Opposite And Laterally Spaced Patents (Class 180/9.36)
  • Patent number: 10479385
    Abstract: Truck-type handling truck with a chassis and a back (40), and a low section, a nose plate attachment (41) and two wheels (71). The truck has a motor unit (60) mounted to the chassis (10) and an electric motor (61) connected to a differential transmission (62) with two lateral output shafts (621) and two track modules (50) each connected to a shaft (531) of the motor unit and mounted to swivel about this shaft independently between a position aligned with the chassis and a deployed position.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 28, 2017
    Date of Patent: November 19, 2019
    Assignee: R.S.A. Concept
    Inventors: Joseph Collibault, Gérard Lecomte
  • Patent number: 8757302
    Abstract: A track assembly for a mobile tower of an irrigation system includes a mounting bracket; a gearbox assembly and a rotatable drive wheel hub attached to the mounting bracket; a drive wheel attached to the drive wheel hub; a rotatable tension wheel hub attached to the mounting bracket and spaced from the drive wheel hub; a tension wheel attached to the tension wheel hub; a track belt trained over the drive wheel and the tension wheel and driven by the drive wheel to propel the mobile tower; and structure for pivotally mounting the mounting bracket to the mobile tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 10, 2013
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Lindsay Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Korus, Jochen Pfrenger
  • Patent number: 8757301
    Abstract: A track assembly for a mobile tower of an irrigation system includes a mounting bracket; a gearbox assembly and rotatable drive wheel hub attached to the mounting bracket; a drive wheel attached to the drive wheel hub; a rotatable tension wheel hub attached to the mounting bracket and spaced from the drive wheel hub; a tension wheel attached to the tension wheel hub; a track belt trained over the drive wheel and the tension wheel and driven by the drive wheel to propel the mobile tower; and structure for pivotally mounting the mounting bracket to the mobile tower.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 17, 2011
    Date of Patent: June 24, 2014
    Assignee: Lindsay Corporation
    Inventors: Thomas J. Korus, Jochen Pfrenger
  • Patent number: 8727047
    Abstract: A tractor configuration includes a mainframe structure, a control station having a means of controlling the tractor, an undercarriage system having one left side and one right side track assembly, a wheel mechanism containing one or more wheels located forward of the track assemblies, a power train for forcing both track assemblies to travel at the same or different speeds, a controller responsible for exerting force to transfer vertical load back and forth between the front portion of the track assemblies and the wheel mechanism and controlling the amount of weight carried by the wheel mechanism. The controller causes or allows the wheel or wheels of the wheel mechanism to follow the tractor's curved path caused by track speed difference.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 24, 2013
    Date of Patent: May 20, 2014
    Assignee: CLAAS Industrietechnik GmbH
    Inventors: David C. Janzen, Ronald L. Satzler
  • Patent number: 8636296
    Abstract: In one example, mobile industrial equipment for coupling to a truck for on highway transportation is provided. The mobile industrial equipment includes a frame to connect to the truck, a plurality of wheels connected to the frame, and a track assembly connected to the frame. In another example a method for using mobile equipment is provided. The method includes transporting mobile industrial equipment over the highway with a plurality of wheels connected to a frame of the mobile industrial equipment. The frame of the mobile industrial equipment is separated from the truck. The mobile industrial equipment is moved while separated from the truck using a track connected to the frame of the mobile industrial equipment.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2013
    Date of Patent: January 28, 2014
    Assignee: Crusher Rental & Sales, Inc.
    Inventor: Steve L. Gilbert
  • Patent number: 8607904
    Abstract: A working vehicle is structured to maintain a ride quality for an operator on a control seat. Provided are a travel machine body which mounts an engine, front wheels on the machine body, a track frame on the machine body, right and left travel crawlers installed on the track frame, a rear axle which transmits a rotating force to the travel crawler, and oscillation supporting point shafts which support the track frame on the machine body so as to freely oscillate. In the case that the rear axle and the oscillation supporting point shafts are provided so as to be spaced, the oscillation supporting point shafts are arranged just below an axle case to which the rear axle is pivoted, and the track frame is connected to the axle case via link members provided in the oscillation supporting point shafts.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: August 30, 2011
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Yanmar Co., Ltd.
