Note: Descriptions are shown in the official language in which they were submitted.
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TRACK-LAYING MECHANISM FOR USE IN COMBINATION WITH MOTOR
VEHICLES OF ALL TYPES
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Present day vehicles used in transporting goods
and in operations such as picking up harvest products in
plowed and often muddy fields are generally unable to meet
tough, off-the-road conditions and still provide swift,
high speed, cargo transportation. On the other hand,
vehicles used in difficult terrain are not readily
adaptable to highway conditions.
The present invention inoor~orates the marriage
between any three or four-wheel vehicle and a track-laying
mechanism to be powered by the vehicle. This should prove
to be of a great advantage wherQver and whenever there are
difficult, off the road, chores to be done, and under
various conditions such as in snow, swamps and it should
proved useful in sand, river wading, rocky terrain trans-
portation, mountain climbing and the like.
The concept of providing caterpillar traction to
four or three wheel vehicles is not entirely new. In fact,
diverse related products are currently being marketed by
firms such as Loegering Manufacturing, Inc. and others.
The scope of available tracks and track systems known to
the inventor does not foreshadow or even come close to
the present invention since not one of the aormentioned
provides a platform for piggyback-riding the vehicle that
will provide power and steering. It is also considered to
be altogether new insofar as it requires no dismantling or
disassembly of the vehicle. No coupling, connecting or
adapting of any kind are needed. This provid~s for a~uni~rsal use of
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this inven~tion since the vehicle need only be f~tened atop
the mecha~lsm to initiate work.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
The primary object o~ the present invention is
that of providing a track-laying mechanism for optional
on-the-field assemblying to facilitate all-terrain trans-
portation for motor vehicles such as trucks, automobiles
and the like without there being any need of adaptations
other than driving the vehicle atop said mechanism.
Another object is an improved caterpillar track
having contour-adapting characteristics that provide
improved traction capabilities.
Still another object is a traction-to-trans-
5 portation adaptability of the track-laying mechanism.
GENERAL DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION
The invention consists of two parallel tracks
held together by two spacer bars forming a chassis upon
which two ramps axe located upon which a vehicle is to
be fastèned.
In the preferred modality of the invention, each
track consists of two sets of wheels, each set forming a
basculated tandem. There is a sprocket located at each end
of the track. The front end sprocket being horizontally
adjustable to provide for tensioning of the track. The
rear sprocket powers the track.
The track can be any type, but in the modality
being herein described, it consists of a series of linked
pads. Each pad consists of an inverted U-shaped lower
side and a generally planar upper surface having two semi-
tubular side end projections defining a central track for
the said tandemed wheels and to increase wheel-track
traction; i.e. a non-slip relation for the inner
track system.
Each side ramp is designed for receiving a
vehicle to be driven atop both said ramps. At the front
end of each ramp there is a wheel-receiving mechanism
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which locks the vehicle' 5 front-end wheels into a
releasably locked position. Said wheel-receiving
mechanism comprises other specific characte~istics and
functions to be described further on for the sake
of clearness.
The rear end of each ramp comprises a pair of
rolls or cylinders upon which the vehicle's rear tire(s)
will rest. In this modality. The system is described for
use with a rear-wheel drive vehicle; said cylinders are
rotatably interconnected and are driven by the vehicle's
own wheels. Each pair of cylinders is connected to its
corresponding track belt for the transmission of power
supplied by the vehicle. Each said pair Of rollers or
cylinders has specific characteristics to be set forth in
more specific detail further ahead.
Each said ramp can comprise means to allow the
vehicle to be driven atop same. Said means can be lifted
into a non-obstructing position once the vehicle is in
place, atop the mechanism. There is also provided an
additional means for securing the vehicle in place. Also,
the complete structure can be easily assembled and dis-
assembled for easy transportation or for storage. It is
also designed with the object of providing easy,
on-the-field repairs.
Its general operating characteristics provide
for: independent track belt suspensioni inner-track in-
dependent suspension; forward-backward motioni 360
turning capabilit~ for absolute maneuverability and general
characteristics that provide for an easy adaptation of
additional equipment such as dozer blades, front loaders,
plows, etc.
