CA2825509C - Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle - Google Patents
Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle Download PDFInfo
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- CA2825509C CA2825509C CA2825509A CA2825509A CA2825509C CA 2825509 C CA2825509 C CA 2825509C CA 2825509 A CA2825509 A CA 2825509A CA 2825509 A CA2825509 A CA 2825509A CA 2825509 C CA2825509 C CA 2825509C
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- track
- track assembly
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- assembly
- drive wheel
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- 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
- B62D55/065—Multi-track vehicles, i.e. more than two tracks
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- Chemical & Material Sciences (AREA)
- Combustion & Propulsion (AREA)
- Transportation (AREA)
- Mechanical Engineering (AREA)
- Automatic Cycles, And Cycles In General (AREA)
- Devices For Conveying Motion By Means Of Endless Flexible Members (AREA)
- Vehicle Cleaning, Maintenance, Repair, Refitting, And Outriggers (AREA)
- Transmissions By Endless Flexible Members (AREA)
- Platform Screen Doors And Railroad Systems (AREA)
Abstract
A track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle (e.g., an all-terrain vehicle) designed primarily for off-highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces, steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the vehicle, which comprises an endless track and a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track. The plurality of wheels includes a leading idler and a trailing idler and a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and the trailing idlers defines a ground engaging run. The plurality of wheels also includes a drive wheel in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track. The ground engaging run has a load bearing section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler, and transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly, and having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel. The ground engaging run also has a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section and oriented such as to converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle and a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler and oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle. A first horizontal distance between the leading idler's axis of rotation and the drive wheel's axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance between the trailing idler's axis of rotation and the drive wheel's axis of rotation.
Description
TITLE OF THE INVENTION
Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to all-terrain vehicles. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with track assemblies for an all-terrain vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditionally, two types of all-terrain vehicles are proposed either the wheel type or the tracked type.
Generally, a wheeled vehicle is more maneuverable than a tracked vehicle, but is not as efficient on uneven or soft terrain such as, for example snow.
Tracked all-terrain vehicles have been proposed, which require complicated track assemblies comprising a track frame to maintain the tension of the endless track belt and prevent it from loosening. Furthermore, such vehicles have generally a large contact area with the ground, which results in a decreased maneuverability and an increased impact on the often soft terrain.
Therefore, there is still room for improvements toward an all-terrain vehicle provided with track assemblies, which is maneuverable and effective upon a variety of unstable or uneven surfaces, while designed to maintain tension upon the endless track belts to keep them in their due course and prevent accidental loosening, and at the same time reducing damages inflicted on the terrain.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide improved track assemblies for an all-terrain vehicle.
. .
Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle FIELD OF THE INVENTION
The present invention relates to all-terrain vehicles. More specifically, the present invention is concerned with track assemblies for an all-terrain vehicle.
BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION
Traditionally, two types of all-terrain vehicles are proposed either the wheel type or the tracked type.
Generally, a wheeled vehicle is more maneuverable than a tracked vehicle, but is not as efficient on uneven or soft terrain such as, for example snow.
Tracked all-terrain vehicles have been proposed, which require complicated track assemblies comprising a track frame to maintain the tension of the endless track belt and prevent it from loosening. Furthermore, such vehicles have generally a large contact area with the ground, which results in a decreased maneuverability and an increased impact on the often soft terrain.
Therefore, there is still room for improvements toward an all-terrain vehicle provided with track assemblies, which is maneuverable and effective upon a variety of unstable or uneven surfaces, while designed to maintain tension upon the endless track belts to keep them in their due course and prevent accidental loosening, and at the same time reducing damages inflicted on the terrain.
OBJECTS OF THE INVENTION
An object of the present invention is therefore to provide improved track assemblies for an all-terrain vehicle.
. .
2 SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the vehicle. The track assembly has a leading end and a trailing end and comprises: an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface, a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track, and a ground engaging run. The plurality of wheels includes a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground engaging run, the leading and trailing idlers having first and second respective axes of rotation. The plurality of wheels also includes a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation and being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track. The ground engaging run has a load bearing section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly. The load bearing section has a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel. The ground engaging run also has a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle. A trailing section also extends between the load bearing section and the trailing idler, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle. The ground engaging run has a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation. This distance is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an all-terrain vehicle comprising at least two track assemblies to support the all-terrain . .
In accordance with an aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the vehicle. The track assembly has a leading end and a trailing end and comprises: an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface, a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track, and a ground engaging run. The plurality of wheels includes a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground engaging run, the leading and trailing idlers having first and second respective axes of rotation. The plurality of wheels also includes a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation and being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track. The ground engaging run has a load bearing section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly. The load bearing section has a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel. The ground engaging run also has a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle. A trailing section also extends between the load bearing section and the trailing idler, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle. The ground engaging run has a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation. This distance is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an all-terrain vehicle comprising at least two track assemblies to support the all-terrain . .
3 vehicle onto a ground surface, each one of said at least two track assemblies comprising: a longitudinal endless track belt provided with an inner surface provided with a plurality of inner lugs and an outer surface provided with a plurality of external lugs; a mounting structure to mount said longitudinal endless track belt to said vehicle, wherein, when mounted to said mounting structure, said longitudinal endless track belt has a punctually localized surface contact with the ground surface.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endless track belt assembly comprising: a track driving wheel provided with a plurality of teeth; an endless track belt provided with an inner surface having a plurality of inner lugs and an outer surface having a plurality of external lugs, said endless track belt being wounded around said track driving wheel; wherein a) said teeth are so spaced that a distance between two consecutive teeth spans a distance separating two consecutive inner lugs of said endless track belt and b) said endless track belt, when mounted to said track riving wheel, has a punctually localized contact with a ground surface.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for mounting an endless track belt on a all-terrain vehicle, comprising the acts of: providing an endless track belt having inner lugs and external lugs;
providing a track driving wheel having a plurality of teeth so spaced that a distance between two consecutive of the plurality of teeth spans a distance separating two consecutive of a plurality of inner lugs of the endless track belt; interconnecting the track driving wheel to an inside idler wheel and to an outside idler wheel; and tensioning the endless track belt around the track driving wheel, the inside idler wheel and the outside idler wheel so that the endless track belt has a punctually localized surface contact with a ground surface.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces, steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the vehicle. The track
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided an endless track belt assembly comprising: a track driving wheel provided with a plurality of teeth; an endless track belt provided with an inner surface having a plurality of inner lugs and an outer surface having a plurality of external lugs, said endless track belt being wounded around said track driving wheel; wherein a) said teeth are so spaced that a distance between two consecutive teeth spans a distance separating two consecutive inner lugs of said endless track belt and b) said endless track belt, when mounted to said track riving wheel, has a punctually localized contact with a ground surface.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a method for mounting an endless track belt on a all-terrain vehicle, comprising the acts of: providing an endless track belt having inner lugs and external lugs;
providing a track driving wheel having a plurality of teeth so spaced that a distance between two consecutive of the plurality of teeth spans a distance separating two consecutive of a plurality of inner lugs of the endless track belt; interconnecting the track driving wheel to an inside idler wheel and to an outside idler wheel; and tensioning the endless track belt around the track driving wheel, the inside idler wheel and the outside idler wheel so that the endless track belt has a punctually localized surface contact with a ground surface.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces, steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the vehicle. The track
4 assembly has a leading end and a trailing end and comprises: an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track. The plurality of wheels includes: a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground engaging run, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track. The ground engaging run has: a load bearing section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel; a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle; and a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle. A first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track drive and support assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable by changing an orientation of the track drive and support assembly by a steering mechanism of the vehicle. The track drive and support assembly has a leading end and a trailing end and comprises: a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving an endless track. The plurality of wheels includes: a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and a drive wheel having a . , third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being configured for driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track. The plurality of wheels is configured to impart to the endless track a path of travel having a ground engaging run that extends between the leading idler and the trailing idler. The ground engaging run has: a load bearing section between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track drive and support assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel; a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle; and a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle. A first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the ATV. The track assembly has a leading end and a trailing end and comprises: an endless track having an outer ground-engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track. The plurality of wheels includes: a leading idler and a trailing idler in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground-engaging run, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and a drive wheel in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track, the drive wheel having a third axis of rotation. A first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation. The ground-engaging run has: an intermediate section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler and having a longitudinal extent not exceeding a diameter of the drive wheel; a leading section rising from the intermediate section and extending towards the leading idler; and a trailing section rising from the intermediate section and extending towards the trailing idler.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the ATV, The track assembly has a leading end and a trailing end and comprises: an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track. The plurality of wheels includes: a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground engaging run, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track. The ground engaging run has: a load bearing section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel; a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section; and a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler. A first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for providing traction to an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The track assembly is configured to replace a ground-engaging wheel of the ATV. The track assembly is steerable by a steering mechanism of the ATV to change an orientation of the track assembly in order to steer the ATV. The track assembly comprises a plurality of wheels that includes a drive wheel, a leading idler wheel adjacent to a leading end of the track assembly, and a trailing idler wheel adjacent to a trailing end of the track assembly. The track assembly comprises an endless track disposed around the plurality of wheels. The endless track comprises: an inner surface for facing the plurality of wheels, the drive wheel being rotatable to impart motion of the endless track;
a ground-engaging outer surface opposite to the inner surface; and a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface. A bottom run of the endless track is located under the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel and extends in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly from an axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel to an axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel. The plurality of wheels is configured to bend the bottom run of the endless track such that, when the track assembly is on hard horizontal ground, a ground-contacting area of the endless track in contact with the hard horizontal ground has an extent in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel. A
distance between an axis of rotation of the drive wheel and the axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly is different from a distance between the axis of rotation of the drive wheel and the axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the vehicle. The track assembly has a leading end and a trailing end and comprises: an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track. The plurality of wheels includes: a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground engaging run, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track. The ground engaging run has: a load bearing section located , .
between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel; a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section; and a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler. A first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV). The track assembly is . steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the ATV. The track assembly has a leading end and a trailing end. The track assembly comprises: an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track. The endless track has a plurality of consecutively arranged segments and areas of juncture between adjacent segments corresponding to locations at which the plurality of wheels contact the inner surface of the endless track. The plurality of wheels includes a leading idler and a trailing idler. The leading and trailing idlers are in a spaced apart relationship. The leading idler has a first axis of rotation and the trailing idler has a second axis of rotation. The plurality of wheels also includes a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation. The drive wheel is in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track. The plurality of segments includes a leading segment, a trailing segment, and an intermediate segment between the leading segment and the trailing segment. The leading segment extends from the leading idler to the intermediate segment. The trailing segment extends from the intermediate segment to the trailing idler. The intermediate segment descends lower than the leading and trailing segments. Moreover, the intermediate segment has a longitudinal extent not exceeding a diameter of the drive wheel. A first horizontal distance defined between the . .
