Amphibious work vehicle

Abstract

Amphibious undercarriage systems, drive systems and work vehicles are disclosed herein. In an embodiment, an amphibious undercarriage system includes a pontoon, a first shaft, a second shaft, a track chain and at least one motor. The pontoon has a first end and a second end and is configured to float atop a liquid body. The first shaft is disposed at the first end of the pontoon. The second shaft is disposed at the second end of the pontoon. The track chain is movably attached to the pontoon so as to travel around the pontoon and moveably engaged with the first shaft and the second shaft. The motor is configured to drive the first shaft to cause the track chain to travel around the pontoon and the second shaft to rotate due to engagement with the track chain.

What is claimed is: 
     
         1 . An amphibious undercarriage system for a work vehicle, the amphibious undercarriage system comprising:
 a pontoon having a first end and a second end and being configured to float atop a liquid body;   a first shaft disposed at the first end of the pontoon;   a second shaft disposed at the second end of the pontoon;   a track chain movably attached to the pontoon so as to travel around the pontoon and moveably engaged with the first shaft and the second shaft; and   at least one motor configured to drive the first shaft to cause the track chain to travel around the pontoon and the second shaft to rotate due to engagement with the track chain.   
     
     
         2 . The amphibious undercarriage system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the at least one motor includes a first hydraulic motor and a second hydraulic motor,   the first hydraulic motor is attached to a first side of the first shaft, and   the second hydraulic motor is attached to an opposite second side of the first shaft.   
     
     
         3 . The amphibious undercarriage system of  claim 2 , comprising
 first and second bearings connecting the second shaft to the pontoon.   
     
     
         4 . The amphibious undercarriage system of  claim 2 , wherein
 a first hydraulic oil line is connected to the first hydraulic motor, and   a second hydraulic oil line is connected to the second hydraulic motor.   
     
     
         5 . The amphibious undercarriage system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the pontoon includes a first pontoon and a second pontoon, and   the track chain includes a first track chain movably attached to the first pontoon so as to travel around the first pontoon and a second track chain movably attached to the second pontoon so as to travel around the second pontoon in a same direction as the first track chain.   
     
     
         6 . The amphibious undercarriage system of  claim 5 , comprising
 a frame including a support body and a support member,   the support member includes a first end and a second end,   the first pontoon includes a first cavity that receives the first end of the support member, and   the second pontoon includes a second cavity that receives the second end of the support member.   
     
     
         7 . The amphibious undercarriage system of  claim 1 , wherein
 the first end of the pontoon is a rear end of the pontoon.   
     
     
         8 . An amphibious work vehicle, the amphibious work vehicle comprising:
 an amphibious undercarriage system including at least one pontoon configured to float atop a liquid body and at least one track chain movably attached to the pontoon so as to travel around the pontoon in a length direction;   a vehicle body pivotally attached to the amphibious undercarriage system and including an operating room for a human operator; and   a work implement system pivotally attached to the cab and being controlled by the human operator in the operating room to perform excavation work.   
     
     
         9 . The amphibious work vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein
 the at least one pontoon includes a first pontoon and a second pontoon positioned on opposite sides of the vehicle body, and   the at least one track chain includes a first track chain movably attached to the first pontoon so as to travel around the first pontoon in the length direction and a second track chain movably attached to the second pontoon so as to travel around the second pontoon in the length direction.   
     
     
         10 . The amphibious work vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein
 the amphibious undercarriage system includes a frame,   the first pontoon and the second pontoon are moveably attached to opposite sides of the frame,   the first pontoon and the second pontoon are configured to move towards each other into a retracted configuration and away from each other in an extended configuration.   
     
     
         11 . The amphibious work vehicle of  claim 9 , wherein
 the amphibious undercarriage system includes a frame,   the first pontoon and the second pontoon are attached to opposite sides of the frame, and   the vehicle body is pivotally attached to the frame.   
     
     
         12 . The amphibious work vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein
 the work implement system includes a boom extension, an arm extension and an excavator bucket,   the boom extension is pivotally attached to the vehicle body,   the arm extension is pivotally attached to the boom extension, and   the excavator bucket pivotally attached to the arm extension.   
     
     
         13 . The amphibious work vehicle of  claim 8 , wherein
 the amphibious undercarriage system includes a pontoon, a first shaft, a first hydraulic motor, a second hydraulic motor, a second shaft, a first hydraulic oil line and a second hydraulic oil line,   the first shaft attached at a first end of the pontoon, the first shaft having a first end and a second end;   the first hydraulic motor is attached to the first end of the first shaft,   the second hydraulic motor attached to the second end of the first shaft,   the second shaft is not attached to a hydraulic motor,   the first hydraulic oil line connected to the first hydraulic motor, and   the second hydraulic oil line is connected to the second hydraulic motor.   
     
     
         14 . A drive system for an amphibious undercarriage system for a work vehicle, the drive system comprising:
 a frame configured to attach to a pontoon;   a first shaft configured to attach to a first end of the pontoon;   a second shaft configured to attach to a second end of the pontoon;   a first hydraulic motor attached to a first side of the first shaft;   a second hydraulic motor attached to a second side of the first shaft;   a first hydraulic oil line extending from the frame to the first hydraulic motor, and   a second hydraulic oil line extending from the frame to the second hydraulic motor,   the first shaft and the second shaft having parallel rotational axes,   the second shaft is configured to be driven by rotation of the first shaft due to engagement with a track chain driven by the first shaft.   
     
     
         15 . The drive system of  claim 14 , wherein
 the first shaft includes a plurality of first sprockets configured to engage and drive movement of the track chain, and   the second shaft includes a plurality of second sprockets configured to engage and be driven by movement of the track chain.   
     
     
         16 . The drive system of  claim 14 , comprising
 the frame includes a support body and a support member extending laterally from the support body, and   the support member attaches the frame to the pontoon.   
     
     
         17 . The drive system of  claim 16 , wherein
 the support member includes a first support member and a second support member, and   each of the first support member and the second support member are configured to extend into respective cavities in the pontoon   
     
     
         18 . The drive system of  claim 14 , comprising
 a third shaft configured to attach to a first end of a second pontoon,   a fourth shaft configured to attach to a second end of the second pontoon,   a third hydraulic motor attached to a first side of the third shaft,   a fourth hydraulic motor attached to a second side of the third shaft,   a third hydraulic oil line extending from the frame to the third hydraulic motor, and   a fourth hydraulic oil line extending from the frame to the fourth hydraulic motor   
     
     
         19 . The drive system of  claim 18 , wherein
 the third shaft and the fourth shaft have parallel rotational axes,   the fourth shaft configured to be driven by rotation of the third shaft due to engagement with a second track chain driven by the third shaft.   
     
     
         20 . The drive system of  claim 14 , wherein
 the second shaft is not attached to a hydraulic motor.