CA2132748A1 - Transmission and steering apparatus for a tracked vehicle - Google Patents
Transmission and steering apparatus for a tracked vehicleInfo
- Publication number
- CA2132748A1 CA2132748A1 CA 2132748 CA2132748A CA2132748A1 CA 2132748 A1 CA2132748 A1 CA 2132748A1 CA 2132748 CA2132748 CA 2132748 CA 2132748 A CA2132748 A CA 2132748A CA 2132748 A1 CA2132748 A1 CA 2132748A1
- Authority
- CA
- Canada
- Prior art keywords
- steering
- shaft
- transmission
- tracked vehicle
- drive shaft
- Prior art date
- Legal status (The legal status is an assumption and is not a legal conclusion. Google has not performed a legal analysis and makes no representation as to the accuracy of the status listed.)
- Abandoned
Links
Classifications
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D55/00—Endless track vehicles
- B62D55/06—Endless track vehicles with tracks without ground wheels
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D11/00—Steering non-deflectable wheels; Steering endless tracks or the like
- B62D11/20—Endless-track steering having pivoted bogie carrying track
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62D—MOTOR VEHICLES; TRAILERS
- B62D55/00—Endless track vehicles
- B62D55/06—Endless track vehicles with tracks without ground wheels
- B62D55/07—Mono-track vehicles
-
- B—PERFORMING OPERATIONS; TRANSPORTING
- B62—LAND VEHICLES FOR TRAVELLING OTHERWISE THAN ON RAILS
- B62M—RIDER PROPULSION OF WHEELED VEHICLES OR SLEDGES; POWERED PROPULSION OF SLEDGES OR SINGLE-TRACK CYCLES; TRANSMISSIONS SPECIALLY ADAPTED FOR SUCH VEHICLES
- B62M27/00—Propulsion devices for sledges or the like
- B62M27/02—Propulsion devices for sledges or the like power driven
Landscapes
- Engineering & Computer Science (AREA)
- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Gear Transmission (AREA)
- Arrangement And Driving Of Transmission Devices (AREA)
- Non-Deflectable Wheels, Steering Of Trailers, Or Other Steering (AREA)
- Devices For Conveying Motion By Means Of Endless Flexible Members (AREA)
Abstract
The invention relates to a transmission and steering apparatus for a tracked vehicule, which tracked vehicle comprises a driving track unit which drives the tracked vehicle, and which transmission and steering apparatus comprises a transmission shaft (4), a drive shaft (8) of the driving track unit, a first bevel gear (5) connected to the drive shaft (8) and a second bevel gear (7) connected to the transmission shaft (4), an intermediate shaft (13) between said bevel gears (5, 7) for transmitting the force driving the tracked vehicle to the drive shaft (8) and steering elements (9, 10, 11, 12) for obtaining turning motions of the tracked vehicle which correspond to steering motions. Front track units (2) in the front part of the tracked vehicle function as the driving track unit and the steering elements (9, 10, 11, 12) are connected to the drive shaft (8) and transmit steering motions to corresponding turning motions of the drive shaft (8) for steering the tracked vehicle.
Description
~WO93/18956 ~ 3 ,~ 7 ~. 8 PCT/Fl93/00107 3 TRANSMISSION AND STEERING APPARATUS FOR A TR~CKED VEHICLE
The in~ention relates to transmission and steering apparatus for a tracked vehicle according to the ingress ~I part of claim 1~ , ~
3 5 In a conventional motor sled like tha~ presented in the patent publication US 356878~ ~ the forward driving element is a moving rubber track mat rotated by track wheels which mat moves on a slide bogie and is located under the seat. Steering of ~he ~otor sled occurs by 10 m~ans of a bar by turning the s~is or corresponding guide means loca~ed in front of th,~3 track. The motor sled of this kind ha,s as a transmission device a transmission shaft fixed to a secondary variator ~rom one end of which tansmission shaft the torsional ~orce is tr~n.~mitted by 15 means of a chain to the driving track wheels of the track U~it7 A motor sled which has a turning track is also , ~ known wherein the steering is accomplished by extending ~ one side of the track and, i~ a corresponging wa~, ¦ shortening the other side. In addition, there are known motor sleds with ~wo parallel track mats~ which are of the same length as the sled and the steering o~ which occurs by decelerating the rotation of one tr~ck mat.
~; ~lso a motor sled of this kind has a chain transmission to the driving wheels or the transmissi4n shaft of the 25 the track wheels.
~. ~
It is known to use such a transmission apparatus in ~s !.i tracked ~ehicles where the rotational motion of the . transmission shaft is transmi~ted through a first bevel ~ gear to an intermediate shaft and further from the ., 30 intermediate shaft through a second bevel gear to the track unit which drives the tracked vehicle. This kind of solution is presented e.g. in the patent publication US
~15055.
iq ls~
~, .
