Vehicle track assembly

• US 10,259,512 B2
• Filed: 08/25/2016
• Issued: 04/16/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 05/02/2000
• Status: Expired due to Term

• Current Assignee: Camso Inc. (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Camso Inc. (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Rosenboom, Lyn
• Primary Examiner(s): McGowan, Jamie L
• Application Number:
  US15/246,704
• Publication Number:
  US 20160362148A1
• Time in Patent Office: 964 Days
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 51/04 drawn by animal or tractor
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 73/02 Folding frames
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 73/065 to a position essentially forward of the axis, in relation to the direction of travel
• CPC Class Codes: A01B 76/00 Parts, details or accessories of agricultural machines or implements, not provided for in groups A01B51/00 - A01B75/00
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 99/00 Subject matter not provided for in other groups of this subclass
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/06 with tracks without ground wheels
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/08 Endless track units; Parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/14 Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/24 of continuously flexible type, e.g. rubber belts

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.

Claims

1. A track assembly for a vehicle, the track assembly comprising:

a track comprising a ground-engaging outer surface, an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge, the track including flexible material extending to the ground-engaging outer surface, the inner surface, the first lateral edge, and the second lateral edge, the track comprising a wheel-contacting projection that projects from the inner surface and comprises part of the flexible material; and

a plurality of track-contacting wheels to guide the track around the track-contacting wheels, the flexible material of the track flexing around the track-contacting wheels, the track-contacting wheels including;

a leading wheel and a trailing wheel spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly; and

a plurality of support wheels for rolling on a lower run of the track and disposed between the leading wheel and the trailing wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly, wherein;

each support wheel is pivotable about a pivot axis transversal to a widthwise direction of the track assembly;

a first one of the support wheels and a second one of the support wheels are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly and pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis; and

respective ones of the support wheels are spaced apart in the widthwise direction of the track by a space configured to receive the wheel-contacting projection of the track.

2. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivot axis is generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.

3. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein a third one of the support wheels is spaced from the first one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly and pivotable relative to the first one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels about the pivot axis.

4. The track assembly of claim 3, wherein a fourth one of the support wheels is spaced from the first one of the support wheels, the second one of the support wheels, and the third one of the support wheels in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly and pivotable relative to the first one of the support wheels, the second one of the support wheels, and the third one of the support wheels about the pivot axis.

5. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein:

a third one of the support wheels is spaced from the first one of the support wheels in the widthwise direction of the track assembly;

the third one of the support wheels is pivotable about the pivot axis together with the first one of the support wheels; and

the third one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis.

6. The track assembly of claim 5, wherein:

a fourth one of the support wheels is spaced from the second one of the support wheels in the widthwise direction of the track assembly;

the fourth one of the support wheels is pivotable about the pivot axis together with the second one of the support wheels; and

the fourth one of the support wheels and the first one of the support wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis.

7. The track assembly of claim 3, wherein:

a fourth one of the support wheels is spaced from the first one of the support wheels in the widthwise direction of the track assembly;

the fourth one of the support wheels is pivotable about the pivot axis together with the first one of the support wheels; and

the fourth one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis.

8. The track assembly of claim 7, wherein:

a fifth one of the support wheels is spaced from the second one of the support wheels in the widthwise direction of the track assembly;

the fifth one of the support wheels is pivotable about the pivot axis together with the second one of the support wheels; and

the fifth one of the support wheels and the first one of the support wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis.

9. The track assembly of claim 8, wherein:

a sixth one of the support wheels is spaced from the third one of the support wheels in the widthwise direction of the track assembly;

the sixth one of the support wheels is pivotable about the pivot axis together with the third one of the support wheels; and

the sixth one of the support wheels, the first one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis.

10. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein:

the pivot axis is a first pivot axis; and

each of the first one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels is pivotable about a second pivot axis transversal to the longitudinal direction of the track assembly and spaced from an axis of rotation of the first one of the support wheels and an axis of rotation of the second one of the support wheels.

11. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the second pivot axis is generally parallel to the widthwise direction of the track assembly.

12. The track assembly of claim 10, comprising a tandem member carrying the first one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels and pivotable about the second pivot axis.

13. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the second pivot axis is disposed between the axis of rotation of the first one of the support wheels and the axis of rotation of the second one of the support wheels in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.

14. The track assembly of claim 13, wherein the second pivot axis is disposed above the axis of rotation of the first one of the support wheels and the axis of rotation of the second one of the support wheels in a heightwise direction of the track assembly.

15. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the pivot axis is spaced from an axis of rotation of the support wheel in a heightwise direction of the track assembly.

16. The track assembly of claim 15, wherein the pivot axis is above the axis of rotation of the support wheel in the heightwise direction of the track assembly.

17. The track assembly of claim 5, wherein:

the first one of the support wheels occupies at least a majority of a dimension of the inner surface of the track from the wheel-contacting projection to the first lateral edge of the track; and

the third one of the support wheels occupies at least a majority of a dimension of the inner surface of the track from the wheel-contacting projection to the second lateral edge of the track.

18. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein each of the leading wheel and the trailing wheel is larger in diameter than each of the support wheels.

19. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is a cart configured for connection to a tractor.

20. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle.

21. A vehicle comprising the track assembly of claim 1.

22. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the vehicle is a cart configured for connection to a tractor.

23. The vehicle of claim 21, wherein the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle.

24. A track assembly for a vehicle, the track assembly comprising:

a track comprising a ground-engaging outer surface, an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge, the track including flexible material extending to the ground-engaging outer surface, the inner surface, the first lateral edge, and the second lateral edge, the track comprising a wheel-contacting projection that projects from the inner surface and comprises part of the flexible material; and

a plurality of track-contacting wheels to guide the track around the track-contacting wheels, the flexible material of the track flexing around the track-contacting wheels, the track-contacting wheels including;

a leading wheel and a trailing wheel spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly; and

a plurality of support wheels for rolling on a lower run of the track and disposed between the leading wheel and the trailing wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly, wherein;

respective ones of the support wheels that are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly are pivotable independently from one another about a pivot axis transversal to a widthwise direction of the track assembly; and

adjacent ones of the support wheels are spaced apart in the widthwise direction of the track by a space configured to receive the wheel-contacting projection of the track.

25. A track assembly for a vehicle, the track assembly comprising:

a track comprising a ground-engaging outer surface, an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge, the track including flexible material extending to the ground-engaging outer surface, the inner surface, the first lateral edge, and the second lateral edge, the track comprising a wheel-contacting projection that projects from the inner surface and comprises part of the flexible material; and

a plurality of track-contacting wheels to guide the track around the track-contacting wheels, the flexible material of the track flexing around the track-contacting wheels, the track-contacting wheels including;

a leading wheel and a trailing wheel spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly; and

a plurality of support wheels for rolling on a lower run of the track and disposed between the leading wheel and the trailing wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly, wherein the support wheels are movable to allow the flexible material of the lower run of the track to bend beneath the support wheels on uneven terrain;

each support wheel is pivotable about a pivot axis transversal to a widthwise direction of the track assembly; and

respective ones of the support wheels are spaced apart in the widthwise direction of the track by a space configured to receive the wheel-contacting projection of the track.

26. The track assembly of claim 25, wherein the pivot axis is generally parallel to the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.

27. The track assembly of claim 25, wherein a first one of the support wheels and a second one of the support wheels are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly and pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis.

28. The track assembly of claim 27, wherein a third one of the support wheels is spaced from the first one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly and pivotable relative to the first one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels about the pivot axis.

29. The track assembly of claim 28, wherein a fourth one of the support wheels is spaced from the first one of the support wheels, the second one of the support wheels, and the third one of the support wheels in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly and pivotable relative to the first one of the support wheels, the second one of the support wheels, and the third one of the support wheels about the pivot axis.

30. The track assembly of claim 25, wherein a first one of the support wheels and a second one of the support wheels are spaced from one another in the widthwise direction of the track assembly and are pivotable together about the pivot axis.

31. The track assembly of claim 30, wherein a third one of the support wheels and a fourth one of the support wheels are spaced from one another in the widthwise direction of the track assembly, spaced from the first one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly, and pivotable together about the pivot axis.

