Apparatus for converting a wheeled vehicle to a tracked vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10017216-B2
Application number	US-201615045725-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Feb 17, 2016
Priority date	Dec 9, 2008
Publication date	Jul 10, 2018
Grant date	Jul 10, 2018

Abstract

A self-propelled, wheeled vehicle convertible into a multi-track vehicle using one or more track assemblies is disclosed. Each track assembly includes a carriage with a main frame supporting forward and rearward idler wheels and a plurality of centrally located, inner bogey wheels, and an outrigger beam that supports a plurality of centrally located, outer bogey wheels. One of the idler wheels movably connects to the main frame and is movable by an actuator. The carriage is removably connected to a spindle of a vehicle by an attachment assembly. The attachment assembly includes a first section and a second section that generally encircle a portion of the spindle housing, connected thereto by a plurality of fastening elements. A sprocket is operatively connected to a wheel hub of the spindle by way of a spacer element. A flexible endless track is entrained about the idler wheels, the bogey wheels and the sprocket.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A track assembly for use with a vehicle having a spindle housing, the spindle housing being situated inboard of an axle hub, the track assembly comprising:
an attachment assembly configured to be connected to the spindle housing of the vehicle on an inboard side of the axle hub;
a carriage that pivotally connects to the attachment assembly, the carriage including a main frame having a first end and a second end; and
a track driven about a generally triangular path;
wherein the carriage pivots relative to the attachment assembly about a pivot axis that extends in an inboard to outboard orientation, wherein the attachment assembly includes a first stop that engages the main frame to limit rotation of the carriage about the pivot axis in a first direction, and wherein the attachment assembly includes a second stop that engages the main frame to limit rotation of the carriage about the pivot axis in a second direction.

2. A track assembly for use with a vehicle having a spindle housing and an axle hub, the track assembly comprising:
an attachment assembly directly connected to the spindle housing of the vehicle;
a carriage attached to the attachment assembly, the carriage including a main frame having a first end and a second end;
a first idler wheel rotatably connected to the main frame adjacent the first end of the main frame, a second idler wheel rotatably connected to the main frame adjacent the second end of the main frame;
at least one bogey wheel mounted between the first and second idler wheels;
a sprocket configured to be connected to the axle hub such that the axle hub can rotate the sprocket about an axis of rotation of the axle hub; and
a track driven about a generally triangular path by the sprocket, the generally triangular path having an upper rounded corner coinciding with the sprocket and second lower rounded corners coinciding with the first and second idler rollers.

3. The track assembly of claim 2 , wherein the carriage pivots relative to the attachment assembly about a carriage pivot axis that is offset from the axis of rotation of the axle hub.

4. The track assembly of claim 2 , wherein the attachment assembly comprises a first section secured to a lower portion of the spindle yoke.

5. The track assembly of claim 4 , wherein the attachment assembly further comprises a second section secured to an upper portion of the spindle yoke.

6. The track assembly of claim 5 , wherein the first and second sections are secured together via a fastening element.

7. The track assembly of claim 4 , wherein the attachment assembly first section comprises a first stop, wherein the first stop is configured to engage with a top surface the main frame.

8. The track assembly of claim 7 , wherein the attachment assembly further comprises a second stop; wherein the first and second stops are provided at forward and rearward facing ends of the attachment assembly first section, respectively, and wherein the first and second stops project respectively forwardly and rearwardly from the attachment assembly at an ascending angle.

9. The track assembly of claim 8 , wherein the forwardly projecting stop engages with the main frame to limit clockwise rotation of the carriage about the pivot axis, and wherein the rearwardly projecting stop engages with the main frame to limit counterclockwise rotation of the carriage about the pivot axis.

10. A track assembly for use with a vehicle having a spindle housing and an axle hub, the track assembly comprising:
an attachment assembly directly connected to the spindle housing of the vehicle;
a carriage pivotally connected to the attachment assembly via a pivot pin, the carriage configured to pivot relative to the attachment assembly about a carriage pivot axis, wherein the carriage pivot axis is offset from an axis of rotation of the axle hub;
a plurality of support wheels rotatably connected to the carriage;
a sprocket configured to be connected to the axle hub such that the axle hub can rotate the sprocket about the axis of rotation of the axle hub; and
a track driven about a generally triangular path by the sprocket, the generally triangular path having an upper rounded corner coinciding with the sprocket and second lower rounded corners coinciding with respective support wheels.

11. The track assembly of claim 10 , wherein the attachment assembly comprises a first section removably connected to the spindle.

12. The track assembly of claim 11 , wherein the carriage defines a pivot opening configured to receive the pivot pin, and wherein the first section straddles the carriage and is coupled to the pivot pin.

13. The track assembly of claim 12 , wherein the attachment assembly first section comprises a first stop configured to limit clockwise rotational movement of the carriage and a second stop configured to limit counter-clockwise rotational movement of the carriage.

Assignees

• Vermeer Mfg Co

Inventors

• Hansen Ronald S

Classifications

• B62D55/084 Primary

  Endless-track units or carriages mounted separably, adjustably or extensibly on vehicles, e.g. portable track units (B62D55/07 takes precedence) · CPC title

• B62D55/0842 Primary

  Tracked vehicle with track carriages suspended on three points, e.g. by an equaliser bar · CPC title

• B62D55/04

  with tracks and alternative ground wheels, e.g. changeable from endless track vehicle into wheeled vehicle and vice versa {(for multi-purpose tractors B62D49/0635)} · CPC title

• B62D55/24

  of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts · CPC title

• B62D55/104

  Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames (vehicle suspension in general B60G) · CPC title