WO93~18956 5~ ~}~ PCl`/Fl93/001~-The drawback ir~ tracked vehicles of prior art and in ij motor sleds in particular is their poor steerability and poor suspension. These drawbacks affect the driving characteristics . The obj ective of the invention is to . 5 obtain a tracked vehicle which has much be~ter steerabi~
lity than conventional tracked vehicles and which has bet~er driving characteristics . Another obj ective is to .1 obtain an effective suspension of the front part. These ob; ectives are achieved by a tracked vehicle which is lo primarily characterized by the features mentioned in the , characterizing part of claim 1.
By means of the trailsmission apparatus according to the `~ ` invention it is possible to replace the skis in the front of an ~xisting motor sled with a turning track unit which acts as a driving track unit for the tracked vehicle.
Ac:cording to one embodiment of the invention ~ the track unit c:an }: e connected to the frame o~ the motor sled by shock absorber~; whereby a signif icant improvement is obt~ined in the suspension of the track unit. The track unit can also ilt in a plane which is perpendicular to the tra~rel directionr The most important advantage of the ~, invention is that it allows one to replac:e the ~kis in '1 existirlg motor s~ eds with a turning, spring loaded and ,~ shock ab~;orbed f ront trac3c unit with minor changes and at 2 5 smal 1 costs .
In the following the invention will be described in detais with re:ference to the enclosed drawings in which f igure 1 sbows a top view of the transmission apparatus 3 0 o~ a motor sled and the be~el gear and the shaft thereof, f igure 2 shows schema$ically a vertical cross-section of !l a trarlsmission ~nd steering apparatus of the invention seen from the front, . WO93/18956 ~ 3 ~37 ~ PCI1F~93/0~1~7 . . .
figure 3 is a schematic cross~sec:tion a~ the joint of `` f igure 2 along the line A A and figure ~ shows a ~;ide view of a motor ~;led with a front track unit installed.
S Figures 1 and 2 show a transmission and steering appara-~, tus according to the invention comprising a t2: ansmission shaft 4, a first bevel gea:r 5 conTlected with the drive j~ shaft ~ of the front track unit 2 and a second bevel gear 7 confi -ted wi~: the transmissi n shaft 4 and an interme-10 diate aft 13 ~twe~n the said bevel gears 5 and 7. By means of t:hese members the rotational motion of the motor 3 is transmitted to the common drive shaft 8 of tAe fron~
track unit~ 2. The ste~ring members of ~he apparaltus comprise a steerirlg shaft 9, a sl:eering ring 10 and a 15 steering lever 12 linked thereto. By means of these ste~ring members, the steering motions of the vehicle i.e. turning of the handlebar " for example,, is transmit ted to cc~rr~spondirlg turning motions of the ~ront trac:k units 2 for ~teering the tracked vehicle.
20 The front track uni~s 2 moun~d at both ends of the drive ~`~ shaft 8 in the front part of the trackeà vehicle function ~j as the drive track Ullit of ~he tracked vehi ::le. The drive ~;haft 8 turns round the rotational axis of the interme-diat:e ~ha~t 13 a~d, in particular, round the rotational 25 axis of ~he end part of the intermediate shaft 13 which is connected to the f irst bevel gear 5 . The point about which th~ driv~ shaPt turns is loc::ated at the intersecti-on s:~f the Irotational axis of the intermediate shaft 13 and that of the drive shaft 8 i . e. in the first bevel 3 0 gear 5 in the centre of the drive sha~t 8 .
i,}~j Figure 1 shows, se~n f rom above, the motor 3 mounted on the frame 1 of the mo~or sled, the txansmission shaft 4 and the second bevel gear 7 belong~ ng thereto. The motor ,, ,j .. .. . . . . . . . .
WO 93/189S6 PCI`/FI93/0û107 .
3 rotates a primary ~rariator from which the rotational movement is transmi~ted via a V-belt to a secondary variator . To the secondary variator there is f ixedly coupled a shaft 6, on which a gear wheel is mounted so that it transmits ~orce via a chain to a ge~r. The gear is mounted on the transmission shaft ~ so ~hat the gear ro~ates the transmission shaft 4, on one end of which there is mounted th~ second bevel gear 7. The other end of the trarlsmission shaft 4 is rotatably pivoted on the frame ï of the sled.