8a first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the appended drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an all-terrain vehicle provided with track assemblies according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the front track assembly of the vehicle of Figure 1, seen from of the outside of the all-terrain vehicle;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the front track assembly of the vehicle of Figure 1, seen form the inside of the all-terrain vehicle;
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of an outside idler wheel attachment of the track assembly of Figure 2;
, Figure 6 is a sectional view of a rigid member of the track assembly of Figure 2;
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the attachment of the front track assembly of Figure 1 to the all-terrain vehicle;
Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a rear track assembly of Figure 1, seen from the inside of the all-terrain vehicle;
Figure 9 is a top plan view of the attachment of the rear track assembly of Figure 1 to the all-terrain vehicle;
Figure 10 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating a second type of endless track; and Figure 11 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating a third type of endless track.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
A track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in details with reference to the appended drawings.
Figure 1 shows an all-terrain vehicle 10 comprising a body 12 and four track assemblies (only two shown) according to the present invention arranged in a plane adjacent to each side of the vehicle 10.
There are two identical track assemblies in the front of the all-terrain vehicle 10, of which only one track assembly 14 is visible in Figure 1, in place of conventional front , , wheels. Similarly, there are two identical track assemblies, of which only one track assembly 16 is visible in Figure 1, in place of the conventional rear wheels.
Only the track assemblies 14 and 16 visible in Figure 1 will be described hereinbelow. Furthermore, as they are symmetrical about a vertical axis 22 when viewed from the outside of the vehicle 10 (see Figure 1), only the track assemblies 14 will be described hereinbelow. It is also to be noted that the elements as seen from the outside of the vehicle 10 will bear the same numbers in the rear track assembly 16 than the corresponding ones in the front track assembly 14, with a prime.
However, since the attachment of rear and front track assemblies differs as seen from the inside of the vehicles 10, they will be described separately.
The front track assembly 14 is better seen in Figure 2. It comprises a longitudinal endless track belt 23 and a mounting structure to mount the endless track belt 23 to the vehicle 10. The mounting structure includes a track driving wheel 24, a pair of inside idler wheels 26, a pair of outside idler wheels 28 and supports to interconnect the wheels 24, 26 and 28 as will be described hereinbelow.
The endless track belt 23 is provided with inner lugs 30 on its inner surface and with external lugs 32 on its outer surface 33. It is wounded around the track driving wheel 24 and the idler wheels 28 and 26.
As can be better seen from Figure 4, the track driving wheel 24 is mounted to a conventional hub 35 of the all-terrain vehicle 10. The wheel 24 includes a first mounting plate 37 mounted to the hub 35 and a second mounting plate 34 mounted to the first plate 37 via four bolt and spacer assemblies 36. A circular disk 38 is mounted to the bolt and spacer assemblies 36 and includes equidistant wide teeth 40 contacting the inner surface 31 of the track 23.
As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the equidistant teeth 40 are so located as to cooperate with some of the inner lugs 30 of the endless track belt 23.
More precisely, as can be better seen from Figure 2, the teeth 40 are spaced so that the distance between two consecutive teeth 40 spans the distance separating consecutive inner lugs 30 of the endless track belt 23, in a meshing engagement, in such a way as to drive the endless track belt 23.
Each of the inside idler wheels 26 includes a peripheral portion in contact with the internal surface 31 of the track 23. The wheels 26 are interconnected by a spacing element (not shown).
Similarly, each outer idler wheel 28 includes a peripheral portion in contact with the internal surface 31 of the track 23. The wheels 28 are interconnected by a spacing element 42.
The wheels 24, 26 and 28 are interconnected, as seen from the outside of the track assembly 14, by an angled connecting element 44. The angled connecting element 44 has a center portion 46 provided with an aperture 48 in which bearings 50 are mounted. A fastener 52 connects the connecting element 44 to the second plate 34 while allowing the angled connecting element 44 to pivot about the fastener.
The connecting element 44 has a short arm 54 having a free end to which the inside idler wheels 26 are rotatably mounted. The connecting element 44 also has a long arm 56 having a free end to which the inside idler wheels 28 are rotatably mounted as will be further discussed hereinbelow. The connecting element 44 is better seen from the top plan view of Figure 6.
Turning now briefly to Figure 3 of the appended drawings, as can be seen from the inside of the all-terrain vehicle 10, the idler wheels 26 and 28 of the front track assembly 14 are also directly connected together by an elbowed connection element 58. The inside idler wheels 26 are rotatably mounted to a first end of the elbowed , connection element 58 while the outside idler wheels 28 are rotatably mounted to a second end of the elbowed connection element 58.
The rotatable connection of the outside idler wheels 28 to the angle connection element 44 and to the elbowed connection element 58 will now be described with reference to Figure 5.
As will easily be understood by one skilled in the art upon inspection of Figure 5, the tension of the endless track belt 23 is adjusted by the connection of the outside idler wheels 28 to the elements 44 and 58. For concision purpose, only the connection of the wheels 28 to the elbowed connection element 58 will be described.
With reference to the enlarged side view of Figure 5, a tension adjusting assembly according to another aspect of the present invention will be described. As can be seen from this figure, a distal end of the connection element 58 includes a slotted aperture 60 receiving a fastener 62 used to rotatably mount the wheels 28 to the assembly. By sliding the fastener 62 in the aperture 60, it is possible to increase or decrease the tension on the track 23. To adjust and maintain this track tension, a cam element 64, having an outer periphery provided with notches 66 located at different distances from the attachment point of the element 64, is mounted to the fastener 62.
By selecting which notch 66 is in contact with a fixed pin 68 of the element 58, a predetermined tension may be maintained. It is to be noted that the cam element 64 is provided with a handle 70 to facilitate the manipulation by a user.
Returning to Figure 4 of the appended drawings the endless track 23 will be described in greater detail.
As can be seen from Figure 4, the overall profile of the track 23, from one side to the other, i.e. transversely, is generally convex. However, the convex profile of the track 23 is created by a lug arrangement comprising two successive transverse rows of lugs arranged in a staggered relationship.
A first transverse row of lugs contains three lugs 72, 74 and 76 and a second row of lugs contains four lugs 78, 80, 82 and 84. These lugs are symmetrical about a longitudinal axis (not shown).
A first lateral lug 72 of the first row includes three ground-contacting surfaces separated by two indentations. The shape of lateral lug 72 is such that the ground contacting surfaces are generally transversally convex.
A central lug 74 is centered about longitudinal axis and includes two ground-contacting surfaces separated by an indentation. The ground contacting surfaces are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis and are generally transversally convex.
A second lateral lug 76 is a mirror image of lug 72 about the longitudinal axis.
The first and second lateral lugs 72 and 76 are laterally spaced apart from the central lug 74.
In the second transverse row of lugs, a first intermediate lug 80 includes two ground-contacting surfaces separated by an indentation. The ground engaging surfaces are slightly transversally convex.
A first external rug 78 includes two ground-contacting surfaces that are separated by an indentation and are transversally convex.
Finally, the second intermediate lug 82 and the second external lug 84 are respectively mirror images of lugs 80 and 78 with respect to the longitudinal axis. For concision purposes, these lugs will not be further described herein.
Of course, the sequences described hereinabove of the lug arrangement defined by the rows of lugs are repeated onto the entire external surface of the endless track 23.
, The endless track belt 23 further includes, for each row of lugs, a stiffening rod 71, made of glass fibers for example. Each stiffening rod 71 is embedded in the material forming the track belt 23 so as to be generally parallel to the inner surface 31 thereof.
The rods 71 provide enhanced rigidity to the endless track belt 23. The enhanced rigidity of the track belt 23 has many advantages. For example, it helps the track to provide adequate traction even when the center portion of the track is not in direct contact with the ground, as illustrated in Figure 4. However, it has been found that this type of traction may be detrimental to the steering of the vehicle in some conditions.
As it is apparent from Figure 4 the ground contacting surfaces of symmetrical lugs 78 and 84 are not aligned with the outer surfaces of the other lugs to form a continuous profile. Indeed, the ground contacting surfaces of lugs 78 and 84 are more angled and exceed the convex profile defined by the other lugs. This configuration of the outer lugs is advantageous since it further prevents the vehicle from tipping over during sharp turns at high speed when the vehicle 10 is severely tilted.
As mentioned hereinabove, the way the front track assembly 14 is attached to the body 12 of the vehicle 10 differs from the way the rear track assembly 16 is attached to the body 12 of the vehicle 10. These two attachments will be described hereinbelow.
The front track assembly 14 is attached to the body 12 of the vehicle 10 in a fashion shown in Figures 4 and 7, while the rear track assembly 16 is attached to the body 12 of the vehicle 10 in a fashion shown in Figure 8 and 9.
As seen in Figures 4 and 7, the front track assembly 14 is mounted to a tubular wheel table 100 of the vehicle 10 by means of a generally triangular plate 102 fastened thereto by a plurality of U-bolts 104,106,108 and 110. A rod 112 is connected between the elbowed connection element 58 and a pivot 114 of the tubular wheel table 100. A
first end of the rod 112 is attached to the elbowed connection element 58 by means of rubber damping elements 116, in such a way as to allow a vertical movement at this point of the rod 112 in relation to the elbowed connection element 58. A
second end of the rod 112 is attached to the pivot 114 of the tubular wheel table 100 by means of an R-clip 120, in such a way as to allow at this point a horizontal movement of the plate 102 holding the tubular wheel table 100 relative to the elbowed connection element 58.
The front track assembly 14 is further attached to the body 12 of the vehicle through a conventional rod 150 of the suspension system of the vehicle 10 and a conventional rod 157 used for direction (see Figure 4).
