Long-travel track carriage and rising-rate suspension mechanism for a track-driven land vehicle
원문보기
IPC분류정보
국가/구분
United States(US) Patent
등록
국제특허분류(IPC7판)
B62M-027/02
B62D-055/104
출원번호
US-0644738
(2017-07-08)
등록번호
US-10077088
(2018-09-18)
발명자
/ 주소
Forbes, Vernal DeLloy
출원인 / 주소
Forbes, Vernal DeLloy
인용정보
피인용 횟수 :
0인용 특허 :
5
초록▼
A long-travel continuously-rising-rate track carriage and suspension mechanism for motive drive and cushioned support of a tracked land vehicle upon a ground-contacting lower run of an endless-loop track. A present practical application of the invention is to convert a motorcycle into a snowbike for
A long-travel continuously-rising-rate track carriage and suspension mechanism for motive drive and cushioned support of a tracked land vehicle upon a ground-contacting lower run of an endless-loop track. A present practical application of the invention is to convert a motorcycle into a snowbike for over-snow use wherein the rear wheel and swingarm of the motorcycle are replaced by the track carriage and suspension mechanism of the present invention and the front wheel is replaced by one or more skis. The unique long-travel rising-rate track suspension is accomplished employing a single swingarm connected pivotally between the vehicle chassis and a track skid, and using a bell crank and connecting rod to provide progressive actuation of a shock absorber upon compression of the track suspension. The track is carried and driven by components mounted to the single swingarm.
대표청구항▼
1. A track carriage and suspension mechanism for providing cushioned support of a land vehicle upon a lower run of an endless-loop track and delivering motive force to the endless-loop track; the land vehicle comprising a chassis swingarm mount and a chassis suspension mount located away from the ch
1. A track carriage and suspension mechanism for providing cushioned support of a land vehicle upon a lower run of an endless-loop track and delivering motive force to the endless-loop track; the land vehicle comprising a chassis swingarm mount and a chassis suspension mount located away from the chassis swingarm mount;the track carriage and suspension mechanism comprising a track skid,an endless-loop track having an upper run and the lower run,a swingarm,a track drive wheel,a rigid strut,a bell crank, anda shock absorber;the track skid comprising a track skid frame configured to moveably bear upon an interior surface of the lower run of the endless-loop track,a track idler wheel rotatably mounted to a rearward portion of the track skid, anda track skid pivot mount located forward of the track idler wheel;the swingarm having a rigid framework comprising a swingarm chassis pivot pivotally attached to the chassis swingarm mount,a swingarm skid pivot pivotally attached to the track skid pivot mount to allow the track skid to incline and decline below the swingarm,a swingarm bell crank mount,a left side member, anda right side member;the left side member adjacent a lateral left side of the endless-loop track;the right side member adjacent a lateral right side of the endless-loop track;the left side member and the right side member both having a rigid connection to the swingarm skid pivot;the track drive wheel mounted rotatably between the left side member and the right side member;the endless-loop track configured to wrap and circulate around the track drive wheel, beneath the track skid; and around the track idler wheel;the track drive wheel drivingly engaging the track;the bell crank comprising a bell crank fulcrum, a bell crank first arm and a bell crank second arm;the bell crank fulcrum pivotally mounted to the swingarm bell crank mount;the rigid strut pivotally connected between the bell crank first arm and the chassis suspension mount;the shock absorber having a shock absorber first end pivotally attached to the bell crank second arm and a shock absorber second end having a shock absorber pivotal connection to at least one of the swingarm or the track skid. 2. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 1 wherein the shock absorber pivotal connection is a pivotal attachment to the swingarm. 3. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 1 wherein the shock absorber pivotal connection is a pivotal attachment to the track skid. 4. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 3 wherein the pivot axis of the pivotal attachment is displaced from the pivot axis of the track skid pivot mount. 5. The snow vehicle of claim 1 additionally comprising a track upper run support wheel rotatably mounted between the left side member and the right side member rearward of the track drive wheel and supporting the upper run of the endless-loop track; the endless-loop track wrapping and circulating around the drive wheel, beneath the track skid, around the track skid idler wheel and over the track support wheel; the drive wheel drivingly engaging the endless-loop track. 6. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 1 wherein the track skid pivot mount comprises a left side pivot mount and a right side pivot mount; the left side member pivotally attached to the left side pivot mount and the right side member pivotally attached to the right side pivot mount. 7. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 1 wherein the rigid connection of the left side member and the right side member to the swingarm skid pivot comprises a lower swingarm frame; the left side member rigidly attached to a left side of the lower swingarm frame, the right side member rigidly attached to a right side of the lower swingarm frame and the lower swingarm frame comprising the swingarm skid pivot mount. 8. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 1 additionally comprising a second link, the bell crank additionally comprises a bell crank third arm, and the track skid additionally comprises a track skid third location displaced from the track skid pivot mount; the second link pivotally connecting between the bell crank third arm and the track skid third location. 9. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 8 wherein the second link comprises a telescoping member having a minimum compressed length and a maximum extended length. 10. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 8 wherein the second link comprises a hydraulic damper. 11. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 1 additionally comprising a second link and a third link and wherein the bell crank additionally comprises a third arm and a fourth arm; the track skid additionally comprises a track skid third location displaced from the track skid pivot mount and a track skid fourth location displaced from the track skid pivot mount; the second link connecting between the third arm and the track skid third location and the third link connecting between the fourth arm and the track skid fourth location. 12. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 11 wherein at least one of the second link or the third link is a flexible member having a maximum extended length. 13. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 11 wherein at least one of the second link or the third link is a linkage having a minimum compressed length and a maximum extended length. 14. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 1 wherein the shock absorber pivotal connection is between the shock absorber second end and the track skid and comprises a second bell crank and a suspension connecting link; the second bell crank having a second bell crank fulcrum, a second bell crank first arm and a second bell crank second arm; the second bell crank fulcrum pivotally mounted to the swing arm; the shock absorber second end pivotally connected to the second bell crank first arm and the suspension connecting link pivotally connected between the second bell crank second arm and a track skid suspension mount of the track skid; the track skid suspension mount displaced from the track skid pivot mount. 15. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 14 additionally comprising a second suspension link and wherein the bell crank additionally comprises a bell crank third arm and the second bell crank additionally comprises a second bell crank third arm; the second suspension link pivotally connecting between the bell crank third arm and the second bell crank third arm. 16. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 15 wherein the second suspension link comprises a hydraulic damper. 17. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 15 wherein the second suspension link has at least one of a maximum extended length or a minimum compressed length. 18. A snow vehicle comprising a chassis, one or more steerable skis, an endless-loop track, and a track suspension for cushioned support of the snow vehicle chassis upon a lower run of the endless-loop track; the chassis comprising a chassis swingarm mount and a chassis shock absorber mount displaced from the chassis swingarm mount;the track suspension comprising: a track skid comprising a track skid frame and a track skid idler wheel; the track skid frame having a track skid pivot mount; the track skid configured to moveably bear upon an interior surface of the lower run of the endless-loop track;a swingarm having a front and a rear; the front of the swingarm pivotally attached to the chassis swingarm mount and the rear of the swingarm pivotally attached to the track skid pivot mount to allow the track skid to longitudinally incline and decline relative to the swingarm;a drive wheel mounted rotatingly to the swingarm;a bell crank having a fulcrum, a first arm and a second arm; the fulcrum pivotally attached to the swingarm;a rigid strut pivotally connected between the first arm of the bell crank and the chassis shock absorber mount;a shock absorber comprising a hydraulic damper and at least one of a metal spring or a compressible gas cushion, a first end and a second end; the first end pivotally attached to the second arm and the second end having a pivotal connection to at least one of the swingarm or the track skid;the endless-loop track wrapping and circulating around the drive wheel, beneath the track skid, and around the track skid idler wheel; the drive wheel drivingly engaging the endless-loop track. 19. The snow vehicle of claim 18 wherein the chassis shock absorber mount comprises a pivot mount frame rigidly attached to the chassis of the snow vehicle. 20. The snow vehicle of claim 18 wherein the track skid frame comprises a left track skid frame and a right track skid frame, the left track skid frame and right track skid frame rigidly joined by one or more cross members; the track skid idler wheel rotatably mounted to a rearward end of the left track skid frame and a rearward end of the right track skid frame; the left track skid frame and the right track skid frame configured to moveably bear upon the lower run of the endless-loop track. 