# US 10,246,148 B2 · Crawler-track unit, forest machine and forest machine assembly > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 10,246,148 B2 - Document ID: US10246148B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/337,118 - Filed: 2016-10-28 - Published: 2017-03-02 - Granted: 2019-04-02 - Earliest claimed: 2014-04-25 - Assignees: Ponsse Oyj - Applicants: Ponsse Oyj - Inventors: Kalle Einola; Pentti Hukkanen; Jorma Hyvönen; Jukka Hyvönen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US10246148B2 ## CPC - B62D 55/084: Endless-track units or carriages mounted separably, adjustably or extensibly on vehicles, e.g. portable track units (B62D55/07 takes precedence) - B62D 21/04: single longitudinal type - B62D 55/04: with tracks and alternative ground wheels, e.g. changeable from endless track vehicle into wheeled vehicle and vice versa {(for multi-purpose tractors B62D49/0635)} - B62D 55/065: Multi-track vehicles, i.e. more than two tracks {(soil-shifting machines E02F; mining machines E21C)} - B62D 55/12: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets - A01G 23/003: {Collecting felled trees} - B60G 2206/011: Modular constructions - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) - A01G: HORTICULTURE; CULTIVATION OF VEGETABLES, FLOWERS, RICE, FRUIT, VINES, HOPS OR SEAWEED; FORESTRY; WATERING (picking of fruits, vegetables, hops or the like A01D46/00; propagating unicellular algae C12N1/12) - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract A modular crawler-track unit for a forest machine has an engine, a chassis with a pivot bearing and a crawler-track frame. A sleeve shaft is attached to the crawler-track frame to support the crawler-track frame on the pivot bearing. A drive wheel is mounted in bearings in the crawler-track frame inside a circulation of a crawler mat. A support is arranged in the crawler-track frame inside the circulation to support a part of the crawler mat against the ground. A drive shaft is mounted in bearings in the crawler-track frame coaxially with the sleeve shaft to transmit power to the crawler-track unit. A shaft mounted in bearings on the crawler-track frame pivots the drive wheel to the crawler-track frame at a distance from the drive shaft. A power-transmission is fitted between the shaft and the drive shaft to transmit power from the drive shaft to the drive wheel. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A modular crawler-track unit for a forest machine having an engine and a chassis with a pivot bearing, comprising: a crawler-track frame; a sleeve shaft attached to the crawler-track frame supporting the crawler-track frame on the pivot bearing belonging to the chassis of the forest machine; a crawler mat arranged in a circulation to distribute surface pressure of the crawler-track unit; at least one drive wheel, mounted in first bearings in the crawler-track frame inside the circulation of the crawler mat, to rotate and support the crawler mat; at least one idler wheel, mounted in second bearings in the crawler-track frame inside the circulation of the crawler mat, to support the crawler mat; a support structure arranged in the crawler-track frame, inside the circulation of the crawler mat, to support a part of the crawler mat that is against the ground, which support structure is arranged to conform according to a shape of a surface of the ground, to distribute surface pressure of the crawler-track unit evenly; a drive shaft mounted in third bearings in the crawler-track frame, coaxially with the sleeve shaft, to transmit power from the forest machine to the crawler-track unit and to pivot the crawler-track unit to the chassis of the forest machine; a shaft mounted in fourth bearings in the crawler-track frame to pivot the drive wheel to the crawler-track frame at a distance from the drive shaft; and a power-transmission fitted between the shaft and the drive shaft to transmit power from the drive shaft to the drive wheel. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The crawler-track unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive shaft and the sleeve shaft are mounted in the respective bearings coaxially in a centre of the crawler-track frame. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The crawler-track unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive wheel is located in the crawler-track frame before or after the support structure in a direction of travel of the crawler-track unit so that incidence angle of the crawler mat, when moving in the direction of travel of the crawler-track unit, is 20-70°. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The crawler-track unit according to claim 1, wherein the crawler-track frame comprises an upper surface arranged to rise towards a centre of the crawler-track frame in both directions of travel. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The crawler-track unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive wheel and the idler wheel are equally distant in the crawler-track frame from the drive shaft in a direction of travel of the crawler-track unit. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The crawler-track unit according to claim 1, wherein the drive wheel is located in a most acute angle of the circulation of the crawler mat. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The crawler-track unit according to claim 6, wherein the crawler mat is arranged to cover a sector of at least 120° of the drive wheel. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) The crawler-track unit according to claim 1, wherein the support structure is flexibly attached directly to an undersurface of the crawler-track frame. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The crawler-track unit according to claim 1, wherein a height of the crawler-track unit is 25-60% of a length of the crawler-track unit. ### Claim 10 (depends on 1) The crawler-track unit according to claim 1, wherein the power-transmission is mechanical. ### Claim 11 (depends on 1) The crawler-track unit according to claim 1, wherein the support structure comprises at least two auxiliary crawler wheels, wherein some of the auxiliary crawler wheels are pivoted to the crawler-track frame by an arm. ### Claim 12 A forest machine comprising a chassis, at least two modular crawler-track units each pivoted on one side of the chassis, an engine, a first power-transmission for transmitting power from the engine to each crawler-track unit and pivot bearings belonging to the power-transmission and having an inner race, an outer race and bolt holes for attachment of crawler-track unit into the pivot bearing with the aid of a sleeve shaft of the crawler-track unit, wherein each crawler-track unit comprises: a crawler-track frame; the sleeve shaft attached to the crawler-track frame and supporting the crawler-track frame in the outer race of the pivot bearing using bolts; a crawler mat arranged in a circulation to distribute surface pressure of the crawler-track unit; at least one drive wheel, mounted in first bearings in the crawler-track frame inside of the circulation of the crawler mat, to rotate and support the crawler mat; at least one idler wheel, mounted in second bearings in the crawler-track frame inside the circulation of the crawler mat, to support the crawler mat; support structure arranged in the crawler-track frame, inside of the circulation of the crawler mat, to support a part of the circulation that is against the ground, which support structure is arranged to conform according to a shape of a surface of the ground, in order to distribute surface pressure of the crawler-track unit evenly; a drive shaft mounted in third bearings in the crawler-track frame coaxially with the sleeve shaft to transmit power from the forest machine to the crawler-track unit and to pivot the crawler-track unit to the chassis of the forest machine, a shaft mounted in fourth bearings on the crawler-track frame for pivoting the drive wheel to the crawler-track frame at a distance from the drive shaft; and a second power-transmission fitted between the shaft and the drive shaft to transmit power from the drive shaft to the drive wheel. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The forest machine according to claim 12, wherein the drive shaft is arranged to run through a centre of the pivot bearing to pivot the crawler-track unit to the chassis of the forest machine. ### Claim 14 (depends on 12) The forest machine assembly according to claim 12, wherein the crawler-track units are interchangeable and each has the sleeve shaft for attachment of the crawler track unit in the outer race of the pivot bearing. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The forest machine assembly according to claim 14, wherein the drive shaft of each interchangeable crawler track unit is arranged to be connected with the first power-transmission of the forest machine and to be coaxial with the sleeve shaft.