Track-laying assistance device

• US 6,665,920 B2
• Filed: 07/06/2001
• Issued: 12/23/2003
• Est. Priority Date: 07/07/2000
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Nexter Systems (Government of France)
• Original Assignee: GIAT Industries
• Inventors: Timmer, Bernard, Thuillier, Eric
• Primary Examiner(s): Watson, Robert C.
• Application Number:
  US09/899,291
• Publication Number:
  US 20020002927A1
• Time in Patent Office: 900 Days
• Field of Search: 292/67, 292/811, 292/815, 292/816, 294/265, 291/483, 292/66, 292/83, 292/56, 292/62, 254/15-17, 254/131
• US Class Current: 29/281.5
• CPC Class Codes: B25B 27/22 positioning sprocket chains, endless tracks, antiskid chains tools or implements for repairing chains using metal-working operations B21L21/00
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/32 Assembly, disassembly, repair or servicing of endless-track systems
• CPC Class Codes: Y10T 29/53978 including means to relatively position plural work parts

Abstract

A track-laying assistance device to hold, at ground-level, a raised end of an opened track having pre-angled connectors, wherein the track-laying assistance device comprises a first element fastened to the part of the track held to the ground and a second mobile element able to be dismounted with respect to the first element and able to push back to ground-level a raised end of the track to allow the vehicle to engage in it. The device may be activated mechanically, hydraulically or pneumatically and is applicable to tracked vehicles.

Claims

1. A track-laying assistance device to hold at ground-level a raised end of an opened track having pre-angled connectors, wherein it comprises a first element fastened to the part of the track held to the ground and a second mobile element able to be dismounted with respect to said first element and able to push back to ground-level a raised end of the track to allow the vehicle to engage in it, wherein the first element comprises two flanges, an upper flange and a lower flange and means to connect the two flanges together with the part of the track held to the ground therebetween.

2. A track-laying assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the second element comprises a lever pivoting with respect to the first element and means to push down the track.

3. A track-laying assistance device according to claim 2, wherein the lever presses on the end of the track and on a shaft integral with the second element.

4. A track-laying assistance device according to claim 2, wherein the means to push down the track are of the mechanical, hydraulic or pneumatic type connecting the lever to the second element.

5. A track-laying assistance device according to claim 4, wherein the mechanical means to push down the track are constituted by a screw, a pivoting nut and a tightening nut.

6. A track-laying assistance device according to claim 1, wherein the means to connect comprises two bolts to block the first element with respect to the track.

7. A track-laying assistance device according to claim 6, wherein the lower flange incorporates housings in which the pre-angled connectors of the track are fitted in order to immobilize them with respect to the flanges.

8. A track-laying assistance device according to claim 6, wherein the upper flange is formed so as to accommodate firstly the shaft around which the lever pivots and secondly the means to push down the track.

9. A track-laying assistance device according to claim 1, wherein an assembly formed by the part of the track held at ground-level, the raised end of the track, and the track-laying assistance device exert a greater torque than that of the last pre-angled connector immobilized with respect to the flanges.