Abstract: The present disclosure provides a suspension system with damping and buffering properties, comprising a suspension assembly, a wheel train assembly and a track assembly, the suspension assembly comprises a suspension lateral plate, an approach plate, a first elastic element, a tensioning assembly, a second elastic element, an oscillating arm plate and a damping element; the wheel train assembly comprises a first approach wheel, a second approach wheel, a first load-bearing wheel, a second load-bearing wheel, a track supporting wheel and an actuation wheel. A high stability of a mobile platform moving through obstacles can be realized by assembling the approach plate, the first elastic plate and the damping element into a loading and shock absorbing module in the present disclosure.

Abstract: A partially tracked utility vehicle and conversion are provided. The converted partially tracked utility vehicle has a chassis, front wheels, and a trailing link suspension. The trailing link suspension has a trailing link with a first end pivotably connected to the chassis and a second end pivotably connected to a walking beam at a walking beam pivot; a shock having a first end pivotably connected to a tension shaft and a second end pivotably connected to the trailing link; the walking beam further comprising a plurality of axle mounted bogey wheels for engaging a track of the partially tracked utility vehicle; a sprocket mounted to a traction drive of the utility vehicle for engaging and providing rotational power to the track; and an actuator attached to the chassis, the actuator having a shaft pivotably connected to the tension shaft and configured to rotate the tension shaft.

Abstract: This disclosure is related to undercarriages for power machines that have tracks as tractive elements. In some embodiments, an adjustable idler mounting structure for an idler pulley in a track assembly is disclosed. In other embodiments, a roller mounting structure for attaching a roller to a track frame is disclosed. In yet other embodiments, an idler pulley is disclosed.

Abstract: A lightweight mobile robot includes a chassis less than 500 pounds and two independent tracked drives including a drive wheel assembly, four or more independently suspended bogie assemblies, an idler wheel assembly, a compliant front shoe fixedly coupled to an independently suspended bogie assembly positioned adjacent the idler wheel assembly, and a compliant elastomer track entraining the drive wheel, road wheels, idler wheel assembly and compliant front shoe. The bogie assembly includes a serpentine suspension arm having a corresponding road wheel rotatably mounted at a distal end thereof, the bogie arm swingable through a range entirely beneath the chassis. The serpentine suspension arm provides clearance for adjacent road wheels to swing past one another without making contact with any portion of the adjacent bogie assembly. The compliant elastomer track has center guides and peripheral drive features protruding therefrom for engaging the drive wheel, road wheels, and idler wheel.

Abstract: A vehicle equipped with a double tandem members suspension system to suspend the vehicle, the double tandem members being operatively interconnected together and adapted to receive idling wheels adapted to support and guide an endless belt thereon to provide significant suspension travel and prevents an endless belt disengagement from the idling wheels.

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.

Abstract: An undercarriage is disclosed that includes a rigidly mounted track roller near or adjacent to a rear drive sprocket, with the outer radius of the track roller overlapping the outer radius of the drive sprocket. The remaining rollers and bogies may be flexibly suspended.

Abstract: A vehicle wheel assembly is provided which includes a vehicle frame having a first axle, a wheel assembly having a housing with an aperture engaging the first axle and enabling the wheel assembly to pivot in a first plane about a first axis formed by the first axle. A cylindrical member is carried by the housing of the wheel assembly, the cylindrical member and housing are arranged perpendicular to the first axle. A first wheel is pivotably connected to a first portion of the cylindrical member and a second wheel is pivotably connected to a second portion of the cylindrical member. The first wheel and second wheel independently pivot in a second plane about a second axis formed by the cylindrical member. The first axis is arranged perpendicular to the second axis and the first plane is arranged perpendicular to the second plane.

Abstract: The invention relates to a spring-suspended, bearing force-optimized belt-band traveling gear (10) for ground vehicles, particularly for self-propelled agricultural machines and other off-road vehicles, comprising at least two outer deflection rollers (14, 15, 16, 17) over whose periphery an endless belt-band (22) rolls off, and at least one supporting roller (24) for supporting the belt-band section, which is in contact with the ground, between both deflection rollers (14, 15, 16, 17). A bogie truck (12, 13), in which the at least two deflection rollers (14, 15, 16, 17) are mounted in a manner that enables them to rotate, is supported against a body frame of the vehicle by means of a first fluidic suspension unit and/or damping unit. The at least one supporting roller (24) is supported on the bogie truck (12, 13) by means of a second fluidic suspension unit and/or damping unit.

Abstract: There is disclosed a suspension unit comprising a suspension hub having a connecting element which is arranged to be secured to a vehicle chassis and a suspension arm which is mounted on the suspension hub for pivoting movement about an axis of the suspension hub. A resilient arrangement is accommodated within the suspension arm and includes a displaceable element which is connected by a connecting rod to a crank pin supported by the suspension hub at a position spaced from the hub axis. A rotational damper acts between the suspension hub and the suspension arm and comprises a first damping part and a second damping part that are rotatable with respect to one another and which define a damping chamber therebetween which is arranged to contain a damping fluid. A fluid expansion chamber is provided which is arranged to contain excess damping fluid and which is in fluid communication with the damping chamber through a fluid passageway.

