Track assembly for an off-road vehicle

• US 10,272,959 B2
• Filed: 03/09/2017
• Issued: 04/30/2019
• Est. Priority Date: 06/30/2010
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Camso Inc. (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Original Assignee: Camso Inc. (Compagnie Generale DES Etablissements Michelin SCA)
• Inventors: Zuchoski, Jeremie, Lussier, Alain, Boily, Patrice, Leblanc, Francois
• Primary Examiner(s): Dayoan, D Glenn
• Assistant Examiner(s): Westbrook, Sunsurraye
• Application Number:
  US15/454,881
• Publication Number:
  US 20170174277A1
• Time in Patent Office: 782 Days
• Field of Search: 305137, 305199, 305136, 305194, 305195, 305138, 305184, 305196, 305 33, 305 9, 305201
• 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 55/12 Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/125 Final drives
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/14 Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/145 Rollers with replaceable wear rings or rims driving sprockets with replaceable rims B62D55/12
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/15 Mounting devices, e.g. bushings, axles, bearings, sealings with lubrication means B62D55/092
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/244 Moulded in one piece, with either smooth surfaces or surfaces having projections, e.g. incorporating reinforcing elements
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 65/00 Designing, manufacturing, e.g. assembling, facilitating disassembly, or structurally modifying motor vehicles or trailers, not otherwise provided for
• CPC Class Codes: B62K 5/01 Motorcycles with four or more wheels specially adapted for disabled riders B62K5/003
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/49483 Railway or trolley wheel making

Abstract

A track assembly for traction of a tracked vehicle, such as an agricultural vehicle, an industrial vehicle (e.g., a construction vehicle) or a military vehicle, is provided. The track assembly comprises a plurality of wheels which comprises a drive wheel and a plurality of roller wheels, as well as an elastomeric endless track disposed around the plurality of wheels for engaging the ground. A roller wheel may comprise a wheel body and a covering on the wheel body. The covering may comprise a lateral portion dimensioned to contact a drive/guide lug of the track. The roller wheels and the track may implement a self-alignment system of the track assembly. The track assembly may comprise a cooling system for transferring heat away from a roller wheel. The track assembly may comprise a lateral motion mechanism allowing a roller wheel to move widthwise in response to a side load.

Claims

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

a track for engaging the ground; and

a plurality of wheels that includes a drive wheel for driving the track around the wheels;

wherein the track assembly comprises a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a component of the track assembly.

2. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to convey the temperature of the component of the track assembly via a wireless link.

3. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to convey the temperature of the component of the track assembly via a wired link.

4. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to convey the temperature of the component of the track assembly to a processing device configured to perform an operation related to the vehicle based on the temperature of the component of the track assembly.

5. The track assembly of claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to convey the temperature of the component of the track assembly to the processing device via a wireless link.

6. The track assembly of claim 4, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to convey the temperature of the component of the track assembly to the processing device via a wired link.

7. The track assembly of claim 4, wherein the operation related to the vehicle includes an operation controlling an aspect of the vehicle based on the temperature of the component of the track assembly.

8. The track assembly of claim 7, wherein the operation controlling the aspect of the vehicle is based on the temperature of the component of the track assembly and a speed of the vehicle.

9. The track assembly of claim 7, comprising a cooling system configured to transfer heat away from at least part of the track assembly, wherein the aspect of the vehicle includes the cooling system.

10. The track assembly of claim 9, wherein the cooling system comprises a fan and the operation controlling the cooling system includes an operation controlling the fan.

11. The track assembly of claim 4, wherein the processing device is configured to perform the operation related to the vehicle when the temperature of the component of the track assembly reaches a threshold.

12. The track assembly of claim 1, comprising a frame supporting respective ones of the wheels, wherein the component of the track assembly is movable relative to the frame as the drive wheel drives the track.

13. The track assembly of claim 12, wherein the component of the track assembly is a given one of the wheels.

14. The track assembly of claim 13, wherein the plurality of wheels includes a plurality of roller wheels rolling on a bottom run of the track, and the given one of the wheels is a given one of the roller wheels.