Figure 2 shows a v~rtical cross-sec:tion of a transmission and steering apparatus of the invention seen from the front of the sled. Figure 2 ~;hows ~he leading-~hrough of the transmission and steering apparatus through the bottom plate 24 in the front part of the mo~or sled, on ~,' whis:h plate a protective ~tuhe ~ is attached e . g . by welding, whose one end is mounted rigidly orl the body of 3 ~he second bevel gear 7. A circular recess 11 is made :: inside the protective kube 16 so lthat a steering ring 10 20 can freely turn in the-- reoess 11. The recess has an 3 ~pening for the movement of a steerirlg lever 12. The steerirlg lever 12 is rigidly attached to the steering ring 10, on the inside of whi~::h there are grooves for the ~: lon~itudinal proj ections on t:h~3 outside of the ~teering 25 shaft 9. Hence~ upon turning the steering ring lû the steering motion is transmitted to the steexing sha~Et 9 .
However, the steerîng shaft 9 can simultaneously move ~: fr~ely in vertical direction. The steering shaf~ 9 is fitted to move inside the protective 1:ube 16 so that the 30 upper part of the steering shaf~ 9 cannot touch the body of the second b~vel gear 7.
In accordance with f igures 2 and 3, to the lower end of the steering shaft 9 there are rigidly ~ixed support pl-tes 26 _i~h are joined by m^ans oi fixe joining pins WO 93/18956 ;~ d 7 ~ 8 PCI'/FI93/0~107 .
28 and detachable locking pins 29 to underl~ing support ~, plates 270 By removing the locking action of the locking " pins 29, at leas~ the support plates 27 can freely turn ? round the concentrir gravitational axes of the j oirling S pins 28. Neither is the operation of a cardan joint 17 prevellted by the turning of the support p~ates 2 7 . The support plates 27 are rigidly attached ~o the body 21 of the f irst bevel gear, on whose round upper par~ there is rigidly attached a lower annular support flange 35 and a ~, 10 detachable support lange 31. Between the support flanges ~,,' 31 and 35 there is pivoted a mounting flange ~2 for the ;~ suspension and the shock a~sorber so that it can freely rotate between the support plates 31 and 35 round the upper part of the body 21 of the f irst bev 1 gear . The support flange 31 and the mounting flange 32 are locked in plac:e by a special locking nut 30O
, ~, The rotating steering motion of the steering shaft 9 in the transinission and steering apparatus OI t~e invention ~: turns the body 21 of the f irst bevel gear 5 and, being ~.~
2 0 rigidly attached thereto by means of f ixing elements, the protective tubes 22 of the drive shaft 8 whose motion in ,~ turn turns the fron~ track unit 2. Due to the way the ~, steering shafJc 9 is mounted, the first bevel gear 5 c::an also move vertically. For dampenirlg vertical movements 2 5 and shocks of the f irslt bevel gear ~, there are mounted a suspension and shoc:k absorbers 19 on the mounting 1ange j 32. Figure ~ shows schematically such shock absorbers ~
~' which also comprise a supension element. Furthermore, for ! ! Iimitin~ the movement of the steering shaft 9 and for ~!30 dampening adrupt ~iyorous shocks, a rubber cushion 20 is mounted on top of a fixed flange of the lower end of the ~'steering shaft 9. The shocX absorbers 19 are led through the bottom plate 24 o~ the sled and fixed by means of an ~iauxiliary bar to the frame 1 of the sled. At the leading through point, the shock absorbers 19 are protected by ~i i .
~1~3~V~l J PCII`/FI93/ooll)7`
means of rubber collars fixed to the bottom plate 24 of th.o sled. The leading-through openings of the shock absorbers 19 are f itted to allow the lower ends of the shock absorbers 19 1:o move to such an extent as caused by 5 the turning of the f irst bevel gear 5 round, the j oining pins 28.. When i~ is desireable to prevent the first bevel gear 5 from turning round ~h joining pins 28 and thereby make th join1: rigid, locki2lg pins 29 must only be mounted in place and loclc them in place with lockiTIg elements 36.
The transmissiorl and steering apparatus of the invention operates best when the first hevel gear 5 is capable of turning round the ~oining pins 28. In this case, e.g. the uspension of the front track UTlitS iS at its best sirlce they are able to move a.cs:~rding to the terrain up and down nearly independent of each other. The apparatus of the invention has to be provided wi~h such shock absor-bers which limit the vertical mov m~nt of the iEirst bevel gear 5 suita~ly, taking into account the allowed vertical movements of the steering sha:ek 9 and ~he inte~nediate shaft 13.
