Tensioning system for an endless track system

• US 10,640,162 B2
• Filed: 10/13/2017
• Issued: 05/05/2020
• Est. Priority Date: 09/29/2014
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Soucy International Inc. (Soucy Holding Incorporated)
• Original Assignee: Soucy International Inc. (Soucy Holding Incorporated)
• Inventors: Sauvageau, Yves, Leger, Andre
• Primary Examiner(s): Kotter, Kip T
• Application Number:
  US15/784,032
• Publication Number:
  US 20180118287A1
• Time in Patent Office: 935 Days
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/1125 Hydro-pneumatic or pneumatic, e.g. air-cushioned
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/12 Arrangement, location, or adaptation of driving sprockets
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/305 acting on pivotably mounted idlers
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 2007/0814 with valves opening on surplus pressure
• CPC Class Codes: F16H 7/1281 where the axis of the pulley moves along a substantially circular path

Abstract

Endless track system tensioning system comprising: Tensioner having a cylinder and a piston within the cylinder forming a variable volume chamber containing liquid. Reservoir containing liquid and gas fluidly connected to the cylinder chamber. Conduit fluidly connected between the chamber and the reservoir allowing liquid to flow therebetween to move a position of the piston. The gas applying hydrostatic pressure to liquid biasing the piston toward an extended position, biasing an idler wheel assembly against an endless track. Valve disposed along the conduit for controlling liquid flow through the conduit, movable between: Open position in which liquid is allowed to flow, rendering piston movable, allowing for relative movement between a frame and an idler wheel assembly. Closed position in which liquid is prevented from flowing rendering piston effectively immovable within the chamber, effectively preventing relative movement between frame and idler wheel assembly.

Claims

1. A tensioning system for an endless track system, the endless track system having a frame, an idler wheel assembly and an endless track extending around the frame and the idler wheel assembly, the idler wheel assembly being movable with respect to the frame for tensioning the endless track, the tensioning system comprising:

a tensioner operatively connectable between the frame and the idler wheel assembly of the endless track system for controlling relative movement between the frame and the idler wheel assembly for applying tension to the endless track, the tensioner including;

a cylinder; and

a piston that is reciprocally movable within the cylinder between an extended position and a retracted position, the piston sealingly engaging the cylinder for forming a variable volume chamber containing a liquid, the piston being movable between the extended position and the retracted position in a plurality of intermediate positions by changing a volume of the liquid contained within the chamber of the cylinder;

a reservoir fluidly connected to the chamber of the cylinder, the reservoir simultaneously containing the liquid and a gas, the gas in the reservoir being under pressure and applying hydrostatic pressure to the liquid tending towards an increase in the volume of liquid within the chamber of the cylinder, biasing the piston towards the extended position, biasing the idler wheel assembly against the endless track;

a conduit fluidly connected between the tensioner and the reservoir allowing the liquid to flow between the chamber of the cylinder and the reservoir to change the volume of liquid within the chamber of the cylinder to move the piston within the chamber of the cylinder; and

an inertial valve disposed along the conduit for allowing and preventing liquid flow through the conduit, the inertial valve being movable between;

an open position in which the liquid is allowed to flow between the chamber of the cylinder and the reservoir, rendering the piston movable within the chamber and allowing for relative movement between the frame and the idler wheel assembly; and

a closed position in which the liquid is prevented from flowing between the chamber of the cylinder and the reservoir, rendering the piston effectively immovable within the chamber and effectively preventing relative movement between the frame and the idler wheel assembly.

2. The tensioning system of claim 1, wherein the inertial valve includes:

a hollow body defining at least part of the conduit;

an inertia mass movable within the hollow body from the open position to the closed position in response to an acceleration of the endless track system in a predetermined direction exceeding a predetermined acceleration threshold; and

a spring connected to the hollow body and to the inertia mass, the spring biasing the inertia mass toward the open position inside the hollow body.

3. The tensioning system of claim 2, wherein the inertial valve is movable between the open and closed positions in a plurality of intermediate positions so as to provide a plurality of liquid flow rates within the conduit, rendering the piston movable within the chamber of the cylinder at a plurality of speeds.

4. A tensioning system for an endless track system, the endless track system having a frame, an idler wheel assembly and an endless track extending around the frame and the idler wheel assembly, the idler wheel assembly being movable with respect to the frame for tensioning the endless track, the tensioning system comprising:

a tensioner operatively connectable between the frame and the idler wheel assembly of the endless track system for controlling relative movement between the frame and the idler wheel assembly for applying tension to the endless track, the tensioner including;

a cylinder; and

a piston that is reciprocally movable within the cylinder between an extended position and a retracted position, the piston sealingly engaging the cylinder for forming a variable volume chamber containing a liquid, the piston being movable between the extended position and the retracted position in a plurality of intermediate positions by changing a volume of the liquid contained within the chamber of the cylinder;

a reservoir fluidly connected to the chamber of the cylinder, the reservoir simultaneously containing the liquid and a gas, the gas in the reservoir being under pressure and applying hydrostatic pressure to the liquid tending towards an increase in the volume of liquid within the chamber of the cylinder, biasing the piston towards the extended position, biasing the idler wheel assembly against the endless track;

a conduit fluidly connected between the tensioner and the reservoir allowing the liquid to flow between the chamber of the cylinder and the reservoir to change the volume of liquid within the chamber of the cylinder to move the piston within the chamber of the cylinder;

a pump fluidly connected to a liquid source, and the pump being fluidly connected to at least one of the reservoir, the chamber of the cylinder and the conduit for selectively changing an amount of the liquid contained inside the at least one of the reservoir, the chamber of the cylinder and the conduit; and

a valve disposed along the conduit for allowing and preventing liquid flow through the conduit, the valve being movable between;

an open position in which the liquid is allowed to flow between the chamber of the cylinder and the reservoir, rendering the piston movable within the chamber and allowing for relative movement between the frame and the idler wheel assembly; and

a closed position in which the liquid is prevented from flowing between the chamber of the cylinder and the reservoir, rendering the piston effectively immovable within the chamber and effectively preventing relative movement between the frame and the idler wheel assembly.

5. The tensioning system of claim 4, wherein the pump is operable to pump liquid from the liquid source to the at least one of the reservoir, the chamber of the cylinder and the conduit so as to bias the piston toward the extended position for increasing the tension applied by the tensioning system on the endless track.

6. The tensioning system of claim 4, wherein the pump is operable to pump liquid from the at least one of the reservoir, the chamber of the cylinder and the conduit to the liquid source so as to bias the piston toward the retracted position for decreasing the tension applied by the tensioning system on the endless track.