All-terrain vehicle and suspension system therefor

An all-terrain vehicle for enabling invalids or handicapped individuals to be self transportable over ground or an ice surface, comprising:

• a. a longitudinally elongated under frame carried between two endless track mechanisms, each of said track mechanisms having an endless belt about the same and pivotally mounted idler wheels and a rear drive sprocket in driving engagement with the belt, each said endless track mechanism covered by an enclosed fender, each said endless track mechanism being capable of being adjusted by an adjustment mechanism;
• b. a framed open space located between the two endless track mechanisms;
• c. a hydraulic drive means mounted on the vehicle, said hydraulic drive means including hydraulic motors coupled to said drive sprockets, each motor supported by a motor mount assembly attached to the under frame;
• d. an internal combustion engine mounted on the vehicle and coupled to the hydraulic drive means for powering the vehicle;
• and
• e. a hydraulic drive control means mounted on the vehicle for initiating and controlling forward, reverse, and turning movements of the vehicle over said ground and ice surfaces using hand levers;
• f. an auxiliary hydraulic pump;
• g. a suspension system associated with f. for lifting the frame of a. and the components b. through f. and any attachments that reside on the vehicle, simultaneously from ground level to any desired operating level and lowering the same simultaneously to any desired level from the operating level to the ground level, all such movement being controlled by the hand levers.