# US 12,008,846 B2 · Systems and methods for monitoring a 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 12,008,846 B2 - Document ID: US12008846B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 17/027,595 - Filed: 2020-09-21 - Published: 2021-03-11 - Granted: 2024-06-11 - Earliest claimed: 2015-06-29 - Assignees: Camso Inc. - Applicants: Camso Inc. - Inventors: Simon Richard; Matthieu Bergeron; Ghislain Laperle; Patrice Boily - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US12008846B2 ## CPC - G07C 5/0808: {Diagnosing performance data (testing of vehicles G01M17/00; testing of electrical installation on vehicles G01R31/005)} - B62D 55/14: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers - B62D 55/244: {Moulded in one piece, with either smooth surfaces or surfaces having projections, e.g. incorporating reinforcing elements} - B62D 55/26: Ground engaging parts or elements {(tracks specially adapted for amphibious vehicles B60F3/0015)} - B62D 55/32: Assembly, disassembly, repair or servicing of endless-track systems - G01M 17/03: Endless-tracks - G07C 5/008: {communicating information to a remotely located station (transmission systems for measured values G08C)} - G07C 5/0816: {Indicating performance data, e.g. occurrence of a malfunction} - G07C: TIME OR ATTENDANCE REGISTERS; REGISTERING OR INDICATING THE WORKING OF MACHINES; GENERATING RANDOM NUMBERS; VOTING OR LOTTERY APPARATUS; ARRANGEMENTS, SYSTEMS OR APPARATUS FOR CHECKING NOT PROVIDED FOR ELSEWHERE - 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) - G01M: TESTING STATIC OR DYNAMIC BALANCE OF MACHINES OR STRUCTURES; TESTING OF STRUCTURES OR APPARATUS, NOT OTHERWISE PROVIDED FOR ## Abstract A track system of a vehicle can be monitored (e.g., during operation of the vehicle) to obtain information about the track system which can be used for various purposes, such as, for example, to convey the information about the track system to a user (e.g., an operator of the vehicle) and/or to control the vehicle, for instance, by controlling a speed of the vehicle depending on a state (e.g., a temperature and/or one or more other physical characteristics) of the track system. This may be useful, for example, to gain knowledge about a track of the track system, to help prevent rapid wear or other deterioration of the track of the track system (e.g., blowout), and/or to adapt how fast or slow the vehicle moves in order to protect the track of the track system while permitting the speed of the vehicle to be greater over short periods (e.g., when travelling on or crossing roads or other particular areas). ## Claims ### Claim 1 A track system for traction of a vehicle on a ground, the track system comprising: a track that is elastomeric and comprises a ground-engaging outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; and a plurality of wheels configured to move the track around the wheels; wherein at least one of the track and the plurality of wheels comprises a sensor configured to issue a signal processable to assess alignment of the track. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The track system of claim 1, wherein a given one of the plurality of wheels comprises the sensor. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The track system of claim 2, wherein: the plurality of wheels include a drive wheel configured to drive the track, an idler wheel configured to guide the track, and roller wheels configured to roll on a bottom run of the track; and the given one of the wheels is a given one of the roller wheels. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The track system of claim 1, wherein: the sensor is a first sensor; the track system comprises a second sensor configured to issue a signal processable to assess the alignment of the track; and the alignment of the track is assessable based on the signal of the first sensor and the signal of the second sensor. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The track system of claim 4, wherein: a first one of the plurality of wheels comprises the first sensor; and a second one of the plurality of wheels comprises the second sensor. ### Claim 6 (depends on 5) The track system of claim 5, wherein: the wheels include a drive wheel configured to drive the track, an idler wheel configured to drive the track, and roller wheels configured to roll on a bottom run of the track; the first one of the wheels is a first one of the roller wheels; and the second one of the wheels is a second one of the roller wheels. ### Claim 7 (depends on 1) The track system of claim 1, wherein the track comprises the sensor. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The track system of claim 7, wherein: the track comprises a plurality of projections projecting from a given one of the ground-engaging outer surface and the inner surface; and at least part of the sensor is located in a given one of the projections. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The track system of claim 1, wherein the sensor is a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of the track system. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The track system of claim 9, wherein the temperature of the track system is a temperature of the track. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The track system of claim 9, wherein the temperature of the track system is a temperature of a given one of the wheels. ### Claim 12 (depends on 1) The track system of claim 1, wherein the sensor comprises a wireless transmitter configured to wirelessly issue the signal. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The track system of claim 1, wherein the signal of the sensor is processable to perform an action based on the alignment of the track. ### Claim 14 (depends on 13) The track system of claim 13, wherein the action comprises causing a communication device to communicate information regarding the alignment of the track to a user of the communication device. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The track system of claim 14, wherein the communication device comprises a display for displaying the information regarding the alignment of the track. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The track system of claim 14, wherein the information regarding the alignment of the track includes an indication that the track is misaligned. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The track system of claim 14, wherein the communication device is part of a user interface of an operator cabin of the vehicle. ### Claim 18 (depends on 1) The track system of claim 1, wherein the signal of the sensor is processable to determine that the track is misaligned. ### Claim 19 (depends on 1) A vehicle comprising the track system of claim 1. ### Claim 20 A monitoring system for monitoring a track system for traction of a vehicle on a ground, the track system comprising: a track that is elastomeric and comprises a ground-engaging outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; and a plurality of wheels configured to move the track around the wheels, the monitoring system comprising: a sensor configured to be part of at least one of the track and the plurality of wheels; and a processing apparatus configured to assess alignment of the track based on output of the sensor. ### Claim 21 A non-transitory computer-readable storage medium storing a program executable by a processing apparatus for use in respect of a vehicle comprising a track system for traction of the vehicle on a ground, the track system comprising: a track that is elastomeric and comprises a ground-engaging outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; and a plurality of wheels configured to move the track around the wheels; the program comprising instructions executable by the processing apparatus to cause the processing apparatus to: receive data derived from a sensor of the at least one of the track and the plurality of wheels; and issue a signal regarding alignment of the track based on the data derived from the sensor. ### Claim 22 A track for traction of a vehicle on a ground, the track being elastomeric and movable around a plurality of wheels, the track comprising: a ground-engaging outer surface; an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface; and a sensor configured to issue a signal processable to assess alignment of the track. ### Claim 23 A wheel for a track system for traction of a vehicle on a ground, the track system comprising a track that is elastomeric, comprises a ground-engaging outer surface and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface, and is movable around the wheel and other wheels, the wheel comprising a sensor configured to issue a signal processable to assess alignment of the track.