15. The track assembly of claim 1, comprising a frame supporting respective ones of the wheels, wherein the temperature sensor is movable relative to the frame as the drive wheel drives the track.

16. The track assembly of claim 15, wherein the temperature sensor is part of a given one of the wheels.

17. The track assembly of claim 16, wherein the plurality of wheels includes a plurality of roller wheels rolling on a bottom run of the track, and the given one of the wheels is a given one of the roller wheels.

18. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the component of the track assembly is a given one of the wheels.

19. The track assembly of claim 18, wherein the plurality of wheels includes a plurality of roller wheels rolling on a bottom run of the track, and the given one of the wheels is a given one of the roller wheels.

20. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the temperature sensor is part of a given one of the wheels.

21. The track assembly of claim 20, wherein the plurality of wheels includes a plurality of roller wheels rolling on a bottom run of the track, and the given one of the wheels is a given one of the roller wheels.

22. The track assembly of claim 20, wherein the component of the track assembly is the given one of the wheels.

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

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

25. A system for use in respect of a track assembly for traction of a vehicle, the track assembly comprising a track for engaging the ground and a plurality of wheels that includes a drive wheel for driving the track around the wheels, the system comprising:

a temperature sensor configured to sense a temperature of a component of the track assembly; and

a processing device configured to perform an operation related to the vehicle based on the temperature of the component of the track assembly.

26. The system of claim 25, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to convey the temperature of the component of the track assembly to the processing device via a wireless link.

27. The system of claim 25, wherein the temperature sensor is configured to convey the temperature of the component of the track assembly to the processing device via a wired link.

28. The system of claim 25, wherein the operation related to the vehicle includes an operation controlling an aspect of the vehicle based on the temperature of the component of the track assembly.

29. The system of claim 28, wherein the operation controlling the aspect of the vehicle is based on the temperature of the component of the track assembly and a speed of the vehicle.

30. The system of claim 28, wherein the track assembly comprises a cooling system configured to transfer heat away from at least part of the track assembly, and the aspect of the vehicle includes the cooling system.

31. The system of claim 30, wherein the cooling system comprises a fan and the operation controlling the cooling system includes an operation controlling the fan.

32. The system of claim 25, wherein the processing device is configured to perform the operation related to the vehicle when the temperature of the component of the track assembly reaches a threshold.

33. The system of claim 25, wherein the track assembly comprises a frame supporting respective ones of the wheels, and the component of the track assembly is movable relative to the frame as the drive wheel drives the track.

34. The system of claim 33, wherein the component of the track assembly is a given one of the wheels.

35. The system of claim 34, wherein the plurality of wheels includes a plurality of roller wheels rolling on a bottom run of the track, and the given one of the wheels is a given one of the roller wheels.

36. The system of claim 25, wherein the track assembly comprises a frame supporting respective ones of the wheels, and the temperature sensor is movable relative to the frame as the drive wheel drives the track.

37. The system of claim 36, wherein the temperature sensor is part of a given one of the wheels.

38. The system of claim 37, wherein the plurality of wheels includes a plurality of roller wheels rolling on a bottom run of the track, and the given one of the wheels is a given one of the roller wheels.

39. The system of claim 25, wherein the component of the track assembly is a given one of the wheels.

40. The system of claim 39, wherein the plurality of wheels includes a plurality of roller wheels rolling on a bottom run of the track, and the given one of the wheels is a given one of the roller wheels.

41. The system of claim 25, wherein the temperature sensor is part of a given one of the wheels.

42. The system of claim 41, wherein the plurality of wheels includes a plurality of roller wheels rolling on a bottom run of the track, and the given one of the wheels is a given one of the roller wheels.

43. The system of claim 41, wherein the component of the track assembly is the given one of the wheels.

44. A vehicle comprising the system of claim 25.

45. The vehicle of claim 44, wherein the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle.

46. A method for execution in respect of a track assembly for traction of a vehicle, the track assembly comprising a track for engaging the ground and a plurality of wheels that includes a drive wheel for driving the track around the wheels, the method comprising:

using a temperature sensor to sense a temperature of a component of the track assembly; and

performing an operation related to the vehicle based on the temperature of the component of the track assembly.