As shown in f iyure 2, the second bevel gear 7 transmits the rotatirlg motion of the transmission shaft 4 to the :~ 25 intermediate shaft 13. The intermediate shaft 13 i5 ~, compo~ed of two shaft~ 14 and 15 one within the other, the first: shaft 14 being onnected to the f irst bevel ~J gear 5 ~nd the second shaft 15 to the sec:ond bevel geax 7~ The sec:bnd shaft lS is hollow and the fir.st shaft 14 is fitted by means of a sliding slot joint to move freely ~i in the longitudinal direction of the hollow shaft . ~t the lower end c: f the intermediate shaft 13, there is a cardan j oint 17 which is situated inside the tilting t 18.
:`
' .~ WO 93/18956 ~ 3 7 ~fi X PCI/F1~3/OnlO7 F ;~
The steering elements of the transmission and steering apparatus acc:ording to the invention comprise a tubular steering shaft 9 with a circular cross-section which surrounds the intermediate shaft 13, and i5, at il:s lower 5 part, connected to the drive shaft 8 for ltr~an~;mitting steering motions to the drive shaft 8. The steering elements additionally comprise a steering ring 10 for transmitting steering motions to the steering shaft 9~
The steering ring 10 is fitted ~o the steering shaft to 10 allnw a longitudinal motion of the steering shaft 9 inside the steering ring 10. Steering motion from the handlebar of the motor sled is transmitted to the steering ring 10 by means of a steering lever 12. TAe steering shaft 9 is, at its lower end, connec~ed to the 15 drive shaft 8 via the tilting j oint 18 for enabling a tilting motion . The steering shaft 9 is f itted to move inside the prote~tive tube 16 which i5 rigidly f ixed to the frame 1 of the tracked v ehicle. The protertive tube 16 comprises a recess 11 for t:he steer~ ng ring 10 . The 20 pringing motion OI the track unit is possible because lthe intermediate shaft 13 enables a longitudinal 5prin-glng motion and bec:ause the ~teeriny shaft 9 is able to move lc:~ngitudinally inside the protective tube 16.
The steering shaft 9 and the interm~diate shaft 13 are 25 fitted to allow the ~;te~ring shaf~ g to ~urn freely and move round the intermediate shaft 13. Figure 3 shows how the intermediate shaft 13 is c:onnected through 1:he cardan j oint 17 to the f irst bevel gear 5 . Hence the f irst bevel ` gear 5 can turn round the joining pins 28 of the titing 30 joint 18 if necessary. ~he first bevel gear 5 transmits the 'curning motion of the intermediate shaft 13 is transmitted to the drive shaft 8 whi ::h rotates the drive wheels of the front track units 2.
Figure 4 shows schematically, seen from the side, a motor i WO93/1~9~6 PCT/~93/001~7 ,~ rl ~S
sled wherein the skis have been replaced with driving and turning front track units ~ ~y utilizing the apparatus according to the invention. This kind of ~ehicle is superior as compared with motor sleds with skis or the like because it can move in the terrain bo~h in summer and winter condition~.
~J
The invention is not limited to the above embodiment but it can be varied within the limits of the snclosed claims. For example, the steering shaft 9 c:an be connec-10 ted to the first bevel gear 5 or the drive shaft 8 viaany member which transmits the turning motion of the ~i steering shaft ~ to a turning motion of the drive shaft 8 . This member can be a folding 3 oint which is connected to the steering shaft, on one hand, and tc~ the drive 'j 15 sha f t, on the other hand, and which transmits turning motion and allows a vertical motion of the intermediate shaft 13 .
i i ~j i
The in~ention relates to transmission and steering apparatus for a tracked vehicle according to the ingress ~I part of claim 1~ , ~
3 5 In a conventional motor sled like tha~ presented in the patent publication US 356878~ ~ the forward driving element is a moving rubber track mat rotated by track wheels which mat moves on a slide bogie and is located under the seat. Steering of ~he ~otor sled occurs by 10 m~ans of a bar by turning the s~is or corresponding guide means loca~ed in front of th,~3 track. The motor sled of this kind ha,s as a transmission device a transmission shaft fixed to a secondary variator ~rom one end of which tansmission shaft the torsional ~orce is tr~n.~mitted by 15 means of a chain to the driving track wheels of the track U~it7 A motor sled which has a turning track is also , ~ known wherein the steering is accomplished by extending ~ one side of the track and, i~ a corresponging wa~, ¦ shortening the other side. In addition, there are known motor sleds with ~wo parallel track mats~ which are of the same length as the sled and the steering o~ which occurs by decelerating the rotation of one tr~ck mat.
~; ~lso a motor sled of this kind has a chain transmission to the driving wheels or the transmissi4n shaft of the 25 the track wheels.
