Quad tracked vehicle

• US 20070194540A1
• Filed: 02/22/2006
• Published: 08/23/2007
• Est. Priority Date: 02/22/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: MGA Entertainment Incorporated
• Original Assignee: MGA Entertainment Incorporated
• Inventors: Caspi, Yuval, Kong, Stephen
• Granted Patent: US 7,581,605 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 280/5.22
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 2301/256 by using endless belts
• CPC Class Codes: B62B 5/02 providing for travelling up or down a flight of stairs chairs or multi-track cycles specially adapted for invalids A61G5/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 21/14 of adjustable length or width
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/065 Multi-track vehicles, i.e. more than two tracks soil-shifting machines E02F; mining machines E21C
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/075 Tracked vehicles for ascending or descending stairs, steep slopes or vertical surfacesmagnetic or pneumatic ground-engaging parts B62D55/265; chairs or multi-track cycles specially adapted for invalids A61G5/00

Abstract

A quad tracked vehicle may include a forward starboard track arm, an aft starboard track arm, a forward port track arm, and an aft port track arm. Forward track arms may be mounted for rotation about a vehicle body around axis of forward track arm by a forward coaxial transmission and motor, while aft tracks arms may be mounted for rotation about vehicle body around axis of aft extended coaxial transmission by an aft motor. Tracks may be mounted for rotation around track arms and rotate about minor axes. Forward tracks may rotate about forward major axis and aft tracks about aft major axis. Starboard tracks may be rotated by starboard motor, and port tracks by port motor.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a vehicle body having a first axis near a first end of the body and a second axis at a near a second end of the body;

a first pair of track arms mounted for rotation about the first axis;

a first pair of tracks each mounted for rotation about one of the first pair of track arms;

a second pair of track arms mounted for rotation about a second axis near the second end of the body, each of the second pair of track arms extending from the second axis more than half the distance to the first axis and rotatable through a point of rotation nearest to the first axis;

a second pair of tracks each mounted for rotation about one of the second pair of track arms; and

a control system selectively rotating the first and second pairs of tracks to move and turn the vehicle in forward and reverse directions and selectively rotating the first and second pairs of track arms about the first and second axes respectively.

2. The invention of claim 1 wherein the control system selectively rotates the second pair of track arms about the second axis from a point of rotation furthest from the first axis through a point of rotation nearest the second axis in both clockwise and counter clockwise directions.

3. The invention of claims 1 or 2 wherein the control system selectively rotates the second pair of track arms about the second axis from a point of rotation furthest from the first axis through a point of rotation nearest the second axis in both clockwise and counter clockwise directions.

4. The invention of claim 3 wherein the second pair track arms are mounted for rotation about the second axis at a sufficiently greater distance from the body than the distance from the body at which the first pair of track arms are mounted for rotation about the first axis that the pairs of track arms may rotate into an overlapping position.

5. The invention of claims 1 or 2 wherein the controller is further operable to climb an obstacle by

rotating the first and second pairs of track arms below a horizontal level to raise the body above the terrain,

rotating the first and second pairs of tracks to move the vehicle to contact the obstacle, and

further rotating the pair of track arms closest the obstacle, and further rotating the first and second pairs of tracks, to climb the obstacle.

6. The invention of claims 1 or 2 wherein the body has a concave lower body surface nearest the terrain to slide over edges of obstacles.

7. The invention of claims 1 or 2 wherein each track arm has a convex upper and a convection lower surface to slide over edges of obstacles.

8. The invention of claims 1 or 2 wherein the body has a convex upper body surface so that rotation of one or more track arms may be used to move the vehicle into an upright position if the upper body surface makes contact with the terrain.

9. The invention of claims 1 or 2 wherein a length of the first pair of track arms is adjustable within a first range.

10. The invention of claim 9 wherein the first pair of tracks is not sufficiently elastic to compensate for adjustments of the length of the first pair of track arms within the first range.

11. The invention of claim 10 wherein each of the first pair of track arms further comprises:

a first wheel rotatable about the first axis;

a second wheel;

an adjustable length arm mounted adjacent the first wheel and supporting the second wheel for rotation about another axis;

an additional wheel adjustably mounted for maintaining support for the track at different lengths of the track arm.

12. The invention of claims 1 or 2 wherein a distance between the first and second axes is adjustable.

13. The invention of claim 12 wherein the vehicle body is adjustable to adjust the distance between the first and second axes.

14. The invention of claim 13 wherein the position of one of the axes with respect to the vehicle body is adjustable.

15. The invention of claims 1 or 2 wherein the vehicle further comprises:

a steerable undercarriage mounted for rotation about an axis at a right angle to the first axis and supporting the first pair of track arms.

16. The invention of claims 1 or 2 wherein each of the first pair of track arms comprises:

a support member mounted for rotation about the first axis; and

three wheels, each wheel supported by the support member for rotation about a separate axis.