Apparatus for converting a wheeled vehicle to a tracked vehicle

• US 9,079,614 B2
• Filed: 11/01/2012
• Issued: 07/14/2015
• Est. Priority Date: 12/11/2006
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
• Original Assignee: Vermeer Manufacturing Company
• Inventors: Hansen, Ronald S.
• Primary Examiner(s): BOEHLER, ANNE MARIE M
• Application Number:
  US13/666,843
• Publication Number:
  US 20130113272A1
• Time in Patent Office: 985 Days
• Field of Search: 180/9.1, 180/9.21, 180/9.23, 180/9.28, 180/9.5, 305/124, 305/126, 305/129, 305/134, 305/135, 305/138, 305/143, 305/145
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 11/20 Endless-track steering having pivoted bogie carrying track B62D11/02 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 49/0635 using additional ground engaging means, e.g. endless tracks vehicles with endless tracks and either additional or alternative ground wheels B62D55/02, B62D55/04
• 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 55/065 Multi-track vehicles, i.e. more than two tracks soil-shifting machines E02F; mining machines E21C
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/084 Endless-track units or carriages mounted separably, adjustably or extensibly on vehicles, e.g. portable track units B62D55/07 takes precedence
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/10 Bogies; Frames track-tensioning means B62D55/30
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/104 Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames vehicle suspension in general B60G
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/125 Final drives
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/14 Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/30 Track-tensioning means
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/305 acting on pivotably mounted idlers

Abstract

The invention relates to track systems 14, 14′ that may be used to convert steerable, all-wheel drive construction equipment to steerable, multi-track construction vehicles 10. A preferred embodiment of the track system 14, 14′ includes a frame 60, 182 having a reinforcing enclosure 150, 230, a plurality of track engaging rollers 82-86, 202-206, a sprocket 102, 214, and an endless track 76, 198 operatively connected to the frame 60, 182. Tension on the endless track 76, 198 is maintained with two tensioning members 170, 244 operatively connected to the forwardmost roller 82, 202. The track system 14, 14′ preferably includes a limiting apparatus 300 that is configured to restrict the rotational movement “r” of the frame 60, 182 relative to a vehicle axle 16 to which it is attached. The limiting apparatus 300 has a first component 40, which is associated with the vehicle axle 16, is configured and arranged to interact with a second component 262, which is associated with the frame of the track system 14, 14′. Preferably, the limiting apparatus 300 is adjustable such that the range of rotational movement “r” can be varied.

Claims

1. A track system comprising:

a frame having a first end and a second end, the frame having inboard and outboard frame assemblies that extend between the first and second ends of the frame, the outboard frame assembly including two spaced-part plates and a top wall that interconnects the two spaced-apart plates;

a drive sprocket mounted between the inboard and outboard frame assemblies such that the inboard frame assembly is inboard of the drive sprocket and the outboard frame assembly is outboard of the drive sprocket, the drive sprocket being rotatable relative to the frame about an axis of rotation;

a first end roller mounted at the first end of the frame;

a second end roller mounted at the second end of the frame;

a track routed in a generally triangular path about the drive sprocket and the first and second end rollers, the track being driven by the drive sprocket about the generally triangular path when the drive sprocket is rotated about the axis of rotation;

inboard and outboard cylinders for moving the first end roller relative to the frame to tighten the track, the outboard cylinder being mounted between the spaced-apart plates of the outboard frame assembly, and the inboard cylinder being mounted to the inboard frame assembly;

the generally triangular path of the track having an apex, and the drive sprocket engaging the track adjacent the apex to drive the track about the generally triangular path; and

the track defining a bottom side of the generally triangular path that extends between the first and second end rollers, the track system including first, second, third and fourth intermediate rollers for supporting the track along the bottom side of the generally triangular path, the first, second, third and fourth intermediate rollers being positioned between the inboard and outboard frame assemblies, the first, second, third and fourth intermediate rollers being respectively mounted on first, second, third and fourth cantilevered shafts, the first and third cantilevered shafts being supported by the inboard frame assembly and the second and fourth cantilevered shafts being supported by the outboard frame assembly, and the drive sprocket being sized and shaped to pass between the first and second intermediate rollers and between the third and fourth intermediate rollers as the drive sprocket is rotated about the axis of rotation.

2. The track system of claim 1, wherein the first and second cantilevered shafts are co-axially aligned and the third and fourth cantilevered shafts are co-axially aligned.

3. The track system of claim 1, wherein the first and second end rollers are positioned between the inboard and outboard frame assemblies and are mounted on end roller shafts each supported by the inboard and outboard frame assemblies.

