CONTINUOUS TRACK DRIVE SYSTEM FOR A VEHICLE

摘要

The invention provides a continuous track drive system (10) for cooperating with a pair of opposite drive wheels (18.1, 18.2) of a vehicle for converting the vehicle (12) into a half-track vehicle. In an operative configuration of the system, on each side of the vehicle, a continuous track (38) of the system runs around a drive wheel of the vehicle and a primary idler (36) of the system behind the drive wheel. The track defines between the wheel and the idler a bottom, traction run (40). A secondary idler (42) of the system bears against the outside of the track, at a position along a top run (46) of the track between the primary idler and the drive wheel, in a configuration in which the secondary idler induces and maintains an inward deflection or kink in the track for providing clearance between the track and the vehicle.

主权项

1. A continuous track drive system for cooperating with a pair of opposite drive wheels of a vehicle, the system including:
a suspension system including:
mounting means for mounting it to the vehicle; anda pair of idler carriers, one for each side of the vehicle; and a pair of track systems, one for each side of the vehicle, each track system including:
a continuous track;a primary idler having an outer diameter not exceeding 50% of the outer diameter of the corresponding drive wheel; anda secondary idler, the continuous track drive system being configured to provide an operative configuration thereof on the vehicle in which: the suspension system is mounted to the vehicle; and on each side of the vehicle:
the corresponding track system is mounted on the corresponding idler carrier and cooperates with the corresponding drive wheel of the pair of opposite drive wheels;the continuous track of the track system is curved around the drive wheel to be driven by the drive wheel;the primary idler of the track system is mounted on the idler carrier behind the drive wheel, the track being curved around the primary idler in a configuration in which a bottom run of the track, between the drive wheel and the primary idler, forms a traction run disposed for providing traction on terrain traversed by the vehicle; andthe secondary idler of the track system is mounted on the idler carrier and bears against the outside of the track, at a position along a top run of the track between the primary idler and the drive wheel, in a configuration in which the secondary idler induces and maintains an inward deflection or kink in the track for providing clearance between the track and the vehicle.