As seen in Figures 8 and 9, the rear track assembly 16 is mounted to the body of the vehicle 10 by a rod 212. The rod 212 is connected on a first end to the elbowed connection element 58' by means of a rubber damping attachment 216. It is attached, on a second end, to a tubular chassis 130 of the body 12 of the vehicle 10 by means of a chipping joint 132 fastened thereto by an R-clip 134.
From the above description of the fashion in which the front and rear track assemblies 14 and 16 are mounted to the body 12 of the vehicle 10, in relation to Figures 4 and 7, and 8 and 9 respectively, the present invention provides for track assemblies that are easily removed or mounted to the vehicle 10, through using R-clips (120 and 134), which enable disconnecting the track assemblies from the vehicle in a simple manner.
As stated hereinabove, the interior surface 31 of the endless track belt 23 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced lugs 30, which ensure a positive engagement with the teeth 40 provided on the outer circumference of the wheel 24. In operation, the wheel 24 is coupled to a drive shaft, via the hub 30, connected to an engine (not shown), in such a way that the engine drives the wheel 24 in rotation. The wheel 24 thus drives the endless track belt 23 by the meshing engagement of the teeth 40 with the internal lugs 30 of the endless track belt 23.
, It is further to be understood that the external lugs 32 on the external circumference surface of the endless track belt 23 respectively exert a positive mechanical connection with the underlying ground surface that contributes to propel the vehicle 10.
Figure 10 and Figure 11 show sectional views similar to that of Figure 4 but illustrating variants of an endless track that may be mounted to the track assembly of the present invention.
In Figure 10, the overall profile of the endless track belt 23a, from one side to the other, i.e. transversely, is generally convex.
The convex profile of the endless track belt 23a is created by the same lug arrangement as that described hereinabove in relation to Figure 4. In this specific embodiment however, the endless track belt 23a does not include stiffening rods under each row of lugs. Consequently, the rigidity of the endless track belt 23a is less than the rigidity of the endless track belt 23 (Figure 4) and the profile of the endless track belt 23a conforms itself to the profile of the ground. Since the pressure is more localized in the center of the endless track belt 23a, a more punctually localized contact zone between the endless track belt 23a and the ground 29 is created. In many cases, this punctually localized contact zone makes the vehicle 10 more maneuverable.
Turning now to Figure 11, a third version of an endless track belt 23b will be described. The endless track belt 23b is wounded around the track driving wheel 24 and the idler wheels 28 and 26, is still provided with inner lugs 30 on its inner surface 31.
However, its outer surface is provided with rectangular lugs 86. Since there are no stiffening rods in the endless track belt 23b, the endless track belt 23b is free to conform itself to the ground 29, as seen in Figure 11. Furthermore, since the pressure is exerted only in the middle of the endless track belt 23b by the wide teeth 40, a punctually localized contact zone between the endless track belt 23b and the ground 29 is created.
As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the endless track belts 23a has a particularly punctually localized contact surface with the ground 29. Indeed, since it is transversally convex, it generally contacts the ground 29 with a limited surface at any given time when the ground 29 is hard.
Furthermore, since there are no guiding rails for the endless track belts 23, 23a or 23b, the external lugs only exert a pressure on the ground 29, when it is hard, in the vicinity of the wide teeth 40 if the wheel 24. These two combined features improve the maneuverability of the vehicle since it emulates the contact of a conventional tire onto hard ground, given that a shortened length of contact of the endless track with the ground surface reduces the resistance to a turning force.
Of course, it would be plain to a person skilled in the art that a different convex profile of the external lugs of the endless track belts 23 and/or another arrangement of the mounting assembly of the endless track belts 23 to the vehicle 10 could be used to obtain this "one point contact" feature. For example, one could provide a guiding rail having a convex profile and transversally convex lugs to achieve similar results.
As people in the art will understand, the all-terrain vehicle of the present invention, provided with four endless track assemblies, can be used for a wide range of operations and terrain, while being highly mobile and offering good running performance.
The endless track structure maintains an adequate configuration over a variety of surfaces.
It will be obvious to people skilled in the art that the present invention can be applied both in the case of a two-wheel drive vehicle wherein the power is typically applied only to the rear track belt assemblies and the front track assemblies merely facilitate steering, and in the case of a four-wheel vehicle, wherein power is independently provided to each one of the four track assemblies.
, As will be further understood by one skilled in the art, the all-terrain vehicle 10, equipped with track assemblies according to the present invention, may be viewed as a snow vehicle since it may be used on snow as efficiently as conventional snow vehicles such as snowmobiles, for example. However, the one-point contact feature of the present invention allows the use of the all-terrain vehicle on harder surface without the usual drawbacks of tracked vehicles.
Interestingly, the present track assembly system can equip all four wheels of an all-terrain vehicle or only the front or rear wheels thereof, since it only weakly reduces the speed of the vehicle relative to the underground surface.
A further possibility would be to use track assemblies according to the present invention in place of the rear wheels of a vehicle, while mounting skis in place of the front wheels thereof.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track drive and support assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable by changing an orientation of the track drive and support assembly by a steering mechanism of the vehicle. The track drive and support assembly has a leading end and a trailing end and comprises: a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving an endless track. The plurality of wheels includes: a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and a drive wheel having a . , third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being configured for driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track. The plurality of wheels is configured to impart to the endless track a path of travel having a ground engaging run that extends between the leading idler and the trailing idler. The ground engaging run has: a load bearing section between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track drive and support assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel; a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle; and a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle. A first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the ATV. The track assembly has a leading end and a trailing end and comprises: an endless track having an outer ground-engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track. The plurality of wheels includes: a leading idler and a trailing idler in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground-engaging run, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and a drive wheel in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track, the drive wheel having a third axis of rotation. A first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation. The ground-engaging run has: an intermediate section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler and having a longitudinal extent not exceeding a diameter of the drive wheel; a leading section rising from the intermediate section and extending towards the leading idler; and a trailing section rising from the intermediate section and extending towards the trailing idler.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the ATV, The track assembly has a leading end and a trailing end and comprises: an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track. The plurality of wheels includes: a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground engaging run, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track. The ground engaging run has: a load bearing section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel; a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section; and a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler. A first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for providing traction to an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The track assembly is configured to replace a ground-engaging wheel of the ATV. The track assembly is steerable by a steering mechanism of the ATV to change an orientation of the track assembly in order to steer the ATV. The track assembly comprises a plurality of wheels that includes a drive wheel, a leading idler wheel adjacent to a leading end of the track assembly, and a trailing idler wheel adjacent to a trailing end of the track assembly. The track assembly comprises an endless track disposed around the plurality of wheels. The endless track comprises: an inner surface for facing the plurality of wheels, the drive wheel being rotatable to impart motion of the endless track;
a ground-engaging outer surface opposite to the inner surface; and a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface. A bottom run of the endless track is located under the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel and extends in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly from an axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel to an axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel. The plurality of wheels is configured to bend the bottom run of the endless track such that, when the track assembly is on hard horizontal ground, a ground-contacting area of the endless track in contact with the hard horizontal ground has an extent in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel. A
distance between an axis of rotation of the drive wheel and the axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly is different from a distance between the axis of rotation of the drive wheel and the axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the vehicle. The track assembly has a leading end and a trailing end and comprises: an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track. The plurality of wheels includes: a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground engaging run, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track. The ground engaging run has: a load bearing section located , .
between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel; a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section; and a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler. A first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
In accordance with another aspect of the present invention, there is provided a track assembly for an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV). The track assembly is . steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the ATV. The track assembly has a leading end and a trailing end. The track assembly comprises: an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track. The endless track has a plurality of consecutively arranged segments and areas of juncture between adjacent segments corresponding to locations at which the plurality of wheels contact the inner surface of the endless track. The plurality of wheels includes a leading idler and a trailing idler. The leading and trailing idlers are in a spaced apart relationship. The leading idler has a first axis of rotation and the trailing idler has a second axis of rotation. The plurality of wheels also includes a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation. The drive wheel is in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track. The plurality of segments includes a leading segment, a trailing segment, and an intermediate segment between the leading segment and the trailing segment. The leading segment extends from the leading idler to the intermediate segment. The trailing segment extends from the intermediate segment to the trailing idler. The intermediate segment descends lower than the leading and trailing segments. Moreover, the intermediate segment has a longitudinal extent not exceeding a diameter of the drive wheel. A first horizontal distance defined between the . .
8a first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
Other objects, advantages and features of the present invention will become more apparent upon reading of the following non-restrictive description of preferred embodiments thereof, given by way of example only with reference to the accompanying drawings.
BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS
In the appended drawings:
Figure 1 is a side elevational view of an all-terrain vehicle provided with track assemblies according to an embodiment of the present invention;
Figure 2 is a side elevational view of the front track assembly of the vehicle of Figure 1, seen from of the outside of the all-terrain vehicle;
Figure 3 is a side elevational view of the front track assembly of the vehicle of Figure 1, seen form the inside of the all-terrain vehicle;
Figure 4 is a sectional view taken along the line 4-4 of Figure 3;
Figure 5 is an enlarged side view of an outside idler wheel attachment of the track assembly of Figure 2;
, Figure 6 is a sectional view of a rigid member of the track assembly of Figure 2;
Figure 7 is a top plan view of the attachment of the front track assembly of Figure 1 to the all-terrain vehicle;
Figure 8 is a side elevational view of a rear track assembly of Figure 1, seen from the inside of the all-terrain vehicle;
Figure 9 is a top plan view of the attachment of the rear track assembly of Figure 1 to the all-terrain vehicle;
Figure 10 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating a second type of endless track; and Figure 11 is a sectional view similar to Figure 4 but illustrating a third type of endless track.
DESCRIPTION OF THE EMBODIMENT
A track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle according to an embodiment of the present invention will now be described in details with reference to the appended drawings.
Figure 1 shows an all-terrain vehicle 10 comprising a body 12 and four track assemblies (only two shown) according to the present invention arranged in a plane adjacent to each side of the vehicle 10.
There are two identical track assemblies in the front of the all-terrain vehicle 10, of which only one track assembly 14 is visible in Figure 1, in place of conventional front , , wheels. Similarly, there are two identical track assemblies, of which only one track assembly 16 is visible in Figure 1, in place of the conventional rear wheels.