32. The track assembly of claim 31, wherein:

the first one of the support wheels and the third one of the support wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis; and

the second one of the support wheels and the fourth one of the support wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis.

33. The track assembly of claim 31, wherein a fifth one of the support wheels and a sixth one of the support wheels are spaced from one another in the widthwise direction of the track assembly, spaced from the first one of the support wheels, the second one of the support wheels, the third one of the support wheels, and the fourth one of the support wheels in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly, and pivotable together about the pivot axis.

34. The track assembly of claim 33, wherein:

the first one of the support wheels, the third one of the support wheels, and the fifth one of the support wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis; and

the second one of the support wheels, the fourth one of the support wheels, and the sixth one of the support wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis.

35. The track assembly of claim 27, wherein:

the pivot axis is a first pivot axis; and

each of the first one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels is pivotable about a second pivot axis transversal to the longitudinal direction of the track assembly and spaced from an axis of rotation of the first one of the support wheels and an axis of rotation of the second one of the support wheels.

36. The track assembly of claim 35, wherein the second pivot axis is generally parallel to the widthwise direction of the track assembly.

37. The track assembly of claim 35, comprising a tandem member carrying the first one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels and pivotable about the second pivot axis.

38. The track assembly of claim 35, wherein the second pivot axis is disposed between the axis of rotation of the first one of the support wheels and the axis of rotation of the second one of the support wheels in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.

39. The track assembly of claim 38, wherein the second pivot axis is disposed above the axis of rotation of the first one of the support wheels and the axis of rotation of the second one of the support wheels in a heightwise direction of the track assembly.

40. The track assembly of claim 25, wherein the pivot axis is spaced from an axis of rotation of the support wheel in a heightwise direction of the track assembly.

41. The track assembly of claim 40, wherein the pivot axis is above the axis of rotation of the support wheel in the heightwise direction of the track assembly.

42. The track assembly of claim 30, wherein:

the first one of the support wheels occupies at least a majority of a dimension of the inner surface of the track from the wheel-contacting projection to the first lateral edge of the track; and

the second one of the support wheels occupies at least a majority of a dimension of the inner surface of the track from the wheel-contacting projection to the second lateral edge of the track.

43. The track assembly of claim 25, wherein each of the leading wheel and the trailing wheel is larger in diameter than each of the support wheels.

44. The track assembly of claim 25, wherein the vehicle is a cart configured for connection to a tractor.

45. The track assembly of claim 25, wherein the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle.

46. A vehicle comprising the track assembly of claim 25.

47. The vehicle of claim 46, wherein the vehicle is a cart configured for connection to a tractor.

48. The vehicle of claim 46, wherein the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle.

49. A track assembly for a vehicle, the track assembly being mountable to a frame of the vehicle, the track assembly comprising:

a track comprising a ground-engaging outer surface, an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface, a first lateral edge, and a second lateral edge, the track including flexible material extending to the ground-engaging outer surface, the inner surface, the first lateral edge, and the second lateral edge, the track comprising a wheel-contacting projection that projects from the inner surface and comprises part of the flexible material;

a plurality of wheels that engage the inner surface of the track; and

at least one pivot defining a pivot axis transversal to a widthwise direction of the track assembly;

wherein;

the flexible material of the track flexes around the track assembly;

the wheels are pivotable relative to the frame of the vehicle about the pivot axis; and

respective ones of the wheels are spaced apart in the widthwise direction of the track assembly by a space configured to receive the wheel-contacting projection of the track.

50. The track assembly of claim 49, wherein the pivot axis is generally parallel to a longitudinal direction of the track assembly.

51. The track assembly of claim 49, wherein a first one of the wheels and a second one of the wheels are spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly.

52. The track assembly of claim 51, wherein the first one of the wheels and the second one of the wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis.

53. The track assembly of claim 49, wherein a first one of the wheels and a second one of the wheels are spaced from one another in the widthwise direction of the track assembly.

54. The track assembly of claim 53, wherein the first one of the wheels and the second one of the wheels are pivotable together about the pivot axis.