4. The track system of claim 3, wherein the first and second end rollers each include first and second flanges, and wherein the drive sprocket passes between the first and second flanges of the first and second end rollers as the drive sprocket is rotated about the axis of rotation.

5. The track system of claim 4, wherein the inboard and outboard frame assemblies are interconnected at a first interconnection location positioned above the first end roller, wherein the inboard and outboard frame assemblies are interconnected at a second interconnection location positioned above the second end roller, wherein the inboard and outboard frame assemblies are interconnected at a third interconnection location positioned between the first end roller and the first and second intermediate rollers, and wherein the inboard and outboard frame assemblies are interconnected at a fourth interconnection location positioned between the second end roller and the third and fourth intermediate rollers.

6. The track system of claim 5, wherein the first and second interconnection locations include struts that extend between the inboard and outboard frame assemblies.

7. The track system of claim 1, wherein the inboard and outboard cylinders are grease cylinders.

8. The track system of claim 1, wherein the inboard and outboard cylinders move the first roller along a linear path relative to the frame to tighten the track.

9. The track system of claim 1, wherein at least a portion of the first roller is positioned between the inboard and outboard frame assemblies, and wherein the first roller is mounted on a shaft supported by the inboard and outboard frame assemblies.

10. The track system of claim 9, wherein the inboard and outboard cylinders are both operatively connected to the shaft on which the first end roller is mounted.

11. The track system of claim 10, wherein the shaft is supported in slots defined by the inboard and outboard frame assemblies.

12. The track system of claim 11, wherein the slots are linear and are elongated in a direction that extends along a length of the frame that extends between the first and second ends of the frame.

13. The track system of claim 12, wherein the slots have open ends that face away from the inboard and outboard cylinders.

14. The track system of claim 1, wherein the diameter of the sprocket is almost equal to a height of the triangular path.

15. The track system of claim 14, wherein the diameter of the sprocket extends a majority of the length of the frame.

16. The track system of claim 1, wherein the track is an elastomeric track.

17. The track system of claim 1, wherein the track is a rubber track.

18. The track system of claim 1, further comprising a track hub including a bearing for allowing the drive sprocket to rotate relative to the frame, the drive sprocket being fastened to a sprocket mounting flange of the track hub, and the track hub being connected to the outboard frame assembly.

19. The track system of claim 18, wherein the track hub is mounted above the spaced-apart plates of the outboard frame assembly.

20. The track system of claim 19, wherein the track hub includes a shaft that rotates with the sprocket mounting flange, the shaft being supported by the bearing of the track hub, the bearing of the track hub being mounted within a housing mounted above the spaced-apart plates of the outboard frame assembly.

21. The track system of claim 20, wherein the drive sprocket has a split configuration including at least first and second separate sprocket sections that are fastened to the sprocket mounting flange of the track hub.

22. A track system comprising:

a frame having a first end and a second end, the frame having first and second frame components that extend between the first and second ends of the frame, the second frame component including two spaced-part plates and a top wall that interconnects the two spaced-apart plates;

a drive sprocket mounted between the first and second frame components, the drive sprocket being rotatable relative to the frame about an axis of rotation, the first frame component being inboard of the drive sprocket and the second frame component being outboard of the drive sprocket;

a first end roller mounted at the first end of the frame;

a second end roller mounted at the second end of the frame;

a track routed in a generally triangular path about the drive sprocket and the first and second end rollers, the track being driven by the drive sprocket about the generally triangular path when the drive sprocket is rotated about the axis of rotation;

first and second cylinders for moving the first end roller relative to the frame to tighten the track, the second cylinder being mounted between the spaced-apart plates of the second frame component, and the first cylinder being mounted to the first frame component;

the generally triangular path of the track having an apex, and the drive sprocket engaging the track adjacent the apex to drive the track about the generally triangular path; and

the track defining a bottom side of the generally triangular path that extends between the first and second end rollers, the track system including first, second, third and fourth intermediate rollers for supporting the track along the bottom side of the generally triangular path, the first, second, third and fourth intermediate rollers being positioned between the first and second frame components, the first, second, third and fourth intermediate rollers being respectively mounted on first, second, third and fourth cantilevered shafts, the first and third cantilevered shafts being supported by the first frame component and the second and fourth cantilevered shafts being supported by the second frame component, and the drive sprocket being sized and shaped to pass between the first and second intermediate rollers and between the third and fourth intermediate rollers as the drive sprocket is rotated about the axis of rotation.

23. The track system of claim 22, wherein the first and second cantilevered shafts are co-axially aligned and the third and fourth cantilevered shafts are co-axially aligned.

24. The track system of claim 22, wherein the first and second end rollers are positioned between the first and second frame components.