Only the track assemblies 14 and 16 visible in Figure 1 will be described hereinbelow. Furthermore, as they are symmetrical about a vertical axis 22 when viewed from the outside of the vehicle 10 (see Figure 1), only the track assemblies 14 will be described hereinbelow. It is also to be noted that the elements as seen from the outside of the vehicle 10 will bear the same numbers in the rear track assembly 16 than the corresponding ones in the front track assembly 14, with a prime.
However, since the attachment of rear and front track assemblies differs as seen from the inside of the vehicles 10, they will be described separately.
The front track assembly 14 is better seen in Figure 2. It comprises a longitudinal endless track belt 23 and a mounting structure to mount the endless track belt 23 to the vehicle 10. The mounting structure includes a track driving wheel 24, a pair of inside idler wheels 26, a pair of outside idler wheels 28 and supports to interconnect the wheels 24, 26 and 28 as will be described hereinbelow.
The endless track belt 23 is provided with inner lugs 30 on its inner surface and with external lugs 32 on its outer surface 33. It is wounded around the track driving wheel 24 and the idler wheels 28 and 26.
As can be better seen from Figure 4, the track driving wheel 24 is mounted to a conventional hub 35 of the all-terrain vehicle 10. The wheel 24 includes a first mounting plate 37 mounted to the hub 35 and a second mounting plate 34 mounted to the first plate 37 via four bolt and spacer assemblies 36. A circular disk 38 is mounted to the bolt and spacer assemblies 36 and includes equidistant wide teeth 40 contacting the inner surface 31 of the track 23.
As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the equidistant teeth 40 are so located as to cooperate with some of the inner lugs 30 of the endless track belt 23.
More precisely, as can be better seen from Figure 2, the teeth 40 are spaced so that the distance between two consecutive teeth 40 spans the distance separating consecutive inner lugs 30 of the endless track belt 23, in a meshing engagement, in such a way as to drive the endless track belt 23.
Each of the inside idler wheels 26 includes a peripheral portion in contact with the internal surface 31 of the track 23. The wheels 26 are interconnected by a spacing element (not shown).
Similarly, each outer idler wheel 28 includes a peripheral portion in contact with the internal surface 31 of the track 23. The wheels 28 are interconnected by a spacing element 42.
The wheels 24, 26 and 28 are interconnected, as seen from the outside of the track assembly 14, by an angled connecting element 44. The angled connecting element 44 has a center portion 46 provided with an aperture 48 in which bearings 50 are mounted. A fastener 52 connects the connecting element 44 to the second plate 34 while allowing the angled connecting element 44 to pivot about the fastener.
The connecting element 44 has a short arm 54 having a free end to which the inside idler wheels 26 are rotatably mounted. The connecting element 44 also has a long arm 56 having a free end to which the inside idler wheels 28 are rotatably mounted as will be further discussed hereinbelow. The connecting element 44 is better seen from the top plan view of Figure 6.
Turning now briefly to Figure 3 of the appended drawings, as can be seen from the inside of the all-terrain vehicle 10, the idler wheels 26 and 28 of the front track assembly 14 are also directly connected together by an elbowed connection element 58. The inside idler wheels 26 are rotatably mounted to a first end of the elbowed , connection element 58 while the outside idler wheels 28 are rotatably mounted to a second end of the elbowed connection element 58.
The rotatable connection of the outside idler wheels 28 to the angle connection element 44 and to the elbowed connection element 58 will now be described with reference to Figure 5.
As will easily be understood by one skilled in the art upon inspection of Figure 5, the tension of the endless track belt 23 is adjusted by the connection of the outside idler wheels 28 to the elements 44 and 58. For concision purpose, only the connection of the wheels 28 to the elbowed connection element 58 will be described.
With reference to the enlarged side view of Figure 5, a tension adjusting assembly according to another aspect of the present invention will be described. As can be seen from this figure, a distal end of the connection element 58 includes a slotted aperture 60 receiving a fastener 62 used to rotatably mount the wheels 28 to the assembly. By sliding the fastener 62 in the aperture 60, it is possible to increase or decrease the tension on the track 23. To adjust and maintain this track tension, a cam element 64, having an outer periphery provided with notches 66 located at different distances from the attachment point of the element 64, is mounted to the fastener 62.
By selecting which notch 66 is in contact with a fixed pin 68 of the element 58, a predetermined tension may be maintained. It is to be noted that the cam element 64 is provided with a handle 70 to facilitate the manipulation by a user.
Returning to Figure 4 of the appended drawings the endless track 23 will be described in greater detail.
As can be seen from Figure 4, the overall profile of the track 23, from one side to the other, i.e. transversely, is generally convex. However, the convex profile of the track 23 is created by a lug arrangement comprising two successive transverse rows of lugs arranged in a staggered relationship.
A first transverse row of lugs contains three lugs 72, 74 and 76 and a second row of lugs contains four lugs 78, 80, 82 and 84. These lugs are symmetrical about a longitudinal axis (not shown).
A first lateral lug 72 of the first row includes three ground-contacting surfaces separated by two indentations. The shape of lateral lug 72 is such that the ground contacting surfaces are generally transversally convex.
A central lug 74 is centered about longitudinal axis and includes two ground-contacting surfaces separated by an indentation. The ground contacting surfaces are symmetrical about the longitudinal axis and are generally transversally convex.
A second lateral lug 76 is a mirror image of lug 72 about the longitudinal axis.
The first and second lateral lugs 72 and 76 are laterally spaced apart from the central lug 74.
In the second transverse row of lugs, a first intermediate lug 80 includes two ground-contacting surfaces separated by an indentation. The ground engaging surfaces are slightly transversally convex.
A first external rug 78 includes two ground-contacting surfaces that are separated by an indentation and are transversally convex.
Finally, the second intermediate lug 82 and the second external lug 84 are respectively mirror images of lugs 80 and 78 with respect to the longitudinal axis. For concision purposes, these lugs will not be further described herein.
Of course, the sequences described hereinabove of the lug arrangement defined by the rows of lugs are repeated onto the entire external surface of the endless track 23.
, The endless track belt 23 further includes, for each row of lugs, a stiffening rod 71, made of glass fibers for example. Each stiffening rod 71 is embedded in the material forming the track belt 23 so as to be generally parallel to the inner surface 31 thereof.
The rods 71 provide enhanced rigidity to the endless track belt 23. The enhanced rigidity of the track belt 23 has many advantages. For example, it helps the track to provide adequate traction even when the center portion of the track is not in direct contact with the ground, as illustrated in Figure 4. However, it has been found that this type of traction may be detrimental to the steering of the vehicle in some conditions.
As it is apparent from Figure 4 the ground contacting surfaces of symmetrical lugs 78 and 84 are not aligned with the outer surfaces of the other lugs to form a continuous profile. Indeed, the ground contacting surfaces of lugs 78 and 84 are more angled and exceed the convex profile defined by the other lugs. This configuration of the outer lugs is advantageous since it further prevents the vehicle from tipping over during sharp turns at high speed when the vehicle 10 is severely tilted.
As mentioned hereinabove, the way the front track assembly 14 is attached to the body 12 of the vehicle 10 differs from the way the rear track assembly 16 is attached to the body 12 of the vehicle 10. These two attachments will be described hereinbelow.
The front track assembly 14 is attached to the body 12 of the vehicle 10 in a fashion shown in Figures 4 and 7, while the rear track assembly 16 is attached to the body 12 of the vehicle 10 in a fashion shown in Figure 8 and 9.
As seen in Figures 4 and 7, the front track assembly 14 is mounted to a tubular wheel table 100 of the vehicle 10 by means of a generally triangular plate 102 fastened thereto by a plurality of U-bolts 104,106,108 and 110. A rod 112 is connected between the elbowed connection element 58 and a pivot 114 of the tubular wheel table 100. A
first end of the rod 112 is attached to the elbowed connection element 58 by means of rubber damping elements 116, in such a way as to allow a vertical movement at this point of the rod 112 in relation to the elbowed connection element 58. A
second end of the rod 112 is attached to the pivot 114 of the tubular wheel table 100 by means of an R-clip 120, in such a way as to allow at this point a horizontal movement of the plate 102 holding the tubular wheel table 100 relative to the elbowed connection element 58.
The front track assembly 14 is further attached to the body 12 of the vehicle through a conventional rod 150 of the suspension system of the vehicle 10 and a conventional rod 157 used for direction (see Figure 4).
As seen in Figures 8 and 9, the rear track assembly 16 is mounted to the body of the vehicle 10 by a rod 212. The rod 212 is connected on a first end to the elbowed connection element 58' by means of a rubber damping attachment 216. It is attached, on a second end, to a tubular chassis 130 of the body 12 of the vehicle 10 by means of a chipping joint 132 fastened thereto by an R-clip 134.
From the above description of the fashion in which the front and rear track assemblies 14 and 16 are mounted to the body 12 of the vehicle 10, in relation to Figures 4 and 7, and 8 and 9 respectively, the present invention provides for track assemblies that are easily removed or mounted to the vehicle 10, through using R-clips (120 and 134), which enable disconnecting the track assemblies from the vehicle in a simple manner.
As stated hereinabove, the interior surface 31 of the endless track belt 23 is provided with a plurality of equally spaced lugs 30, which ensure a positive engagement with the teeth 40 provided on the outer circumference of the wheel 24. In operation, the wheel 24 is coupled to a drive shaft, via the hub 30, connected to an engine (not shown), in such a way that the engine drives the wheel 24 in rotation. The wheel 24 thus drives the endless track belt 23 by the meshing engagement of the teeth 40 with the internal lugs 30 of the endless track belt 23.
, It is further to be understood that the external lugs 32 on the external circumference surface of the endless track belt 23 respectively exert a positive mechanical connection with the underlying ground surface that contributes to propel the vehicle 10.
Figure 10 and Figure 11 show sectional views similar to that of Figure 4 but illustrating variants of an endless track that may be mounted to the track assembly of the present invention.
In Figure 10, the overall profile of the endless track belt 23a, from one side to the other, i.e. transversely, is generally convex.
The convex profile of the endless track belt 23a is created by the same lug arrangement as that described hereinabove in relation to Figure 4. In this specific embodiment however, the endless track belt 23a does not include stiffening rods under each row of lugs. Consequently, the rigidity of the endless track belt 23a is less than the rigidity of the endless track belt 23 (Figure 4) and the profile of the endless track belt 23a conforms itself to the profile of the ground. Since the pressure is more localized in the center of the endless track belt 23a, a more punctually localized contact zone between the endless track belt 23a and the ground 29 is created. In many cases, this punctually localized contact zone makes the vehicle 10 more maneuverable.
