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US 9,051,009 B2Granted
Steerable track system
OwnerJames B. Prohaskainventor
Life of this patent
Estimating the term…
Abstract
A steerable track system for steering a vehicle with a main frame and a track includes an undercarriage with pivoting links connected to the main frame; a bendable flexible track to provide a vehicle-surface interface for propelling the vehicle; a plurality of idler wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage; and a plurality of bogie wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage.
Claims39
A steerable track system for propelling a vehicle with a main frame relative to a surface, the system comprising:
- an undercarriage with a plurality of pivoting links connected to each other via pivot pins, wherein one pivoting link is connected to the main frame;
- a track to provide a vehicle-surface interface for propelling the vehicle;
- a plurality of idler wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage;
- a plurality of bogie wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage;
- and
- a drive sprocket to engage and drive the track around the idler wheels and the bogie wheels causing the vehicle to move in relation to the ground.
3 more elements
A steerable track system for steering a vehicle with a main frame and a track, the system comprising:
- an undercarriage with a plurality of pivoting links connected to each other via pivot pins, wherein one pivoting link is connected to the main frame;
- a bendable flexible track to provide a vehicle-surface interface for propelling and steering the vehicle;
- a plurality of idler wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage;
- and
- a plurality of bogie wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage.
2 more elements
A track to act as a vehicle-surface interface for a steerable track system with a plurality of pivoting links for turning and a plurality of idler and bogie wheels for the track to travel around, the track comprising:
- a central flexible tension member axially rigid and bendably flexible in all other directions to guide the track around the plurality of idler and bogie wheels and allow for turning through pivoting of the links;
- and
- a plurality of ground engaging cleats to provide a ground engaging surface for the track, wherein each cleat is diamond shaped to allow for turning when the links pivot, and wherein each cleat is rigidly attached in a center portion of the cleat to the central flexible tension member.
A steerable track system for propelling a vehicle with a main frame relative to a surface, the system comprising:
- an undercarriage with pivoting links connected to the main frame;
- a track to provide a vehicle-surface interface for propelling the vehicle;
- a plurality of idler wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage;
- a plurality of bogie wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage;
- a drive sprocket to engage and drive the track around the idler wheels and the bogie wheels causing the vehicle to move in relation to the ground;
- and
- a suspension system with a plurality of suspension devices and suspension links, wherein the suspension devices flexibly mount to the suspension links and wherein the suspension system further comprises one or more additional suspension devices to increase a downward force on one or more bogie wheels or idler wheels when slippage is detected;
- wherein the track is bendable and flexible and further comprises:
- a plurality of cleats shaped and positioned so that the track can bend and flex as it travels around the idler wheels, the bogie wheels and the drive sprocket and allow for turning when the links pivot, and with each cleat including a guide lug to engage the idler wheels, bogie wheels and drive sprocket;
- and
- a flexible tension member to engage the guide lugs of the cleats to hold the plurality of cleats together in a circular track.
8 more elements
A steerable track system for propelling a vehicle with a main frame relative to a surface, the system comprising:
- an undercarriage with pivoting links connected to the main frame;
- a track to provide a vehicle-surface interface for propelling the vehicle;
- a plurality of idler wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage;
- a plurality of bogie wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage;
- a drive sprocket to engage and drive the track around the idler wheels and the bogie wheels causing the vehicle to move in relation to the ground;
- and
- a suspension system with a plurality of suspension devices and suspension links, wherein the suspension devices flexibly mount to the suspension links and wherein the suspension system further comprises one or more additional suspension devices to increase a downward force on one or more bogie wheels or idler wheels, wherein downward force is increased on the idler wheels to cause them to carry more vehicle weight;
- wherein the track is bendable and flexible further comprises:
- a plurality of cleats shaped and positioned so that the track can bend and flex as it travels around the idler wheels, the bogie wheels and the drive sprocket and allow for turning when the links pivot, and with each cleat including a guide lug to engage the idler wheels, bogie wheels and drive sprocket;
- and
- a flexible tension member to engage the guide lugs of the cleats to hold the plurality of cleats together in a circular track.
8 more elements
A steerable track system for propelling a vehicle with a main frame relative to a surface, the system comprising:
- an undercarriage with pivoting links connected to the main frame;
- a track to provide a vehicle-surface interface for propelling the vehicle;
- a plurality of idler wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage;
- a plurality of bogie wheels which engage the track and are connected to the undercarriage;
- a drive sprocket to engage and drive the track around the idler wheels and the bogie wheels causing the vehicle to move in relation to the ground;
- and
- a plurality of projections around the circumference of each idler wheel, bogie wheel and the drive sprocket to transfer vehicle weight to the entire surface area of each cleat as it travels around the idler wheels and under the bogie wheels and in moving the vehicle in relation to the ground;
- wherein the track is bendable and flexible and further comprises:
- a plurality of cleats shaped and positioned so that the track can bend and flex as it travels around the idler wheels, the bogie wheels and the drive sprocket and allow for turning when the links pivot, and with each cleat including a guide lug to engage the idler wheels, bogie wheels and drive sprocket;
- and
- a flexible tension member to engage the guide lugs of the cleats to hold the plurality of cleats together in a circular track.
8 more elements
Dependencies are inferred from the claim text.