To provide for a better understanding of the in-
vention, a set of drawings is attached, wherein:
Figure 1 is a side or elevation view of
the invention.
Figure 2 is an upper or plan~ view of
the mechanism.
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Figure 3 is a front view of the track in cross
section, showing the wheels in the track.
Figure 4 is a partial side view of the truck.
Fi~ure 5 shows selected portions of the
padded track.
Figure 6 is a front view of the right-hand
track and of truck mounted thereon.
Figure 7 is a rear view of the right hand track
and of truck mounted thereon.
Figure 8 is a side view of the platform-
mounted, position adjustable front-wheel receiving cart
and steering system.
Figure 9 is a front view of the steering system.
Figure 10 is an upper plant view of the front-
wheel receiving cart and steering system.
Figure 11 is a perspective of the ramp.
Figure 12 is an upper plant view of the mechanismpartially assembled.
Figure 13 is a side view of on embodiment showing
adaptions mounted thereon.
DETAILED DESCRIPTION F THE IN~7ENTION
The track-laying mechanism 11 comprises two
tracks 12 and 13, a chassis 14 and a platform 15 having
two ramps 16 and 17. The roller transmission system sets
18 and 19 provide each driving power to its corresponding
chain or track 12 and 13. Steering is accomplished by the
use of a braking system for stopping rotation of each one
of the set of twin rollers 30 and 31. Said braking system
is actuated by the steering mechanisms 20 and 21 connected
each one to the corresponding front steering wheel of the
vehicle 33. ~y turning the vehicle's steering wheel, a
brake is gradually and correspondingly activated which
keeps a roller set from turning, thereby interrupting
transmission to the corresponding track which stops
moving, while the other chain or track keeps on receiving
power by the use of vehicles's own differential system.
Track 12 comprises a plurality of pads 22; each
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pad may hàve a lower-side inverted U-shaped section 23
and two semi-tubular sections 24 for providing grip or
traction between the said pad 22 and the wheels. A pre-
ferred embodiment comprises two sets of wheels for each
track 12 and 13. Each set is a basculated tandem~ but a
combination of a tandem and an independent wheel, or any
other combination is possible. Each track is driven by a
sprockets 29a and b connected to its corresponding.roller
tran mission set 18 and/or 19. Sprockets 28 and 29 provide
a front track termination and are also used for controlling
the track's tension. Each track may consist o the
aforesaid multiplicity of linked pads 22, or else be a
continuous belt of a su:itable material such as rubber,
reinforced canvas material, etc.
The roller transmission system sets 18 and 19,
comprise each a pair of cylinders 30 and 31 upon which the
vehicle's drive wheels are mounted, and upon rotation of
the wheels, said cylinders transmit the power of vehicle
33 output to both ~racks 12 and 13. Each one of both
roller transmission syst:em sets 18 and 19 is connected to
its corresponding sprocket 28 and 29 through a torque-
reductor which provides a predetermined torque to its
corresponding track or c:hain 12 and/or 13.
The steering ~ystem comprises two steering
mechanisms 20 and 21, each one controlling its corres-
ponding track 12 and/or 13. Steering mechanisms 20 and 21
comprise each a braking system actuated by the steering
motion of the vehicle's front wheels 34. When, for example,
the vehicle's wheels are turned left, wheel 34 actuates
a brake that stops rotat.ion of the left track's twin
rollers or cylinders 30 and 31 and thereby motion o the
left track 12 is stopped. The right track 13 keeps on
moving since the vehicle's own differential system keaps
on providing power to the said other track 13. Thereore,
each steering mechanism comprises a hydraulic master
cylinder connected to the roller system. Each steering
mechanism, moreover, is provided with locking means 32 to
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secure the vehicle in place. Each steering mechanism 20
and 21 is a slidable wheel-receiving cart that may be
secured in any desired location for an immediate adaption
to the vehicle's own axle or wheel to wheel distance, and
to its length or f~ont.rear axle separation.
The foregoing specification is limited ~o an
embodiment of the invention and should be understood as
a voluntary limitation to a preferred modality for the
sake of clearness, but the general scope of the invention
should be limited only by the following:
