Wheel substitutes for land vehicles – With track support intermediate of end wheels
Reexamination Certificate
2001-06-08
2003-04-15
Stormer, Russell D. (Department: 3617)
Wheel substitutes for land vehicles
With track support intermediate of end wheels
C305S131000, C180S009520
Reexamination Certificate
active
06547345
ABSTRACT:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The invention relates to a track drive device for all terrain vehicles such as machines used in agriculture, viticulture and oyster culture, civil engineering or forestry.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Devices of this type are already known which comprise a frame suitable for mounting on the side of the vehicle chassis and carrying two main wheels and support wheels around which the track is wound.
Two drive devices are then provided mounted on either side of the chassis either as original or as replacement equipment.
In vehicles of this type the track can be a conventional track consisting of articulated metal plates or a track consisting of a flexible endless belt for example of reinforced elastomer material.
In vehicles of this type each drive device is normally mounted oscillating around an axle of the chassis to allow each of the tracks to follow the configuration of the ground over which the vehicle moves. Also each device is linked to the chassis by suspension means which are generally located below and at the front of the chassis.
These known devices have in particular the drawback that the ground clearance of the all terrain vehicle is comparatively low which means that these devices are poorly adapted to certain specific applications, in particular for certain agricultural or viticultural tractors which must be able to “straddle” certain crops.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
To solve this problem it is proposed to raise the chassis and drive each of the tracks by a drive wheel offset upwards in relation to the axle of the main wheels. However such a solution does not fully resolve the said problem.
In fact each track drive device must be mounted articulated while being linked to the chassis by suspension elements which are a source of obstruction.
Also the linking of the suspension means to the drive device poses problems as there is a large vertical offset between the frame of the device and the vehicle chassis.
Also these known solutions do not allow the device to be adapted to the desired track width of the vehicle.
The purpose of the invention in particular is to overcome the drawbacks above.
To this end it proposes a track drive device of the type defined above in which the frame comprises a rear part able to be fixed to the vehicle chassis and carrying one of the main wheels, and a front part made in the form of an approximately horizontal oscillating beam carrying the other main wheel and at least one of the support wheels and mounted pivoting around a first transverse pivot located at a lower level. An approximately horizontal suspension arm is also provided arranged above the oscillating beam and linked to the latter by a connecting rod and mounted pivoting about a second transverse pivot arranged at an upper level approximately at the height of the chassis.
Because the oscillating beam is linked to suspension arm via a connecting rod, and the suspension arm is located above the oscillating beam and hence offset upwards, it is possible to increase in particular the ground clearance of the vehicle chassis.
Also it is this suspension arm and not the oscillating beam which is linked to the suspension elements, which solves the problems of a long link between the oscillating beam and the vehicle chassis.
In a first embodiment of the invention the rear part of the frame carries a drive wheel wedged onto a drive shaft and around which is wound the track.
In a second embodiment of the invention the main wheel carried by the rear part of the frame is wedged onto a drive shaft to form a drive wheel for the track.
Thus in the latter case the rear part of the frame carries a single wheel acting both as main wheel and drive wheel.
Advantageously the rear part of the frame is fixed to the end of a transverse bar fixed horizontally below the chassis and forming the second pivot for the suspension arm. Thus the second pivot is approximately at chassis height.
It is advantageous that the rear part of the frame is also fixed to the end of a transverse beam extending horizontally below the chassis. The result is a rigid link between the frame of the device and the vehicle chassis.
In the said first embodiment, the rear part of the frame advantageously comprises an approximately horizontal beam carrying at least one support wheel and supporting the first pivot. Thus the oscillating beam is articulated on this support pivot, while being approximately in its extension.
According to another characteristic of the invention the connecting rod is articulated in the upper part on the suspension arm and in the lower part on an approximately vertical support fixed to the oscillating beam and having the selected height.
Thus by selecting the height of the support the device can be adapted as a function of the vehicle and the desired ground clearance.
According to another characteristic of the invention, the suspension arm has a front end linked to the chassis via a suspension element.
In a preferred embodiment the front end of the suspension arm comprises a plate in which is provided a window. The suspension element is a leaf suspension element fixed transversely below the chassis, one end of which is held in the said window.
Advantageously the oscillating beam comprises means for tensioning the track.
In another preferred embodiment of the invention, the track is a flexible endless belt advantageously formed of a reinforced elastomer material with drive studs on the inside.
The device in the invention can constitute an assembly ready for installation known as a kit and able to be mounted on the vehicle chassis as replacement for an articulated plate track or a drive wheel; the device can also constitute an assembly mounted originally on the chassis.
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patent: 1450470 (1923-04-01), Wickersham
patent: 4364443 (1982-12-01), Sato et al.
patent: 5273126 (1993-12-01), Reed et al.
patent: 5622234 (1997-04-01), Nagorcka et al.
patent: 6164399 (2000-12-01), Bays
patent: 6247547 (2001-06-01), Lemke et al.
patent: 497672 (1930-05-01), None
patent: 2916 (1917-01-01), None
patent: 99/54189 (1999-10-01), None
Dennison, Schultz & Dougherty
Otico
Stormer Russell D.
LandOfFree
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