Track drive conversion apparatus for wheel driven vehicle

An apparatus for converting a wheel driven vehicle having a support frame and a driven wheel to a track driven vehicle comprising:

• frame means pivotally connectible to said support frame, said frame means extending longitudinally along said support frame inboard of said driven wheel for movement in a vertical plane with respect to said support frame of said vehicle;
• end wheel means supported from said frame means for selective longitudinal adjustment along said frame means;
• and
• track means operably engageable for encircling said driven wheel and said end wheel means in an endless loop, such that rotation of said driven wheel in either direction rotates the track means in the same rotational direction about the end wheel means, wherein said track means includes an endless, flexible track having radially inwardly extending protrusions spaced circumferentially around an inner surface of said track adjacent both an inboard and outboard edge of said track, such that said protrusions are engageable with a portion of the inboard and outboard sidewalls of said driven wheel and said end wheel means to maintain said track centered with respect to a common plane of rotation normal to longitudinal axes of rotation of said end wheel means and said driven wheel.

An apparatus for converting a wheel driven vehicle having a support frame and a driven wheel to a track driven vehicle, said driven wheel connected to an axle of said vehicle, said apparatus comprising:

• first and second frame members pivotally connectible to said support frame for movement in a vertical plane with respect to said support frame of said vehicle, said first and second frame members extending longitudinally along said support frame inboard of said driven wheel on first and second sides of said vehicle respectively, said first and second frames each defined at least in part by an elongate frame member interposed between said axle and said support frame of said vehicle, said elongate frame member extending outwardly from said rear wheel toward a longitudinal end of said vehicle;
• first and second end wheels supportable from said first and second frame members respectively for selective longitudinal adjustment along said respective frame members;
• and
• first and second endless, flexible tracks operably engageable for encircling said respective driven wheel and end wheel, such that rotation of each driven wheel in either direction rotates the corresponding track in the same rotational direction about the respective end wheel.

An apparatus for converting a wheel driven vehicle having a support frame and a driven wheel to a track driven vehicle comprising:

• first and second frame members pivotally connectible to said support frame for movement in a vertical plane with respect to said support frame of said vehicle, said first and second frame members extending longitudinally along said support frame inboard of said driven wheel on first and second sides of said vehicle respectively;
• first and second end wheels supportable from said first and second frame members respectively for selective longitudinal adjustment along said respective frame members;
• and
• first and second endless, flexible tracks operably engageable for encircling said respective driven wheel and end wheel, such that rotation of each driven wheel in either direction rotates the corresponding track in the same rotational direction about the respective end wheel, wherein each of said first and second tracks further includes an endless, flexible track having radially inwardly extending protrusions spaced circumferentially around an inner surface of said track adjacent both an inboard and outboard edge of said track, such that said protrusions are engageable with a portion of the inboard and outboard sidewalls of said driven wheel and said end wheel to maintain said track centered with respect to a common plane of rotation normal to both longitudinal axes of rotation of said end wheel and said driven wheel.

A supporting wheel substitute connectible to a driven wheel of a vehicle having a support frame comprising:

• a frame pivotally connectible to said support frame of said vehicle for movement in a vertical plane relative to said support frame of said vehicle;
• an end wheel positionablely spaced longitudinally from said driven wheel of said vehicle along said frame;
• adjustable means for selectively securing said end wheel in various longitudinal positions along said frame with respect to said driven wheel of said vehicle;
• and
• an endless, flexible track trainable over said end wheel and said driven wheel of said vehicle and engageable with a surface over which said vehicle is moving, said track having radially inwardly extending protrusions spaced circumferentially around an inner surface of said track adjacent both an inboard and outboard edge of said track, such that said protrusions are engageable with a portion of the inboard and outboard sidewalls of said driven wheel and said end wheel to maintain said track centered with respect to a common plane of rotation normal to longitudinal axes of rotation of said end wheel and said driven wheel.

A supporting wheel substitute connectible to a driven wheel of a vehicle having a support frame, said driven wheel defined by a motor driven wheel connected to a drive axle of said vehicle, said supporting wheel substitute comprising:

• a frame pivotally connectible to said support frame of said vehicle for movement in a vertical plane relative to said support frame of said vehicle, said frame defined at least in part by an elongate frame member interposable between said drive axle and said support frame of said vehicle, said elongate frame member extending outwardly from said driven wheel toward a longitudinal end of said vehicle and pivotally connectible to said support frame spaced longitudinally from said driven wheel;
• an end wheel positionablely spaced longitudinally from said driven wheel of said vehicle along said frame;
• adjustable means for selectively securing said end wheel in various longitudinal positions alone said frame with respect to said driven wheel of said vehicle;
• and
• an endless, flexible track trainable over said end wheel and said driven wheel of said vehicle and engageable with a surface over which said vehicle is moving.