Wheel substitutes for land vehicles – Combined or convertible
Patent
1980-12-02
1985-07-30
Marmor, Charles A.
Wheel substitutes for land vehicles
Combined or convertible
280158R, B60S 162
Patent
active
045317879
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD
This invention relates generally to devices for preventing the accumulation of debris in the ground engaging systems of vehicles and more particularly to apparatus for preventing the accumulation of mud, snow and other debris in roadable track systems.
BACKGROUND ART
Vehicles which travel through adhering materials such as mud, freezing slush and the like suffer detrimental accumulation of these materials on their ground engaging portions. This problem is especially troublesome in vehicles having an endless track system rather than wheels alone. Adhering materials tend to accumulate on the inside surface of the endless track at which location they may subsequently be drawn between a wheel and/or idler of the endless track system and the endless track. This can result in packing of debris between the wheel and the endless track and impose potentially destructive tensions on the endless track and/or the supporting elements. Additionally, an accumulation of debris on the endless track system can increase the resistance to free movement of the endless track system and render the vehicle less powerful and effecient.
Many schemes have been devised to avoid or mitigate these problems. Certain endless track systems incorporate shields to substantially eliminate the intrusion of foreign material. More typically, endless tracks include devices for removing debris that has already accumulated on some portion of the system.
In U.S. Pat. No. 3,861,762 issued to Freddy on Jan. 21, 1975, a guard and scraper for an idler wheel is disclosed. This device serves to remove debris that accumulates on an idler of an endless track system. Disadvantageously, at least a certain portion of the debris removed from the idler is permitted to fall back within the track system.
U.S. Pat. No. 1,130,117, issued to Strait on Mar. 2, 1915, discloses inclined shields supported beneath the upper portion of an endless chain of a track system. These shields deflect away from the track system any debris falling from the upper portion of the endless chain. These shields do not appear to assist in removing debris from the head surface of a wheel supporting the endless chain.
Further disadvantageous is that existing shields are generally fabricated from substantially rigid metallic plates. In cold conditions, slush and snow can freeze on these shields and form a bulky mass which tends to affect performance of the vehicle.
The present invention is directed to overcoming one or more of the problems as set forth above.
DISCLOSURE OF THE INVENTION
In one aspect of the present invention, an endless track assembly has a front wheel and a rear wheel. A deflector is positioned between these wheels and is of a construction sufficient for scraping away debris adhering to at least one of these wheels. Additionally, the deflector has at least one surface inclined so as to deflect any debris falling on that surface out of and away from the endless track system.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
FIG. 1 is a diagrammatic side elevational view of an embodiment of the present invention; and
FIG. 2 is a partially broken away sectional view taken along line II--II of FIG. 1.
BEST MODE FOR CARRYING OUT THE INVENTION
Referring more particularly to the drawings, an endless track assembly embodying the principles of the present invention is generally indicated by the reference number 10. In the preferred embodiment, the endless track assembly 10 is of the roadable track type; that is, suited for use on roads.
As shown in FIG. 1, the endless track assembly 10 has an endless track 12 such as an elastomeric roadable belt. The endless track 12 encircles four wheels 14,16 arranged as tandem pairs, for example. Each wheel 14,16 has a tread surface 18 for contacting an inner surface 20 the endless belt 12. The endless belt 12 also has an outer surface 22 which has grousers 25 for improved traction. Preferably, both the front wheels 14 and the rear wheels 16 are pneumatic tires. The wheels 14,16 are, of course, mounted on axles (not shown) which are
REFERENCES:
patent: 699098 (1902-04-01), Bryson
patent: 1130117 (1915-03-01), Strait
patent: 1310406 (1919-07-01), Adams
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patent: 1992702 (1935-02-01), Koop
patent: 2082693 (1937-06-01), Flynn
patent: 2157253 (1939-05-01), Yetter
patent: 2326486 (1943-08-01), Norelius
patent: 2560307 (1951-07-01), Slemmons
patent: 3082044 (1963-03-01), Klemm et al.
patent: 3127190 (1964-03-01), Thesmar
patent: 3736032 (1973-05-01), Mosshart et al.
patent: 3861762 (1975-01-01), Freedy et al.
patent: 4198103 (1980-04-01), Ward et al.
patent: 4235479 (1980-11-01), Puglise
Hart Cullen P.
Klopfenstein Wayne A.
Caterpillar Tractor Co.
Marmor Charles A.
Phillips Richard F.
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