~. ~
It is known to use such a transmission apparatus in ~s !.i tracked ~ehicles where the rotational motion of the . transmission shaft is transmi~ted through a first bevel ~ gear to an intermediate shaft and further from the ., 30 intermediate shaft through a second bevel gear to the track unit which drives the tracked vehicle. This kind of solution is presented e.g. in the patent publication US
~15055.
iq ls~
~, .
WO93~18956 5~ ~}~ PCl`/Fl93/001~-The drawback ir~ tracked vehicles of prior art and in ij motor sleds in particular is their poor steerability and poor suspension. These drawbacks affect the driving characteristics . The obj ective of the invention is to . 5 obtain a tracked vehicle which has much be~ter steerabi~
lity than conventional tracked vehicles and which has bet~er driving characteristics . Another obj ective is to .1 obtain an effective suspension of the front part. These ob; ectives are achieved by a tracked vehicle which is lo primarily characterized by the features mentioned in the , characterizing part of claim 1.
By means of the trailsmission apparatus according to the `~ ` invention it is possible to replace the skis in the front of an ~xisting motor sled with a turning track unit which acts as a driving track unit for the tracked vehicle.
Ac:cording to one embodiment of the invention ~ the track unit c:an }: e connected to the frame o~ the motor sled by shock absorber~; whereby a signif icant improvement is obt~ined in the suspension of the track unit. The track unit can also ilt in a plane which is perpendicular to the tra~rel directionr The most important advantage of the ~, invention is that it allows one to replac:e the ~kis in '1 existirlg motor s~ eds with a turning, spring loaded and ,~ shock ab~;orbed f ront trac3c unit with minor changes and at 2 5 smal 1 costs .
In the following the invention will be described in detais with re:ference to the enclosed drawings in which f igure 1 sbows a top view of the transmission apparatus 3 0 o~ a motor sled and the be~el gear and the shaft thereof, f igure 2 shows schema$ically a vertical cross-section of !l a trarlsmission ~nd steering apparatus of the invention seen from the front, . WO93/18956 ~ 3 ~37 ~ PCI1F~93/0~1~7 . . .
figure 3 is a schematic cross~sec:tion a~ the joint of `` f igure 2 along the line A A and figure ~ shows a ~;ide view of a motor ~;led with a front track unit installed.
S Figures 1 and 2 show a transmission and steering appara-~, tus according to the invention comprising a t2: ansmission shaft 4, a first bevel gea:r 5 conTlected with the drive j~ shaft ~ of the front track unit 2 and a second bevel gear 7 confi -ted wi~: the transmissi n shaft 4 and an interme-10 diate aft 13 ~twe~n the said bevel gears 5 and 7. By means of t:hese members the rotational motion of the motor 3 is transmitted to the common drive shaft 8 of tAe fron~
track unit~ 2. The ste~ring members of ~he apparaltus comprise a steerirlg shaft 9, a sl:eering ring 10 and a 15 steering lever 12 linked thereto. By means of these ste~ring members, the steering motions of the vehicle i.e. turning of the handlebar " for example,, is transmit ted to cc~rr~spondirlg turning motions of the ~ront trac:k units 2 for ~teering the tracked vehicle.
20 The front track uni~s 2 moun~d at both ends of the drive ~`~ shaft 8 in the front part of the trackeà vehicle function ~j as the drive track Ullit of ~he tracked vehi ::le. The drive ~;haft 8 turns round the rotational axis of the interme-diat:e ~ha~t 13 a~d, in particular, round the rotational 25 axis of ~he end part of the intermediate shaft 13 which is connected to the f irst bevel gear 5 . The point about which th~ driv~ shaPt turns is loc::ated at the intersecti-on s:~f the Irotational axis of the intermediate shaft 13 and that of the drive shaft 8 i . e. in the first bevel 3 0 gear 5 in the centre of the drive sha~t 8 .
i,}~j Figure 1 shows, se~n f rom above, the motor 3 mounted on the frame 1 of the mo~or sled, the txansmission shaft 4 and the second bevel gear 7 belong~ ng thereto. The motor ,, ,j .. .. . . . . . . . .
WO 93/189S6 PCI`/FI93/0û107 .
3 rotates a primary ~rariator from which the rotational movement is transmi~ted via a V-belt to a secondary variator . To the secondary variator there is f ixedly coupled a shaft 6, on which a gear wheel is mounted so that it transmits ~orce via a chain to a ge~r. The gear is mounted on the transmission shaft ~ so ~hat the gear ro~ates the transmission shaft 4, on one end of which there is mounted th~ second bevel gear 7. The other end of the trarlsmission shaft 4 is rotatably pivoted on the frame ï of the sled.
