Apparatus for converting a wheeled vehicle to a tracked vehicle

A track system for attachment to an axle hub of a vehicle, the axle hub being rotatable about a drive axis and being coupled to a steering housing that pivots about a steering pivot axis, the vehicle including a steering arm for pivoting the steering housing about the steering pivot axis to steer the vehicle, the track system comprising:

• a frame having a first end and a second end, the frame having inboard and outboard frame assemblies that extend between the first and second ends of the frame;
• a drive sprocket mounted between the inboard and outboard frame assemblies such that the inboard frame assembly is inboard of the drive sprocket and the outboard frame assembly is outboard of the drive sprocket, the drive sprocket being rotatable relative to the frame about the drive axis;
• a track hub that allows the drive sprocket to rotate relative to the frame about the drive axis and also allows the frame to pivot in clockwise and counterclockwise directions about the drive axis, the track hub being connected to the outboard frame assembly, the track hub including a sprocket mounting flange and the drive sprocket being fastened to the sprocket mounting flange;
• a first end roller mounted at the first end of the frame;
• a second end roller mounted at the second end of the frame;
• a track routed in a generally triangular path about the drive sprocket and the first and second end rollers, the track being driven by the drive sprocket about the generally triangular path when the drive sprocket is rotated, the generally triangular path of the track having an apex, and the drive sprocket engaging the track adjacent the apex to drive the track about the generally triangular path;
• a stop-defining structure that mounts to the steering housing, the stop-defining structure including first and second stops positioned inboard of the drive sprocket;
• the track system including a first contact surface that opposes the first stop and a second contact surface that opposes the second stop, wherein contact between the first stop and the first contact surface limits pivotal movement of the frame about the drive axis in the clockwise direction, and wherein contact between the second stop and the second contact surface limits pivotal movement of the frame about the drive axis in the counterclockwise direction;
• and
• a spacer that mounts between the axle hub and the track hub, the spacer including first and second sets of fastening apertures, wherein the first set of fastening apertures receives a first set of fasteners that secure the spacer to the axle hub, and wherein the second set of fastening apertures receives a second set of fasteners that secure the spacer to the sprocket mounting flange of the track hub, wherein the spacer, the sprocket mounting flange and the drive sprocket are all rotationally driven about the drive axis when the axle hub is rotated about the drive axis.

A track system for attachment to a vehicle having an axle;

• wherein the track system is connected to the axle;
• the track system comprising:
• a frame having a plurality of track engaging rollers;
• an endless track operatively connected to the frame such that it contacts the rollers;
• and a limiting apparatus secured between the frame and the axle;
• wherein the limiting apparatus restricts rotational movement of the frame relative to the axle;
• wherein the limiting apparatus is adjustable such that the degree of rotational movement can be varied;
• wherein the limiting apparatus comprises a limiting assembly having at least one post and a collar having at least one stop;
• wherein the limiting assembly is configured and arranged to be attached to the frame;
• wherein the collar is configured and arranged to be attached to an axle of a vehicle, and wherein the stop is configured and arranged to contact the post thereby preventing rotational movement therepast;
• and
• wherein each stop has a first contact surface and a second contact surface;
• wherein at least one shim having a complimentary shape to the first and second contact surfaces is provided to distribute the force of the shim contacting the stop.

A track system for attachment to a vehicle having an axle;

• wherein the track system is connected to the axle;
• the track system comprising:
• a frame having a plurality of track engaging rollers;
• an endless track operatively connected to the frame such that it contacts the rollers;
• and a limiting apparatus secured between the frame and the axle;
• wherein the limiting apparatus restricts rotational movement of the frame relative to the axle;
• wherein the limiting apparatus is adjustable such that the degree of rotational movement can be varied;
• wherein the limiting apparatus comprises a limiting assembly having at least one post and a collar having at least one stop;
• wherein the limiting assembly is configured and arranged to be attached to the frame;
• wherein the collar is configured and arranged to be attached to an axle of a vehicle, and wherein the stop is configured and arranged to contact the post thereby preventing rotational movement therepast;
• wherein the limiting assembly comprises a first member connected to the frame, the first member having first and second spaced apart posts;
• wherein at least one shim is removably secured to the first member at a location between the first and second posts, with the shim serving to effectively shorten the distance between the spaced apart posts;
• and
• wherein the shim is generally wedge shaped with converging sides that define an angular range of about 1 to about 6 degrees.