DUAL TRACK

• US 20140367181A1
• Filed: 06/16/2014
• Published: 12/18/2014
• Est. Priority Date: 06/14/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Unverferth Mfg Company Incorporated
• Original Assignee: Unverferth Mfg Company Incorporated
• Inventors: Van Mill, Michael D.
• Granted Patent: US 9,457,850 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 180/9.1
• 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 55/08 Endless track units; Parts thereof
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/084 Endless-track units or carriages mounted separably, adjustably or extensibly on vehicles, e.g. portable track units B62D55/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/10 Bogies; Frames track-tensioning means B62D55/30

Abstract

A farm implement includes an undercarriage including at least a front crossbeam and a rear crossbeam and first and second dual track propulsion systems. Each dual track propulsion system includes a first track assembly and a second track assembly. Each track assembly includes at least a track frame, at least two wheels and a track belt looped around the wheels. Each track assembly also includes a track support beam coupled to the track frames of the first and second track assemblies. The track support beam is pivotably coupled to the front and rear crossbeams such that said track support beam can pivot about a first axis of rotation parallel to a longitudinal axis of the track support beam, thereby allowing the first track assembly to move generally upwardly and downwardly in the opposite direction of the second track assembly. The first track assembly is pivotably coupled to the track support beam such that the first track assembly is pivotable about a second axis of rotation approximately perpendicular to the first axis of rotation and the second track assembly is pivotably coupled to the track support beam such that the second track assembly is pivotable about third axis of rotation approximately perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.

Claims

1. A track system for a farm implement including an undercarriage including at least a front crossbeam and a rear crossbeam, comprising:

first and second dual track propulsion systems, each dual track propulsion system comprising;

a first track assembly and a second track assembly, each track assembly including at least a track frame, at least two wheels, and a track belt looped around said wheels; and

a track support beam coupled to the track frame of the first track assembly and the track frame of the second track assembly and including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotably coupled to the front crossbeam and the second end is pivotably coupled to the rear crossbeam such that said track support beam pivots about a first axis of rotation and causes the first track assembly to move in the opposite direction of the second track assembly,

wherein the first track assembly is pivotably coupled to the track support beam such that the first track assembly is pivotable about a second axis of rotation perpendicular to the first axis of rotation and the second track assembly is pivotably coupled to the track support beam such that the second track assembly is pivotable about third axis of rotation perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.

2. The track system of claim 1, wherein the first track assembly includes a first track pivot coupling and the first track assembly is pivotably coupled to the track support beam via the first track pivot coupling such that it is pivotable about the second axis of rotation, and the second track assembly includes a second track coupling and the second track assembly is pivotably coupled to the track support beam via the second track pivot coupling such that it is pivotable about the third axis of rotation.

3. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the second axis or rotation and the third axis of rotation are the same.

4. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the track support beam of the first dual track propulsion system pivots independently of the track support beam of the second dual track propulsion system.

5. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the first track assembly pivots about the second pivot axis and the second track assembly pivots about the third pivot axis independent of each other.

6. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein at least one of the first track assembly and the second track assembly is positioned between the front crossbeam and the rear crossbeam.

7. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the track support beam is positioned between the first track assembly and the second track assembly.

8. The track assembly of claim 1, wherein the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation are located between the track wheels.

9. The track assembly of claim 8, wherein the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation extend through a center of the track frames.

10. A farm implement comprising:

an undercarriage including a front crossbeam and a rear crossbeam,

a dual track propulsion system including;

a first track assembly and a second track assembly, each track assembly including at least a track frame, at least two wheels and a track belt looped around said wheels; and

a track support beam coupled to the track frame of the first track assembly and the track frame of the second track assembly and including a first end and a second end, wherein the first end is pivotably coupled to the front crossbeam and the second end is pivotably coupled to the rear crossbeam such that said track support beam pivots about a first axis of rotation and causes the first track assembly to move in the opposite direction of the second track assembly,

wherein the first track assembly is pivotably coupled to the track support beam such that the first track assembly is pivotable about a second axis of rotation approximately perpendicular to the first axis of rotation and the second track assembly is pivotably coupled to the track support beam such that the second track assembly is pivotable about third axis of rotation approximately perpendicular to the first axis of rotation.

11. The track system of claim 10, wherein the first track assembly includes a first track pivot coupling and the first track assembly is pivotably coupled to the track support beam via the first track pivot coupling such that it is pivotable about the second axis of rotation, and the second track assembly includes a second track coupling and the second track assembly is pivotably coupled to the track support beam via the second track pivot coupling such that it is pivotable about the third axis of rotation.

12. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the second axis or rotation and the third axis of rotation are the same.

13. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the track support beam of the first dual track propulsion system pivots independently of the track support beam of the second dual track propulsion system.

14. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the first track assembly pivots about the second pivot axis and the second track assembly pivots about the third pivot axis independent of each other.

15. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein at least one of the first track assembly and the second track assembly is positioned between the front crossbeam and the rear crossbeam.

16. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the track support beam is positioned between the first track assembly and the second track assembly.

17. The track assembly of claim 10, wherein the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation are located between the track wheels.

18. The track assembly of claim 17, wherein the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation extend through a center of the track frames.