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US 4,051,914 AGranted
Endless track vehicle having a steerable end and method for operating the same
OwnerJorma Toivo Tapani Pohjolainventor
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OwnerJorma Toivo Tapani Pohjolainventor
Estimating the term…
An endless track vehicle one end at least of which is steerable, as well as a method for operating the same. Front and rear end roll structures guide an endless track vehicle for movement, and at least one of these structures can be angularly displaced with respect to the frame of the vehicle for the purpose of executing a turn during which one side of the track becomes shorter while the opposite side thereof becomes longer. In order to execute a turn, one of the end roll structures is angularly displaced about an upright axis in a substantially horizontal plane, and at the same time this one end roll structure is free to assume an angular position determined by the endless track which engages the latter end roll structure. A connecting structure is provided for connecting at least the one angularly displaceable end roll structure to the frame of the vehicle, this connecting structure providing for the angular displacement of the one end roll structure to execute a turn while at the same time providing for the end roll structure the capability of freely assuming an angular position determined by the endless track itself.
In a method of operating a vehicle which has front and rear end roll means and an endless track means guided around said front and rear end roll means and capable of becoming shorter on one side and longer on an opposite side when the vehicle executes a turn, the step of angularly displacing at least one of said end roll means about an upright axis in a substantially horizontal plane while executing a turn with the vehicle, and simultaneously with the angular displacement of said one end roll means freeing the latter to assume an angular position determined by the endless track means which engages one end roll means, and including the step of turning a steering component connected between a frame of the vehicle and said one end roll means through a given angle with respect to the frame of the vehicle when executing a turn while simultaneously permitting said one end roll means to turn with said steering component but at an angle less than said given angle with respect to said frame while said one end roll means has its extent of angular displacement determined by said endless track means.
In a vehicle, frame means, endless track means extending longitudinally of said frame means and capable of becoming longer on one side and shorter on an opposite side when the vehicle executes a turn, front and rear end roll means around which said endless track means extends to be guided thereby during travel of the vehicle, and connecting means connecting at least one of said end roll means to said frame means for angular displacement with respect thereto about an upright axis during execution of a turn, and said connecting means providing for said one end roll means the capability of assuming an angular position determined by said endless track means, said one end roll means including a shaft means extending transversely of said frame means and roll means carried by said shaft means and engaging said endless track means, said connecting means extending between said shaft means and frame means and being pivotally connected at least to said shaft means so that said one end roll means is capable of assuming an angular position determined by said endless track means.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.