    Inventors: Takeshi Fukumoto, Keisuke Iwamura, Shinya Kawashiri
  • Patent number: 8607903
    Abstract: A tracked vehicle (e.g., a tracked carrier vehicle) comprising a plurality of track assemblies for traction of the tracked vehicle. Each of the track assemblies supports a portion of a weight of the tracked vehicle when the tracked vehicle is in use. Each track assembly comprises: a first wheel and a second wheel spaced apart from one another along a longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle; a number of support wheels arranged in an in-line configuration between the first wheel and the second wheel; and an endless track disposed around the first wheel, the second wheel, and the support wheels. The support wheels may comprise at least five (5) support wheels mounted such that, when the tracked vehicle is in use, the portion of the weight of the tracked vehicle supported by the track assembly is never applied to only one of the support wheels.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 9, 2009
    Date of Patent: December 17, 2013
    Assignee: Rolic Invest Sarl
    Inventors: Marc-André Godin, François Paquet
  • Patent number: 8051687
    Abstract: A system, method, and computer program product for detecting and compensating for a traction steer event is provided. A first wheel speed of a first driven wheel is compared with a second wheel speed of a second driven wheel to determine whether a wheel slip condition has occurred. If a wheel slip condition is determined to have occurred, a current operating state of a vehicle is compared to an expected operating state of the vehicle to determine if a traction steer event has occurred. If a traction steer event is determined to have occurred, brake pressure is selectively applied to the first or second driven wheel to compensate for the traction steer event.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 31, 2007
    Date of Patent: November 8, 2011
    Assignee: GM Global Technology Operations LLC
    Inventors: David T. De Carteret, Larry G. Gepfrey, Gregory K. Peterson, Mark S. Hogle
  • Patent number: 7798261
    Abstract: An electrically driven wheel for a tracked vehicle which includes a driving track wheel with built in cogs and a brushless DC motor having a mounting shaft to connect the wheels to the tracked vehicle. The brushless DC motor is coupled within the driving track wheel to develop rotational torque for rotating the driving track wheel and includes a drum, a bank of pole assemblies connected between the drum and the stationary mounting shaft, and electrical wiring for energizing the bank of pole assemblies. In an embodiment, the brushless DC motor includes permanent magnet high multiple pole motors. The electrically driven wheels are part of a drive system for the tracked vehicle. The drive system includes a track module frame, at least two flexible tracks coupled with the electrically driven track wheels, and a controller for controlling the electrically driven track wheels in response to a driver command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: January 22, 2008
    Date of Patent: September 21, 2010
    Inventor: Norman Rittenhouse
  • Patent number: 7546890
    Abstract: A motor vehicle with an additional crawler undercarriage includes assemblies to reduce the load pressure transferred to the ground and to improve off-road performance. The assemblies include components used in conventional mass-produced vehicles, with a chassis (1. 1), a body with optional cargo area (1.2), undercarriage, such as axles (1.3) with steered (1.4) and/or unsteered wheels (1.5), tires (1.6), wheel suspension, spring support, steering and brakes, and an engine-transmission unit (1.7) with drive components. An additional crawler undercarriage (2) can be mounted and/or retrofitted on the chassis (1.1) between the axles (1.3) and used for traction in any terrain. The additional crawler undercarriage (2) includes an undercarriage (2.1) with drive wheels (2.2) and carrying wheels (2.3) and revolving crawler chains/crawlers (2.4) and associated elements, first means (3) for providing an optionally extendable and retractable connection of the undercarriage (2.1) with the chassis (1.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 21, 2006
    Date of Patent: June 16, 2009
    Inventor: Hendrik W. Grobler
  • Patent number: 7343991
    Abstract: An electrically driven wheel for a tracked vehicle which includes a driving track wheel with built in cogs and a brushless DC motor having a mounting shaft to connect the wheels to the tracked vehicle. The brushless DC motor is coupled within the driving track wheel to develop rotational torque for rotating the driving track wheel and includes a drum, a bank of pole assemblies connected between the drum and the stationary mounting shaft, and electrical wiring for energizing the bank of pole assemblies. In an embodiment, the brushless DC motor includes permanent magnet high multiple pole motors. The electrically driven wheels are part of a drive system for the tracked vehicle. The drive system includes a track module frame, at least two flexible tracks coupled with the electrically driven track wheels, and a controller for controlling the electrically driven track wheels in response to a driver command.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: June 15, 2006
    Date of Patent: March 18, 2008
    Inventor: Norman Rittenhouse
  • Patent number: 7044258
    Abstract: A skid steer vehicle is supported on four gearboxes that function both as control arms and as speed reduction gearboxes. Each side of the vehicle's chassis has two gearboxes to which it is coupled. A hydraulic motor is fixed to each side of the chassis to drive the gearboxes on that side. The motors are arranged such that their drive shafts extend longitudinally along the chassis, with a front shaft engaging the front gearbox and a rear shaft engaging the rear gearbox. The gearboxes include three speed-reducing right angle gear sets coupling an axle extending from the gearbox to the motor driving that gearbox.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: December 15, 2003
    Date of Patent: May 16, 2006
    Assignee: CNH America LLC
    Inventors: Anthony J. Lamela, Brian E. Felsing, Troy D. Bateman
  • Patent number: 6866108
    Abstract: A vehicle for use on a battlefield, having a hull with at least one endless track unit mounted underneath, and with a plurality of selectively vertically moveable wheels. The endless track unit may cover substantially all of the bottom side of the vehicle and may wrap upward to cover a portion of the front of the vehicle. The vehicle may be operated with only the wheels, the wheels and the endless track unit in combination, or only the endless track unit in contact with the ground. The vehicle has a height variable suspension element, which may be a hydro-pneumatic spring, coupled to each wheel. The suspension elements are connected with a power unit and a control unit to allow selective controllability of suspension height, and corresponding extension or retraction of the wheels. The wheels may also be provided with a resilient suspension mechanism that is either separate or formed by the height variable suspension elements.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: July 17, 2002
    Date of Patent: March 15, 2005
    Assignee: United Defense, L.P.
