Apparatus for converting a wheeled vehicle to a tracked vehicle

Abstract

The invention relates to track systems that may be used to convert steerable, all-wheel drive construction equipment to steerable, multi-track construction vehicles. The track system may include a frame having a reinforcing enclosure, a plurality of track engaging rollers, a sprocket, and an endless track operatively connected to the frame. Tension on the endless track is maintained with two tensioning members operatively connected to the forwardmost roller. The track system preferably includes a limiting apparatus that is configured to restrict the rotational movement “r” of the frame relative to a vehicle axle to which it is attached. The limiting apparatus has a first component, which is associated with the vehicle axle, is configured and arranged to interact with a second component, which is associated with the frame of the track system. Preferably, the limiting apparatus is adjustable such that the range of rotational movement “r” can be varied.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . A vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle frame;   a drive axle coupled to the vehicle frame, the drive axle comprising a hub, the hub being mounted for rotation about a drive axis, the hub being pivotally mounted to the drive axle by way of a steering housing, and the hub including a hub housing body and a torque transfer flange that projects radially outwardly from an inboard end of the hub housing body;   a steering arm coupled to the steering housing for pivoting the steering housing about a steering pivot axis;   a track system including:
 a track frame supporting end rollers, the track frame being rotatably mounted to the drive axle; 
 a sprocket that rotates with the hub about the drive axis; 
 a track routed about the sprocket and the end rollers; and 
   a limiting apparatus secured to the steering housing, the limiting apparatus comprising a collar extending completely around an exterior of the drive axle, the collar being configured and arranged to engage the track frame.   
     
     
         2 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the track frame is rotatably mounted to the drive axle to rotate about the drive axis. 
     
     
         3 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the limiting apparatus mechanically interfaces with the track frame to restrict a range of rotational motion of the track frame with respect to the drive axle. 
     
     
         4 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the limiting apparatus is configured and arranged to engage the track frame to restrict a range of rotational motion of the track frame with respect to the drive axle. 
     
     
         5 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the steering arm is coupled to a steering knuckle integrated with the steering housing. 
     
     
         6 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the hub is adjacent the steering pivot axis. 
     
     
         7 . The vehicle of  claim 1 , wherein the collar includes first and second collar sections connected to one another with fasteners. 
     
     
         8 . A vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle frame;   a drive axle coupled to the vehicle frame, the drive axle include a hub that is rotatably driven about a drive axis, the drive axle also including a steering housing for pivotally moving the hub about a steering axis relative to the vehicle frame during steering;   a steering arm for pivoting the steering housing about the steering axis;   a track system including:
 a track frame supporting end rollers, the track frame being rotatable relative to the drive axis to allow the track frame to rotate relative to the drive axle as the grade of the ground changes and as the vehicle encounters obstacles on the ground; 
 a sprocket that rotates with the hub about the drive axis; 
 a track routed about the sprocket and the end rollers; and 
   a limiting apparatus associated with the steering housing that contains movement of the track frame in at least one orientation relative to the drive axle, the limiting apparatus including a curved interconnect member extending completely around the drive axis.   
     
     
         9 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the steering housing includes a knuckle to which the steering arm attaches. 
     
     
         10 . The vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein the limiting apparatus defines first and second rotation stops extending radially from the curved interconnect member that engage structure associated with the track frame to restrict a range of rotational movement of the track frame relative to the drive axle as the grade of the ground changes and as the vehicle encounters obstacles on the ground. 
     
     
         11 . The vehicle of  claim 10 , wherein the track frame rotates about the drive axis as the grade of the ground changes and as the vehicle encounters obstacles on the ground. 
     
     
         12 . A quad track vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle frame;   a steering housing that pivots relative to the vehicle frame about a steering pivot axis, the steering housing having a main housing body that defines an inboard end and an outboard end, the main housing body also having a first structural component attachment surface and a second structural component attachment surface positioned at opposite sides of the steering housing, the steering housing also including a steering knuckle that projects outwardly from the main housing body;   a steering arm for pivoting the steering housing about the steering pivot axis for steering the vehicle, the steering arm being coupled to the steering knuckle;   an axle hub mounted at the outboard end of the main housing body of the steering housing, the axle hub including a hub housing body and a torque transfer flange that projects radially outwardly from an inboard end of the hub housing body;   a track system including:
 a track frame supporting end rollers, the track frame being rotatable about a generally horizontal axis; 
 a drive sprocket driven by torque transferred from the axle hub through the transfer flange; 
 a track routed in a generally triangular path about the drive sprocket and the end rollers, the track being driven by the drive sprocket about the generally triangular path when the drive sprocket is rotated; and 
   a structural component attached to the steering housing inboard of the axle hub, wherein the structural component is configured to mechanically interface with the track frame, the structural component including a curved interconnect member that extends completely around an exterior of the drive axle.   
     
     
         13 . The quad track vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the structural component includes a limiting apparatus that restricts a range of rotational movement of the track frame about the generally horizontal axis relative to the vehicle frame. 
     
     
         14 . The quad track vehicle of  claim 12 , wherein the horizontal axis is co-axially aligned with a drive axis of the drive sprocket. 
     
     
         15 . The quad track of  claim 14 , wherein the curved interconnect member includes first and second sections connected to one another with fasteners such that the curved interconnect member extends completely around the drive axis. 
     
     
         16 . A quad track vehicle comprising:
 a vehicle frame;   a steering housing that pivots relative to the vehicle frame about a steering pivot axis, the steering housing having a main housing body that defines an inboard end and an outboard end, the main housing body also having a top structural component attachment surface and a bottom structural component attachment surface, the steering housing also including a steering knuckle that projects outwardly from a side of the main housing body at a height that is lower than a height of the top structural component attachment surface and higher than a height of the bottom structural component attachment surface;   a steering rod for pivoting the steering housing about the steering pivot axis for steering the vehicle, the steering rod being coupled to the steering knuckle;   an axle hub mounted at the outboard end of the main housing body of the steering housing, the axle hub including a cylindrical housing body and a torque transfer flange that projects radially outwardly from an inboard end of the cylindrical housing body;   a track system including:
 a track frame supporting end rollers, the track frame being rotatable relative to the vehicle frame about a generally horizontal axis to allow the track system to follow ground contours during operation of the vehicle; 
 a drive sprocket driven by torque transferred from the axle hub through the torque transfer flange; 
 a track routed in a generally triangular path about the drive sprocket and the end rollers, the track being driven by the drive sprocket about the generally triangular path when the drive sprocket is rotated; and 
   a structural component attached to the steering housing inboard of the axle hub, the structural component including a stop-defining structure for limiting a range of rotational movement of the track frame about the generally horizontal axis, the structural component including a collar that completely surrounds the axle hub.