# US 9,434,427 B1 · Track-module bogie-suspension system > Agents: this data is available as JSON from the patentgrep API and MCP server — see https://patentgrep.com/llms.txt - Number: US 9,434,427 B1 - Document ID: US9434427B1 - Status: Granted - Kind: B1 - Application number: 14/625,248 - Filed: 2015-02-18 - Published: 2016-08-18 - Granted: 2016-09-06 - Earliest claimed: 2015-02-18 - Assignees: ATI, Inc. - Applicants: ATI, Inc. - Inventors: Duane Tiede; Jamsheed Reshad; Timothy D. Stacy; Kenneth J. Juncker - Web page: https://patentgrep.com/patent/US9434427B1 ## CPC - B62D 55/104: Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames (vehicle suspension in general B60G) - B60G 5/01: the set being characterised by having more than two successive axles - B60G 11/27: wherein the fluid is a gas - B62D 55/0842: {Tracked vehicle with track carriages suspended on three points, e.g. by an equaliser bar} - B62D 55/10: Bogies; Frames (track-tensioning means B62D55/30) - B62D 55/112: with fluid springs, e.g. hydraulic pneumatic - B62D 55/1125: {Hydro-pneumatic or pneumatic, e.g. air-cushioned} - B62D 55/14: Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers - B62D 55/305: {acting on pivotably mounted idlers} - B60G 2202/15: Fluid spring - 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) - B60G: VEHICLE SUSPENSION ARRANGEMENTS (air-cushion vehicles B60V; {cycle suspensions B62K25/00}) ## Abstract Track-module bogie-suspension apparatus for attachment to a track module having a frame, a drive wheel and an endless track. The bogie-suspension apparatus comprises (a) a bogie assembly having a bogie mount, at least one rotatable ground-engaging bogie wheel thereon, and forward and rearward bogie-mount connections; (b) first and second load- and ground-responsive suspension joints spaced from one another in a forward/rearward direction; and (c) leading and trailing suspension elements each having an upper end and a lower end, the upper ends of the leading and trailing suspension elements rotatably attached to the first and second suspension joints, respectively, and the lower ends thereof rotatably attached to the rearward and forward bogie-mount connections, respectively. ## Claims ### Claim 1 Track-module bogie-suspension apparatus for attachment to a track module having a frame, a drive wheel and an endless track, comprising: a bogie assembly having a bogie mount, at least one leading bogie ground-engaging wheel and at least one trailing bogie ground-engaging wheel thereon, and forward and rearward bogie-mount connections, the bogie mount including: a bogie-mount forward portion having the at least one leading bogie wheel rotatably attached thereto at a leading bogie axis, the bogie-mount forward portion including the forward bogie-mount connection; and a bogie-mount rearward portion having the at least one trailing bogie wheel rotatably attached thereto at a trailing bogie axis, the bogie-mount rearward portion including the rearward bogie-mount connection; first and second load- and ground-responsive suspension joints spaced from one another in a forward/rearward direction; and leading and trailing suspension elements each having an upper end and a lower end, the upper ends of the leading and trailing suspension elements rotatably attached to the first and second suspension joints, respectively, and the lower ends thereof rotatably attached to the rearward and forward bogie-mount connections, respectively. ### Claim 2 (depends on 1) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 1 further including a third load- and ground-responsive suspension joint and wherein the bogie assembly further includes a bogie-assembly arm rotatably attached (a) at a bogie-assembly arm distal end to the third suspension joint and (b) at a bogie-assembly arm proximal end to the bogie mount. ### Claim 3 (depends on 2) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 2 further including rotatable attachments of the leading and trailing suspension elements at the first and second suspension joints, respectively, which are configured to permit rotation having at least two degrees-of-freedom, and the rearward and forward rotatable bogie-mount connections are configured to permit rotation having at least two degrees-of-freedom. ### Claim 4 (depends on 1) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 1 including at least two leading bogie wheels and at least two trailing bogie wheels and wherein the leading bogie axis rotates on a leading bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto and the trailing bogie axis rotates on a trailing bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto. ### Claim 5 (depends on 1) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bogie-mount forward and rearward portions are rotatably attached at a third bogie-assembly axis. ### Claim 6 (depends on 1) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 1 wherein the bogie mount further includes a bogie-mount middle portion having at least one middle bogie wheel attached thereto at a middle bogie axis. ### Claim 7 (depends on 6) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 6 including at least two leading bogie wheels, at least two trailing bogie wheels, and at least two middle bogie wheels and wherein: the leading bogie axis rotates on a leading bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto; the middle bogie axis rotates on a middle bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto; and the trailing bogie axis rotates on a trailing bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto. ### Claim 8 (depends on 7) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 7 wherein the bogie-mount forward and middle portions are rotatably attached at a third bogie-assembly axis. ### Claim 9 (depends on 1) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 1 wherein the leading and trailing suspension elements each include gas-filled components to provide spring