Track suspension

• US 9,434,426 B2
• Filed: 10/24/2013
• Issued: 09/06/2016
• Est. Priority Date: 11/02/2012
• Status: Active Grant

• Current Assignee: LOC Performance Products
• Original Assignee: Veyance Technologies Incorporated (Continental AG)
• Inventors: Nagorcka, James A., Allen, Lyal D.
• Primary Examiner(s): Kotter, Kip T
• Application Number:
  US14/062,052
• Publication Number:
  US 20140125118A1
• Time in Patent Office: 1,048 Days
• Field of Search: 305/125, 305/129, 305/132, 305/133, 305/135, 305/142, 180/9.54, 180/9.56, 180/9.58, 180/9.6
• US Class Current: 1/1
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/104 Suspension devices for wheels, rollers, bogies or frames vehicle suspension in general B60G
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/112 with fluid springs, e.g. hydraulic pneumatic
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/14 Arrangement, location, or adaptation of rollers
• CPC Class Codes: B62D 55/305 acting on pivotably mounted idlers

Abstract

A track suspension is provided wherein a rear wishbone member is rotatably affixed to a yoke assembly and a yoke plate carrier through a rear wishbone joint, wherein a front wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the rear wishbone member through a front wishbone joint, wherein a rear rocker assembly is comprised of a rear rocker beam, a rear roller wheel and a rear idler wheel, wherein a front rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the front wishbone through a front rocker joint, wherein the rear rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the rear wishbone member through a rear rocker joint, wherein a front suspension spring assembly is affixed between a yoke assembly and a front wishbone member, and wherein a rear suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the rear wishbone member.

Claims

1. A track suspension comprising a drive wheel, a yoke plate carrier, a front wishbone member, a rear wishbone member, a front rocker assembly, a rear rocker assembly, a front suspension spring assembly and a rear suspension spring assembly, wherein the drive wheel is rotatably affixed to and driven by a vehicle final drive axle assembly, wherein the yoke plate carrier is affixed to a yoke assembly, wherein the rear wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the yoke assembly and the yoke plate carrier through a rear wishbone joint, wherein the front wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the rear wishbone member through a front wishbone joint, wherein the front rocker assembly is comprised of a front rocker beam, a front idler wheel and a front roller wheel, wherein the rear rocker assembly is comprised of a rear rocker beam, a rear roller wheel and a rear idler wheel, wherein the front rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the front wishbone through a front rocker joint, wherein the rear rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the rear wishbone member through a rear rocker joint, wherein the front suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the front wishbone member, and wherein the rear suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the rear wishbone member.

2. The track suspension of claim 1, wherein the front suspension spring assembly is selected from the group consisting of hydraulic suspension assembly, pneumatic suspension assembly and mechanical suspension assembly and the rear suspension spring assembly is selected from the group consisting of hydraulic suspension assembly, pneumatic suspension assembly and mechanical suspension assembly.

3. The track suspension of claim 1, wherein the front rocker assembly further comprises a track tensioning rocker and a track tensioning cylinder.

4. The track suspension of claim 1, wherein a center axis of the front wishbone joint, a center axis of the front rocker joint and a center axis of the front idler wheel are substantially aligned.

5. The track suspension of claim 4, wherein the center axis of the front wishbone joint, the center axis of the front rocker joint and the center axis of the front idler wheel are substantially aligned in such a manner as to substantially bisect the angle between the leading edge of the rubber track and the lower edge of the rubber track.

6. The track suspension of claim 1, wherein a center axis of the rear wishbone joint, a center axis of the rear rocker joint and a center axis of the rear idler wheel are substantially aligned.

7. The track suspension of claim 6, wherein the center axis of the rear wishbone joint, the center axis of the rear rocker joint and the center axis of the rear idler wheel are substantially aligned in such a manner as to substantially bisect the angle between the trailing edge of the rubber track and the lower edge of the rubber track.

8. A track suspension system comprising the track suspension as specified in claim 1 and a rubber track, wherein the drive wheel is drivingly engaged with the rubber track.

9. A track suspension comprising a drive wheel, a yoke plate carrier, a front wishbone member, a rear wishbone member, a front rocker assembly, a rear rocker assembly, a front suspension spring assembly and a rear suspension spring assembly, wherein the drive wheel is rotatably affixed to and driven by a vehicle final drive axle assembly, wherein the yoke plate carrier is affixed to a yoke assembly, wherein the front wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the yoke assembly and the yoke plate carrier through a front wishbone joint, wherein the rear wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the front wishbone member through a rear wishbone joint, wherein the front rocker assembly is comprised of a front rocker beam, a front idler wheel and a front roller wheel, wherein the rear rocker assembly is comprised of a rear rocker beam, a rear roller wheel and a rear idler wheel, wherein the front rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the front wishbone through a front rocker joint, wherein the rear rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the rear wishbone member through a rear rocker joint, wherein the front suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the front wishbone member, and wherein the rear suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the rear wishbone member.

10. The track suspension of claim 9, wherein the front suspension spring assembly is selected from the group consisting of hydraulic suspension assembly, pneumatic suspension assembly and mechanical suspension assembly and the rear suspension spring assembly is selected from the group consisting of hydraulic suspension assembly, pneumatic suspension assembly and mechanical suspension assembly.

11. The track suspension of claim 9, wherein the front rocker assembly further comprises a track tensioning rocker and a track tensioning cylinder.

12. The track suspension of claim 11, wherein a center axis of the front wishbone joint, a center axis of the front rocker joint and a center axis of the front idler wheel are substantially aligned.

13. The track suspension of claim 12, wherein the center axis of the front wishbone joint, the center axis of the front rocker joint and the center axis of the front idler wheel are substantially aligned in such a manner as to substantially bisect the angle between the leading edge of the rubber track and the lower edge of the rubber track.

14. The track suspension of claim 11, wherein a center axis of the rear wishbone joint, a center axis of the rear rocker joint and a center axis of the rear idler wheel are substantially aligned.

15. The track suspension of claim 14, wherein the center axis of the rear wishbone joint, the center axis of the rear rocker joint and the center axis of the rear idler wheel are substantially aligned in such a manner as to substantially bisect the angle between the trailing edge of the rubber track and the lower edge of the rubber track.

16. A track suspension comprising a drive wheel, a yoke plate carrier, a front wishbone member, a rear wishbone member, a front rocker assembly, a rear rocker assembly, a front suspension spring assembly and a rear suspension spring assembly, wherein the drive wheel is rotatably affixed to and driven by a vehicle final drive axle assembly, wherein the yoke plate carrier is affixed to a yoke assembly, wherein the front or rear wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the yoke assembly and the yoke plate carrier through a first wishbone joint, wherein the front or rear wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the front or rear wishbone member through a second wishbone joint or the front or rear wishbone member is rotatably affixed to the yoke assembly and the yoke plate carrier through the first or a second wishbone joint, wherein the front rocker assembly is comprised of a front rocker beam, a front idler wheel and a front roller wheel, wherein the rear rocker assembly is comprised of a rear rocker beam, a rear roller wheel and a rear idler wheel, wherein the front rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the front wishbone through a front rocker joint, wherein the rear rocker beam is rotatably affixed to the rear wishbone member through a rear rocker joint, wherein the front suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the front wishbone member, and wherein the rear suspension spring assembly is affixed between the yoke assembly and the rear wishbone member.