# US 9,434,426 B2 · Track suspension > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,434,426 B2 - Document ID: US9434426B2 - Status: Granted - Kind: B2 - Application number: 14/062,052 - Filed: 2013-10-24 - Published: 2014-05-08 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2012-11-02 - Assignees: Veyance Technologies, Inc. - Applicants: Veyance Technologies, Inc. - Inventors: James A. Nagorcka; Lyal D. Allen - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434426B2 ## CPC - B62D 55/104: Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames (vehicle suspension in general B60G) - B62D 55/112: with fluid springs, e.g. hydraulic pneumatic - B62D 55/14: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers - B62D 55/305: {acting on pivotably mounted idlers} - B62D: MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS (steering, or guiding on a desired track, of agricultural machines or implements A01B69/00; wheels, castors, axles, increasing wheel adhesion B60B; vehicle tyres, tyre inflation or tyre changing B60C; connections between vehicles of a train or the like B60D; vehicles for use on rail and road, amphibious or convertible vehicles B60F; suspension arrangements B60G; heating, cooling, ventilating or other air treating devices B60H; windows, windscreens, non-fixed roofs, doors or similar devices, protective coverings for vehicles not in use B60J; propulsion plant arrangements, auxiliary drives, transmissions, controls, instrumentation or dashboards B60K; electric equipment or propulsion of electrically-propelled vehicles B60L; power supply for electrically-propelled vehicles B60M; passenger accommodation not otherwise provided for B60N; adaptations for load transportation or to carry special loads or objects B60P; arrangement of signalling or lighting devices, the mounting or supporting thereof or circuits therefor, for vehicles in general B60Q; vehicles, vehicle fittings or vehicle parts not otherwise provided for B60R; servicing, cleaning, repairing, supporting, lifting, or manoeuvring, not otherwise provided for, B60S; brake arrangements, brake control systems or parts thereof B60T; air-cushion vehicles B60V; motor-cycles, accessories therefor B62J, B62K; testing of vehicles G01M) ## Abstract A track suspension is provided wherein a rear wishbone member is rotatably affixed to a yoke assembly and a yoke plate carrier through a rear wishbone joint, wherein a front wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the rear wishbone member through a front wishbone joint, wherein a rear rocker assembly is comprised of a rear rocker beam, a rear roller wheel and a rear idler wheel, wherein a front rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the front wishbone through a front rocker joint, wherein the rear rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the rear wishbone member through a rear rocker joint, wherein a front suspension spring assembly is affixed between a yoke assembly and a front wishbone member, and wherein a rear suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the rear wishbone member. ## Claims ### Claim 1 A track suspension comprising a drive wheel, a yoke plate carrier, a front wishbone member, a rear wishbone member, a front rocker assembly, a rear rocker assembly, a front suspension spring assembly and a rear suspension spring assembly, wherein the drive wheel is rotatably affixed to and driven by a vehicle final drive axle assembly, wherein the yoke plate carrier is affixed to a yoke assembly, wherein the rear wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the yoke assembly and the yoke plate carrier through a rear wishbone joint, wherein the front wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the rear wishbone member through a front wishbone joint, wherein the front rocker assembly is comprised of a front rocker beam, a front idler wheel and a front roller wheel, wherein the rear rocker assembly is comprised of a rear rocker beam, a rear roller wheel and a rear idler wheel, wherein the front rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the front wishbone through a front rocker joint, wherein the rear rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the rear wishbone member through a rear rocker joint, wherein the front suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the front wishbone member, and wherein the rear suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the rear wishbone member. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The track suspension of claim 1, wherein the front suspension spring assembly is selected from the group consisting of hydraulic suspension assembly, pneumatic suspension assembly and mechanical suspension assembly and the rear suspension spring assembly is selected from the group consisting of hydraulic suspension assembly, pneumatic suspension assembly and mechanical suspension assembly. ### Claim 3 (depends on 1) The track suspension of claim 1, wherein the front rocker assembly further comprises a track tensioning rocker and a track tensioning cylinder. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The track suspension of claim 1, wherein a center axis of the front wishbone joint, a center axis of the front rocker joint and a center axis of the front idler wheel are substantially aligned. ### Claim 5 (depends on 4) The track suspension of claim 4, wherein the center axis of the front wishbone joint, the center axis of the front rocker joint and the center axis of the front idler wheel are substantially aligned in such a manner as to substantially bisect the angle between the leading edge of the rubber track and the lower edge of the rubber track. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The track suspension of claim 1, wherein a center axis of the rear wishbone joint, a center axis of the rear rocker joint and a center axis of the rear idler wheel are substantially aligned. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The track suspension of claim 6, wherein the center axis of the rear wishbone joint, the center axis of the rear rocker joint and the center axis of the rear idler wheel are substantially aligned in such a manner as to substantially bisect the angle between the trailing edge of the rubber track and the lower edge of the rubber track. ### Claim 8 (depends on 1) A track suspension system comprising the track suspension as specified in claim 1 and a rubber track, wherein the drive wheel is drivingly engaged with the rubber track. ### Claim 9 A track suspension comprising a drive wheel, a yoke plate carrier, a front wishbone member, a rear wishbone member, a front rocker assembly, a rear rocker assembly, a front suspension spring assembly and a rear suspension spring assembly, wherein the drive wheel is rotatably affixed to and driven by a vehicle final drive axle assembly, wherein the yoke plate carrier is affixed to a yoke assembly, wherein the front wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the yoke assembly and the yoke plate carrier through a front wishbone joint, wherein the rear wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the front wishbone member through a rear wishbone joint, wherein the front rocker assembly is comprised of a front rocker beam, a front idler wheel and a front roller wheel, wherein the rear rocker assembly is comprised of a rear rocker beam, a rear roller wheel and a rear idler wheel, wherein the front rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the front wishbone through a front rocker joint, wherein the rear rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the rear wishbone member through a rear rocker joint, wherein the front suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the front wishbone member, and wherein the rear suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the rear wishbone member. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The track suspension of claim 9, wherein the front suspension spring assembly is selected from the group consisting of hydraulic suspension assembly, pneumatic suspension assembly and mechanical suspension assembly and the rear suspension spring assembly is selected from the group consisting of hydraulic suspension assembly, pneumatic suspension assembly and mechanical suspension assembly. ### Claim 11 (depends on 9) The track suspension of claim 9, wherein the front rocker assembly further comprises a track tensioning rocker and a track tensioning cylinder. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The track suspension of claim 11, wherein a center axis of the front wishbone joint, a center axis of the front rocker joint and a center axis of the front idler wheel are substantially aligned. ### Claim 13 (depends on 12) The track suspension of claim 12, wherein the center axis of the front wishbone joint, the center axis of the front rocker joint and the center axis of the front idler wheel are substantially aligned in such a manner as to substantially bisect the angle between the leading edge of the rubber track and the lower edge of the rubber track. ### Claim 14 (depends on 11) The track suspension of claim 11, wherein a center axis of the rear wishbone joint, a center axis of the rear rocker joint and a center axis of the rear idler wheel are substantially aligned. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The track suspension of claim 14, wherein the center axis of the rear wishbone joint, the center axis of the rear rocker joint and the center axis of the rear idler wheel are substantially aligned in such a manner as to substantially bisect the angle between the trailing edge of the rubber track and the lower edge of the rubber track. ### Claim 16 A track suspension comprising a drive wheel, a yoke plate carrier, a front wishbone member, a rear wishbone member, a front rocker assembly, a rear rocker assembly, a front suspension spring assembly and a rear suspension spring assembly, wherein the drive wheel is rotatably affixed to and driven by a vehicle final drive axle assembly, wherein the yoke plate carrier is affixed to a yoke assembly, wherein the front or rear wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the yoke assembly and the yoke plate carrier through a first wishbone joint, wherein the front or rear wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the front or rear wishbone member through a second wishbone joint or the front or rear wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the yoke assembly and the yoke plate carrier through the first or a second wishbone joint, wherein the front rocker assembly is comprised of a front rocker beam, a front idler wheel and a front roller wheel, wherein the rear rocker assembly is comprised of a rear rocker beam, a rear roller wheel and a rear idler wheel, wherein the front rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the front wishbone through a front rocker joint, wherein the rear rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the rear wishbone member through a rear rocker joint, wherein the front suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the front wishbone member, and wherein the rear suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the rear wishbone member.