SUSPENSION DEVICE FOR TRACKED VEHICLE

• US 20160068205A1
• Filed: 05/07/2014
• Published: 03/10/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 05/08/2013
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: BAE Systems Hã¤Gglunds AB (BAE Systems Plc)
• Original Assignee: BAE Systems Hã¤Gglunds AB (BAE Systems Plc)
• Inventors: HELLHOLM, Bjrn, NORDBERG, Bjrn
• Granted Patent: US 10,144,460 B2
• Time in Patent Office: Days
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 17/0165 to an external condition, e.g. rough road surface, side wind
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 21/073 between wheels on the same axle but on different sides of the vehicle, i.e. the left and right wheel suspensions being interconnected
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/13 with longitudinal arms only
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2200/14 with lateral arms
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/11 the arm being a radius or track or torque or steering rod or stabiliser end link
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2206/124 the arm having triangular or Y-shape, e.g. wishbone
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/083 Boom carrying vehicles, e.g. for crop spraying
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2300/32 Track vehicles
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 2800/019 Inclination due to load distribution or road gradient
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/08 the arm forming the axle housing
• CPC Class Codes: B60G 3/145 the arm forming the axle housing
• 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 55/104 Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames vehicle suspension in general B60G
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/108 with mechanical springs, e.g. torsion bars
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/112 with fluid springs, e.g. hydraulic pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/1125 Hydro-pneumatic or pneumatic, e.g. air-cushioned
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/116 Attitude or position control of chassis by action on suspension, e.g. to compensate for a slope

Abstract

The invention relates to a suspension device for tracked vehicles, which vehicle comprises at least one pair of track assemblies, where each track assembly of the pair of track assemblies comprises a track support beam, at least one drive wheel, a plurality of support wheels and an endless track, wherein said at least one drive wheel and said plurality of support wheels are rotatably secured to said track support beam. Said at least one drive wheel is arranged to drive said endless track running over the at least one drive wheel and said plurality of support wheels. The suspension device comprises a first suspension configuration constituting a support wheel suspension configuration configured to resiliently secure said support wheels to said track support beam, and a second suspension configuration configured to connect said track assembly pair with a centrally arranged center beam. The invention also relates to a tracked vehicle.

Claims

1. A suspension device for a tracked vehicle, which vehicle comprises at least one track assembly pair, where each track assembly of the track assembly pair comprises a track support beam, at least one drive wheel, a plurality of support wheels and an endless track, wherein said at least one drive wheel and said plurality of support wheels are rotatably secured to said track support beam, wherein said at least one drive wheel is arranged to drive said endless track running over the at least one drive wheel and said plurality of support wheels, wherein the suspension device comprises a first suspension configuration constituting a support wheel suspension configuration configured to resiliently secure said support wheels to said track support beam, and a second suspension configuration configured to connect said track assembly pair with a centrally arranged centre beam.

2. The suspension device of claim 1, wherein

said support wheel suspension configuration comprises rocker arms connecting said plurality of support wheels and said track support beam, wherein said rocker arms are configured such that forces acting on said plurality of support wheels cause resilient oscillation of said rocker arms.

3. The suspension device of claim 1, wherein said second suspension configuration is configured to cooperate with said support wheel suspension configuration based on force acting on said track assembly pair.

4. The suspension device of claim 3, wherein said cooperation is arranged to take place such that force acting on said track assembly pair is absorbed by said support wheel suspension configuration and any remaining force transmitted to said track support beam is absorbed by said second suspension configuration.

5. The suspension device of claim 1, wherein said second suspension configuration comprises a pair of springs for the respective track assembly, which pair of springs comprises a front and a rear spring strut.

6. The suspension device of claim 1, wherein said second suspension configuration is constituted by a gas hydraulic suspension configuration.

7. The suspension device of claim 6, wherein said gas hydraulic suspension configuration comprises a pair of hydraulic cylinders for the respective track assembly, which pair of hydraulic cylinders comprises a front and a rear hydraulic cylinder arranged to be connected such that hydraulic flow is distributed between the front and the rear hydraulic cylinder based on the force acting on the front and rear hydraulic cylinder, respectively.

8. The suspension device of claim 7, wherein said hydraulic flow is arranged to be distributed such that the one of said front and rear hydraulic cylinders that absorbs the relatively higher force is compressed and the other is correspondingly expanded by hydraulic flow flowing from one of the hydraulic cylinders to the other, whereby an angle is formed between said track support beam and said centre beam.

9. The suspension device of claim 1, wherein said track assembly pair is configured to be secured to said centre beam via a track assembly suspension configuration comprising said second suspension configuration.

10. The suspension device of claim 9, wherein said track assembly suspension configuration comprises a front trailing arm configuration and a rear trailing arm configuration for the respective track assembly, wherein the front trailing arm configuration at one end is articulately connected at a lower attachment of a front region of said centre beam and at the other end at a front region of said track support beam, and wherein the rear trailing arm configuration at one end is articulately connected at a lower attachment of a rear region of said centre beam and in the another end at a rear region of said track support beam.

11. The suspension device of claim 9, wherein said front hydraulic cylinder is at one end pivotally connected to a front side region of said centre beam and at the other end to a front region of said track support beam, in connection with said front trailing arm configuration, and wherein said rear hydraulic cylinder at one end is pivotally connected to a rear side region of said centre beam and at the other end to a rear region of said track support beam.

12. The suspension device of claim 9, wherein at least one of said front and rear trailing arm configurations is formed as an A-arm.

13. The suspension device of claim 1, wherein said track support beam is a skid beam.

14. The suspension device of claim 1, further comprising a controller configured to control said hydraulic suspension configuration based on information received from a inclination determining device.

15. The suspension device of claim 14, wherein said controller is configured to control said hydraulic suspension configuration such that the position of the track assemblies relative to the centre beam is adjusted to compensate for inclination.

16. A tracked vehicle, comprising at least one suspension device of claim 1.

17. The tracked vehicle of claim 16, comprising at least two articulated vehicle units, each of said vehicle units comprising two track assemblies connected to respective sides of a centre beam.

18. The tracked vehicle of claim 17, wherein said tracked vehicle comprises a load-carrying frame pivotally connected to said front vehicle unit via a front vertical steering joint arranged centrally relative to the longitudinal direction of the front vehicle unit and pivotally connected to said rear vehicle unit via a rear vertical steering joint arranged centrally relative to the longitudinal direction of the rear vehicle unit.

19. The tracked vehicle of claim 16, wherein said tracked vehicle is a forestry machine.

20. The tracked vehicle of claim 16, wherein said tracked vehicle is a forwarder.

21. The tracked vehicle of claim 16, wherein said tracked vehicle is hybrid-powered.