WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR A TRACKED VEHICLE

ROUE POUR VEHICULE CHENILLE

English Abstract

There is provided a wheel assembly and associated method of
mounting wheels about a hub, by providing a hub comprising a shoulder having
a clearing space allowing a wheel introduced by one side of the hub to be
pivoted to an opposite side thereof.

Claims

WHAT IS CLAIMED IS:
1. A wheel assembly comprising:
a hub; and
wheels to be mounted on said hub;
wherein said hub comprises shoulders each including a mounting
clearing, the wheels being mounted to said hub by retaining flanges thereof,
said retaining flanges of the wheels being mounted radially from the hub on
the
shoulders of the hub.
2. The wheel assembly according to claim 1, wherein said
retaining flanges secure a sleeve resistant to wear.
3. The wheel assembly according to any one of claims 1 and
2, wherein said retaining flanges are made a metallic material.
4. The wheel assembly according to claim 2, wherein said
retaining flanges are made in one of steel and aluminium.
5. The wheel assembly according to claim 2, wherein said
sleeve is made in one of composite, rubber, urethane and combination thereof.
6. The wheel assembly according to claim to any one of
claims 2 and 5, wherein said sleeve comprises an internal reinforcement.
7. The wheel assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 6,
wherein said retaining flanges are mounted by means of a nut and bolt
fastening means on the shoulders of the hub.

8. The wheel assembly according to any one of claims 1 to 7,
wherein the wheels are mounted on the hub from a single accessible side
thereof, by introducing the wheels by the single side on the hub and making
them to pivot across the mounting clearing to desired position thereof on an
opposite inside side of the hub.
9. A wheel assembly for a tracked vehicle with a plurality of
wheels mounted on a each side of a hub, said hub having a shoulder provided
with a mounting clearing, part of the plurality of wheels being introduced by
a
first inside side on the hub and made to pivot across said mounting clearing
to
a desired position thereof on the second inside side of the hub, and a
remaining part of the plurality of wheels being directly mounted on the first
inside side on the hub.
10. A method for mounting wheels on a hub from a first inside
side thereof, comprising the steps of:
providing a mounting clearing on shoulders of the hub;
introducing first wheels to be mounted on a inside side of the hub
opposite the first inside side thereof by the first inside side of the hub;
pivoting the first wheels across the mounting clearing to a desired
position thereof on the inside side of the hub opposite the first inside side
thereof; and
mounting second wheels to be mounted on the first inside side of
the hub.

Description

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TITLE OF THE INVENTION
WHEEL ASSEMBLY FOR A TRACKED VEHICLE
FIELD OF THE INVENTION
(0001] The present invention relates to tracked vehicles. More
specifically, the present invention is concerned with a wheel assembly for a
tracked vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
(0002] Typically, track-type vehicles comprise track assembly that
usually includes an endless belt, which wraps around a drive wheel, an idler
wheel and a number of guide wheels supporting a lower ground engaging run
of the track. The inner surface of the endless belt has a number of extending
guide lugs, which are guided through a channel formed by the wheel
arrangement. During use of the vehicle, the drive wheel rotates and engages
the endless belt thereby causing the belt to rotate around the path defined by
the drive wheel, idler wheel and guide wheels. Rotation of the endless belt
causes each of the guide lugs to pass through the channel defined by the drive
wheel, idler wheel and each of the guide wheels. Having the guide lugs passing
through the guiding channel enables the belt to remain within the rolling
path.
(0003] Us patent number 6,129,426 issued in 2000 discloses a
tracked vehicle with a guide wheel assembly that may be retrofitted and
positioned in the track assembly in place of previously used single wheels.

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[0004] There is still a need in the art for a wheel assembly allowing
mounting a plurality of wheels on a single housing in conditions of limited
access thereto.
SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
[0005] More specifically, there is provided a [main claims].
[0006] Other objects, advantages and features of the present
invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-
restrictive description of embodiments thereof, given by way of example only
with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
[0007] In the appended drawings:
[0008] Figure 1 is a cross section of a wheel assembly according to
an embodiment of the present invention;
[0009] Figure 2 is a projection view of the assembly of Figure 1; and
[0010] Figure 3 is an exploded view of the assembly of Figure 1

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DESCRIPTION OF EMBODIMENTS OF THE INVENTION
(0011] As illustrated in the Figures of the appended drawings, a
wheel assembly according to an embodiment of the present invention
comprises a hub 10 for mounting wheels 20.
[0012] The wheels 20 typically comprise retaining flanges 24, made
in a metal, such as steel or aluminium for example, securing a sleeve 22
resistant to wear and made in a material such a composite, a rubber or
urethane for example, or combination thereof. The sleeve 22 may further
comprise reinforcement.
(0013] The retaining flanges 24 are mounted radially from the hub
10, mounted by means of a nut 26 and bolt 28 fastening means on shoulders
30 of the hub 10.
[0014] The shoulders 30 each include a mounting clearing 32.
(0015] For mounting a wheel 20 on the hub 10 on any side thereof,
for example on a right inside, the wheel 20 introduced by a left inside on the
hub 10 is made to pivot across the mounting clearing 32 to its desired
position
on the right inside of the hub 10.
[0016] People in the art will appreciate that the wheel assembly of
the present invention allows mounting a number of wheels from a same side of
the track assembly without needing to disassemble nor the hub or involved
bearings, thereby allowing greatly reducing maintenance costs.

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[0017] Moreover, since such an assembly allows mounting wheels of
a same diameter at any position about the hub, fabrication costs are also
greatly reduced, since only one type of wheels is required.
[0018] Such a wheel assembly may be in a variety of tracked
vehicle, including for example industrial skid steer loaders, snow grooming
machines and agricultural tractor.
[0019] Although the present invention has been described
hereinabove by way of embodiments thereof, it may be modified, without
departing from the nature and teachings of the subject invention as described
herein.

Representative Drawing