Figure 2 shows a v~rtical cross-sec:tion of a transmission and steering apparatus of the invention seen from the front of the sled. Figure 2 ~;hows ~he leading-~hrough of the transmission and steering apparatus through the bottom plate 24 in the front part of the mo~or sled, on ~,' whis:h plate a protective ~tuhe ~ is attached e . g . by welding, whose one end is mounted rigidly orl the body of 3 ~he second bevel gear 7. A circular recess 11 is made :: inside the protective kube 16 so lthat a steering ring 10 20 can freely turn in the-- reoess 11. The recess has an 3 ~pening for the movement of a steerirlg lever 12. The steerirlg lever 12 is rigidly attached to the steering ring 10, on the inside of whi~::h there are grooves for the ~: lon~itudinal proj ections on t:h~3 outside of the ~teering 25 shaft 9. Hence~ upon turning the steering ring lû the steering motion is transmitted to the steexing sha~Et 9 .
However, the steerîng shaft 9 can simultaneously move ~: fr~ely in vertical direction. The steering shaf~ 9 is fitted to move inside the protective 1:ube 16 so that the 30 upper part of the steering shaf~ 9 cannot touch the body of the second b~vel gear 7.
In accordance with f igures 2 and 3, to the lower end of the steering shaft 9 there are rigidly ~ixed support pl-tes 26 _i~h are joined by m^ans oi fixe joining pins WO 93/18956 ;~ d 7 ~ 8 PCI'/FI93/0~107 .
28 and detachable locking pins 29 to underl~ing support ~, plates 270 By removing the locking action of the locking " pins 29, at leas~ the support plates 27 can freely turn ? round the concentrir gravitational axes of the j oirling S pins 28. Neither is the operation of a cardan joint 17 prevellted by the turning of the support p~ates 2 7 . The support plates 27 are rigidly attached ~o the body 21 of the f irst bevel gear, on whose round upper par~ there is rigidly attached a lower annular support flange 35 and a ~, 10 detachable support lange 31. Between the support flanges ~,,' 31 and 35 there is pivoted a mounting flange ~2 for the ;~ suspension and the shock a~sorber so that it can freely rotate between the support plates 31 and 35 round the upper part of the body 21 of the f irst bev 1 gear . The support flange 31 and the mounting flange 32 are locked in plac:e by a special locking nut 30O
, ~, The rotating steering motion of the steering shaft 9 in the transinission and steering apparatus OI t~e invention ~: turns the body 21 of the f irst bevel gear 5 and, being ~.~
2 0 rigidly attached thereto by means of f ixing elements, the protective tubes 22 of the drive shaft 8 whose motion in ,~ turn turns the fron~ track unit 2. Due to the way the ~, steering shafJc 9 is mounted, the first bevel gear 5 c::an also move vertically. For dampenirlg vertical movements 2 5 and shocks of the f irslt bevel gear ~, there are mounted a suspension and shoc:k absorbers 19 on the mounting 1ange j 32. Figure ~ shows schematically such shock absorbers ~
~' which also comprise a supension element. Furthermore, for ! ! Iimitin~ the movement of the steering shaft 9 and for ~!30 dampening adrupt ~iyorous shocks, a rubber cushion 20 is mounted on top of a fixed flange of the lower end of the ~'steering shaft 9. The shocX absorbers 19 are led through the bottom plate 24 o~ the sled and fixed by means of an ~iauxiliary bar to the frame 1 of the sled. At the leading through point, the shock absorbers 19 are protected by ~i i .
~1~3~V~l J PCII`/FI93/ooll)7`
means of rubber collars fixed to the bottom plate 24 of th.o sled. The leading-through openings of the shock absorbers 19 are f itted to allow the lower ends of the shock absorbers 19 1:o move to such an extent as caused by 5 the turning of the f irst bevel gear 5 round, the j oining pins 28.. When i~ is desireable to prevent the first bevel gear 5 from turning round ~h joining pins 28 and thereby make th join1: rigid, locki2lg pins 29 must only be mounted in place and loclc them in place with lockiTIg elements 36.
The transmissiorl and steering apparatus of the invention operates best when the first hevel gear 5 is capable of turning round the ~oining pins 28. In this case, e.g. the uspension of the front track UTlitS iS at its best sirlce they are able to move a.cs:~rding to the terrain up and down nearly independent of each other. The apparatus of the invention has to be provided wi~h such shock absor-bers which limit the vertical mov m~nt of the iEirst bevel gear 5 suita~ly, taking into account the allowed vertical movements of the steering sha:ek 9 and ~he inte~nediate shaft 13.
