Motor vehicles – Special driving device – Portable track
Patent
1987-08-07
1989-08-08
Pekar, John A.
Motor vehicles
Special driving device
Portable track
B62D 5506
Patent
active
048544086
DESCRIPTION:
BRIEF SUMMARY
TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION
This invention relates to a tracked vehicle, in particular but not exclusively, suitable for unmanned deployment in hostile environments.
BACKGROUND ART
The mobility of an unmanned vehicle is extremely dependent upon the terrain, obstacles in the path of the vehicle causing various mobility failures such as overturning, gross slippage, nose-in failure and hang-up failure, the latter two being caused by engagement of the nose and belly respectively of the vehicle with the terrain.
In particular, nose-in failure will inevitably occur when an obstacle to be surmounted rises precipitously to a height comparable with or greater than the length of the track base of the vehicle.
The present invention seeks to provide a vehicle less susceptible to nose-in failure at precipitous obstacles.
FEATURES AND ASPECTS OF THE INVENTION
According to the present invention a tracked vehicle comprises two independently drivable parallel tracks each having a track base, a chassis supported on the parallel tracks; an obstacle surmounting aid comprised by at least one rearwardly extendable ram slidable in a cylinder mounted above the chassis and a pneumatic energising means for thrusting the ram rearwards of the cylinder when the vehicle is in motion.
The cylinder is preferably inclined to the track base in a direction providing convergence at a point rearward of the vehicle of a line projecting longitudinally through the cylinder with a line projected longitudinally along the track base. The said inclination is preferably in the range 0 degrees to 60 degrees.
In order to minimize hang-up failure the tracks preferably together extend substantially the full width of the chassis so as to cover fully the underside thereof, and the chassis is located entirely within the periphery of the tracks and carries a top hamper upon which the cylinder is mounted and which bridges the tracks. The top hamper also conveniently supports a control means for controlling the vehicle drive mechanisms and the ram energising means. The energising means for the rams may be mounted either upon the top hamper or within the body.
Preferably two rams are mounted in parallel arrangement to provide lateral stability in use which rams may be either rigidly interconnected by a crossbar attached to their projectable ends or may be independently controlled.
Where the vehicle is intended for unmanned use the chassis and track drive mechanisms mounted thereon are contained entirely within the perimeter of the tracks. Access to the drive mechanisms may be achieved by a drawer system, i.e., the various components being slidably mounted on runners transverse to the longitudinal center line of the vehicle.
DESCRIPTION OF PREFERRED EMBODIMENT
A specific embodiment of the invention will now be described by way of example only, with reference to the attached drawings of which
FIGS. 1 and 2 are side elevation and plan views respectively of a tracked vehicle fitted with an obstacle surmounting aid, and
FIGS. 3 and 4 depict the same vehicle respectively encountering and surmounting a precipitous obstacle.
The tracked vehicle 1 illustrated in FIG. 1 is intended for unmanned use and comprises a chassis 2 covered by a body 3 and supported on each of two independently drivable, half-width tracks 4 by support wheels 5. Each track 4 rotates about three direction changing rollers 6, 7 and 8, the two lower rollers, ie road rollers 6 and 7 defining a track base 9 and the upper roller 8 comprising a drive sprocket roller disposed forwardly of the track base 9. Drive mechanisms (not shown) for the drive sprocket roller 8 are contained within the body 3.
The body 3 supports a top hamper 10 upon which is mounted a frame 11 inclined at an angle .alpha. of 30 degrees to the track base 9. The frame 11 carries two cylinders 12 each containing a fluid driven ram 13 which is projectable from the cylinder 12 in a rearward direction by a respective energizing means 14 attached to the top hamper 10. The cylinders 12 and 13 are pneumatically operated, the e
REFERENCES:
patent: 1298703 (1919-04-01), Havens
patent: 2012090 (1935-08-01), Straussler
patent: 2878882 (1959-03-01), Bernotas
patent: 3417831 (1968-12-01), Lake
patent: 4401178 (1983-08-01), Studer
Beard David R.
Gibson Peter J.
Hinchey Christopher B.
Hinds William R.
Pekar John A.
The Secretary of State for Defence in her Majesty's Government o
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