Track tension adjustment management system

A method of tensioning a track assembly having, an idler wheel, a drive wheel, a drive track entrained about the drive wheel and idler, and a hydraulic motor operable to advance the drive wheel, comprising:

• coupling an actuator to the idler wheel, the actuator having a recoil chamber and a travel chamber;
• pressurizing the recoil chamber to tension the track
• supplying pressurized fluid to a hydraulic motor operable to advance the drive wheel;
• delivering a controlled quantity of fluid to the travel chamber of the actuator responsive to said supply of pressurized fluid to the hydraulic motor;
• and
• operating the actuator to reduce the track tension responsive to receipt of said controlled quantity of fluid.

A track assembly, comprising:

• a drive track;
• an idler wheel;
• a drive wheel;
• a hydraulic motor coupled to the drive wheel and operable to advance the drive track around the drive wheel and the idler wheel;
• a drive circuit operable to supply pressurized fluid to said hydraulic motor;
• an actuator coupled to the idler wheel for tensioning the track, the actuator having a recoil chamber and a travel chamber;
• and
• a controlled delivery mechanism in fluid communication with the drive circuit and the travel chamber of said actuator, said mechanism operable to receive from said drive circuit pressurized fluid supplied to said hydraulic motor and responsively deliver a controlled quantity of fluid to said travel chamber of said actuator, wherein said actuator is operable to reduce the track tension responsive to receipt of said controlled quantity of fluid.

A tension actuator, comprising:

• a cylinder housing;
• a piston movable within said housing, said piston dividing said housing into a travel chamber and a recoil chamber;
• and
• a rod connected to said piston, wherein said recoil chamber contains a fixed quantity of a pressurized fluid for urging said piston in a first direction, and said travel chamber is adapted to receive a variable quantity of hydraulic oil for adjusting a position of said rod and piston and a pressure of said pressurized fluid.