Abstract: A positive drive endless rubber belted track is adapted to be attached to track links of an endless track link assembly. The particular construction of the core and grousers of the belted track permit the rubber belted track to stretch as it passes over the driving mechanism and idler of the machine.

Abstract: An elastomeric belt laying vehicle is disclosed for transmitting greater tractive effort to the earth as compared to comparably powered wheel vehicles and being operable at high speed on improved road surfaces without inflicting damage thereto. A pair of the wheels are arranged on each lateral side of the vehicle's chassis for support thereof. An inextensible, endless belt is highly tensioned throughout its length, is entrained about each pair of wheels, and is frictionally, drivingly coupled to at least one wheel of each pair. The structure of the belt, structure of the wheels and cooperating components thereof ensure engagement therebetween, provides long service with minimum maintenance thereof, and supplies the necessary frictional couple to effectively transmit driving torque from the wheels to the belt.

Abstract: An elastomeric belt laying vehicle is disclosed for transmitting greater tractive effort to the earth as compared to comparably powered wheel vehicles and being operable at high speed on improved road surfaces without inflicting damage thereto. A pair of the wheels are arranged on each lateral side of the vehicle's chassis for support thereof. An inextensible, endless belt is highly tensioned throughout its length, is entrained about each pair of wheels, and is frictionally, drivingly coupled to at least one wheel of each pair. The structure of the belt, structure of the wheels and cooperating components thereof ensure engagement therebetween, provides long service with minimum maintenance thereof, and supplies the necessary frictional couple to effectively transmit driving torque from the wheels to the belt.

Abstract: This invention concerns a debris deflector (30) primarily useful for vehicles (24) having wheels (14,16) supporting an endless track (12). With no deflector (30) debris accumulates in the endless track (12) impeding vehicle performance. An inverted "V"-shaped elastomeric deflector (30) is connected to the vehicle (24) so as to be situated between front and rear wheels (14,16). The upper ridge (34) of the inverted "V" is parallel to the longitudinal axis of the vehicle (24). As debris falls from an upper portion of the endless track (12) it strikes the deflector (30) and is deflected out of the endless track (12). The deflector (30) has front and rear edge portions adjacent, respectively, tread surfaces (18) of the front and rear wheels (14,16) for scraping debris from tread surfaces (18) of said wheels (14,16).

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system wherein a frame (11) is supported on an axle (16) by a pair of fluid struts (19,20). The system includes a main accumulator (32) and a pair of auxiliary accumulators (30,35) which are fluidly interconnected. The left strut (19) is fluidly connected to the left auxiliary accumulator (30) and to the cylinder (42) of the main accumulator (32) to act on the pressure surface (62) of one of the pistons (46) therein. The righthand strut (20) is fluidly connected to the righthand auxiliary accumulator (35) and to a lower portion of the cylinder (42) of the main accumulator (32) so as to act on a pressure surface (63) of a second piston (47) therein. The pistons are interconnected in the main accumulator. Movement of the pistons (37,45,40) of the accumulators is resiliently resisted by the provision of compressed gas (38,48,41) in the respective accumulators.

Abstract: A tire cooling system (10) for a vehicle having a wheel (12) with a tire (14) mounted on a rim (16). A heat transfer device (22) is positioned in a central cavity (18) defined by said rim (16) and tire (14). A first fluid (20) is contained in said central cavity (18) while a second fluid (25) is circulated through said heat transfer device (22), said second fluid (25) being in fluid isolation from said first fluid (20). Said second fluid (25) is circulated through a rotating wheel seal (28) to a heat exchanger (38) and back to said heat transfer device (22).Use of an intermediate heat exchanger, such as said heat transfer device (22), permits use of oil as said second fluid (25) permitting leakage from said rotating wheel seals (28) to be contained by and made up from said final drive sump (42). Oil has, of course, a deleterious affect on rubber. Through use of oil in an isolated cooling loop, relatively simple liquid cooling with an external heat exchanger (38) is achieved.

Abstract: A drive mechanism (10) is used, for example, in an orbiting radial motor (12) to rotate a sprocket (22) or in a multiple output speed increaser or reducer to control output. The drive mechanism (10) has a first member (16) positioned about and rotatable relative to a frame (14). A second member (18) is positioned generally between the frame (14) and first member (16) and engages and rotates the first member (16). The first member (16), for example, is connected to and rotates the sprocket (22) for driving a track of a work vehicle. The drive mechanism (10) has only a single element (34) for establishing the drive ratio of the first member (16) relative to the second member (18) and receiving and transmitting reaction torquing force on the second member (18) in response to the second member (18) engaging the first member (16). Thus, reaction loads on, for example, bearings (68,70) supporting the second member (18) are substantially eliminated and the drive ratio can be widely varied.