force. ### Claim 10 (depends on 9) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 9 wherein the leading and trailing suspension elements each further include hydraulic components. ### Claim 11 (depends on 10) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 10 wherein the leading and trailing suspension elements are on a common hydraulic circuit. ### Claim 12 (depends on 11) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 11 further including an external accumulator hydraulically connected to the common hydraulic circuit. ### Claim 13 (depends on 1) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 1 including plural bogie wheels and wherein the bogie wheels have diameters which are substantially the same as each other. ### Claim 14 (depends on 1) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 1 wherein the first and second load- and ground-responsive suspension joints are independently responsive to load and ground variations. ### Claim 15 (depends on 14) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 14 further including a third load- and ground-responsive suspension joint and wherein the bogie assembly further includes a bogie-assembly arm rotatably attached (a) at a bogie-assembly arm distal end to the third suspension joint and (b) at a bogie-assembly arm proximal end to the bogie mount, the movement of the first and third suspension joints being interdependent. ### Claim 16 (depends on 14) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 14 further including rotatable attachments of the leading and trailing suspension elements at the first and second suspension joints, respectively, which are configured to permit rotation having at least two degrees-of-freedom, and the rearward and forward rotatable bogie-mount connections are configured to permit rotation having at least two degrees-of-freedom. ### Claim 17 (depends on 14) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 14 including at least two leading bogie wheels and at least two trailing bogie wheels and wherein the leading bogie axis rotates on a leading bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto and the trailing bogie axis rotates on a trailing bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto. ### Claim 18 (depends on 14) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 14 wherein the bogie-mount forward and rearward portions are rotatably attached at a third bogie-assembly axis. ### Claim 19 (depends on 14) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 14 wherein the bogie mount further includes a bogie-mount middle portion having at least one middle bogie wheel attached thereto at a middle bogie axis. ### Claim 20 (depends on 19) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 19 including at least two leading bogie wheels, at least two trailing bogie wheels, and at least two middle bogie wheels and wherein: the leading bogie axis rotates on a leading bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto; the middle bogie axis rotates on a middle bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto; and the trailing bogie axis rotates on a trailing bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto. ### Claim 21 (depends on 20) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 20 wherein the bogie-mount forward and middle portions are rotatably attached at a third bogie-assembly axis. ### Claim 22 (depends on 1) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 1 wherein movements of the first and second load- and ground-responsive suspension joints are interdependent. ### Claim 23 (depends on 22) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 22 further including a third load- and ground-responsive suspension joint and wherein the bogie assembly further includes a bogie-assembly arm rotatably attached (a) at a bogie-assembly arm distal end to the third suspension joint and (b) at a bogie-assembly arm proximal end to the bogie mount, the movement of the suspension joints being interdependent. ### Claim 24 (depends on 22) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 22 further including rotatable attachments of the leading and trailing suspension elements at the first and second suspension joints, respectively, which are configured to permit rotation having at least two degrees-of-freedom, and the rearward and forward rotatable bogie-mount connections are configured to permit rotation having at least two degrees-of-freedom. ### Claim 25 (depends on 22) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 22 including at least two leading bogie wheels and at least two trailing bogie wheels and wherein the leading bogie axis rotates on a leading bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto and the trailing bogie axis rotates on a trailing bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto. ### Claim 26 (depends on 22) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 22 wherein the bogie-mount forward and rearward portions are rotatably attached at a third bogie-assembly axis. ### Claim 27 (depends on 22) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 22 wherein the bogie mount further includes a bogie-mount middle portion having at least one middle bogie wheel attached thereto at a middle bogie axis. ### Claim 28 (depends on 27) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 27 including at least two leading bogie wheels, at least two trailing bogie wheels, and at least two middle bogie wheels and wherein: the leading bogie axis rotates on a leading bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto; the middle bogie axis rotates on a middle bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto; and the trailing bogie axis rotates on a trailing bogie roll axis perpendicular thereto. ### Claim 29 (depends on 28) The bogie-suspension apparatus of claim 28 wherein the bogie-mount forward and middle portions are rotatably attached at a third bogie-assembly axis.