Deformable wheels and track systems comprising same

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-12441418-B2
Application number	US-202217894698-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Aug 24, 2022
Priority date	Aug 25, 2021
Publication date	Oct 14, 2025
Grant date	Oct 14, 2025

Abstract

A deformable wheel is disclosed. The deformable wheel includes a hub, at least one resilient member connected to the hub, and a plurality of circumferentially positioned rim portions connected to the at least one resilient member, where each one of the plurality of rim portions is moveable relative to the hub about the at least one resilient member. A track system including the deformable wheel is also disclosed.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A deformable wheel comprising:
a hub;
at least one resilient member connected to the hub; and
a plurality of circumferentially positioned rim portions connected to the at least one resilient member, each one of the plurality of rim portions being moveable relative to the hub about the at least one resilient member and about a virtual pivot point located away from the hub so that each one of the at least one resilient member is positioned between the hub and the virtual pivot point.

2. The deformable wheel of claim 1 , wherein the deformable wheel has a first configuration, and the at least one resilient member is biased to return the deformable wheel toward the first configuration in response to deformation of the deformable wheel.

3. The deformable wheel of claim 1 , wherein the hub defines an axis of rotation generally perpendicular to a longitudinal plane of the deformable wheel, and each one of the plurality of rim portions is moveable such that, in response to one of the plurality of rim portions being moved, a projection of the one of the plurality of rim portions becomes transversal to the axis of rotation.

4. The deformable wheel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient member is deformable about a longitudinal plane of the deformable wheel.

5. The deformable wheel of claim 1 , wherein:
the hub has a first hub end portion, a second hub end portion and a central hub portion extending between the first and second hub end portions; and
the at least one resilient member surrounds the central hub portion and is disposed between the first and second hub end portions.

6. The deformable wheel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient member extends generally radially.

7. The deformable wheel of claim 1 , wherein the at least one resilient member is connected to a radial surface of the hub.

8. The deformable wheel of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of rim portions is independent of other ones of the plurality of rim portions.

9. The deformable wheel of claim 1 , wherein the plurality of rim portions is circumferentially spaced so as to receive at least one lug of an endless track between two adjacent rim portions.

10. The deformable wheel of claim 1 , wherein each one of the plurality of rim portions can move relative to a longitudinal center plane of the deformable wheel by about 15 degrees.

11. The deformable wheel of claim 1 , wherein at least some of the plurality of rim portions are in contact with an endless track of a track system, and in response to movement of the endless track relative to the wheel hub, at least one of the at least some of the plurality of rim portions moves relative to the wheel hub.

12. The deformable wheel of claim 1 , wherein the deformable wheel is a support wheel, an idler wheel, or a sprocket wheel.

13. A track system comprising:
a frame;
a sprocket wheel assembly rotationally connected to the frame;
at least one idler wheel assembly rotationally connected to the frame;
at least one support wheel assembly rotationally connected to the frame; and
an elastomeric endless track surrounding the frame, the sprocket wheel assembly, the at least one idler wheel assembly and the at least one support wheel assembly,
wherein at least one of the sprocket wheel, the at least one idler wheel assembly and the at least one support wheel assembly includes a deformable wheel according to claim 1 .

14. The track system of claim 13 , wherein each one of the plurality of rim portions spans at least 75% of a width of the endless track.

15. The track system of claim 13 , wherein when the track system is operatively connected to a driving axle of a vehicle at a given camber angle, the movement of the rim portions of the deformable wheel relative to the hub compensates, at least partially, for the given camber angle.

16. A deformable wheel comprising:
a hub; and
a plurality of rim portions connected to the hub, the plurality of rim portions being positioned circumferentially around the hub, and each one of the plurality of rim portions:
defines a first lateral side and a second lateral side, and
includes at least one resilient member extending on one of the first and second lateral sides, the at least one resilient member being configured to resiliently deform; each one of the plurality of rim portions being moveable relative to the hub about the at least one resilient member and about a virtual pivot point located away from the hub so that each one of the at least one resilient member is positioned between the hub and the virtual pivot point.

17. The deformable wheel of claim 16 , wherein the at least one resilient member is biased to return toward an initial position in response to being deformed.

Assignees

• Soucy Int Inc

Inventors

• Aubin-Marchand Jeremie
• Leblanc Etienne
• Frenette-Marcoux Jonathan
• Charrette Michael
• Roy Normand
• Lemelin Manuel
• Morin Vincent

Classifications

• B60B9/10

  of rubber or the like · CPC title

• B62D55/108 Primary

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

• B62D55/12

  Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets · CPC title

• B62D55/24

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

• B62D55/0963 Primary

  Anti-noise driving sprockets · CPC title