Track system for traction of a vehicle

Abstract

A track system for traction of a vehicle, such as an all-terrain vehicle (ATV), an agricultural vehicle, etc. The track system comprises a track and a track-engaging assembly for driving and guiding the track around the track-engaging assembly. The track system may be configured to facilitate adjustment of certain aspects of its operation, including, for example, how it is positioned and/or can move relative to a frame of the vehicle, based on one or more factors, such as, for instance, a user's preferences (e.g., riding style, desire to “feel” the ground, etc.), an environment of the track system (e.g., a profile of the ground, such as a slope or steepness or a levelness of the ground; a compliance of the ground, such as a softness or hardness of the ground, etc.), a state of the track system (e.g., a speed and/or a direction of motion of the track, etc.), a state of the vehicle (e.g., a speed and/or direction of the vehicle, etc.), and/or any other suitable factor. For instance, the track system may comprise a control mechanism configured to adjust an anti-rotation device that is configured to restrict movement of the track system relative to the frame of the vehicle. The control mechanism may be configured to adjust the anti-rotation device in response to a command, which may be input via a user interface or automatically generated by a controller.

1 .- 56 . (canceled) 
     
     
         57 . A track system for traction of a vehicle on a ground, the track system comprising:
 a track comprising a ground-engaging outer surface configured to engage the ground and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface;   a plurality of track-contacting wheels configured to drive and guide the track around the track-contacting wheels; and   a control mechanism configured to adjust the track system in response to a command.   
     
     
         58 . The track system of  claim 57 , wherein: the vehicle comprises a frame; and the control mechanism is configured to adjust positioning of given ones of the track-contacting wheels relative to the frame of the vehicle in response to the command. 
     
     
         59 . The track system of  claim 58 , wherein: the track system comprises a frame supporting the given ones of the track-contacting wheels; the track system comprises an anti-rotation device connectable between the frame of the track system and the frame of the vehicle and configured to restrict rotation of the frame of the track system relative to the frame of the vehicle; and the control mechanism is configured to adjust the anti-rotation device in response to the command. 
     
     
         60 . The track system of  claim 57 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to adjust the track system at least in part by adjusting a distance between portions of the track system that are movable relative to one another. 
     
     
         61 . The track system of  claim 57 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to adjust the track system at least in part by adjusting a length of a component of the track system. 
     
     
         62 . The track system of  claim 61 , wherein: the vehicle comprises a frame; the track system comprises a frame supporting respective ones of the track-contacting wheels; the track system comprises an anti-rotation device connectable between the frame of the track system and the frame of the vehicle and configured to restrict rotation of the frame of the track system relative to the frame of the vehicle; and the component of the track system is the anti-rotation device. 
     
     
         63 . The track system of  claim 57 , wherein: the track system comprises a resilient element configured to change from a first configuration to a second configuration when a load is applied and recover the first configuration when the load is removed; and the control mechanism is configured to adjust the resilient element in response to the command. 
     
     
         64 . The track system of  claim 63 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to adjust the resilient element at least in part by adjusting a stiffness of the resilient element. 
     
     
         65 . The track system of  claim 63 , wherein the control mechanism is configured to adjust the resilient element at least in part by adjusting a preload of the resilient element. 
     
     
         66 . The track system of  claim 63 , wherein: the vehicle comprises a frame; the track system comprises a frame supporting respective ones of the track-contacting wheels; the track system comprises an anti-rotation device connectable between the frame of the track system and the frame of the vehicle and configured to restrict rotation of the frame of the track system relative to the frame of the vehicle; and the anti-rotation device includes the resilient element. 
     
     
         67 . The track system of  claim 63 , wherein: the resilient element comprises a spring; and the control mechanism is configured to adjust the resilient element at least in part by adjusting a stiffness of the spring. 
     
     
         68 . The track system of  claim 63 , wherein: the resilient element comprises a spring; and the control mechanism is configured to adjust the resilient element at least in part by adjusting a preload of the spring. 
     
     
         69 . The track system of  claim 57 , wherein: the vehicle comprises a frame; the track system comprises a frame supporting respective ones of the track-contacting wheels; the track system comprises an anti-rotation device connectable between the frame of the track system and the frame of the vehicle and configured to restrict rotation of the frame of the track system relative to the frame of the vehicle; and the control mechanism is configured to adjust the anti-rotation device in response to the command. 
     
     
         70 . The track system of  claim 57 , wherein the command is inputtable by a user via a user interface. 
     
     
         71 . The track system of  claim 70 , where the vehicle comprises the user interface. 
     
     
         72 . The track system of  claim 57 , wherein the command is automatically generated by a controller. 
     
     
         73 . The track system of  claim 72 , wherein the vehicle comprises the controller. 
     
     
         74 . The track system of  claim 57 , wherein the command is based on output of a sensor. 
     
     
         75 . The track system of  claim 57 , wherein the command is based on a speed of the vehicle. 
     
     
         76 . The track system of  claim 57 , wherein the command is based on a characteristic of the ground. 
     
     
         77 . The track system of  claim 76 , wherein the characteristic of the ground is a compliance of the ground. 
     
     
         78 . The track system of  claim 76 , wherein the characteristic of the ground is a profile of the ground. 
     
     
         79 . The track system of  claim 57 , wherein the command is based on an angle of attack of the track system. 
     
     
         80 . The track system of  claim 57 , wherein the command is based on a tension of the track. 
     
     
         81 . The track system of  claim 57 , wherein the command is provided while the vehicle is in motion on the ground. 
     
     
         82 . A vehicle comprising the track system of  claim 57 . 
     
     
         83 . A track system for traction of a vehicle on a ground, the vehicle comprising a frame, the track system comprising:
 a track comprising a ground-engaging outer surface configured to engage the ground and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface;   a plurality of track-contacting wheels configured to drive and guide the track around the track-contacting wheels; and   a control mechanism configured to adjust positioning of given ones of the track-contacting wheels relative to the frame of the vehicle in response to a command.   
     
     
         84 . A track system for traction of a vehicle on a ground, the track system comprising:
 a track comprising a ground-engaging outer surface configured to engage the ground and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface;   a plurality of track-contacting wheels configured to drive and guide the track around the track-contacting wheels;   a resilient element configured to change from a first configuration to a second configuration when a load is applied and recover the first configuration when the load is removed; and   a control mechanism configured to adjust the resilient element in response to a command.   
     
     
         85 . A track system for traction of a vehicle on a ground, the track system comprising:
 a track comprising a ground-engaging outer surface configured to engage the ground and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface;   a plurality of track-contacting wheels configured to drive and guide the track around the track-contacting wheels; and   a control mechanism configured to adjust the track system based on a speed of the vehicle.   
     
     
         86 . A track system for traction of a vehicle on a ground, the track system comprising:
 a track comprising a ground-engaging outer surface configured to engage the ground and an inner surface opposite to the ground-engaging outer surface;   a plurality of track-contacting wheels configured to drive and guide the track around the track-contacting wheels; and   a control mechanism configured to adjust the track system based on an angle of attack of the track system.