US 8,297,383 B2Granted

Endless track suspension

OwnerJean Desprésinventor

Life of this patent

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Abstract

An endless track suspension is comprised of a suspension support beam having an idler wheel assembly connected to a respective one of opposed ends thereof. At least one of the idler wheel assemblies has an endless track binding mechanism. Support wheels are secured to the suspension support beam and project from a lower face thereof. A drive sprocket is secured elevated above the suspension support beam by a support arm. The drive sprocket is secured to a vehicle drive axle by a coupling ring. The drive sprocket, the support wheels and idler wheels constitute an endless track support assembly for supporting an endless track in drivable engagement thereabout. A flexible connection of the drive sprocket support arm and the support wheels absorbs shocks and vibrations transmitted to the vehicle drive axle by the displacement of the endless track over a rough ground surface.

Claims19

Dependent claims

An endless track suspension comprising a support beam having idler wheel assemblies connected to a respective opposed ends of said support beam, at least one of said idler wheel assemblies having an endless track binding means, support wheels secured to said support beam and projecting from a lower face of said support beam, a drive sprocket secured above said support beam by a support means, coupling means connectable to said drive sprocket for securing the drive sprocket to a vehicle drive axle, said drive sprocket, support wheels and idler wheel assemblies constituting an endless track support assembly for supporting an endless track in drivable engagement thereabout, a torsion connection between said support beam and at least one of said support wheels, said torsion connection having a resilient support sleeve disposed in a support bore extending along a transverse axis of said support beam for connecting a connection portion of an associated one of said support wheels.

Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.

Facts

Application: 12/752,177Filed 1 Apr 2010 · continuation in part
Priority: CA 255211912 Jul 2006
Published: US 2010/0253138 A17 Oct 2010
Granted: 30 Oct 2012
Term ends: Not estimatedThe source records don’t support an estimate.

Classification10 codes

B62D 55/244
Of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts: moulded in one piece, with either smooth surfaces or surfaces having projections, e.g.…
B62D 55/04
Endless track vehicles: with tracks and alternative ground wheels, e.g. changeable from endless track vehicle into wheeled vehicle and vice versa
B62D 55/108
Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames: with mechanical springs, e.g. torsion bars
B62D 55/1086
With mechanical springs, e.g. torsion bars: rubber springs

Family

Application11/746,082Parent of this continuation-in-part · filed 9 May 2007
US 2010/0253138 A1Pre-grant publication · published 7 Oct 2010
US 7,708,092 B2Parent of this continuation-in-part
US 2008/0011524 A1Published application
US 8,297,383 B2This patent

From the US filing history. Foreign family members aren’t listed.