Turning now to Figure 11, a third version of an endless track belt 23b will be described. The endless track belt 23b is wounded around the track driving wheel 24 and the idler wheels 28 and 26, is still provided with inner lugs 30 on its inner surface 31.
However, its outer surface is provided with rectangular lugs 86. Since there are no stiffening rods in the endless track belt 23b, the endless track belt 23b is free to conform itself to the ground 29, as seen in Figure 11. Furthermore, since the pressure is exerted only in the middle of the endless track belt 23b by the wide teeth 40, a punctually localized contact zone between the endless track belt 23b and the ground 29 is created.
As will be apparent to one skilled in the art, the endless track belts 23a has a particularly punctually localized contact surface with the ground 29. Indeed, since it is transversally convex, it generally contacts the ground 29 with a limited surface at any given time when the ground 29 is hard.
Furthermore, since there are no guiding rails for the endless track belts 23, 23a or 23b, the external lugs only exert a pressure on the ground 29, when it is hard, in the vicinity of the wide teeth 40 if the wheel 24. These two combined features improve the maneuverability of the vehicle since it emulates the contact of a conventional tire onto hard ground, given that a shortened length of contact of the endless track with the ground surface reduces the resistance to a turning force.
Of course, it would be plain to a person skilled in the art that a different convex profile of the external lugs of the endless track belts 23 and/or another arrangement of the mounting assembly of the endless track belts 23 to the vehicle 10 could be used to obtain this "one point contact" feature. For example, one could provide a guiding rail having a convex profile and transversally convex lugs to achieve similar results.
As people in the art will understand, the all-terrain vehicle of the present invention, provided with four endless track assemblies, can be used for a wide range of operations and terrain, while being highly mobile and offering good running performance.
The endless track structure maintains an adequate configuration over a variety of surfaces.
It will be obvious to people skilled in the art that the present invention can be applied both in the case of a two-wheel drive vehicle wherein the power is typically applied only to the rear track belt assemblies and the front track assemblies merely facilitate steering, and in the case of a four-wheel vehicle, wherein power is independently provided to each one of the four track assemblies.
, As will be further understood by one skilled in the art, the all-terrain vehicle 10, equipped with track assemblies according to the present invention, may be viewed as a snow vehicle since it may be used on snow as efficiently as conventional snow vehicles such as snowmobiles, for example. However, the one-point contact feature of the present invention allows the use of the all-terrain vehicle on harder surface without the usual drawbacks of tracked vehicles.
Interestingly, the present track assembly system can equip all four wheels of an all-terrain vehicle or only the front or rear wheels thereof, since it only weakly reduces the speed of the vehicle relative to the underground surface.
A further possibility would be to use track assemblies according to the present invention in place of the rear wheels of a vehicle, while mounting skis in place of the front wheels thereof.
Claims (178)
1. A track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces, steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the vehicle, the track assembly having a leading end and a trailing end and comprising:
a) an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and b) a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track, the plurality of wheels including:
i) a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground engaging run, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and ii) a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track;
the ground engaging run having:
i) a load bearing section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel;
ii) a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle;
iii) a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle;
a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation being different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
a) an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and b) a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track, the plurality of wheels including:
i) a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground engaging run, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and ii) a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track;
the ground engaging run having:
i) a load bearing section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel;
ii) a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle;
iii) a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle;
a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation being different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
2. A track assembly as defined in claim 1, wherein the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section is less than the diameter of the drive wheel and wherein the reduced-size vehicle is an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) with a seat straddled by a user and wherein the steering mechanism has handlebars.
3. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 and 2, wherein the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section does not exceed a radius of the drive wheel.
4. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1, 2 and 3, wherein the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section is less than a radius of the drive wheel.
5. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 4, wherein an imaginary vertical axis that intersects the third axis of rotation also intersects the load bearing section.
6. A track assembly as defined in claim 5, wherein the imaginary vertical axis intersects the load bearing section at a midpoint of the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section.
7. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 6, including a support structure having:
i) a center portion rotatably supported at the third axis of rotation;
ii) a first support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the leading end of the track assembly;
iii) a second support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the trailing end of the track assembly.
i) a center portion rotatably supported at the third axis of rotation;
ii) a first support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the leading end of the track assembly;
iii) a second support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the trailing end of the track assembly.
8. A track assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein the first support arm defines a first angle with an imaginary horizontal axis which extends through the third axis of rotation, the second support arm defines a second angle with the imaginary horizontal axis, the first angle being different from the second angle.
9. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 8, wherein the drive wheel is in rolling contact with the inner surface of the ground engaging run.
10. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with one of the leading and trailing idlers, when viewed in a plane that is normal to the third axis of rotation.
11. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 9, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with the trailing idler, when viewed in a plane normal to the third axis of rotation.
12. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 11, wherein the load bearing section is located closer to one of the leading and trailing idlers than to the other of the leading and trailing idlers.
13. A track assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein one of the first and second support arms is longer than the other of the first and second support arms.
14. A track assembly as defined in claim 7, wherein the first support arm and the second support arm define an obtuse angle therebetween.
15. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the endless track is free of stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track.
16. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 15, wherein the profile of the endless track in the transverse direction of the endless track is generally convex.
17. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 16, wherein the endless track has drive lugs projecting from the inner surface for engagement by the drive wheel.
18. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the endless track has a pair of opposite lateral edge portions and a central portion between the lateral edge portions, the opposite lateral edge portions being free of stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track.
19. A track assembly as defined in claim 18, wherein the central portion includes one or more stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track, the one or more stiffening rods being shorter than a transverse dimension of the endless track.
20.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the endless track includes a plurality of track segments, each track segment including a drive projection extending inwardly from the inner face for engaging the drive wheel, and a traction lug projecting from the outer ground engaging surface, the drive projection registering in a longitudinal direction of the endless track with the traction lug, the portion of the track segment defined between the drive projection and the traction lug being free of a stiffening rod extending transversally of the endless track.
21.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 14, wherein the endless track has a plurality of drive projections longitudinally spaced apart along the track for sequentially engaging the drive wheel such that rotation of the drive wheel imparts motion of the endless track to propel the vehicle, the endless track having a plurality of traction lugs projecting from the ground engaging outer face, the traction lugs being longitudinally spaced apart and registering with respective drive projections, the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending transversally of the endless track at locations of the endless track at which a drive projection registers with a traction lug.
22. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 21, wherein the third axis is located above the first axis and the second axis.
23. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the drive wheel has a periphery bound between a first upper horizontal imaginary plane and a first lower horizontal imaginary plane, one of the leading and trailing idlers having a periphery bound between a second upper horizontal imaginary plane and a second lower horizontal imaginary plane, the first lower horizontal imaginary plane being positioned below the second upper horizontal imaginary plane.
24. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 22, wherein the drive wheel has a periphery bound between a first upper horizontal imaginary plane and a first lower horizontal imaginary plane, the leading idler having a periphery bound between a second upper horizontal imaginary plane and a second lower horizontal imaginary plane, the trailing idler having a periphery bound between a third upper horizontal imaginary plane and a third lower horizontal imaginary plane, the first lower horizontal imaginary plane being positioned below the second upper horizontal imaginary plane and below the third upper horizontal imaginary plane.
25. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 24, wherein the plurality of wheels impart a generally triangular path of travel to the endless track.
26. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 25, wherein the plurality of wheels define a track supporting and guiding arrangement that is in rolling contact with the inner surface at a plurality of locations, one of said locations being the load bearing section.
27. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 26, wherein the drive wheel has an extent along the third axis of rotation that is less than a transverse dimension of the endless track.
28. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 27, wherein the load bearing section extends below the leading section.
29. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 28, wherein the load bearing section extends below the trailing section.
30.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 1 to 29, wherein the load bearing section is located between a frontmost point and a rearmost point of the drive wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly.
31. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) comprising two steerable track assemblies as defined in any one of claims 1 to 30, the two steerable track assemblies being mounted on a common axle of the ATV.
32. An all-terrain vehicle as defined in claim 31, wherein the steering mechanism includes a rod for controlling an angular orientation of at least one of the two steerable track assemblies, the rod being coupled to the at least one of the two steerable track assemblies.
33. A track drive and support assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable by changing an orientation of the track drive and support assembly by a steering mechanism of the vehicle, the track drive and support assembly having a leading end and a trailing end and comprising:
a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving an endless track, the plurality of wheels including:
i) a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and ii) a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being configured for driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track;
the plurality of wheels being configured to impart to the endless track a path of travel having a ground engaging run that extends between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the ground engaging run having:
i) a load bearing section between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track drive and support assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel;
ii) a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle;
iii) a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle;
a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation being different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving an endless track, the plurality of wheels including:
i) a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and ii) a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being configured for driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track;
the plurality of wheels being configured to impart to the endless track a path of travel having a ground engaging run that extends between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the ground engaging run having:
i) a load bearing section between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track drive and support assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel;
ii) a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle;
iii) a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle;
a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation being different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
34.A track drive and support assembly as defined in claim 33, wherein the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section is less than the diameter of the drive wheel and wherein the reduced-size vehicle is an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) with a seat straddled by a user and wherein the steering mechanism has handlebars.
35.A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 and 34, wherein the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section does not exceed a radius of the drive wheel.
36.A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 35, wherein the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section is less than a radius of the drive wheel.
37.A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 36, wherein an imaginary vertical axis that intersects the third axis of rotation also intersects the load bearing section.
38.A track drive and support assembly as defined in claim 37, wherein the imaginary vertical axis intersects the load bearing section at a midpoint of the longitudinal extent of the load-bearing section.
39.A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 38, including a support structure having:
a) a center portion rotatably supported at the third axis of rotation;
b) a first support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the leading end of the track drive and support assembly;
c) a second support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the trailing end of the track drive and support assembly.
a) a center portion rotatably supported at the third axis of rotation;
b) a first support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the leading end of the track drive and support assembly;
c) a second support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the trailing end of the track drive and support assembly.
40.A track drive and support assembly as defined in claim 39, wherein the first support arm defines a first angle with an imaginary horizontal axis that intersects the third axis of rotation, the second support arm defining a second angle with the imaginary horizontal axis, the first angle being different than the second angle.