As shown in f iyure 2, the second bevel gear 7 transmits the rotatirlg motion of the transmission shaft 4 to the :~ 25 intermediate shaft 13. The intermediate shaft 13 i5 ~, compo~ed of two shaft~ 14 and 15 one within the other, the first: shaft 14 being onnected to the f irst bevel ~J gear 5 ~nd the second shaft 15 to the sec:ond bevel geax 7~ The sec:bnd shaft lS is hollow and the fir.st shaft 14 is fitted by means of a sliding slot joint to move freely ~i in the longitudinal direction of the hollow shaft . ~t the lower end c: f the intermediate shaft 13, there is a cardan j oint 17 which is situated inside the tilting t 18.
:`
' .~ WO 93/18956 ~ 3 7 ~fi X PCI/F1~3/OnlO7 F ;~
The steering elements of the transmission and steering apparatus acc:ording to the invention comprise a tubular steering shaft 9 with a circular cross-section which surrounds the intermediate shaft 13, and i5, at il:s lower 5 part, connected to the drive shaft 8 for ltr~an~;mitting steering motions to the drive shaft 8. The steering elements additionally comprise a steering ring 10 for transmitting steering motions to the steering shaft 9~
The steering ring 10 is fitted ~o the steering shaft to 10 allnw a longitudinal motion of the steering shaft 9 inside the steering ring 10. Steering motion from the handlebar of the motor sled is transmitted to the steering ring 10 by means of a steering lever 12. TAe steering shaft 9 is, at its lower end, connec~ed to the 15 drive shaft 8 via the tilting j oint 18 for enabling a tilting motion . The steering shaft 9 is f itted to move inside the prote~tive tube 16 which i5 rigidly f ixed to the frame 1 of the tracked v ehicle. The protertive tube 16 comprises a recess 11 for t:he steer~ ng ring 10 . The 20 pringing motion OI the track unit is possible because lthe intermediate shaft 13 enables a longitudinal 5prin-glng motion and bec:ause the ~teeriny shaft 9 is able to move lc:~ngitudinally inside the protective tube 16.
The steering shaft 9 and the interm~diate shaft 13 are 25 fitted to allow the ~;te~ring shaf~ g to ~urn freely and move round the intermediate shaft 13. Figure 3 shows how the intermediate shaft 13 is c:onnected through 1:he cardan j oint 17 to the f irst bevel gear 5 . Hence the f irst bevel ` gear 5 can turn round the joining pins 28 of the titing 30 joint 18 if necessary. ~he first bevel gear 5 transmits the 'curning motion of the intermediate shaft 13 is transmitted to the drive shaft 8 whi ::h rotates the drive wheels of the front track units 2.
Figure 4 shows schematically, seen from the side, a motor i WO93/1~9~6 PCT/~93/001~7 ,~ rl ~S
sled wherein the skis have been replaced with driving and turning front track units ~ ~y utilizing the apparatus according to the invention. This kind of ~ehicle is superior as compared with motor sleds with skis or the like because it can move in the terrain bo~h in summer and winter condition~.
~J
The invention is not limited to the above embodiment but it can be varied within the limits of the snclosed claims. For example, the steering shaft 9 c:an be connec-10 ted to the first bevel gear 5 or the drive shaft 8 viaany member which transmits the turning motion of the ~i steering shaft ~ to a turning motion of the drive shaft 8 . This member can be a folding 3 oint which is connected to the steering shaft, on one hand, and tc~ the drive 'j 15 sha f t, on the other hand, and which transmits turning motion and allows a vertical motion of the intermediate shaft 13 .
i i ~j i
Claims (11)
1. Transmission and steering apparatus for a tracked vehicle, which tracked vehicle comprises a driving track unit which drives the tracked vehicle, and, which trans-mission and steering apparatus comprises a transmission shaft (4), a drive shaft (8) of the driving track unit, a first bevel gear (5) connected to the drive shaft (8) and a second level gear (7) connected to the transmission shaft (4), an intermediate shaft (13) between said bevel gears (5, 7) for transmitting the force driving the tracked vehicle to the drive shaft (8) and steering elements (9, 10, 11, 12) for obtaining turning motions of the tracked vehicle which correspond to steering motions, characterized in that front track units (2) in the front part of the tracked vehicle function as the driving track unit and that the steering elements (9, 10, 11, 12) are connected to the drive shaft (8) and transmit steering motions to corresponding turning motions of the drive shaft (8) for steering the tracked vehicle.
2. Transmission and steering apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the drive shaft (8) is arranged to turn round the rotational axis of the intermediate shaft (13).
3. Transmission and steering apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the steering elements (9, 10, 11, 12) comprise preferably a tubular steering shaft (9) which surrounds the intermediate shaft (13) and which is connected to the drive shaft (8) for transmitting steering motions to the drive shaft (8).
