Vehicle With Non-Symmetrical Drive Members

• US 20150040442A1
• Filed: 08/12/2014
• Published: 02/12/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 08/12/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Charles Machine Works Inc (Toro)
• Original Assignee: Charles Machine Works Incorporated The
• Inventors: Sewell, Cody L., Kukuk, Brant Douglas
• Granted Patent: US 9,739,034 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 37/352
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/001 control systems B62D11/183 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/083 including a screw-type conveyor for transporting the excavated material
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/088 pivotable relative to the frame
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 3/16 Safety or control devices safety devices in general F16P; controlling in general G05
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/06 with digging elements mounted on an endless chain E02F5/109 takes precedence; with digging elements mounted on an endless chain per se E02F3/08
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 5/145 control and indicating devices
• CPC Class Codes: E02F 9/02 Travelling-gear, e.g. associated with slewing gears drives therefor E02F9/20; for motor vehicles B60B, B60G; undercarriages for locomotives or railroad cars B61F; track-laying vehicles B62D; for cranes B66C23/18

Abstract

A vehicle having a long track or wheel-trail wheel combination on one side and a smaller ground engaging member, such as a short track or wheel on the other. The vehicle has a work attachment on one end of its frame, which is provided clearance on the side of the vehicle with the short track or wheel. A control system is provided to allow an operator to properly control a direction of the vehicle despite the fact that different forces may be required to operate the long track and the short track or wheel.

Claims

1. A vehicle comprising:

a first ground engaging assembly;

a second ground engaging assembly;

a frame moveably supported on a surface of the ground by the first ground engaging assembly and the second ground engaging assembly;

wherein the first ground engaging assembly defines a surface-engaging area that is greater than a surface-engaging area defined by the second ground engaging assembly.

2. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the surface-engaging area of the second ground engaging assembly is less than 75% of the surface-engaging area of the first ground engaging assembly.

3. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first ground engaging assembly comprises an endless track that is triangularly oriented.

4. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a trencher and an auger connected to the frame.

5. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the trencher and the auger are powered by the same motor.

6. The vehicle of claim 4 wherein the auger defines an auger axis wherein the auger axis extends above of the surface-engaging area defined by the first ground engaging assembly but does not extend above the surface-engaging area defined by the second ground engaging assembly.

7. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a control system, the control system comprising a first throttle for controlling the first ground engaging assembly and a second throttle for controlling the second ground engaging assembly.

8. The vehicle of claim 7 wherein the control system allows the vehicle to move in a straight line when a setting of the first throttle is equal to a setting of the second throttle.

9. The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a work attachment attached to the frame, wherein the first ground engaging assembly extends beyond the point where the work attachment attaches to the frame.

10. The vehicle of claim 9 wherein the work attachment comprises a trencher, plow, excavator or bucket.

11. The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the first ground engaging assembly comprises a drive wheel and a roller wheel.

12. A vehicle comprising:

a frame;

a trencher connected to the frame having a rotatable digging chain;

an auger defining an auger axis and connected to the frame;

a first ground engaging assembly movably supporting the frame and defining a first surface contact area;

a second ground engaging member movably supporting the frame and defining a second surface contact area, wherein the second surface contact area is smaller than the first surface contact area; and

wherein the auger axis extends above the first surface contact area but does not extend above the second surface contact area.

13. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the second ground engaging member comprises an endless track.

14. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the second ground engaging member comprises a wheel.

15. The vehicle of claim 12 further comprising a first throttle and a second throttle, wherein the first throttle controls the first ground engaging assembly and the second throttle controls the second ground engaging member.

16. The vehicle of claim 15 wherein the vehicle travels in a straight line when a setting of the first throttle is equal to a setting of the second throttle.

17. The vehicle of claim 12 further comprising a multi-axis joystick for controlling the direction of the vehicle.

18. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the first ground engaging assembly comprises a drive wheel and a roller wheel.

19. The vehicle of claim 18 wherein the second ground engaging member comprises a drive wheel.

20. The vehicle of claim 12 wherein the auger and trencher are powered by a single motor.