41.A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 40, wherein the drive wheel is configured to establish a rolling contact with the inner surface of the ground engaging run.
42. A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 41, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with one of the leading and trailing idlers, when viewed in an imaginary plane that is normal to the third axis.
43. A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 42, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with the trailing idler, when viewed in an imaginary plane that is normal to the third axis.
44. A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 43, wherein the load bearing section is located closer to one of the leading and trailing idlers than to the other of the leading and trailing idlers.
45. A track drive and support assembly as defined in claim 39, wherein one of the first and second support arms is longer than the other of the first and second support arms.
46. A track drive and support assembly as defined in claim 39, wherein the first support arm and the second support arm define an obtuse angle therebetween.
47. A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 46, wherein the third axis is located above the first axis and the second axis.
48. A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 47, wherein the drive wheel has a periphery bound between a first upper horizontal imaginary plane and a first lower horizontal imaginary plane, one of the leading and trailing idlers having a periphery bound between a second upper horizontal imaginary plane and a second lower horizontal imaginary plane, the first lower horizontal imaginary plane being positioned below the second upper horizontal imaginary plane.
49.A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 47, wherein the drive wheel has a periphery bound between a first upper horizontal imaginary plane and a first lower horizontal imaginary plane, the leading idler having a periphery bound between a second upper horizontal imaginary plane and a second lower horizontal imaginary plane, the trailing idler having a periphery bound between a third upper horizontal imaginary plane and a third lower horizontal imaginary plane, the first lower horizontal imaginary plane being positioned below the second upper horizontal imaginary plane and below the third upper horizontal imaginary plane.
50. A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 49, wherein the path of travel is generally triangular.
51. A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 50, wherein the track drive and support assembly is configured such that the plurality of wheels establish a rolling contact with the inner surface of the endless track at a plurality of locations, one of said locations being the load bearing section.
52. A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 51, wherein the track drive and support assembly is configured such that a portion of the ground engaging run that defines the load bearing section is at a level below a lowermost peripheral portion of the leading idler and below a lowermost peripheral portion of the trailing idler.
53.A track drive and support assembly as defined in any one of claims 33 to 52, wherein the load bearing section is located between a frontmost point and a rearmost point of the drive wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track drive and support assembly.
54. A track assembly for an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the ATV, the track assembly having a leading end and a trailing end and comprising:
a) an endless track having an outer ground-engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and b) a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track, the plurality of wheels including:
i) a leading idler and a trailing idler in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground-engaging run, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation;
and ii) a drive wheel in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track, the drive wheel having a third axis of rotation;
a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation being different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation;
wherein the ground-engaging run has:
i) an intermediate section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler and having a longitudinal extent not exceeding a diameter of the drive wheel;
ii) a leading section rising from the intermediate section and extending towards the leading idler; and iii) a trailing section rising from the intermediate section and extending towards the trailing idler.
a) an endless track having an outer ground-engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and b) a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track, the plurality of wheels including:
i) a leading idler and a trailing idler in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground-engaging run, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation;
and ii) a drive wheel in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track, the drive wheel having a third axis of rotation;
a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation being different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation;
wherein the ground-engaging run has:
i) an intermediate section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler and having a longitudinal extent not exceeding a diameter of the drive wheel;
ii) a leading section rising from the intermediate section and extending towards the leading idler; and iii) a trailing section rising from the intermediate section and extending towards the trailing idler.
55. A track assembly as defined in claim 54, wherein the longitudinal extent of the intermediate section is less than the diameter of the drive wheel and wherein the ATV has a seat straddled by a user and wherein the steering mechanism has handlebars.
56.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 and 55, wherein the longitudinal extent of the intermediate section does not exceed a radius of the drive wheel.
57.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 56, wherein the longitudinal extent of the intermediate section is less than a radius of the drive wheel.
58.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 57, wherein an imaginary vertical axis that intersects the third axis of rotation also intersects the intermediate section.
59.A track assembly as defined in claim 58, wherein the imaginary vertical axis intersects the intermediate section at a midpoint of the longitudinal extent of the intermediate section.
60.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 59, including a support structure having:
i) a center portion rotatably supported at the third axis of rotation;
ii) a first support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the leading end of the track assembly;
iii) a second support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the trailing end of the track assembly.
i) a center portion rotatably supported at the third axis of rotation;
ii) a first support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the leading end of the track assembly;
iii) a second support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the trailing end of the track assembly.
61.A track assembly as defined in claim 60, wherein the first support arm defines a first angle with an imaginary horizontal axis which extends through the third axis of rotation, the second support arm defines a second angle with the imaginary horizontal axis, the first angle being different from the second angle.
62.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 61, wherein the drive wheel is in rolling contact with the inner surface of the ground engaging run.
63. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 62, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with one of the leading and trailing idlers, when viewed in an imaginary plane that is normal to the third axis of rotation.
64. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 62, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with the trailing idler, when viewed in an imaginary plane normal to the third axis of rotation.
65. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 64, wherein the intermediate section is located closer to one of the leading and trailing idlers than to the other of the leading and trailing idlers.
66. A track assembly as defined in claim 60, wherein one of the first and second support arms is longer than the other of the first and second support arms.
67. A track assembly as defined in claim 60, wherein the first support arm and the second support arm define an obtuse angle therebetween.
68. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 67, wherein the endless track is free of stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track.
69. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 68, wherein the profile of the endless track in the transverse direction of the endless track is generally convex.
70. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 69, wherein the endless track has drive lugs projecting from the inner surface for engagement by the drive wheel.
71. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 67, wherein the endless track has a pair of opposite lateral edge portions and a central portion between the lateral edge portions, the opposite lateral edge portions being free of stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track.
72. A track assembly as defined in claim 71, wherein the central portion includes one or more stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track, the one or more stiffening rods being shorter than a transverse dimension of the endless track.
73. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 67, wherein the endless track includes a plurality of track segments, each track segment including a drive projection extending inwardly from the inner face for engaging the driving wheel, and a traction lug projecting from the outer ground engaging surface, the drive projection registering in a longitudinal direction of the endless track with the traction lug, the portion of the track segment defined between the drive projection and the traction lug being free of a stiffening rod extending transversally of the endless track.
74.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 67, wherein the endless track has a plurality of drive projections extending inwardly from the inner face, the drive projections being longitudinally spaced apart along the track, the endless track having a plurality of traction lugs projecting from the ground engaging outer face, the traction lugs being longitudinally spaced apart along the track and registering with respective drive projections, the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending transversally of the endless track at multiple locations of the endless track at which a drive projection registers with a traction lug.
75.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 54 to 74, wherein the intermediate section is located between a frontmost point and a rearmost point of the drive wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly.
76. A track assembly for an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the ATV, the track assembly having a leading end and a trailing end and comprising:
a) an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and b) a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track, the plurality of wheels including:
i) a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground engaging run, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and ii) a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track;
the ground engaging run having:
i) a load bearing section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel;
ii) a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section; and iii) a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler;
a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation being different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
a) an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and b) a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track, the plurality of wheels including:
i) a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground engaging run, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation; and ii) a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track;
the ground engaging run having:
i) a load bearing section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel;
ii) a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section; and iii) a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler;
a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation being different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
77.A track assembly as defined in claim 76, wherein the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section is less than the diameter of the drive wheel and wherein the ATV has a seat straddled by a user and wherein the steering mechanism has handlebars.
78.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 and 77, wherein the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section does not exceed a radius of the drive wheel.
79.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 78, wherein the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section is less than a radius of the drive wheel.
80.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 79, wherein an imaginary vertical axis that intersects the third axis of rotation also intersects the load bearing section.
81.A track assembly as defined in claim 80, wherein the imaginary vertical axis intersects the load bearing section at a midpoint of the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section.
82.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 81, including a support structure having:
i) a center portion rotatably connected at the third axis of rotation;
ii) a first support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the leading end of the track assembly;
iii) a second support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the trailing end of the track assembly.
i) a center portion rotatably connected at the third axis of rotation;
ii) a first support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the leading end of the track assembly;
iii) a second support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the trailing end of the track assembly.
83.A track assembly as defined in claim 82, wherein the first support arm defines a first angle with an imaginary horizontal axis which extends through the third axis of rotation, the second support arm defines a second angle with the imaginary horizontal axis, the first angle being different from the second angle.
84.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 83, wherein the drive wheel is in rolling contact with the inner surface of the ground engaging run.
85. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 84, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with one of the leading and trailing idlers, when viewed in an imaginary plane that is normal to the third axis of rotation.
86. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 85, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with the trailing idler, when viewed in an imaginary plane normal to the third axis of rotation.
87. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 86, wherein the load bearing section is located closer to one of the leading and trailing idlers than to the other of the leading and trailing idlers.
88. A track assembly as defined in claim 82, wherein one of the first and second support arms is longer than the other of the first and second support arms.
89. A track assembly as defined in claim 82, wherein the first support arm and the second support arm define an obtuse angle therebetween.
90. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 89, wherein the endless track is free of stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track.
91. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 90, wherein the profile of the endless track in the transverse direction of the endless track is generally convex.
92. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 91, wherein the endless track has drive lugs projecting from the inner surface for engagement by the drive wheel.
93. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 89, wherein the endless track has a pair of opposite lateral edge portions and a central portion between the lateral edge portions, the opposite lateral edge portions being free of stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track.
94. A track assembly as defined in claim 93, wherein the central portion includes one or more stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track, the one or more stiffening rods being shorter than a transverse dimension of the endless track.
95.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 89, wherein the endless track includes a plurality of track segments, each track segment including a drive projection extending inwardly from the inner face for engaging the driving wheel, and a traction lug projecting from the outer ground engaging surface, the drive projection registering in a longitudinal direction of the endless track with the traction lug, the portion of the track segment defined between the drive projection and the traction lug being free of a stiffening rod extending transversally of the endless track.
96.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 89, wherein the endless track has a plurality of drive projections extending inwardly from the inner face, the drive projections being longitudinally spaced apart along the track for sequentially engaging the drive wheel such that rotation of the drive wheel imparts motion of the endless track to propel the vehicle, the endless track having a plurality of traction lugs projecting from the ground engaging outer face, the traction lugs being longitudinally spaced apart and registering with respective drive projections, the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending transversally of the endless track at a plurality of locations of the endless track at which a drive projection registers with a traction lug.
97. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 96, wherein the leading section is substantially straight.
98.A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 97, wherein the trailing section is substantially straight.
99. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 98, wherein the load bearing section extends below a lowermost peripheral portion of the trailing idler.
100. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 99, wherein the load bearing section extends below a lowermost peripheral portion of the leading idler.
101. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 100, wherein the third axis is located above the first axis and above the second axis.
102. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 101, wherein the drive wheel has a periphery bound between a first upper horizontal imaginary plane and a first lower horizontal imaginary plane, one of the leading and trailing idlers having a periphery bound between a second upper horizontal imaginary plane and a second lower horizontal imaginary plane, the first lower horizontal imaginary plane being positioned below the second upper horizontal imaginary plane.
103. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 101, wherein the drive wheel has a periphery bound between a first upper horizontal imaginary plane and a first lower horizontal imaginary plane, the leading idler having a periphery bound between a second upper horizontal imaginary plane and a second lower horizontal imaginary plane, the trailing idler having a periphery bound between a third upper horizontal imaginary plane and a third lower horizontal imaginary plane, the first lower horizontal plane being imaginary positioned below the second upper horizontal imaginary plane and below the third upper horizontal imaginary plane.
104. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 103, wherein the plurality of wheels impart a generally triangular path of travel to the endless track.
105. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 104, wherein the plurality of wheels define a track supporting and guiding arrangement that is in rolling contact with the inner surface of the endless track at a plurality of locations, one of said locations being the load bearing section.
106. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 105, wherein the drive wheel has an extent along the third axis of rotation that is less than a transverse dimension of the endless track.
107. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 76 to 106, wherein the load bearing section is located between a frontmost point and a rearmost point of the drive wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly.
108. A track assembly for providing traction to an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), the track assembly being configured to replace a ground-engaging wheel of the ATV, the track assembly being steerable by a steering mechanism of the ATV to change an orientation of the track assembly in order to steer the ATV, the track assembly comprising:
a) a plurality of wheels including:
- a drive wheel; and - a leading idler wheel adjacent to a leading end of the track assembly and a trailing idler wheel adjacent to a trailing end of the track assembly;
and b) an endless track disposed around the plurality of wheels and comprising:
- an inner surface for facing the plurality of wheels, the drive wheel being rotatable to impart motion of the endless track;
- a ground-engaging outer surface opposite to the inner surface; and - a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface;
a bottom run of the endless track being located under the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel and extending in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly from an axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel to an axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel;
wherein:
i) the plurality of wheels is configured to bend the bottom run of the endless track such that, when the track assembly is on hard horizontal ground, a ground-contacting area of the endless track in contact with the hard horizontal ground has an extent in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel;
and ii) a distance between an axis of rotation of the drive wheel and the axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly is different from a distance between the axis of rotation of the drive wheel and the axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.
a) a plurality of wheels including:
- a drive wheel; and - a leading idler wheel adjacent to a leading end of the track assembly and a trailing idler wheel adjacent to a trailing end of the track assembly;
and b) an endless track disposed around the plurality of wheels and comprising:
- an inner surface for facing the plurality of wheels, the drive wheel being rotatable to impart motion of the endless track;
- a ground-engaging outer surface opposite to the inner surface; and - a plurality of traction projections projecting from the ground-engaging outer surface;
a bottom run of the endless track being located under the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel and extending in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly from an axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel to an axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel;
wherein:
i) the plurality of wheels is configured to bend the bottom run of the endless track such that, when the track assembly is on hard horizontal ground, a ground-contacting area of the endless track in contact with the hard horizontal ground has an extent in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel;
and ii) a distance between an axis of rotation of the drive wheel and the axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly is different from a distance between the axis of rotation of the drive wheel and the axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.
109. A track assembly as defined in claim 108, wherein the extent of the ground-contacting area of the endless track in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly is less than the diameter of the drive wheel.
110. A track assembly as defined in claim 109, wherein the extent of the ground-contacting area of the endless track in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly does not exceed a radius of the drive wheel.
111. A track assembly as defined in claim 110, wherein the extent of the ground-contacting area of the endless track in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly is less than the radius of the drive wheel.
112. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 111, wherein the distance between the axis of rotation of the drive wheel and the axis of rotation of the leading idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly is greater than the distance between the axis of rotation of the drive wheel and the axis of rotation of the trailing idler wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.
113. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 112, comprising a track frame supporting the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel and comprising a first arm extending downwardly and forwardly towards the leading idler wheel and a second arm extending downwardly and rearwardly towards the trailing idler wheel.
114. A track assembly as defined in claim 113, wherein the first arm is longer than the second arm.
115. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 114, wherein the drive wheel engages the bottom run of the endless track.
116. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 115, wherein an imaginary vertical axis that intersects the axis of rotation of the drive wheel also intersects the ground-contacting area of the endless track.
117. A track assembly as defined in claim 116, wherein the imaginary vertical axis intersects the ground-contacting area of the endless track at a midpoint of the ground-contacting area of the endless track in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.
118. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 117, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with one of the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel, when viewed in a plane that is normal to the axis of rotation of the drive wheel.
119. A track assembly as defined in claim 118, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with the trailing idler wheel, when viewed in the plane normal to the axis of rotation of the drive wheel.
120. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 119, wherein the ground-contacting area of the endless track is located closer to one of the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel than to the other of the leading idler wheel and the trailing idler wheel.
121. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 120, wherein the endless track is free of stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track.
122. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 121, wherein a profile of the endless track in a transverse direction of the endless track is generally convex.
123. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 122, wherein the endless track comprises a plurality of drive lugs projecting from the inner surface for engagement with the drive wheel.
124. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 120, wherein the endless track has a pair of lateral edge portions and a central portion between the lateral edge portions, the lateral edge portions being free of stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track.
125. A track assembly as defined in claim 124, wherein the central portion includes one or more stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track and shorter than a transverse dimension of the endless track.
126. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 120, wherein the endless track includes a plurality of track segments, each track segment including (i) a drive projection projecting from the inner face to engage the drive wheel and (ii) a given one of the traction projections that registers with the drive projection in a longitudinal direction of the endless track, the track segment being free of a stiffening rod extending transversally of the endless track between the drive projection and the given one of the traction projections.
127. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 120, wherein the endless track comprises a plurality of drive projections projecting from the inner surface for engaging the drive wheel, the drive projections registering with respective ones of the traction projections in a longitudinal direction of the endless track, the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending transversally of the endless track at locations at which a drive projection registers with a traction projection.
128. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 127, wherein the drive wheel has a periphery bound between a first upper horizontal imaginary plane and a first lower horizontal imaginary plane, the leading idler wheel having a periphery bound between a second upper horizontal imaginary plane and a second lower horizontal imaginary plane, the trailing idler wheel having a periphery bound between a third upper horizontal imaginary plane and a third lower horizontal imaginary plane, the first lower horizontal imaginary plane being positioned below the second upper horizontal imaginary plane and below the third upper horizontal imaginary plane.
129. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 128, wherein the plurality of wheels imparts a generally triangular path of travel to the endless track.
130. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 129, wherein the drive wheel has an extent along its axis of rotation that is less than a transverse dimension of the endless track.
131. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 130, wherein the ground-contacting area is located between a frontmost point and a rearmost point of the drive wheel in the longitudinal direction of the track assembly.
132. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 108 to 131, wherein the steering mechanism of the ATV comprises handlebars.
133. A set of track assemblies for providing traction to an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), wherein at least two of the track assemblies are as defined in any one of claims 108 to 132.
134. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) comprising the set of track assemblies as defined in claim 133.
135. An ATV as defined in claim 134, wherein the steering mechanism includes a rod for controlling an angular orientation of at least one of the at least two track assemblies, the rod being coupled to the at least one of the at least two track assemblies.
136. A track assembly for a reduced-size vehicle designed primarily for off-highway usage, over undeveloped roads or other unprepared surfaces steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the vehicle, the track assembly having a leading end and a trailing end and comprising:
a) an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and b) a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track, the plurality of wheels including:
i) a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground engaging run, the leading and trailing idlers respectively having first and second axes of rotation; and ii) a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation and being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track;
the ground engaging run having:
i) a load bearing section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel;
ii) a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle; and iii) a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle;
a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation being different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
a) an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface; and b) a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track, the plurality of wheels including:
i) a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, a segment of the endless track extending between the leading and trailing idlers defining a ground engaging run, the leading and trailing idlers respectively having first and second axes of rotation; and ii) a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation and being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track;
the ground engaging run having:
i) a load bearing section located between the leading idler and the trailing idler, the load bearing section transferring to the ground surface a major portion of the load carried by the track assembly, the load bearing section having a longitudinal extent that does not exceed a diameter of the drive wheel;
ii) a leading section extending between the leading idler and the load bearing section, the leading section being oriented such as to converge toward the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle; and iii) a trailing section extending between the load bearing section and the trailing idler, the trailing section being oriented such as to diverge from the ground surface when the endless track is in motion and propels the vehicle;
a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation being different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
137. A track assembly as defined in claim 136, wherein the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section is less than the diameter of the drive wheel and wherein the reduced-size vehicle is an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV) with a seat straddled by a user and wherein the steering mechanism has handlebars.
138. A track assembly as defined in claim 137, wherein the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section does not exceed a radius of the drive wheel.
139. A track assembly as defined in claim 138, wherein the longitudinal extent of the load bearing section is less than a radius of the drive wheel.
140. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 136 to 139, wherein an imaginary vertical axis that intersects the third axis of rotation also intersects the load bearing section.
141. A track assembly as defined in claim 140, wherein the imaginary vertical axis intersects the load bearing section at a midpoint of the longitudinal extent of the load bearing portion.
142. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 136 to 141, including a support structure having:
i) a center portion with bearing means for rotatably supporting the drive wheel such that the drive wheel can rotate about the third axis of rotation;
ii) a first support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the leading end of the track assembly;
iii) a second support arm mounted to the center portion of and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the trailing end of the track assembly.
i) a center portion with bearing means for rotatably supporting the drive wheel such that the drive wheel can rotate about the third axis of rotation;
ii) a first support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the leading end of the track assembly;
iii) a second support arm mounted to the center portion of and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the trailing end of the track assembly.
143. A track assembly as defined in claim 142, wherein the first support arm defines a first angle between an imaginary horizontal axis which is different from a second angle defined between the second arm and the imaginary horizontal axis.
144. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 136 to 143, wherein the drive wheel is in rolling contact with the inner surface of the ground engaging run.
145. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 136 to 144, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with one of the leading and trailing idlers.
146. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 136 to 144, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with the trailing idler.
147. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 136 to 146, wherein the load bearing section is located closer to one of the leading and trailing idlers than to the other of the leading and trailing idlers.
148. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 136 to 147, wherein the load bearing section is located between a frontmost point and a rearmost point of the drive wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly.
149. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) comprising two steerable track assemblies as defined in any one of claims 136 to 148.
150. A track assembly for an All-Terrain Vehicle (ATV), steerable by changing an orientation of the track assembly by a steering mechanism of the ATV, the track assembly having a leading end and a trailing end and comprising:
a) an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface;
b) a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track, the endless track having a plurality of consecutively arranged segments, areas of juncture between adjacent segments corresponding to locations at which the plurality of wheels contact the inner surface of the endless track, the plurality of wheels including:
i) a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation;
ii) a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track;
the plurality of segments including a leading segment, a trailing segment, and an intermediate segment between the leading segment and the trailing segment, wherein:
i) the leading segment extends from the leading idler to the intermediate segment;
ii) the trailing segment extends from the intermediate segment to the trailing idler;
iii) the intermediate segment descends lower than the leading and trailing segments;
iv) the intermediate segment has a longitudinal extent not exceeding a diameter of the drive wheel; and v) a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
a) an endless track having an outer ground engaging surface and an opposite inner surface;
b) a plurality of wheels for supporting and driving the endless track, the endless track having a plurality of consecutively arranged segments, areas of juncture between adjacent segments corresponding to locations at which the plurality of wheels contact the inner surface of the endless track, the plurality of wheels including:
i) a leading idler and a trailing idler, the leading and trailing idlers being in a spaced apart relationship, the leading idler having a first axis of rotation, the trailing idler having a second axis of rotation;
ii) a drive wheel having a third axis of rotation, the drive wheel being in driving engagement with the endless track for imparting movement to the endless track;
the plurality of segments including a leading segment, a trailing segment, and an intermediate segment between the leading segment and the trailing segment, wherein:
i) the leading segment extends from the leading idler to the intermediate segment;
ii) the trailing segment extends from the intermediate segment to the trailing idler;
iii) the intermediate segment descends lower than the leading and trailing segments;
iv) the intermediate segment has a longitudinal extent not exceeding a diameter of the drive wheel; and v) a first horizontal distance defined between the first axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation is different from a second horizontal distance defined between the second axis of rotation and the third axis of rotation.
151. A track assembly as defined in claim 150, wherein the longitudinal extent of the intermediate segment is less than the diameter of the drive wheel.
152. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 and 151, wherein the longitudinal extent of the intermediate segment does not exceed a radius of the drive wheel.
153. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 152, wherein the longitudinal extent of the intermediate segment is less than a radius of the drive wheel.
154. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 153, wherein an imaginary vertical axis that intersects the third axis of rotation also intersects the intermediate segment.
155. A track assembly as defined in claim 154, wherein the imaginary vertical axis intersects the intermediate segment at a midpoint of the longitudinal extent of the intermediate segment.
156. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 155, including a support structure having:
i) a center portion rotatably supported at the third axis of rotation;
ii) a first support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the leading end of the track assembly;
iii) a second support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the trailing end of the track assembly.
i) a center portion rotatably supported at the third axis of rotation;
ii) a first support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the leading end of the track assembly;
iii) a second support arm mounted to the center portion and extending along a radial direction of the drive wheel toward the trailing end of the track assembly.
157. A track assembly as defined in claim 156, wherein the first support arm defines a first angle with an imaginary horizontal axis which extends through the third axis of rotation, the second support arm defines a second angle with the imaginary horizontal axis, the first angle being different from the second angle.
158. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 157, wherein the drive wheel is in rolling contact with the inner surface of a ground engaging run of the endless track.
159. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 158, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with one of the leading and trailing idlers, when viewed in a plane that is normal to the third axis of rotation.
160. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 158, wherein the drive wheel is in overlapping relationship with the trailing idler, when viewed in a plane normal to the third axis of rotation.
161. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 160, wherein the intermediate segment is located closer to one of the leading and trailing idlers than to the other of the leading and trailing idlers.
162. A track assembly as defined in claim 156, wherein one of the first and second support arms is longer than the other of the first and second support arms.
163. A track assembly as defined in claim 156, wherein the first support arm and the second support arm define an obtuse angle therebetween.
164. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 163, wherein the endless track is free of stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track.
165. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 164, wherein the profile of the endless track in the transverse direction of the endless track is generally convex.
166. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 165, wherein the endless track has drive lugs projecting from the inner surface for engagement by the drive wheel.
167. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 163, wherein the endless track has a pair of opposite lateral edge portions and a central portion between the lateral edge portions, the opposite lateral edge portions being free of stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track.
168. A track assembly as defined in claim 167, wherein the central portion includes one or more stiffening rods extending in a transverse direction of the endless track, the one or more stiffening rods being shorter than a transverse dimension of the endless track.
169. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 163, wherein the endless track includes a plurality of track segments, each track segment including a drive projection extending inwardly from the inner face for engaging the drive wheel, and a traction lug projecting from the outer ground engaging surface, the drive projection registering in a longitudinal direction of the endless track with the traction lug, the portion of the track segment defined between the drive projection and the traction lug being free of a stiffening rod extending transversally of the endless track.
170. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 163, wherein the endless track has a plurality of drive projections longitudinally spaced apart along the track for sequentially engaging the drive wheel such that rotation of the drive wheel imparts motion of the endless track to propel the vehicle, the endless track having a plurality of traction lugs projecting from the ground engaging outer face, the traction lugs being longitudinally spaced apart and registering with respective drive projections, the endless track being free of stiffening rods extending transversally of the endless track at locations of the endless track at which a drive projection registers with a traction lug.
171. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 170, wherein the third axis is located above the first axis and the second axis.
172. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 171, wherein the drive wheel has a periphery bound between a first upper horizontal imaginary plane and a first lower horizontal imaginary plane, one of the leading and trailing idlers having a periphery bound between a second upper horizontal imaginary plane and a second lower horizontal imaginary plane, the first lower horizontal imaginary plane being positioned below the second upper horizontal imaginary plane.
173. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 171, wherein the drive wheel has a periphery bound between a first upper horizontal imaginary plane and a first lower horizontal imaginary plane, the leading idler having a periphery bound between a second upper horizontal imaginary plane and a second lower horizontal imaginary plane, the trailing idler having a periphery bound between a third upper horizontal imaginary plane and a third lower horizontal imaginary plane, the first lower horizontal imaginary plane being positioned below the second upper horizontal imaginary plane and below the third upper horizontal imaginary plane.
174. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 173, wherein the plurality of wheels impart a generally triangular path of travel to the endless track.
175. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 174, wherein the drive wheel has an extent along the third axis of rotation that is less than a transverse dimension of the endless track.
176. A track assembly as defined in any one of claims 150 to 175, wherein the intermediate segment is located between a frontmost point and a rearmost point of the drive wheel in a longitudinal direction of the track assembly.
177. An all-terrain vehicle (ATV) comprising two steerable track assemblies as defined in any one of claims 150 to 176, the two steerable track assemblies being mounted on a common axle of the ATV.
178. An all-terrain vehicle as defined in claim 177, wherein the steering mechanism includes a rod for controlling an angular orientation of at least one of the two steerable track assemblies, the rod being coupled to the at least one of the two steerable track assemblies.
Priority Applications (1)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2825509A CA2825509C (en) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-05-30 | Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle |
Applications Claiming Priority (4)
| Application Number | Priority Date | Filing Date | Title |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA002372949A CA2372949A1 (en) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-02-25 | Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle |
| CA2,372,949 | 2002-02-25 | ||
| CA 2388294 CA2388294C (en) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-05-30 | Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle |
| CA2825509A CA2825509C (en) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-05-30 | Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle |
Related Parent Applications (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2388294 Division CA2388294C (en) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-05-30 | Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle |
Publications (2)
| Publication Number | Publication Date |
|---|---|
| CA2825509A1 CA2825509A1 (en) | 2003-08-25 |
| CA2825509C true CA2825509C (en) | 2014-11-25 |
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Family Applications (3)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2822562A Expired - Lifetime CA2822562C (en) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-05-30 | Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle |
| CA2825509A Expired - Lifetime CA2825509C (en) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-05-30 | Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle |
| CA 2388294 Expired - Lifetime CA2388294C (en) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-05-30 | Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle |
Family Applications Before (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA2822562A Expired - Lifetime CA2822562C (en) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-05-30 | Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle |
Family Applications After (1)
| Application Number | Title | Priority Date | Filing Date |
|---|---|---|---|
| CA 2388294 Expired - Lifetime CA2388294C (en) | 2002-02-25 | 2002-05-30 | Track assembly for an all-terrain vehicle |
Country Status (1)
| Country | Link |
|---|---|
| CA (3) | CA2822562C (en) |
Families Citing this family (4)
| Publication number | Priority date | Publication date | Assignee | Title |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| DK175985B1 (en) * | 2003-12-11 | 2005-10-31 | Worldlift Ind As | Vehicle with belted undercarriage |
| US8776931B2 (en) | 2010-04-20 | 2014-07-15 | Denis Boivin | Track system for an all-wheel drive vehicle |
| US10266216B2 (en) | 2010-04-20 | 2019-04-23 | Denis Boivin | Track system having anti-diving flaps |
| US9676430B2 (en) | 2014-09-16 | 2017-06-13 | David Owen Mattson | Vehicle track assembly |
-
2002
- 2002-05-30 CA CA2822562A patent/CA2822562C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-05-30 CA CA2825509A patent/CA2825509C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
- 2002-05-30 CA CA 2388294 patent/CA2388294C/en not_active Expired - Lifetime
Also Published As
| Publication number | Publication date |
|---|---|
| CA2825509A1 (en) | 2003-08-25 |
| CA2388294F (en) | 2003-08-25 |
| CA2388294C (en) | 2013-10-01 |
| CA2822562C (en) | 2015-05-26 |
| CA2388294A1 (en) | 2003-08-25 |
| CA2822562A1 (en) | 2003-08-25 |
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