4. Transmission and steering apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that steering shaft (9) is attached to the body (21) of the first bevel gear.
5. Transmission and steering apparatus according to claim 3 characterized in that steering elements (9, 10, 11, 12) comprise a steering ring (10) connected to the steering shaft (9) for transmitting steering motions to the steering shaft (9).
6. Transmission and steering apparatus according to claim 3 or 4 characterized in that the steering shaft (9) is connected to the drive shaft (8) via a tilting joint (18) for enabling tilting motion.
7. Transmission and steering apparatus according to claim 1 or 6 characterized in that the intermediate shaft (13) comprises a cardan joint (17) which is placed essentially inside the tilting joint (18).
8. Transmission and steering apparatus according to claim 1 characterized in that the intermediate shaft (13) is composed of two shafts (14, 15) being one within the other and moving relative to each other in the direction of the intermediate shaft (13), the first shaft (14) of which being connected to the first bevel gear (5) and the second shaft (15) being connected to the second bevel gear (7).
9. Transmission and steering apparatus according to claims 7 and 4 characterized in that the front track units are connected to the frame (1) of the tracked vehicle via shock absorbers (19) and the steering shaft (9) is fitted to move inside a protective tube (16) rigidly attached to the frame (1) of the tracked vehicle.
10. Transmission and steering apparatus according to claim 8 characterized in that a steering ring (10) is fitted to the steering shaft (9) to enable longitudinal motion of the steering shaft (9) inside the steering ring
11. Transmission and steering apparatus according to claim g characterized in that the protective tube (16) comprises a recess (11) with a steering ring (10) mounted rotatably inside, the steering ring having a steering lever (12) attached rigidly thereto for transmitting steering motion to the steering ring (10).
Applications Claiming Priority (2)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| FI921242A FI921242A0 (en) | 1992-03-23 | 1992-03-23 | TRANSMISSIONSANORDNING FOER SNOESKOTER. |
| FI921242 | 1992-03-23 |
Publications (1)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2132748A1 true CA2132748A1 (en) | 1993-09-30 |
Family
ID=8534964
Family Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2132748 Abandoned CA2132748A1 (en) | 1992-03-23 | 1993-03-22 | Transmission and steering apparatus for a tracked vehicle |
Country Status (8)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| JP (1) | JPH07507745A (en) |
| AU (1) | AU3754093A (en) |
| CA (1) | CA2132748A1 (en) |
| FI (1) | FI921242A0 (en) |
| NO (1) | NO943515L (en) |
| RU (1) | RU94045955A (en) |
| SE (1) | SE9403181L (en) |
| WO (1) | WO1993018956A1 (en) |
Families Citing this family (1)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| SE0501987L (en) * | 2005-09-08 | 2006-10-17 | Aake Olsson | Band-driven vehicle, especially a snowmobile, comprising two front drive belt assemblies |
Family Cites Families (3)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| GB347778A (en) * | 1929-03-04 | 1931-05-07 | Luebecker Maschb Ges | Improvements in and relating to endless track vehicles |
| US3684044A (en) * | 1970-04-27 | 1972-08-15 | Thomas A Watson | Quadrilateral vehicle |
| US4415055A (en) * | 1981-08-03 | 1983-11-15 | Ahn Min H | Tracked vehicle |
-
1992
- 1992-03-23 FI FI921242A patent/FI921242A0/en not_active Application Discontinuation
-
1993
- 1993-03-22 WO PCT/FI1993/000107 patent/WO1993018956A1/en active Application Filing
- 1993-03-22 CA CA 2132748 patent/CA2132748A1/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-03-22 AU AU37540/93A patent/AU3754093A/en not_active Abandoned
- 1993-03-22 RU RU94045955/11A patent/RU94045955A/en unknown
- 1993-03-22 JP JP5516309A patent/JPH07507745A/en active Pending
-
1994
- 1994-09-21 NO NO943515A patent/NO943515L/en unknown
- 1994-09-22 SE SE9403181A patent/SE9403181L/en not_active Application Discontinuation
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| NO943515D0 (en) | 1994-09-21 |
| JPH07507745A (en) | 1995-08-31 |
| SE9403181D0 (en) | 1994-09-22 |
| AU3754093A (en) | 1993-10-21 |
| RU94045955A (en) | 1997-03-27 |
| FI921242A0 (en) | 1992-03-23 |
| WO1993018956A1 (en) | 1993-09-30 |
| SE9403181L (en) | 1994-09-22 |
| NO943515L (en) | 1994-10-26 |
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Legal Events
| Date | Code | Title | Description |
|---|---|---|---|
| FZDE | Dead |