Rotatable track drive

• US 8,967,736 B2
• Filed: 01/25/2012
• Issued: 03/03/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 01/25/2012
• Status: Expired due to Fees

• Current Assignee: OAK Novations Ltd.
• Original Assignee: OAK Novations Ltd.
• Inventors: Zakuskin, Yuriy
• Primary Examiner(s): Kotter, Kip T
• Assistant Examiner(s): CHARLESTON, JEAN W
• Application Number:
  US13/358,006
• Publication Number:
  US 20130187443A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,133 Days
• Field of Search: 305/124, 305/126, 305/127, 305/130, 305/132, 305/133, 305/143, 305/153, 305/154, 305/155, 301/6.5, 180/65.6, 180/65.7, 180/65.51, 180/9.21, 180/9.26, 180/9.62, 475/331, 475/343, 475/344, 475/346, 475/182, 475/185, 475/186, 475/195
• US Class Current: 305/132
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/04 with tracks and alternative ground wheels, e.g. changeable from endless track vehicle into wheeled vehicle and vice versa for multi-purpose tractors B62D49/0635
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/125 Final drives

Abstract

A track drive includes a primary driven gear configured to attach to a vehicle hub plate and an annular gear having gear teeth on in inner circumference and an outer circumference. The track drive can also include a plurality of intermediate gears disposed between the primary driven gear and the inner circumference of the annular gear, and a plurality of track drive wheels having an integrated gear configured to mate with gear teeth on the outer circumference of the annular gear. The track drive can further include a continuous track configured to be driven by the plurality of track drive wheels.

Claims

1. A track drive comprising:

a primary driven gear configured to attach to a vehicle hub plate;

an annular gear having gear teeth on in inner circumference and an outer circumference;

a plurality of intermediate gears disposed between the primary driven gear and the inner circumference of the annular gear;

a plurality of track drive wheels having an integrated gear configured to mate with gear teeth on the outer circumference of the annular gear; and

a continuous track configured to be driven by the plurality of track drive wheels.

2. The track drive of claim 1, wherein the plurality of intermediate gears includes three intermediate gears.

3. The track drive of claim 2, wherein the plurality of track drive wheels includes three track drive wheels.

4. The track drive of claim 3, further comprising a frame.

5. The track drive of claim 4, wherein the frame is generally triangular.

6. The track drive of claim 5, wherein the plurality of intermediate gears are attached to the frame.

7. The track drive of claim 6, wherein the plurality of track drive wheels are attached to the frame.

8. The track drive of claim 7, wherein the plurality of track drive wheels each include a first portion and a second portion, the first portion and the second portion having a beveled edge so as to produced a generally V-shaped drive wheel.

9. The track drive of claim 8, wherein the continuous track includes a V-shaped interior surface configured to mate with the V-shaped drive wheel.

10. The track drive of claim 9, wherein the first portion and the second portion of the drive wheel can be adjusted closer together so as to tighten the continuous track.

11. A track drive vehicle comprising:

a plurality of removable track drives, each track drive including

a primary driven gear configured to attach to a vehicle hub plate;

an annular gear having gear teeth on in inner circumference and an outer circumference;

a plurality of intermediate gears disposed between the primary driven gear and the inner circumference of the annular gear;

a plurality of track drive wheel assemblies, each having a first portion, a second portion and an integrated gear configured to mate with gear teeth on the outer circumference of the annular gear, the first portion and the second portion having beveled edges configured to form a substantially V-shaped drive section; and

a continuous track configured to be driven by the plurality of track drive wheels, the continuous track having a generally V-shaped inner surface configured to mate with the generally V-shaped drive wheels.

12. The track drive vehicle of claim 11, wherein the plurality of intermediate gears includes three intermediate gears.

13. The track drive vehicle of claim 12, wherein the plurality of track drive wheels includes three track drive wheels.

14. The track drive vehicle of claim 13, further comprising a frame.

15. The track drive vehicle of claim 14, wherein the frame is generally triangular.

16. The track drive vehicle of claim 15, wherein the plurality of intermediate gears are attached to the frame.

17. The track drive vehicle of claim 16, wherein the plurality of track drive wheels are attached to the frame.

18. The track drive vehicle of claim 11, wherein the first portion and the second portion of each drive wheel can be adjusted closer together so as to tighten the continuous track.

19. A removable track drive apparatus comprising:

a primary driven gear configured to attach to a vehicle hub plate;

an annular gear having gear teeth on in inner circumference and an outer circumference;

a triangular frame;

three intermediate gears disposed between the primary driven gear and the inner circumference of the annular gear and being connected to the frame;

three track drive wheel assemblies, each having a first portion, a second portion and an integrated gear configured to mate with gear teeth on the outer circumference of the annular gear, the first portion and the second portion having beveled edges configured to form a substantially V-shaped drive section, the track drive wheel assemblies being connected to the frame; and

a continuous track configured to be driven by the track drive wheels, the continuous track having a generally V-shaped inner surface configured to mate with the generally V-shaped drive wheels.

20. The track drive apparatus of claim 19, wherein the first portion and the second portion of each drive wheel can be adjusted closer together so as to tighten the continuous track.