anda lateral distance S1 is measured between intersections of the planar horizontal ground surface with the steering, axis and with a longitudinal plane defined laterally midway between the lower road wheels of the lower road wheel assembly;the longitudinal distance T1 being between 5 mm and 35 mm, and the lateral distance S1 being between −25 mm and 25 mm. 4. The track system of claim 2, wherein the pair of lower road wheels is positioned on a lower portion of the support frame such that the projection of a rotation axis of the lower road wheels onto the planar horizontal ground surface is longitudinally located rearward of the intersection of the steering axis with the planar horizontal ground surface. 5. The track system of claim 2, wherein a vertical plane centered between the lower road wheels of the lower road wheel assembly is laterally offset from a longitudinal center of the endless traction band. 6. The track system of claim 2, wherein the steering axis intersects a volume defined by the lower road wheel assembly. 7. The track system of claim 2, wherein the pair of lower road wheels is rotatably attached to the support frame such that a rotation axis of the lower road wheels is lower than rotation axes of all other road wheel assemblies. 8. The track system of claim 2, wherein the steering axis intersects the planar horizontal ground surface midway laterally between the lower road wheels. 9. The track system of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal distance T1 is between 10 mm and 30 mm. 10. The track system of claim 3, wherein the longitudinal distance T1 is between 15 mm and 25 mm. 11. The track system of claim 3, wherein the lateral distance S1 is between −15 mm and 15 mm. 12. The track system of claim 3, wherein the lateral distance S1 is between −5 mm and 5 mm. 13. The track system of claim 1, wherein the lower road wheel assembly is indirectly pivotably mounted to the support frame via a wheel-bearing member resiliently mounted to the support frame, the wheel-bearing member structured such that the lower road wheel assembly can be biased to move with respect to the remainder of the support frame. 14. The track system of claim 13, wherein the wheel-bearing member resiliently mounted to the support frame is structured such that the lower road wheel assembly can be biased to move vertically by a maximum downward amplitude and a maximum upward amplitude, the maximum downward amplitude being greater than the maximum upward amplitude. 15. The track system of claim 13, wherein at least one of the maximum downward amplitude and the maximum upward amplitude of movement of the lower road wheel assembly is limited by a limiter either mounted on the lower portion of the support frame or mounted on the wheel-bearing member of the support frame. 16. The track system of claim 1, wherein the steering axis intersects an area of the endless traction band, the area being defined longitudinally by a longitudinal dimension of a contact area at the interface of the endless traction band and the planar horizontal ground surface, and defined laterally by a lateral dimension of a portion of the contact area, the portion located outward of a longitudinal plane defined laterally midway between the lower road wheels of the lower road wheel assembly. 17. The track system of claim 16, wherein the contact area of the endless traction band varies as a function of a hardness of a ground surface, such that when the track system is mounted on a vehicle and is on a soft ground surface, a vertex of the endless traction band located underneath the lower road wheel assembly sinks into the soft ground surface, allowing a greater area of the endless traction band to drivingly and steeringly engage the soft ground surface. 18. The track system of claim 1, wherein each of the road wheel assemblies have a pair of concentrically-aligned wheels. 19. The track system of claim 1, wherein the track system comprises three road wheel assemblies.
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