Abstract: A dynamically changing track support for a tracked vehicle, includes a body with one or more track engaging wheels mounted for rotation to the body and extending above the top of the body and below the bottom of the body. At least two arms are provided. Each arm has a body engaging end and a track engaging end. The track engaging ends of the arm extends outwardly past the body. The body engaging end is pivotally secured to the body for pivotal movement about a substantially horizontal pivot axis. One or more track engaging wheels are mounted for concentric axial rotation about an axle positioned at the track engaging end of the each arm. Dynamically adjustment of the pivotal positioning of the arms relative to the body results in changes to track geometry while maintaining consistent tension.

Abstract: [Task] Provided is an omni-directional drive device that does not complicate the arrangement for a power source for a drive source such as an electric motor, and achieves a high durability and an ease of maintenance. [Solution] A drive force in a first direction is produced by a movement of a first moveable member (10) itself, and a drive force in a second direction is produced by the rotation of first free rollers (14) retained by the first moveable member, the rotation of the first free rollers (14) being caused by engagement with second free rollers (15) that are retained by a second moveable member (11) and rotative actuation of the second moveable member (11). Electric motors serving as drive sources may be mounted on base members (4 and 5).

Abstract: The invention refers to a truck roller assembly (12) for a crawler chain comprising at least two spaced track roller portions (5, 5?) with running surfaces for running on the crawler chain (13), and a star-shaped element (6) for guiding the track roller assembly (12) on the crawler chain (13). The star-shaped element (6) is mounted freely rotatably between the at least two track roller portions (5, 5?), and it is provided with a plurality of teeth (6?, 6?, 6??, 6??, 6???). The teeth (6?, 6?, 6??, 6??, 6???) co-operate with the crawler chain (13) in such a way that on rolling over chain links (3) of the crawler chain (13) they engage into corresponding gaps (8) in the crawler chain (13).

Abstract: A suspension system for a track vehicle, the suspension system comprising: a frame; a track surrounding the frame; a plurality of suspension modules resiliently interconnected between the frame and track to bias the track into engagement with a ground surface upon which the track vehicle sits; and at least one idler over which the track extends. Under a normal load, all weight of the track vehicle is borne by the suspension modules and not by the at least one idler. Under selected conditions the at least one idler bears at least some weight of the track vehicle to rigidify the track vehicle suspension during such selected conditions.

Abstract: A drive assembly for a track-type vehicle which makes the effective ground contact length within the tumbler distance as large as possible. The drive assembly has a single track roller unit disposed closest to the idler and closest to the sprocket respectively, each for supporting the track roller rotatably at the distal end portion of an arm attached at its proximal end portion rockably to the track frame and for bearing a vehicle body load at the distal end portion of the arm through elastic members, and a double track roller unit interposed between the single track roller units and including a first arm attached at its proximal end portion to the track frame and a second arm attached at its central portion to the distal end portion of the first arm, for supporting the paired lower rollers at the two end portions of the second arm.

Abstract: A traveling apparatus of a crawler vehicle can achieve both reduction of an impact applied to an operator cab and maintenance of high traction force even at a time of backward traveling on a ground surface having an irregularity. Right and left track frames (11, 11) are mounted to pivot shafts (31, 31) respectively mounted to right and left sides of a rear end portion of a main frame (30) so as to freely swing in a vertical direction, a rear frame (40) having a horizontal shaft apparatus (46) arranged therein is suspended to a rear portion of the main frame so as to freely swing in the vertical direction, final reduction gears (50) are attached to right and left outer sides of the rear frame, and an output shaft of the horizontal shaft apparatus is connected to an input shaft of the final reduction gear.

Abstract: A crawler-type vehicle undercarriage including a track frame, an idler, a sprocket, a crawler encompassing the idler, track rollers, and the sprocket and the idler, the sprocket and the track frame located to line up in a straight line comprising the crawler-type vehicle undercarriage comprising (i) an idler avoided from pivoting upwardly or downwardly relative to the track frame, (ii) a first arm pivotally mounted at the bottom of the track frame, and (iii) a second arm pivotally connected to end portion of the first arm. The track roller unit adjacent the sprocket is preferably pivoted about a pivot center of the first arm positioned at the bottom of the track frame and toward the idler relative to a pivot center of the second arm. The track roller travel improves a flexibility of the track roller to the crawler, and work in a high tractive force is carried out with the track rollers providing unchangeable real contact areas to the ground.

Abstract: A resilient track-tensioning device for tracked automotive vehicles has a track tensioning wheel arrangement (26) which includes a generally elongated pendular arm (38) which rotatably supports a track-tensioning wheel unit (62), a pretensioning or biassing arm (72) which is much shorter than the pendular arm and which has a first end-part for force transmission engagement with the pendular arm (38) at its end-part (74) that carries the track-tensioning wheel unit (62), and a second end-part for pivotal attachment to a carrier (20) through the medium of a pretensioning or biassing means (76). The device further includes an element (66) for adjustably fixing the distance between the rotational center of the track-tensioning wheel unit (62) and the attachment point (46) of the pendular arm (38). The invention also relates to a track support assembly which includes an inventive track-tensioning device.