Vehicle Track Assembly

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-2016362148-A1
Application number	US-201615246704-A
Country	US
Kind code	A1
Filing date	Aug 25, 2016
Priority date	May 2, 2000
Publication date	Dec 15, 2016
Grant date	—

Abstract

A vehicle wheel assembly is provided which includes a vehicle frame having a first axle, a wheel assembly having a housing with an aperture engaging the first axle and enabling the wheel assembly to pivot in a first plane about a first axis formed by the first axle. A cylindrical member is carried by the housing of the wheel assembly, the cylindrical member and housing are arranged perpendicular to the first axle. A first wheel is pivotably connected to a first portion of the cylindrical member and a second wheel is pivotably connected to a second portion of the cylindrical member. The first wheel and second wheel independently pivot in a second plane about a second axis formed by the cylindrical member. The first axis is arranged perpendicular to the second axis and the first plane is arranged perpendicular to the second plane.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1 . A track assembly for a vehicle, the track assembly having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis and comprising:
a. set of wheels defining a track supporting and guiding arrangement, the set of wheels including a first end wheel at a leading end of the track assembly, a second end wheel at a trailing end of the track assembly the first end wheel being spaced apart from the second end wheel along the longitudinal axis and a first and second support wheels being located between the first end wheel and the second end wheel, the first and second support wheels being spaced apart along the transverse axis; b. a track mounted on the track supporting and guiding arrangement, the track comprising a single piece endless belt including a continuous layer of pliable material partially wrapping the first end wheel and the second end wheel, the single piece endless belt defining a ground engaging run, the ground engaging run having:
i. first and second lateral edges, the continuous layer of pliable material having an outer boundary surface defining an outer ground engaging face of the track;
ii. the continuous layer of pliable material having an inner boundary surface defining an inner face of the track, the inner face including:
1. an inwardly projecting track guide located between the first and second lateral edges;
2. support wheel engaging surfaces extending along the longitudinal axis on either side of the track guide, the first and second support wheels being in rolling contact with respective support wheel engaging surfaces, with the inwardly projecting track guide residing between the first and second support wheels;

c. the first support wheel and the second support wheel being mounted for pivotal movement via a pivot motion enabling structure about a pivot axis which extends generally along the longitudinal axis.

2 . A track assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the pivot axis is spaced apart vertically inwardly from an axis of rotation of at least one of the first support wheel and the second support wheel.

3 . A track assembly as defined in claim 2 , wherein the first support wheel and the second support wheel rotate about a common axis of rotation.

4 . A track assembly as defined in claim 3 , wherein the pivot axis extends generally transversally to the common axis of rotation.

5 . A track assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the first support wheel and the second support wheel define a first wheel set, the track assembly further comprising a second wheel set, the first wheel set and the second wheel set being mounted to a tandem arrangement capable of pivotal motion about a tandem axis which is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis.

6 . A track assembly as defined in claim 5 , wherein the first wheel set and the second wheel set are configured to pivot independently about the pivot axis.

7 . A track assembly as defined in claim 1 , wherein the support wheel engaging surfaces are generally flat and extend parallel to each other.

8 . A tracked vehicle having a track assembly, the tracked vehicle having a longitudinal axis and a transverse axis, the track assembly comprising:
a. set of wheels defining a track supporting and guiding arrangement, the set of wheels including a first end wheel at a leading end of the track assembly, a second end wheel at a trailing end of the track assembly the first end wheel being spaced apart from the second end wheel along the longitudinal axis and a first and second support wheels being located between the first end wheel and the second end wheel, the first and second support wheels being spaced apart along the transverse axis; b. a track mounted on the track supporting and guiding arrangement, the track comprising a single piece endless belt including a continuous layer of pliable material partially wrapping the first end wheel and the second end wheel, the single piece endless belt defining a ground engaging run, the ground engaging run having:
i. first and second lateral edges, the continuous layer of pliable material having an outer boundary surface defining an outer ground engaging face of the track;
ii. the continuous layer of pliable material having an inner boundary surface defining an inner face of the track, the inner face including:
1. an inwardly projecting track guide located between the first and second lateral edges;
2. support wheel engaging surfaces extending along the longitudinal axis on either side of the track guide, the first and second support wheels being in rolling contact with respective support wheel engaging surfaces, with the inwardly projecting track guide residing between the first and second support wheels;

c. the first support wheel and the second support wheel being mounted for pivotal movement via a pivot motion enabling structure about a pivot axis which extends generally along the longitudinal axis.

9 . A vehicle as defined in claim 8 , wherein the pivot axis is spaced apart vertically inwardly from an axis of rotation of at least one of the first support wheel and the second support wheel.

10 . A vehicle as defined in claim 9 , wherein the first support wheel and the second support wheel rotate about a common axis of rotation.

11 . A vehicle as defined in claim 10 , wherein the pivot axis extends generally transversally to the common axis of rotation.

12 . A vehicle as defined in claim 8 , wherein the first support wheel and the second support wheel define a first wheel set, the track assembly further comprising a second wheel set, the first wheel set and the second wheel set being mounted to a tandem arrangement capable of pivotal motion about a tandem axis which is generally transverse to the longitudinal axis.

13 . A vehicle as defined in claim 12 , wherein the first wheel set and the second wheel set are configured to pivot independently about the pivot axis.

14 . A vehicle as defined in claim 8 , wherein the support wheel engaging surfaces are generally flat and extend parallel to each other.

15 . A vehicle as defined in claim 12 , wherein the vehicle is a cart configured for connection to a tractor.

16 . A vehicle as defined in claim 8 , wherein the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle.

Assignees

• Camso Inc

Inventors

• Rosenboom Lyn

Classifications

• B62D55/08 Primary

  Endless track units; Parts thereof · CPC title

• A01B76/00

  Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for in groups A01B51/00 - A01B75/00 · CPC title

• A01B73/065

  to a position essentially forward of the axis, in relation to the direction of travel · CPC title

• B62D55/24

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

• B62D55/06

  with tracks without ground wheels · CPC title