Track drive mode management system and methods
AssigneeCamoplast Solideal Inc.
InventorsAlain Lussier, Francois Leblanc, Patrice Boily
Life of this patent
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Abstract
A method for managing a drive mode of a tracked vehicle, including reading an output of a sensor and, in response to the output of the sensor, performing a control action to manage the drive mode of the vehicle. An apparatus for managing a drive mode of a tracked vehicle is also provided and comprises a sensor outputting a signal that conveys information that can be used to manage the drive mode.
Claims32
A method for controlling a drive mode of a vehicle having an engine and a track to propel the vehicle on the ground, the track capable of being driven by the engine in a plurality of drive modes including a friction drive mode and a positive drive mode, the method comprising:
- a) providing a sensor on the vehicle, the sensor generating an output signal conveying information on a current drive mode of the track;
- b) providing a data processing apparatus including a machine readable storage encoded with drive mode control software for execution by a CPU;
- c) processing the information output by the sensor with the software to compute a desired track drive mode and generating a drive mode control signal;
- d) implementing the desired track drive mode in response to the drive mode control signal.
A vehicle, comprising:
- a) an engine;
- b) an undercarriage including a track for propelling the vehicle;
- c) a drive line coupling the engine to the track, the driveline capable of driving the track in a plurality of drive modes, the plurality of drive modes including a friction drive mode and a positive drive mode;
- d) a sensor outputting a signal that conveys information allowing to establish the current drive mode of the track.
An endless track for a vehicle, comprising:
- a) a body having an outer ground engaging side and an inner side opposite to the ground engaging side;
- b) a sensor mounted to the endless track, the sensor sensing a magnitude of force applied by a drive wheel to the track to drive the track.
A sprocket for driving an endless track of a vehicle, the sprocket including a sensor for sensing a magnitude of force applied by the sprocket to the track.
An undercarriage comprising:
- a) an endless track;
- b) a sprocket for driving the endless track;
- c) a sensor for measuring a magnitude of force applied by the sprocket to the endless track when the sprocket drives the track.
A vehicle having an engine and an undercarriage, the undercarriage including:
- a) a first endless track on a first side of the undercarriage;
- b) a second endless track on a second side of the undercarriage opposite to the first side;
- c) the first and second endless track being capable of being driven in a plurality of different modes which include a positive drive mode and a friction drive mode;
- d) a control system for regulating the drive mode of the first track independently from the drive mode of the second track.
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.