# US 11,077,897 B2 · Track system for traction of a vehicle > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 11,077,897 B2 - Document ID: US11077897B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 15/997,058 - Filed: 2018-06-04 - Published: 2019-01-03 - Granted: 2021-08-03 - Earliest claimed: 2015-10-23 - Assignees: Camso Manufacturing Italy S.R.L. - Applicants: Camso Manufacturing Italy S.R.L. - Inventors: Giuseppe Tratta; Riccardo Canossa - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US11077897B2 ## 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) - A01D 67/00: Undercarriages or frames specially adapted for harvesters or mowers (coupling arrangements between animal or tractor and harvester or mower A01B59/00); Mechanisms for adjusting the frame (adjusting devices for the cutter-bar A01D34/28); Platforms - A01D 75/28: Control mechanisms for harvesters or mowers when moving on slopes; Devices preventing lateral pull - 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 55/08: Endless track units; Parts thereof - B62D 55/10: Bogies; Frames (track-tensioning means B62D55/30) - B62D 55/125: Final drives - B62D 55/24: of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts - B62D 55/244: {Moulded in one piece, with either smooth surfaces or surfaces having projections, e.g. incorporating reinforcing elements} - A01D 41/12: Details of combines - B62D 55/02: with tracks and additional ground wheels {(for multi-purpose tractors B62D49/0635)} - B62D 55/06: with tracks without ground wheels - B62D 55/065: Multi-track vehicles, i.e. more than two tracks {(soil-shifting machines E02F; mining machines E21C)} - B62D 55/0655: {Articulated endless track vehicles (steering specially adapted for trailers B62D13/00; articulated buses B62D47/025; tractor-trailer combinations or road trains comprising a uni-axle unit and a uni-axle trailer B62D53/02)} - 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) - A01D: HARVESTING; MOWING ## Abstract A track system for traction of a vehicle that is connectable to an axle of the vehicle and includes a track and a track-engaging assembly for driving and guiding the track around the track-engaging assembly. The track-engaging assembly includes a drive wheel for driving the track, idler wheels for contacting a bottom run of the track, and a bogie carrying the idler wheels. The track system includes a transmission for transmitting power from the axle of the vehicle to the drive wheel such that a rotational speed of the drive wheel is different from a rotational speed of the axle of the vehicle. The track system includes a connector disposed between the transmission and the bogie such that the bogie is movable (e.g., pivotable) relative to the transmission. The connector may be disposed below an output shaft of the transmission. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A track system for traction of a vehicle, the track system being connectable to an axle of the vehicle, the track system comprising: a track; and a track-engaging assembly for driving and guiding the track around the track-engaging assembly, the track comprising elastomeric material to flex around the track-engaging assembly, the track-engaging assembly comprising: a drive wheel for driving the track; a plurality of track-contacting wheels for contacting a bottom run of the track, the track-contacting wheels including a leading idler wheel and a trailing idler wheel; and a transmission for transmitting power from the axle of the vehicle to the drive wheel such that a rotational speed of the drive wheel is different from a rotational speed of the axle of the vehicle; wherein axes of rotation of respective ones of the track-contacting wheels, including an axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel, are movable relative to the transmission. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The track system of claim 1, wherein the axes of rotation of the respective ones of the track-contacting wheels are pivotable relative to the transmission. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The track system of claim 1, wherein each of the axes of rotation of the respective ones of the track-contacting wheels is pivotable relative to the transmission about a pivot axis located within a span of the drive wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track system and intersecting the transmission. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The track system of claim 1, wherein: the track-contacting wheels include roller wheels disposed between the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track system; and the axes of rotation of the respective ones of the track-contacting wheels include axes of rotation of the roller wheels. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The track system of claim 1, wherein an axis of rotation of the drive wheel is located between the axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel and the axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track system. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The track system of claim 1, wherein the track-engaging assembly comprises: a frame carrying the track-contacting wheels; and a connector disposed between the transmission and the frame such that the frame is movable relative to the transmission. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The track system of claim 6, wherein the connector is connected to the frame where the connector overlaps with the transmission in a longitudinal direction of the track system. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The track system of claim 7, wherein the connector is connected to the frame where the connector overlaps with the transmission in a heightwise direction of the track system. ### Claim 9 (depends on 6) The track system of claim 6, wherein the connector comprises a pivot such that the frame is pivotable relative to the transmission. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The track system of claim 9, wherein the pivot is connected to the frame where the pivot overlaps with the transmission in a longitudinal direction of the track system. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The track system of claim 10, wherein the pivot is connected to the frame where the pivot overlaps with the transmission in a heightwise direction of the track system. ### Claim 12 (depends on 6) The track system of claim 6, wherein the frame is suspended from the transmission. ### Claim 13 (depends on 6) The track system of claim 6, wherein the transmission comprises an output shaft and the connector is disposed below the output shaft of the transmission in a heightwise direction of the track system. ### Claim 14 (depends on 9) The track system of claim 9, wherein the transmission comprises an output shaft and the pivot is spaced apart from the output shaft of the transmission. ### Claim 15 (depends on 9) The track system of claim 9, wherein the transmission comprises an output shaft and the pivot is below the output shaft of the transmission in a heightwise direction of the track system. ### Claim 16 (depends on 9) The track system of claim 9, wherein the pivot comprises a pin extending from the transmission and the frame comprises an opening receiving the pin. ### Claim 17 (depends on 6) The track system of claim 6, wherein the track-engaging assembly comprises a resilient member between portions of the frame to allow the portions of the frame to move relative to one another. ### Claim 18 (depends on 17) The track system of claim 17, wherein the resilient member comprises an elastomeric spring. ### Claim 19 (depends on 17) The track system of claim 17, wherein the resilient member comprises a coil spring. ### Claim 20 (depends on 1) The track system of claim 1, wherein the track system is configured to replace a ground-engaging wheel of the vehicle. ### Claim 21 (depends on 1) A vehicle comprising the track system of claim 1. ### Claim 22 (depends on 21) The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle. ### Claim 23 A track system for traction of a vehicle, the track system being connectable to an axle of the vehicle, the track system comprising: a track; and a track-engaging assembly for driving and guiding the track around the track-engaging assembly, the track comprising elastomeric material to flex around the track-engaging assembly, the track-engaging assembly comprising: a drive wheel for driving the track; a plurality of track-contacting wheels for contacting a bottom run of the track; and a transmission for transmitting power from the axle of the vehicle to the drive wheel such that a rotational speed of the drive wheel is different from a rotational speed of the axle of the vehicle; wherein: axes of rotation of respective ones of the track-contacting wheels are pivotable relative to the transmission; and each of the axes of rotation of the respective ones of the track-contacting wheels is pivotable relative to the transmission about a pivot axis located within a span of the drive wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track system and intersecting the transmission. ### Claim 24 (depends on 23) The track system of claim 23, wherein: the track-contacting wheels include a leading idler wheel and a trailing idler wheel; and the axes of rotation of the respective ones of the track-contacting wheels include an axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel. ### Claim 25 (depends on 24) The track system of claim 24, wherein: the track-contacting wheels include roller wheels disposed between the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track; and the axes of rotation of the respective ones of the track-contacting wheels include axes of rotation of the roller wheels. ### Claim 26 (depends on 24) The track system of claim 24, wherein an axis of rotation of the drive wheel is located between the axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel and the axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track system. ### Claim 27 (depends on 23) The track system of claim 23, wherein the track-engaging assembly comprises: a frame carrying the track-contacting wheels; and a pivot disposed between the transmission and the frame such that the frame is pivotable relative to the transmission. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The track system of claim 27, wherein the pivot is connected to the frame where the pivot overlaps with the transmission in a longitudinal direction of the track system. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The track system of claim 28, wherein the pivot is connected to the frame where the pivot overlaps with the transmission in a heightwise direction of the track system. ### Claim 30 (depends on 27) The track system of claim 27, wherein the frame is suspended from the transmission. ### Claim 31 (depends on 23) The track system of claim 23, wherein the transmission comprises an output shaft and the pivot axis is below the output shaft of the transmission in a heightwise direction of the track system. ### Claim 32 (depends on 27) The track system of claim 27, wherein the pivot comprises a pin extending from the transmission and the frame comprises an opening receiving the pin. ### Claim 33 (depends on 27) The track system of claim 27, wherein the track-engaging assembly comprises a resilient member between portions of the frame to allow the portions of the frame to move relative to one another. ### Claim 34 (depends on 33) The track system of claim 33, wherein the resilient member comprises an elastomeric spring. ### Claim 35 (depends on 33) The track system of claim 33, wherein the resilient member comprises a coil spring. ### Claim 36 (depends on 23) The track system of claim 23, wherein the track system is configured to replace a ground-engaging wheel of the vehicle. ### Claim 37 (depends on 23) A vehicle comprising the track system of claim 23. ### Claim 38 (depends on 37) The vehicle of claim 37, wherein the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle. ### Claim 39 A track system for traction of a vehicle, the track system being connectable to an axle of the vehicle, the track system comprising: a track; and a track-engaging assembly for driving and guiding the track around the track-engaging assembly, the track comprising elastomeric material to flex around the track-engaging assembly, the track-engaging assembly comprising: a drive wheel for driving the track; a plurality of track-contacting wheels for contacting a bottom run of the track, the track-contacting wheels including a leading idler wheel and a trailing idler wheel; a frame carrying the track-contacting wheels; a resilient member between portions of the frame to allow the portions of the frame to move relative to one another; and a transmission for transmitting power from the axle of the vehicle to the drive wheel such that a rotational speed of the drive wheel is different from a rotational speed of the axle of the vehicle; wherein: axes of rotation of respective ones of the track-contacting wheels, including an axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel and an axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel, are pivotable relative to the transmission; and each of the axes of rotation of the respective ones of the track-contacting wheels is pivotable relative to the transmission about a pivot axis located within a span of the drive wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track system and intersecting the transmission.