Track-type carriage system for heavy vehicles
AssigneeSercel
InventorMarvin G. Bays
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
The present invention provides a track-type carriage system for heavy vehicles, and, in the preferred embodiment, a track-type carriage system for an articulated steering seismic vibrator vehicle. The carriage system consists of four track modules, two fore and two aft, each independently mounted at one end of a heavy axle and bearing a proportionate share of the vehicle weight as applied to the track module via a ground pressure cylinder. Each track module includes an S-shaped frame interrelating a large drive wheel mounted to the axle, a pair of forwardly mounted idler wheels and a plurality of mid-wheels. A stabilizing mechanism manages torsional and lateral forces and also accommodates for fore and aft movement of the track module frame.
Claims20
A carriage system for a heavy vehicle, the vehicle having a vehicle frame and an axle, comprising:
- a track module frame, the frame having a rear end adapted for pivotable connection to the vehicle adjacent the axle to enable a vertical oscillation of the module frame and a forward end;
- a ground pressure cylinder adapted at one end for mounting to the vehicle frame and at the other end mounted to the module frame;
- a drive wheel adapted for mounting to the axle;
- one or more idler wheels mounted to an idler hub affixed to the forward end of the module frame;
- a track belt circumscribing the drive and idler wheels and tensioned by a track tension cylinder connected between the module frame and the idler hub;
- and
- a stabilizer assembly for managing torsional and lateral forces induced upon the module frame, the assembly including:
- an elongate housing vertically mounted at its top end to the vehicle frame and laterally restrained by a tie-rod but free at its bottom end to move slightly in a fore and aft direction to accommodate vertical oscillation of the module frame;
- and
- an outwardly extending arm slidably received in the housing and connected at one or more points of connection to the module frame so as to oscillate vertically in tandem with the oscillation of the module frame.
A seismic exploration vehicle, comprising:
- a vehicle frame with articulated steering;
- forward and rear axles mounted to the vehicle frame;
- a seismic exploration apparatus supported upon the vehicle frame;
- and
- a carriage system including two opposed forward track modules and two opposed rear track modules, the track modules each comprising:
- a module frame having a rear end pivotally mounted to the vehicle adjacent the axle to enable a vertical oscillation of the module frame and a forward end;
- a ground pressure cylinder adapted at one end for mounting to the vehicle frame and at the other end mounted to the module frame;
- a drive wheel adapted for mounting to the axle;
- one or more idler wheels mounted to an idler hub affixed to the forward end of the module frame;
- a track belt circumscribing the drive and idler wheels and tensioned by a track tension cylinder connected between the module frame and the idler hub;
- and
- a stabilizer assembly for managing torsional and lateral forces induced upon the track module, the assembly including:
- an elongate housing vertically mounted at its top end to the vehicle frame and laterally restrained by a tie-rod but free at its bottom end to move slightly in a fore and aft direction to accommodate vertical oscillation of the module frame;
- and
- an outwardly extending arm slidably received in the housing and connected at one or more points of connection to the module frame so as to oscillate vertically in tandem with the oscillation of the module frame.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.