55. The track assembly of claim 54, wherein a third one of the wheels and a fourth one of the wheels are spaced from one another in the widthwise direction of the track assembly, spaced from the first one of the wheels and the second one of the wheels in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly, and pivotable together about the pivot axis.

56. The track assembly of claim 55, wherein:

the first one of the wheels and the third one of the wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis; and

the second one of the wheels and the fourth one of the wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis.

57. The track assembly of claim 49, wherein:

the pivot axis is a first pivot axis; and

a given one of the wheels is pivotable about a second pivot axis transversal to a longitudinal direction of the track assembly and spaced from an axis of rotation of the given one of the wheels.

58. The track assembly of claim 57, wherein the second pivot axis is generally parallel to the widthwise direction of the track assembly.

59. The track assembly of claim 49, wherein:

the wheels are support wheels for rolling on a lower run of the track;

the track assembly comprises a leading wheel and a trailing wheel spaced from one another in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly; and

the support wheels are disposed between the leading wheel and the trailing wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.

60. The track assembly of claim 59, wherein a first one of the support wheels and a second one of the support wheels are spaced from one another in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.

61. The track assembly of claim 60, wherein the first one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis.

62. The track assembly of claim 59, wherein a first one of the support wheels and a second one of the support wheels are spaced from one another in the widthwise direction of the track assembly and are pivotable together about the pivot axis.

63. The track assembly of claim 62, wherein a third one of the support wheels and a fourth one of the support wheels are spaced from one another in the widthwise direction of the track assembly, spaced from the first one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly, and pivotable together about the pivot axis.

64. The track assembly of claim 63, wherein:

the first one of the support wheels and the third one of the support wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis; and

the second one of the support wheels and the fourth one of the support wheels are pivotable relative to one another about the pivot axis.

65. The track assembly of claim 59, wherein:

the pivot axis is a first pivot axis; and

a given one of the support wheels is pivotable about a second pivot axis transversal to the longitudinal direction of the track assembly and spaced from an axis of rotation of the given one of the support wheels.

66. The track assembly of claim 65, wherein the second pivot axis is generally parallel to the widthwise direction of the track assembly.

67. The track assembly of claim 65, comprising a tandem member carrying the given one of the support wheels and an adjacent one of the support wheels and pivotable about the second pivot axis.

68. The track assembly of claim 65, wherein the second pivot axis is disposed between the axis of rotation of the given one of the support wheels and an axis of rotation of an adjacent one of the support wheels that is spaced from the given one of the support wheels in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.

69. The track assembly of claim 65, wherein the second pivot axis is disposed above the axis of rotation of the given one of the support wheels in a heightwise direction of the track assembly.

70. The track assembly of claim 49, wherein the pivot axis is spaced from an axis of rotation of each of the wheels in a heightwise direction of the track assembly.

71. The track assembly of claim 70, wherein the pivot axis is above the axis of rotation of each of the wheels in the heightwise direction of the track assembly.

72. The track assembly of claim 54, wherein:

the first one of the wheels occupies at least a majority of a dimension of the inner surface of the track from the wheel-contacting projection to the first lateral edge of the track; and

the second one of the wheels occupies at least a majority of a dimension of the inner surface of the track from the wheel-contacting projection to the second lateral edge of the track.

73. The track assembly of claim 59, wherein each of the leading wheel and the trailing wheel is larger in diameter than each of the support wheels.

74. The track assembly of claim 49, wherein the at least one pivot comprises an outer roll member and an inner roll member rotatable within and relative to the outer roll member.

75. The track assembly of claim 74, wherein the outer roll member is an outer roll tube and the inner roll member is an inner roll tube.

76. The track assembly of claim 49, wherein a lower run of the track extends under the wheels and an upper run of the track extends above the wheels and is substantially parallel to the lower run of the track.

77. The track assembly of claim 49, wherein the vehicle is a cart configured for connection to a tractor.

78. The track assembly of claim 49, wherein the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle.

79. A vehicle comprising the track assembly of claim 49.

80. The vehicle of claim 79, wherein the vehicle is a cart configured for connection to a tractor.

81. The vehicle of claim 79, wherein the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle.