Variable terrain vehicle
First Claim
1. A vehicle having an undercarriage provided with a track laying assembly on both sides, each said track laying assembly including a front and rear support assembly, an endless belt tread encircling both said front and rear support assemblies of each said track laying assembly, each said support assembly including at least a pair of wheels within the confines of said tread, means connected to at least one said wheel of each said track laying assembly operable to displace said connected wheel toward and away from said wheels of the other said support assembly of the same track laying assembly in order to vary the effective ground engageable wheelbase of said vehicle, and tread take-up means engageable with said tread and operable during said variation of the wheelbase to take up and let out a portion of said endless treads.
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Accused Products
Abstract
A vehicle undercarriage includes a pair of track laying assemblies each provided with at least two pairs of wheels having an endless belt tread wrapped thereabout. Variation of the vehicle wheelbase is achieved upon actuation of an extend/retract device serving to displace in a fore and aft direction at least one wheel of each track laying assembly. Further actuation of the same extend/retract device or of a separate variable pitch assembly produces an elevation or depression with respect to a horizontal plane, of at least one distal portion of each track laying assembly to accommodate varying terrain while also altering the size of the tread footprint. During all of the displacements of the tread, a take-up assembly automatically absorbs and lets out excessive portions of the endless belt tread. An improved tread construction provides a medial rib offering an axially-extending ground engaging contact surface.
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Citations
23 Claims
- 1. A vehicle having an undercarriage provided with a track laying assembly on both sides, each said track laying assembly including a front and rear support assembly, an endless belt tread encircling both said front and rear support assemblies of each said track laying assembly, each said support assembly including at least a pair of wheels within the confines of said tread, means connected to at least one said wheel of each said track laying assembly operable to displace said connected wheel toward and away from said wheels of the other said support assembly of the same track laying assembly in order to vary the effective ground engageable wheelbase of said vehicle, and tread take-up means engageable with said tread and operable during said variation of the wheelbase to take up and let out a portion of said endless treads.
Specification