Track tensioning biasing system for a tracked vehicle
AssigneeJarraff Industries, Inc.
InventorLee Stephen Boyum
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A track tensioning system for a tracked vehicle having left and right tracks includes a biasing system for simultaneously providing track tensioning to both tracks by biasing each track through a track-tensioning arc. The biasing system may include a linear force-generating system for generating a track-tensioning force. The linear force-generating system may for example be a spring or a piston and cylinder assembly. The biasing system may also include a pivoting rocker arm assembly for transmitting the track-tensioning force from the linear force-generating system to the tracks.
Claims45
A track tensioning system for a tracked vehicle having left and right tracks, the track tensioning system comprising a pivoting rocker arm assembly for balancing the tension in the left and right tracks, and a biasing system for simultaneously providing track tensioning to both tracks by biasing each track through a track-tensioning arc.
A track tensioning system for tensioning a left and right track on a tracked vehicle, the track tensioning system comprising:
- a left track tensioning wheel that is rotatable around a left rotation axis and pivotable in a left pivot plane around a left pivot axis that is displaced from the left rotation axis, the left track tensioning wheel being arranged and configured to engage the left track;
- a right track tensioning wheel that is rotatable around a right rotation axis and pivotable in a right pivot plane around a right pivot axis that is displaced from the right rotation axis, the right track tensioning wheel being arranged and configured to engage the right track;
- a force generating system for providing a track tensioning force;
- and
- a coupling system arranged and configured to couple the left track tensioning wheel and right track tensioning wheel to the force generating system, the coupling system also being adapted and configured to transmit the track tensioning force from the force generating system to the left and right track tensioning wheels for tensioning the left and right track.
A track tensioning system for simultaneously tensioning left and right tracks on a tracked vehicle, the track tensioning system comprising:
- a frame;
- a left wheel plate assembly that is coupled to the frame, the left wheel plate assembly comprising a left wheel that is rotatable around a wheel rotation axis, the left wheel plate assembly being pivotable in a left pivot plane around a left pivot axis that is displaced from the wheel rotation axis, the left wheel plate assembly being arranged and configured to engage the left track;
- a right wheel plate assembly that is coupled to the frame, the right wheel plate assembly comprising a right wheel that is rotatable around a wheel rotation axis, the right wheel plate assembly being pivotable in a right pivot plane around a right pivot axis that is displaced from the wheel rotation axis, the right wheel plate assembly being arranged and configured to engage the right track;
- a rocker plate that is coupled to the left and right wheel plate assemblies;
- a cylinder assembly having a front end and a back end, the front end being pivotably coupled to the rocker plate, the back end being supported by the frame;
- wherein actuating the cylinder assembly biases the rocker plate and the left and right wheel plate assemblies to tension the left and right tracks.
A method of adjusting the tension in a left and right track on a tracked vehicle, the method comprising:
- providing a frame;
- providing a left track tensioning system arranged and configured to bias the left track through an arc for tensioning the left track;
- providing a right track tensioning system arranged and configured to bias the right track through an arc for tensioning the right track;
- providing a cylinder assembly for providing a track tensioning force;
- providing a load coupling and balancing system for coupling the cylinder assembly to the left track tensioning system and the right track tensioning system, the load coupling and balancing system comprising a rocker arm that is coupled to the left track tensioning system and the right track tensioning system;
- extending the cylinder assembly to increase the tension in the tracks;
- retracting the cylinder assembly to decrease the tension in the tracks;
- and
- pivoting the rocker plate to balance the tension in the two tracks.
A track tensioning system comprising:
- a frame having a left side and a right side;
- a cylinder assembly pivotably coupled to the frame, the cylinder assembly comprising a cylinder and a piston slidably disposed within the cylinder;
- a rocker assembly comprising a rocker arm, the rocker assembly coupled to the cylinder assembly with a spherical bearing;
- a left track interface assembly that is pivotably coupled to the left side of the frame, the left track interface assembly comprising a left side plate that is coupled to the rocker assembly with a spherical bearing and a left wheel arranged and configured to interface with a left vehicular drive track, the left wheel rotatably coupled to the left side plate;
- and
- a right track interface assembly that is pivotably coupled to the right side of the frame, the right track interface assembly comprising a right side plate that is coupled to the rocker assembly with a spherical bearing and a right wheel arranged and configured to interface with a right vehicular drive track, the right wheel rotatably coupled to the right side plate;
- wherein sliding the piston in the cylinder actuates the rocker arm and pivots the first track interface assembly and second track interface assembly around the pivot axis to adjust the tension in the first and second drive track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.