Abstract: The advent of relatively wide beadless tires on off-highway trucks and the like has dictated the desirability of providing a suspension system which separates the damping functions during the bounce and roll movements occurring between a truck frame and an axle assembly suspended thereunder. In particular, it is desirable to provide a soft suspension during the bounce mode of vehicle operation whereas a relatively stiff suspension is desired during the roll mode thereof. The suspension system (12) of this invention accomplishes the above by providing a first suspension (18) for damping bouncing movements (B) and a separate and isolated second, suspension (24) for damping rolling movements (R), with the second suspension (24) being disposed in a vertical plane which intersects a universal connection (16) connecting an axle assembly (11) to a vertical frame (10). The second suspension (24) includes a pair of springs (25) which are spaced outboard of the frame (10) to and in stabilizing the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle suspension system is provided for a vehicle (10) which has a frame (12) and a plurality of ground engaging wheels (18,20,22,24). The suspension system (26) includes apparatus (26) for connecting the wheels (18,20,22,24) to the frame (12) and maintaining the frame (12) at a preselected elevation. The frame (12) moves elevationally less than one-half the height of an obstacle during movement of one of the wheels (18,20,22,24) over the obstacle.

Abstract: A construction vehicle has pairs of tandem roadwheels on each side thereof. Each of the roadwheels is mounted to the vehicle via a parallelogram linkage. The roadwheels are each driven by drives universally mounted to transmit power from differentials thereto. Interconnected hydraulic cylinders act between the frame and each wheel to adjust the relative vertical positioning therebetween and provide equal tire loading on the tires on each side.

Abstract: A construction vehicle has pairs of tandem roadwheels on each side thereof. The pairs of tandem roadwheels are simultaneously coordinatively anglable relative to the frame to accomplish steering thereof. The roadwheels are mounted to strut cylinders which act as kingpins therefor. A linkage is provided that allows for simultaneous coordinative angling of the roadwheels through pivoting at the kingpins.

Abstract: A vehicle braking system has a spring engaged and fluid released drive line brake, a pair of fluid engaged and spring released service brakes, and a control circuit for applying only the service brakes over a preselected braking force range and for applying the service brakes and the drive line brake in response to a braking force greater than said preselected range. The control circuit preferably includes an inverter valve, and also an override valve for selectively applying the drive line brake independently of the operation of the service brakes.

Abstract: A construction vehicle, such as a motor grader, comprises a frame having a pair of tandem roadwheel assemblies mounted on each lateral side thereof. Each roadwheel assembly comprises a pair of tandem roadwheels each rotatably mounted on an outer end of a lever arm which has its inner end pivotally mounted on the frame of the vehicle. A double-acting hydraulic cylinder is pivotally interconnected between the lever arms to selectively pivot the roadwheels to adjust the vertical height of one side of the vehicle relative to the other side thereof. An accumulator is preferably connectable with the cylinder to provide a damped suspension spring for absorbing road shocks and the like. Each of the roadwheels is preferably driven by a gear train connected to a driven output shaft of the engine of the vehicle.

Abstract: A vehicle such as a motor grader includes a hydrostatic auxiliary front wheel drive system which utilizes implement system pressurized fluid flow to drive a pair of fixed displacement hydraulic motors, such motors being drivingly connected to cause rotation of the front wheels. A pilot operated series-parallel valve in combination with a flow divider allows the motors to be driven in series or in parallel. A directional control valve is selectively responsive to operator control, and clutch actuation is accomplished automatically by directing a controlled portion of system fluid to such clutches to overcome the normal spring bias thereof.

Abstract: An elastomeric belt laying vehicle is disclosed for transmitting greater tractive effort to the earth as compared to comparably powered wheel vehicles and being operable at high speed on improved road surfaces without inflicting damage thereto. A pair of the wheels are arranged on each lateral side of the vehicle's chassis for support thereof. An inextensible, endless belt is highly tensioned throughout its length, is entrained about each pair of wheels, and is frictionally, drivingly coupled to at least one wheel of each pair. The structure of the belt, structure of the wheels and cooperating components thereof ensure engagement therebetween, provides long service with minimum maintenance thereof, and supplies the necessary frictional couple to effectively transmit driving torque from the wheels to the belt.

Abstract: An elastomeric belt laying vehicle is disclosed for transmitting greater tractive effort to the earth as compared to comparably powered wheel vehicles and being operable at high speed on improved road surfaces without inflicting damage thereto. A pair of the wheels are arranged on each lateral side of the vehicle's chassis for support thereof. An inextensible, endless belt is highly tensioned throughout its length, is entrained about each pair of wheels, and is frictionally, drivingly coupled to at least one wheel of each pair. The structure of the belt, structure of the wheels and cooperating components thereof ensure engagement therebetween, provides long service with minimum maintenance thereof, and supplies the necessary frictional couple to effectively transmit driving torque from the wheels to the belt.