Adaptable traction system of a vehicle

Abstract

A traction system for a vehicle has a support frame that defines a circular track belt support that is revolvable about an axis at its center, a flexible track belt; and a track belt stretching assembly comprising one or more track belt stretching rollers. The system has one traction configuration in which the flexible traction belt is held on said support track forming a substantially circular, wheel-like traction surface, and can change to a stretching state in which said rollers engage said belt and stretch it from its state in said one traction configuration to a stretched state to define one or more other traction configurations of the system.

1 - 4 . (canceled) 
   
   
       5 . A traction system comprising a traction belt and rollers, the traction belt being naturally biased to assume a circular configuration about an axis, the rollers being configured for stretching the belt from said circular configuration into other traction configurations. 
   
   
       6 . The traction system according to  claim 5 , comprising two or more rollers at least one of which is displaceable with respect to the axis. 
   
   
       7 . The traction system according to  claim 6 , wherein at least two rollers are displaceable into two different radial directions with respect to the axis to thereby stretch the belts. 
   
   
       8 . A traction system comprising a track belt and stretching mechanism, the track belt being configured and operable to define a normally circular geometry of the track belt about an axis and to selectively force the track belt to expand in circumference and assume a non-circular geometry and allow its contraction back into the circular geometry. 
   
   
       9 . The traction system according to  claim 8 , wherein the stretching mechanism comprises rollers. 
   
   
       10 . A traction system according to  claim 9 , comprising two or more rollers at least one of which is displaceable with respect to the axis. 
   
   
       11 . The traction system according to  claim 10 , wherein at least two rollers are displaceable into two different radial directions with respect to the axis to thereby stretch the belts.