Caterpillar Tractor Co.

Caterpillar Inc.

Cullen P Hart

Robert J Grob

Charles E Grawey

Thomas C Meisel

Wayne A Klopfenstein

Charles R Grawey

An elastomeric belt laying vehicle is disclosed for transmitting greater tractive effort to the earth as compared to comparably powered wheel vehicles and being operable at high speed on improved road surfaces without inflicting damage thereto. A pair of the wheels are arranged on each lateral side of the vehicle's chassis for support thereof. An inextensible, endless belt is highly tensioned throughout its length, is entrained about each pair of wheels, and is frictionally, drivingly coupled to at least one wheel of each pair. The structure of the belt, structure of the wheels and cooperating components thereof ensure engagement therebetween, provides long service with minimum maintenance thereof, and supplies the necessary frictional couple to effectively transmit driving torque from the wheels to the belt.

Frictionally driven belted work machine

Frictionally driven belted work vehicle

A positive drive endless rubber belted track is adapted to be attached to track links of an endless track link assembly. The particular construction of the core and grousers of the belted track permit the rubber belted track to stretch as it passes over the driving mechanism and idler of the machine.

Positive drive endless rubber belted track

Endless belt for a belted vehicle

Endless belt for a track vehicle

Idler wheel for a track vehicle

Driver wheel for a track vehicle

Debris deflector for endless track system

A vehicle suspension system wherein a frame (11) is supported on an axle (16) by a pair of fluid struts (19,20). The system includes a main accumulator (32) and a pair of auxiliary accumulators (30,35) which are fluidly interconnected. The left strut (19) is fluidly connected to the left auxiliary accumulator (30) and to the cylinder (42) of the main accumulator (32) to act on the pressure surface (62) of one of the pistons (46) therein. The righthand strut (20) is fluidly connected to the righthand auxiliary accumulator (35) and to a lower portion of the cylinder (42) of the main accumulator (32) so as to act on a pressure surface (63) of a second piston (47) therein. The pistons are interconnected in the main accumulator. Movement of the pistons (37,45,40) of the accumulators is resiliently resisted by the provision of compressed gas (38,48,41) in the respective accumulators. The main accumulator controls the bounce mode of the vehicle and the auxiliary accumulators control the roll mode thereof as a result of the arrangement. The suspension system, among other things, solves the vexatious problem of providing a soft suspension resistent to roll in off-highway vehicles having high centers of gravity and wide tires.

Vehicle suspension system

Tire cooling system and method

A drive mechanism (10) is used, for example, in an orbiting radial motor (12) to rotate a sprocket (22) or in a multiple output speed increaser or reducer to control output. The drive mechanism (10) has a first member (16) positioned about and rotatable relative to a frame (14). A second member (18) is positioned generally between the frame (14) and first member (16) and engages and rotates the first member (16). The first member (16), for example, is connected to and rotates the sprocket (22) for driving a track of a work vehicle. The drive mechanism (10) has only a single element (34) for establishing the drive ratio of the first member (16) relative to the second member (18) and receiving and transmitting reaction torquing force on the second member (18) in response to the second member (18) engaging the first member (16). Thus, reaction loads on, for example, bearings (68,70) supporting the second member (18) are substantially eliminated and the drive ratio can be widely varied.

Drive mechanism

The advent of relatively wide beadless tires on off-highway trucks and the like has dictated the desirability of providing a suspension system which separates the damping functions during the bounce and roll movements occurring between a truck frame and an axle assembly suspended thereunder. In particular, it is desirable to provide a soft suspension during the bounce mode of vehicle operation whereas a relatively stiff suspension is desired during the roll mode thereof. The suspension system (12) of this invention accomplishes the above by providing a first suspension (18) for damping bouncing movements (B) and a separate and isolated second, suspension (24) for damping rolling movements (R), with the second suspension (24) being disposed in a vertical plane which intersects a universal connection (16) connecting an axle assembly (11) to a vertical frame (10). The second suspension (24) includes a pair of springs (25) which are spaced outboard of the frame (10) to and in stabilizing the vehicle.

A vehicle suspension system is provided for a vehicle (10) which has a frame (12) and a plurality of ground engaging wheels (18,20,22,24). The suspension system (26) includes apparatus (26) for connecting the wheels (18,20,22,24) to the frame (12) and maintaining the frame (12) at a preselected elevation. The frame (12) moves elevationally less than one-half the height of an obstacle during movement of one of the wheels (18,20,22,24) over the obstacle.

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Peoria, IL, United States of America

Cullen P Hart