Suspension and lock-out systems for a tracked vehicle

Patent metadata

Field	Value
Publication number	US-9828047-B2
Application number	US-201314412285-A
Country	US
Kind code	B2
Filing date	Jul 3, 2013
Priority date	Jul 6, 2012
Publication date	Nov 28, 2017
Grant date	Nov 28, 2017

Abstract

A suspension for a tracked utility vehicle is provided. The trailing link suspension for the tracked utility vehicle has at least two trailing links. Each of said trailing links has a shock and a walking beam. The first end of the trailing link is pivotably connected to the tracked utility vehicle chassis. The second end of said trailing link is pivotably connected to the walking beam. The first end of the shock is pivotably connected to the chassis and the second end is pivotably connected to the trailing link. The walking beam has a plurality of axle mounted bogey wheels for engaging one or both of the track of said tracked utility vehicle or the track lug or guide. The shocks are independently adjustable to permit more of the tracked utility vehicle's weight to be supported at the suspension midpoint.

First claim

What is claimed is:

1. A trailing link suspension for a tracked utility vehicle having a chassis comprising:
a forward trailing link having a first end pivotably connected to said chassis and a second end pivotably connected to a forward walking beam at a walking beam pivot; a forward shock having a first end pivotably connected to said chassis and a second end pivotably connected to said forward trailing link;
a rear trailing link having a first end pivotably connected to said chassis and a second end pivotably connected to a rear walking beam at a walking beam pivot; a rear shock having a first end pivotably connected to said chassis and a second end pivotably connected to said rear trailing link;
an intermediate trailing link located between said forward trailing link and said rear trailing link; said intermediate trailing link having a first end directly and pivotably connected to said chassis and a second end directly and pivotably connected to an intermediate walking beam at a walking beam pivot;
said walking beams having a plurality of axle mounted bogey wheels for engaging a track of said tracked utility vehicle.

2. The trailing link suspension of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said trailing links further comprises a lock-out.

3. The trailing link suspension of claim 2 , wherein said lock-out is a pneumatic lock-out comprised of said shock.

4. The trailing link suspension of claim 2 , wherein said lock-out is a mechanical lock-out comprised of a mechanical lock-out member.

5. Said mechanical lock-out member of claim 4 further comprising a first end pivotably connected to said chassis and a second end selectively connected to said trailing link.

6. The trailing link suspension of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said walking beams has a pan-hard rod comprised of a rigid rod having a first end and a second end; said first end is pivotably connected to said walking beam and said second end is pivotably connected to said chassis opposite said walking beam.

7. The trailing link suspension of claim 1 , wherein said walking beam pivot of at least one walking beam is biased toward a front or a rear of said tracked utility vehicle.

8. The trailing link suspension of claim 7 , wherein said walking beam pivot of said front walking beam is biased toward the front of said tracked utility vehicle, and said walking beam pivot of said rear walking beam is biased toward the rear of said tracked utility vehicle.

9. The trailing link suspension of claim 7 , wherein said walking beam pivot of said front walking beam is biased toward the front of said tracked utility vehicle, and said walking beam pivot of said rear walking beam is biased toward the front of said tracked utility vehicle.

10. The trailing link suspension of claim 7 , wherein said walking beam pivot of said front walking beam is biased toward the rear of said tracked utility vehicle, and said walking beam pivot of said rear walking beam is biased toward the rear of said tracked utility vehicle.

11. The trailing link suspension of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said walking beams has a roll pivot, thereby permitting all of said bogey wheels of said walking beam to maintain contact with said track on uneven terrain.

12. The trailing link suspension of claim 11 , wherein said roll pivot is located below said walking beam pivot and said axles of said walking beam.

13. The trailing link suspension of claim 1 , wherein at least one of said walking beams is further comprised of a forward section, a middle section, and a rear section; said forward section and said middle section are pivotably connected with a first roll pivot; said rear section and said middle section are pivotably connected with a second roll pivot; said walking beam pivot is situated in said middle section; said forward section and said rear section each have bogey wheels mounted on axles that engage at least one of said track, or a track lug or guide.

14. The walking beam of claim 13 , wherein said forward section and said rear section pivot independently.

15. The walking beam of claim 13 , wherein said first and second roll pivot movement is limited to about +/−10 degrees.

16. The trailing link suspension of claim 1 , wherein said trailing link is comprised of at least one swing arm.

17. The trailing link suspension of claim 1 , wherein said trailing link is comprised of a first swing arm and a second swing arm connected with an upper cross brace and a lower cross brace.

18. The trailing link suspension of claim 1 , wherein said shocks are comprised of at least one of coil, leaf or torsion springs; wherein said shocks are mechanical, hydraulic, and/or pneumatic.

19. The trailing link suspension of claim 1 , wherein said shocks are independently adjustable so that more of the tracked utility vehicle's weight is supported as a midpoint of said suspension.

20. A trailing link suspension for a tracked utility vehicle having a chassis comprising:
at least two trailing links, each of said trailing links having a shock and a walking beam; a first end of said trailing link is pivotably connected to said chassis and a second end of said trailing link is pivotably connected to said walking beam; said shock has a first end directly and pivotably connected to said chassis and a second end directly and pivotably connected to said trailing link;
said walking beams having a plurality of axle mounted bogey wheels for engaging one or both of a track of said tracked utility vehicle or a track lug or guide of said track;
wherein said shocks are independently adjustable to permit more of the tracked utility vehicle's weight to be supported at a midpoint of said suspension.

21. A trailing link suspension for a tracked utility vehicle having a chassis comprising:
at least two trailing links, said at least two trailing links having a forward trailing link and a rear trailing link; said forward and rear trailing links each having a shock and a walking beam;
a first end of said forward trailing link is pivotably connected to said chassis and a second end of said forward trailing link is pivotably connected to said forward walking beam; said forward shock has a first end directly and pivotably connected to said chassis and a second end directly and pivotably connected to said forward trailing link; and
a first end of said rear trailing link is pivotably connected to said chassis and a second end of said rear trailing link is pivotably connected to said rear walking beam; said rear shock has a first end directly and pivotably connected to said chassis and a second end directly and pivotably connected to said rear trailing link.

Assignees

• Mtd Products Inc

Inventors

• Eavenson Sr Jimmy N
• Dilgard Tim
• Cmich Ryan

Classifications

• B62D55/14

  Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers · CPC title

• B62D55/108 Primary

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

• B62D55/10

  Bogies; Frames (track-tensioning means B62D55/30) · CPC title

• B62D55/112

  with fluid springs, e.g. hydraulic pneumatic · CPC title

• B62D55/12 Primary

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