High mobility vehicle

• US 7,475,745 B1
• Filed: 05/11/2006
• Issued: 01/13/2009
• Est. Priority Date: 05/11/2006
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: Bradley G. Deroos
• Original Assignee: Bradley G. Deroos
• Inventors: DeRoos, Bradley G.
• Primary Examiner(s): Dickson; Paul N
• Assistant Examiner(s): Stabley; Michael R
• Application Number:
  US11/432,191
• Time in Patent Office: 978 Days
• Field of Search: 180/9.34, 180/9.28, 180/9.3, 180/9.32, 180/8.1, 180/8.2, 180/8.3, 180/8.7
• US Class Current: 180/9.34
• CPC Class Codes: B25J 11/0025 handling explosives, bombs or hazardous objects
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/02 with tracks and additional ground wheels for multi-purpose tractors B62D49/0635
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/075 Tracked vehicles for ascending or descending stairs, steep slopes or vertical surfacesmagnetic or pneumatic ground-engaging parts B62D55/265; chairs or multi-track cycles specially adapted for invalids A61G5/00

Abstract

An embodiment of a high-mobility vehicle comprises a vehicle body, a track assembly attached to the vehicle body, arms pivotally attached to the vehicle body, and trackless drive wheels mounted on distal ends of the arms. Another embodiment of a high-mobility vehicle comprises a vehicle chassis, right and left drive motors attached to the vehicle chassis, right and left power transmission mechanisms having high torque and low torque sets of gears, track assemblies coupled to the high torque sets of gears, and trackless drive wheels coupled to the low torque sets of gears.

Claims

1. A high-mobility vehicle comprising:

a vehicle chassis;

a right drive motor attached to the vehicle chassis;

a left drive motor attached to the vehicle chassis;

a right power transmission mechanism, wherein the right power transmission mechanism comprises a right drive motor shaft coupled to the right drive motor, a right high torque set of gears coupled to the right drive motor shaft, and a right low torque set of gears coupled to the right drive motor shaft;

a left power transmission mechanism, wherein the left power transmission mechanism comprises a left drive motor shaft coupled to the left drive motor, a left high torque set of gears coupled to the left drive motor shaft, and a left low torque set of gears coupled to the left drive motor shaft;

a right track assembly coupled to the right high torque set of gears;

a left track assembly coupled to the left high torque set of gears;

a right trackless drive wheel coupled to the right low torque set of gears; and

a left trackless drive wheel coupled to the left low torque set of gears.

2. The high-mobility vehicle of claim 1, further comprising a decoupler for selectively decoupling the right track assembly, the left track assembly, the right trackless drive wheel, or the left trackless drive wheel.

3. The high-mobility vehicle of claim 2, wherein the decoupler is a slip clutch.