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US 2006/0213700 A1Published application
Track drive system
OwnerWilliam Hildebrandinventor
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A track drive system comprises a chassis frame and a drive wheel rotatably coupled to the chassis frame. An upper idler is rotatably coupled to the chassis frame rearwardly of the drive wheel. A forward idler is rotatably coupled to the chassis frame below the drive wheel. A suspended frame is pivotally coupled to the chassis frame by upper and lower swing arms. A rear idler is rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the suspended frame at a location displaced generally downwardly from an attachment point of the upper swing arm by a rear idler offset distance. A lower idler is rotatably coupled to a forward portion of the suspended frame. A biasing means biases the suspended frame away from the chassis frame.
Claims20
A track drive system comprising:
- a chassis frame;
- a drive wheel rotatably coupled to the chassis frame;
- an upper idler rotatably coupled to the chassis frame rearwardly of the drive wheel;
- a forward idler rotatably coupled to the chassis frame below the drive wheel;
- a suspended frame;
- a rear idler rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the suspended frame;
- a lower idler rotatably coupled to a forward portion of the suspended frame;
- an upper swing arm having forward and rearward ends, the upper swing arm pivotally coupled at the forward end thereof to the chassis frame, and pivotally coupled at the rearward end thereof to the suspended frame at a location displaced generally upwardly from an axis of the rear idler by a rear idler offset distance;
- a lower swing arm having forward and rearward ends, the lower swing arm pivotally coupled at the forward end thereof to the chassis frame and pivotally coupled at the rearward end thereof to the suspended frame;
- and
- a biasing means for biasing the suspended frame away from the chassis frame,
- wherein the suspended frame is moveable between an extended position and a compressed position, and a perimeter defined around the drive wheel, upper idler, rear idler, lower idler and forward idler remains substantially constant as the suspended frame moves between the extended position and the compressed position.
9 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a chassis;
- a steering means coupled to the chassis;
- a steering mechanism operably coupled to the steering means;
- a motor coupled to the chassis;
- and,
- a track drive system comprising:
- a chassis frame coupled to the chassis;
- a drive wheel rotatably coupled to the chassis frame and coupled to be driven by the motor;
- an upper idler rotatably coupled to the chassis frame rearwardly of the drive wheel;
- a forward idler rotatably coupled to the chassis frame below the drive wheel;
- a suspended frame;
- a rear idler rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the suspended frame;
- a lower idler rotatably coupled to a forward portion of the suspended frame;
- an upper swing arm having forward and rearward ends, the upper swing arm pivotally coupled at the forward end thereof to the chassis frame, and pivotally coupled at the rearward end thereof to the suspended frame at a location displaced generally upwardly from an axis of the rear idler by a rear idler offset distance;
- a lower swing arm having forward and rearward ends, the lower swing arm pivotally coupled at the forward end thereof to the chassis frame and pivotally coupled at the rearward end thereof to the suspended frame;
- and
- a biasing means for biasing the suspended frame away from the chassis frame,
- wherein the suspended frame is moveable between an extended position and a compressed position, and a perimeter defined around the drive wheel, upper idler, rear idler, lower idler and forward idler remains substantially constant as the suspended frame moves between the extended position and the compressed position.
15 more elements
A vehicle comprising:
- a chassis;
- a motor coupled to the chassis;
- a first track drive system comprising:
- a first chassis frame coupled to the chassis;
- a first drive wheel rotatably coupled to the first chassis frame and coupled to be driven by the motor;
- a first upper idler rotatably coupled to the first chassis frame rearwardly of the first drive wheel;
- a first forward idler rotatably coupled to the first chassis frame below the first drive wheel;
- a first suspended frame;
- a first rear idler rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the first suspended frame;
- a first lower idler rotatably coupled to a forward portion of the first suspended frame;
- a first upper swing arm having forward and rearward ends, the first upper swing arm pivotally coupled at the forward end thereof to the first chassis frame, and pivotally coupled at the rearward end thereof to the first suspended frame at a location displaced generally upwardly from an axis of the first rear idler by a first rear idler offset distance;
- a first lower swing arm having forward and rearward ends, the lower swing arm pivotally coupled at the forward end thereof to the first chassis frame and pivotally coupled at the rearward end thereof to the first suspended frame;
- and
- a first biasing means for biasing the first suspended frame away from the first chassis frame,
- wherein the first suspended frame is moveable between an extended position and a compressed position, and a perimeter defined around the first drive wheel, first upper idler, first rear idler, first lower idler and first forward idler remains substantially constant as the first suspended frame moves between the extended position and the compressed position;
- a steering means coupled to the chassis, the steering means comprising:
- a second track drive system comprising:
- a second chassis frame coupled to the chassis;
- a second drive wheel rotatably coupled to the second chassis frame and coupled to be driven by the motor;
- a second upper idler rotatably coupled to the second chassis frame rearwardly of the second drive wheel;
- a second forward idler rotatably coupled to the second chassis frame below the second drive wheel;
- a second suspended frame;
- a second rear idler rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the second suspended frame;
- a second lower idler rotatably coupled to a forward portion of the second suspended frame;
- a second upper swing arm having forward and rearward ends, the second upper swing arm pivotally coupled at the forward end thereof to the second chassis frame, and pivotally coupled at the rearward end thereof to the second suspended frame at a location displaced generally upwardly from an axis of the second rear idler by a second rear idler offset distance;
- a second lower swing arm having forward and rearward ends, the lower swing arm pivotally coupled at the forward end thereof to the second chassis frame and pivotally coupled at the rearward end thereof to the second suspended frame;
- and
- a second biasing means for biasing the second suspended frame away from the second chassis frame,
- wherein the second suspended frame is moveable between an extended position and a compressed position, and a perimeter defined around the second drive wheel, second upper idler, second rear idler, second lower idler and second forward idler remains substantially constant as the second suspended frame moves between the extended position and the compressed position;
- and,
- a third track drive system comprising:
- a third chassis frame coupled to the chassis;
- a third drive wheel rotatably coupled to the third chassis frame and coupled to be driven by the motor;
- a third upper idler rotatably coupled to the third chassis frame rearwardly of the third drive wheel;
- a third forward idler rotatably coupled to the third chassis frame below the third drive wheel;
- a third suspended frame;
- a third rear idler rotatably coupled to a rear portion of the third suspended frame;
- a third lower idler rotatably coupled to a forward portion of the third suspended frame;
- a third upper swing arm having forward and rearward ends, the third upper swing arm pivotally coupled at the forward end thereof to the third chassis frame, and pivotally coupled at the rearward end thereof to the third suspended frame at a location displaced generally upwardly from an axis of the third rear idler by a third rear idler offset distance;
- a third lower swing arm having forward and rearward ends, the lower swing arm pivotally coupled at the forward end thereof to the third chassis frame and pivotally coupled at the rearward end thereof to the third suspended frame;
- and
- a third biasing means for biasing the third suspended frame away from the third chassis frame, wherein the third suspended frame is moveable between an extended position and a compressed position, and a perimeter defined around the third drive wheel, third upper idler, third rear idler, third lower idler and third forward idler remains substantially constant as the third suspended frame moves between the extended position and the compressed position;
- and,
- a steering mechanism operably coupled to the steering means.
41 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.