Steerable track system
OwnerJames B. Prohaskainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steerable track system for steering a vehicle with a main frame and a track includes an undercarriage with pivoting links connected to the main frame; a bendable flexible track to provide a vehicle-surface interface for propelling the vehicle; a plurality of idler wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage; and a plurality of bogie wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage.
Claims23
A steerable track system for propelling a vehicle with a main frame relative to a surface, the system comprising:
- an undercarriage with pivoting links connected to the main frame;
- a track to provide a vehicle-surface interface for propelling the vehicle;
- a plurality of idler wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage;
- a plurality of bogie wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage;
- and
- a drive sprocket to engage and drive the track around the idler wheels and the bogie wheels causing the vehicle to move in relation to the ground.
A steerable track system for steering a vehicle with a main frame and a track, the system comprising:
- an undercarriage with pivoting links connected to the main frame;
- a bendable flexible track to provide a vehicle-surface interface for propelling and steering the vehicle;
- a plurality of idler wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage;
- and
- a plurality of bogie wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage.
A track to act as a vehicle-surface interface for a steerable track system with a plurality of pivoting links for turning and a plurality of idler and bogie wheels for the track to travel around, the track comprising:
- a central flexible tension member axially rigid and bendably flexible in all other directions to guide the track around the plurality of idler and bogie wheels and allow for turning through pivoting of the links;
- and
- a plurality of cleats to provide a ground engaging surface for the track shaped to allow for turning when the links pivot and rigidly attached in a center portion of each cleat to the central flexible tension member.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.