US 4,874,052 A · Suspension system for a vehicle

Abstract

A suspension system for the idlers and guide wheels, and related structures, of a belted track-type vehicle provides cushioning for the vehicle and components as the vehicle traverses obstacles and uneven terrain. The suspension system also provides tensioning and recoil for the endless track belt during ingestion of foreign material between the belt and the idler wheel. The suspension system includes a plurality of hydropneumatic struts connected between the vehicle frame and various belt guiding and supporting components. Most endless track machines utilize auxiliary frame assembles on each side of the main vehicle frame to support track guiding rollers, idler wheels, suspension systems, and track recoil mechanisms. These auxiliary frame assembles are bulky, heavy, and complicated and generally limit the total amount of suspension and recoil afforded to the idler wheels and track guide wheels. The subject suspension system is void of any auxiliary track frames and connects all of the suspension and recoil struts directly to the main frame. This provides considerable amount of travel for the recoil and suspension struts and provides high speed capabilities for the vehicle. Additional, the subject suspension includes a controllable lock-out of a cushion cylinder to provide a stable work platform during certain work functions of the vehicle.

Claims16

Dependent claims

A recoil support assembly for and idler wheel of a vehicle having a frame, comprising:

recoil means for pivotally supporting the idler wheel with respect to the frame and resiliently reacting primarily to substantially horizontal forces applied to said idler wheel, said recoil means including a hydropneumatic recoil strut having a first portion connected to the frame and a second portion connected to the idler wheel, said recoil means further including a lever arm unit having a first shaft portion, a second shaft portion and an intermediate portion having ears, said lever arm unit being pivotally mounted to said frame by said first shaft portion;
and
suspension strut means for pivotally supporting the second portion of said recoil means and said idler wheel on said frame and resiliently reacting primarily to substantially vertical forces applied to said wheel, said strut means including a hydropneumatic suspension strut having a first end connected to said vehicle frame and a second end connected to said ears on said intermediate portion of said lever arm unit.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Suspension system for a vehicle

Life of this patent

Suspension system for a vehicle

Life of this patent

Abstract

Claims16