    Inventors: Dennis W. Borgwarth, Brad J. Breeggemann
  • Publication number: 20030127258
    Abstract: A vehicle comprising a frame assembly supported for movement by a centrally located driving track assembly and a pair of flanking driving and steering wheels. An engine is assembly carried by the frame assembly which is constructed and arranged to generate and supply power for the vehicle. The driving track assembly includes a track frame structure forming a part of the frame assembly, a series of rollers carried by the track frame structure including a driver roller and an endless track trained about the rollers so as to provide an operative ground engaging flight extending in a straight vehicle driving direction. A power operated track moving structure is operatively connected to the driver roller using power supplied from said engine assembly to move said track in driving relation to the ground.
    Type: Application
    Filed: July 29, 2002
    Publication date: July 10, 2003
    Inventor: John B. Lansberry
  • Patent number: 6425450
    Abstract: A vehicle is driven by a central track assembly and differential speed steering wheels in flanking relation thereto.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: October 30, 2001
    Date of Patent: July 30, 2002
    Assignee: Lansberry Tractor Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John B. Lansberry
  • Patent number: 6408963
    Abstract: The present invention relates to a vehicle that has a frame, a driving track assembly, and a pair of secondary driving assemblies mounted on opposing lateral sides of the track assembly. More specifically, the present invention relates to a vehicle that has one or more counterbalance structures for offsetting longitudinally off-center loads carried on the frame of such a vehicle.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: September 27, 2000
    Date of Patent: June 25, 2002
    Assignee: Lansberry Tractor Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John B. Lansberry
  • Publication number: 20010047894
    Abstract: A recreational vehicle which has a body which may be configured as a boat hull, a pair of spaced apart front wheels, an endless track located rearwardly of the spaced apart front wheels, drive means operative to drive at least the endless track, a steering means connected to the spaced apart front wheels. The vehicle is able to handle most types of snow and land conditions and can also be configured to operate in water.
    Type: Application
    Filed: April 13, 2000
    Publication date: December 6, 2001
    Inventor: Raymond Maguire
  • Patent number: 6220377
    Abstract: A vehicle with a driving track assembly and a pair of secondary driving and steering assemblies disposed on opposing lateral sides of the track. Each secondary driving and steering structure includes a ground engaging driving and steering structure that is preferably a ground engaging wheel. The driving track assembly includes an endless ground engaging track that drives the vehicle. The flanking driving and steering structures also engage the ground and are rotated to impart force to the vehicle. A steering device is operatively connected to the secondary driving and steering assemblies. the steering device control operation of the secondary driving and steering assemblies so as to affect a vehicle steering operation wherein the ground engaging driving and steering structures are operated to turn said vehicle with respect to said vehicle driving and steering direction.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: March 13, 2000
    Date of Patent: April 24, 2001
    Assignee: Lansberry Tractor Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John B. Lansberry
  • Patent number: RE38701
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided including a main frame structure, a track assembly mounted to the main frame structure and having an single, endless ground-engaging track extending in a longitudinal direction. A pair of steerable ground-engaging wheels flank the track, constructed and arranged to exert a ground bearing pressure sufficient to change a direction of travel of the track in response to turning of the wheels to steer the vehicle. Steering structure is operatively associated with the wheels to turn the wheels. Power drive structure is mounted with respect to the main frame structure and is constructed and arranged to drive the wheels and the track simultaneously so as to move the vehicle along the ground. The wheels are constructed and arranged to be moved with respect to the main frame structure so as to change a position thereof with respect to the main frame structure, thereby permitting driving, steering and ground pressure of the vehicle to be adjusted in accordance with ground conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: May 22, 2000
    Date of Patent: February 15, 2005
    Assignee: Lansberry Tractor Company, Inc.
    Inventor: John B. Lansberry
  • Patent number: RE37098
    Abstract: A vehicle is provided including a main frame structure, a track assembly mounted to the main frame structure and having a single, endless ground-engaging track extending in a longitudinal direction. A pair of steerable ground-engaging wheels flank the track, constructed and arranged to exert a ground bearing pressure sufficient to change a direction of travel of the track in response to turning of the wheels to steer the vehicle. Steering structure is operatively associated with the wheels to turn the wheels. Power drive structure is mounted with respect to the main frame structure and is constructed and arranged to drive the wheels and the track simultaneously so as to move the vehicle along the ground. The wheels are constructed and arranged to be moved with respect to the main frame structure so as to change a position thereof with respect to the main frame structure, thereby permitting driving, steering and ground pressure of the vehicle to be adjusted in accordance with ground conditions.
    Type: Grant
    Filed: November 30, 1998
    Date of Patent: March 20, 2001
    Assignee: Tract-A-Pillar Tractor Co.
    Inventor: John B. Lansberry