Track system for traction of a vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-10864954-B2
Application number	US-201615342714-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Nov 3, 2016
Priority date	Nov 3, 2015
Publication date	Dec 15, 2020
Grant date	Dec 15, 2020

Abstract

A track system for traction of a vehicle, such as an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), an agricultural vehicle, etc. The track system comprises a track and a track-engaging assembly for driving and guiding the track around the track-engaging assembly. The track system may be configured to facilitate adjustment of certain aspects of its operation, including, for example, how it is positioned and/or can move relative to a frame of the vehicle, based on one or more factors, such as, for instance, a user's preferences (e.g., riding style, desire to “feel” the ground, etc.), an environment of the track system (e.g., a profile of the ground, such as a slope or steepness or a levelness of the ground; a compliance of the ground, such as a softness or hardness of the ground, etc.), a state of the track system (e.g., a speed and/or a direction of motion of the track, etc.), a state of the vehicle (e.g., a speed and/or direction of the vehicle, etc.), and/or any other suitable factor. For instance, the track system may comprise a control mechanism configured to adjust an anti-rotation device that is configured to restrict movement of the track system relative to the frame of the vehicle. The control mechanism may be configured to adjust the anti-rotation device in response to a command, which may be input via a user interface or automatically generated by a controller.

First claim

The invention claimed is:

1. A track system for traction of a vehicle on a ground, the vehicle comprising a powertrain and a frame supporting the powertrain, the track system comprising:
a track comprising a ground-engaging outer side for engaging the ground and an inner side opposite to the ground-engaging outer side;
a track-engaging assembly for driving and guiding the track around the track-engaging assembly, the track-engaging assembly comprising:
a frame; and
a drive wheel for imparting motion to the track;

an anti-rotation device configured to restrict rotation of the frame of the track system relative to the frame of the vehicle, the anti-rotation device being connectable between the frame of the track system and the frame of the vehicle; and
a control mechanism configured to adjust the anti-rotation device in response to a command.

2. The track system of claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to adjust a parameter of the anti-rotation device in response to the command in order to adjust the anti-rotation device.

3. The track system of claim 2 , wherein the anti-rotation device comprises a spring and the parameter of the anti-rotation device is a parameter of the spring.

4. The track system of claim 3 , wherein the parameter of the spring is a stiffness of the spring.

5. The track system of claim 3 , wherein the parameter of the spring is a preload of the spring.

6. The track system of claim 2 , wherein the parameter of the anti-rotation device is a length of the anti-rotation device.

7. The track system of claim 2 , wherein the anti-rotation device comprises a damper and the parameter of the anti-rotation device is a parameter of the damper.

8. The track system of claim 7 , wherein the parameter of the damper is a stiffness of the damper.

9. The track system of claim 7 , wherein the parameter of the damper is a preload of the damper.

10. The track system of claim 2 , wherein the parameter of the anti-rotation device is a first parameter of the anti-rotation device and the control mechanism is configured to adjust a second parameter of the anti-rotation device in response to the command in order to adjust the anti-rotation device.

11. The track system of claim 10 , wherein the anti-rotation device comprises a spring and the first parameter of the anti-rotation device and the second parameter of the anti-rotation device are two of: a stiffness of the spring, a preload of the spring, and a length of the anti-rotation device.

12. The track system of claim 1 , wherein the command is inputtable by a user via a user interface comprising an input device and configured to allow the user to adjust the anti-rotation device.

13. The track system of claim 12 , wherein the user interface is configured to allow the user to adjust a parameter of the anti-rotation device.

14. The track system of claim 13 , wherein the user interface is configured to allow the user to input an indication of a desired value of the parameter of the anti-rotation device.

15. The track system of claim 12 , wherein the input device comprises a mechanical input element.

16. The track system of claim 15 , wherein the mechanical input element comprises a lever, a switch, a button, a knob, a dial, or a manual screw.

17. The track system of claim 12 , wherein the input device comprises a virtual input element.

18. The track system of claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism comprises the user interface.

19. The track system of claim 1 , where the vehicle comprises the user interface.

20. The track system of claim 1 , wherein the command is automatically generated by a controller.

21. The track system of claim 20 , wherein the control mechanism comprises the controller.

22. The track system of claim 20 , wherein the vehicle comprises the controller.

23. The track system of claim 20 , wherein the controller is configured to generate the command based on information regarding the track system.

24. The track system of claim 23 , wherein the information regarding the track system includes information regarding a state of the track system.

25. The track system of claim 24 , wherein the information regarding the state of the track system includes a speed of motion of the track around the track-engaging assembly.

26. The track system of claim 24 , wherein the information regarding the state of the track system includes a tension of the track.

27. The track system of claim 23 , wherein the information regarding the track system includes information regarding an environment of the track system.

28. The track system of claim 27 , wherein the information regarding the environment of track system includes information regarding the ground beneath the track system.

29. The track system of claim 23 , wherein the information regarding the track system includes information regarding a state of the vehicle to which the track system is mounted.

30. The track system of claim 29 , wherein the information regarding the state of the vehicle to which the track system is mounted includes a speed of the vehicle.

31. The track system of claim 20 , wherein the controller comprises a sensor configured to sense a parameter relating to the track system and the controller is configured to automatically generate the command based on the parameter relating to the track system.

32. The track system of claim 31 , wherein the parameter relating to the track system is a speed of motion of the track around the track-engaging assembly.

33. The track system of claim 31 , wherein the parameter relating to the track system includes a tension of the track.

34. The track system of claim 31 , wherein the parameter relating to the track system is a speed of the vehicle to which the track system is mounted.

35. The track system of claim 20 , wherein the controller comprises a processing apparatus configured to process information and to generate the command based on the information.

36. The track system of claim 35 , wherein at least part of the information is derived from a sensor.

37. The track system of claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism comprises an actuator connected to the anti-rotation device to adjust the anti-rotation device in response to the command.

38. The track system of claim 37 , wherein the actuator is a mechanical actuator.

39. The track system of claim 37 , wherein the actuator is an electromechanical actuator.

40. The track system of claim 1 , wherein the command is conveyed as a mechanical action.

41. The track system of claim 1 , wherein the command is conveyed as a signal.

42. The track system of claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to adjust the anti-rotation device based on an angle of attack of the track system.

43. The track system of claim 1 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to adjust the anti-rotation device based on a speed of the vehicle.

44. A track system for traction of a vehicle on a ground, the vehicle comprising a powertrain and a frame supporting the powertrain, the track system comprising:
a track comprising a ground-engaging outer s

Assignees

• Camso Inc

Inventors

• Zuchoski Jeremie
• Jean Bernard

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

• B62D55/065

  Multi-track vehicles, i.e. more than two tracks {(soil-shifting machines E02F; mining machines E21C)} · CPC title

• B62D55/08

  Endless track units; Parts thereof · CPC title

• B62D55/108

  with mechanical springs, e.g. torsion bars · CPC title

• B62M2027/027

  Snow mobiles characterised by the tracks · CPC title