Abstract: A vehicle has a sacrificial buoyancy structure for attenuating damage to the vehicle body due to an under-vehicle explosion. The vehicle has a primary hull, connector plates disposed along the primary hull, track assemblies mounted to the connector plates, and gussets attaching the connector plates to the primary hull. The connection of the gussets to the primary hull is sacrificial in that a sufficient amount of explosive force detaches the gussets, connector plates and track assemblies from the primary hull, whereby the gussets, connector plates and track assemblies absorb a portion of the explosive force. The vehicle further has cross rods disposed between the connector plates and affixed thereto. The vehicle also has a sacrificial buoyancy hull beneath the primary hull attached to the cross members wherein the buoyancy hull, connector plates and primary hull form an enclosed buoyancy compartment enabling the vehicle to float on water.

Abstract: A structure for protecting vehicle occupants from blasts beneath a vehicle, the structure having a mechanism for mitigating vehicle hop caused by the blasts. The structure comprises a rigid V shaped hull section of the vehicle located on an underside thereof. The V shaped hull section has an oblique body panel facing outboard and downward relative to the vehicle. The structure also has a wall panel disposed adjacently above and along the oblique body panel and a border defined by a juncture of the oblique body panel and the wall panel. A flat, blade-like blast deflector vane is located proximally along the border and is positioned outboard of both the oblique body panel and the wall panel. The vane is disposed at an acute angle with the oblique body panel and is solidly attached to the V shaped hull section.

Abstract: A structure for protecting vehicle occupants from blasts beneath a vehicle, the structure having a mechanism for mitigating vehicle hop caused by the blasts. The structure comprises a rigid V shaped hull section of the vehicle located on an underside thereof. The V shaped hull section has an oblique body panel facing outboard and downward relative to the vehicle. The structure also has a wall panel disposed adjacently above and along the oblique body panel and a border defined by a juncture of the oblique body panel and the wall panel. A flat, blade-like blast deflector vane is located proximally along the border and is positioned outboard of both the oblique body panel and the wall panel. The vane is disposed at an acute angle with the oblique body panel and is solidly attached to the V shaped hull section.

Abstract: A track end connector with a simple single bolt means to secure the pins from adjacent track shoes and hold the pins in a relationship so the track shoes have the desired angular orientation relative to each other.

Abstract: A dynamic track tension adjuster is connected between the body of a tracked vehicle and an arm-like axle member of the vehicle. The adjuster swings the arm-like member so that a wheel on the axle member engages the vehicle's track with differing force. The adjuster includes a cylinder with two pistons extending therefrom and a compressible fluid between the pistons. A motor fixed to the cylinder drives a gear train that includes a transfer gear connected to one of the pistons. A shaft co-axially fixed to the transfer gear threads with a rod such that the rod translates when the shaft rotates. Translation of the rod swings the axle member.

Abstract: The invention is a structure for reducing the thermal signature of an assembly on a vehicle that includes a hub, a wheel on the hub and a tire on the wheel. The structure comprises a generally planar cover disposed outboard of the assembly so that an air gap is between the cover and the assembly. A set of multifunctional elements lock the wheel to the hub, space the cover from the wheel and help retain the cover in connection with the wheel. In one embodiment, the cover is an eccentric, lobed sheet metal member that completely eclipses the wheel and partly eclipses the tire from a point of view outboard of the vehicle. In another embodiment, the cover has an inner unit comprised of metal plates having an insulating disk therebetween and further comprises a flexible flange encircling the inner unit.