Tensioning and suspension system for a tracked vehicle

An undercarriage for a tracked vehicle comprising:

• a rigid frame;
• a main drive wheel mounted to and extending outward from the rigid frame, the main drive wheel having a main drive wheel axis;
• a front pivot arm is pivotally coupled to the rigid frame;
• a front idler is rotatably coupled to the front pivot arm, the front idler having a front idler axis;
• a front hydraulic suspension cylinder is mounted between the rigid frame and the front pivot arm for biasing the front pivot arm downwardly;
• a rear pivot arm is pivotally coupled to the rigid frame, the rear pivot arm is a telescoping arm that can be extended and retracted, the telescoping arm is provided with a tensioning hydraulic cylinder for extending telescoping arm;
• a rear idler is rotatably coupled to the rear pivot arm, the rear idler having a rear idler axis;
• a rear hydraulic suspension cylinder is mounted between the rigid frame and the rear pivot arm for biassing the rear pivot arm downwardly;
• an intermediate pivot arm pivotally mounted to the rigid frame, the intermediate arm is located between the front and rear pivot arms, the intermediate arm is provided with a track roller mounting member pivotally coupled to the intermediate pivot arm, the track roller mounting member is provided with two track rollers which are rotatably mounted to the track roller mounting member;
• an intermediate hydraulic suspension cylinder is mounted between the rigid frame and the intermediate arm for biassing the intermediate arm downwardly;
• a track surrounds the main drive wheel, the front idler and the rear idler, and is engaged by the two track rollers of the intermediate arm, the main drive wheel axis is located above and between the front idler axis and the rear idler axis, the rear pivot arm is extended to tension the track.