21. The snow vehicle of claim 18 wherein the swingarm is a rigid assembly comprising a pivot frame, a left side member and a right side member; the drive wheel rotatingly mounted between the left side member and the right side member; the pivot frame pivotally attached to the chassis swingarm mount; the left side member attached to a left side of the pivot frame and extending downward past a lateral left side of an upper run of the endless-loop track and the right side member attached to the right side of the pivot frame and extending downward past a lateral right side of the upper run of the endless-loop track; the left side member and the right side member mounting to at least one of the track skid pivot mount or a lower pivot frame that attaches pivotally to the track skid pivot mount. 22. The snow vehicle of claim 18 wherein the track skid additionally comprises a track skid suspension mount displaced from the track skid pivot mount and the pivotal connection of the second end of the shock absorber comprises a second bell crank and a connecting link; the second bell crank having a fulcrum pivot, a primary second bell crank arm and a secondary second bell crank arm; the fulcrum pivot pivotally attached to the swing arm, the primary second bell crank arm pivotally attached to the second end of the shock absorber and the connecting link pivotally connecting between the secondary second bell crank arm and the track skid suspension mount. 23. The snow vehicle of claim 18 wherein the track skid frame additionally comprises a track suspension mount displaced from the track skid pivot mount and the pivotal connection of the second end of the shock absorber is a pivotal attachment to the track skid suspension mount. 24. The snow vehicle of claim 18 additionally comprising a track support wheel rotatably mounted between the left side member and the right side member rearward of the track drive wheel and supporting the upper run of the endless-loop track; the track wrapping and circulating around the drive wheel, beneath the track skid, around the track skid idler wheel and over the track support wheel; the drive wheel drivingly engaging the track. 25. A track conversion mechanism for converting a motorcycle to over snow use wherein the rear wheel and swingarm of the motorcycle are replaced with the track conversion mechanism; the motorcycle having a chassis comprising a chassis swingarm mount and a chassis suspension mount displaced from the chassis swingarm mount; the track conversion mechanism comprising: an endless-loop track;a track skid comprising a track skid frame and a track skid idler wheel; the track skid frame having a track skid pivot mount, the track skid configured to moveably bear upon an interior surface of the lower run of the endless-loop track;a rigid swingarm comprising a forward pivot, a left side member and a right side member; the forward pivot pivotally attached to the chassis swingarm mount; the left side member extending downward past a lateral left side of the endless-loop track and the right side member extending downward past a lateral right side of the endless-loop track; the left side member and the right side member mounting to at least one of the track skid pivot mount or a lower pivot frame attached pivotally to the track skid pivot mount operative to allow the track skid to longitudinally incline and decline under the rigid swingarm;a drive wheel mounted rotatingly between the left side member and the right side member;the endless-loop track wrapping and circulating around the drive wheel, beneath the track skid and around the track skid idler wheel;the drive wheel drivingly engaging the endless-loop track;a bell crank having a fulcrum, a first arm and a second arm; the fulcrum pivotally attached to the swingarm;a rigid strut pivotally connected between the first arm and the chassis suspension mount;a shock absorber comprising a hydraulic damper and at least one of a metal spring or a compressible gas cushion, a first end and a second end; the first end pivotally attached to the second arm and the second end having a pivotal connection to at least one of the swingarm or the track skid. 26. The track conversion mechanism of claim 25 wherein the chassis suspension mount comprises a suspension frame rigidly attached to the chassis; the suspension frame comprising a suspension pivot mount displaced from the chassis swingarm mount. 27. The snow vehicle of claim 25 wherein the track skid frame additionally comprises a track skid suspension mount displaced from the track skid pivot mount and the pivotal connection of second end of the shock absorber is a pivotal attachment to the track skid suspension mount. 28. The track carriage and suspension mechanism of claim 25 wherein the track skid additionally comprises a track skid suspension mount displaced from the track skid pivot mount and the pivotal connection of the second end of the shock absorber to the track skid comprises a second bell crank and a suspension connecting link; the second bell crank having a second bell crank fulcrum, a second bell crank first arm and a second bell crank second arm; the second bell crank fulcrum pivotally mounted to the swing arm; the shock absorber second end pivotally attached to the second bell crank first arm and the suspension connecting link pivotally connected between the second bell crank second arm and the track skid suspension mount. 29. The snow vehicle of claim 25 additionally comprising a track support wheel rotatably mounted between the left side member and the right side member rearward of the track drive wheel and supporting the upper run of the track; the track wrapping and circulating around the drive wheel, beneath the track skid, around the track skid idler wheel and over the track support wheel; the drive wheel drivingly engaging the track.
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