Deere + Company

Warane Pty. Ltd.

James Arthur Nagorcka

Lyal Douglas Allen

Daniel Dean Radke

Mervin Peter Kizlyk

Benjamin Michael Witte

Lawrence William Bergquist

Robert James Recker

Gary Allen Vandenbark

Ryan Libler

Barrie L Smith

Michael O Youngblood

Daniel G Niebuhr

Curt Jensen

Kevin Augustin

Scott Svend Hendron

Craig Alan Puetz

Dale H Killen

Kenneth Edward Poppe

Jeffery Michael Leyonhjelm

Charles D Isaacson

The blade ratio of an articulated work vehicle with multiple tracks is adjusted by shifting a load from the weight of the vehicle toward the front or rear of one or more of the tracks. The load may be shifted through the actuation of a hydraulic cylinder that applies a biasing load between a frame on which a track frame is mounted and a front or rear portion of the track frame.

Dynamic blade distance ratio system and method

An articulated dozer with a four point independent suspension system between a chassis and two support frames is described. The chassis includes a front chassis portion and a rear chassis portion connected by an articulation joint. The vehicle is compactly arrange so that the chassis and the two support frames fit between the track systems supporting and propelling the vehicle. Additionally, the engine is arranged near the articulation joint and lower than the top of the track systems for improved view and visibility. The cab is arranged over the track systems at the front of the vehicle for an optimal view of the blade.

Articulated crawler tractor

An articulated loader has an articulated chassis and two A-frames. The points of the A-frames face each other. The articulated chassis includes a front portion and a rear portion. Likewise, there is a front or first A-frame and a rear or second A-frame. The A-frames are connected to the overall chassis at points close to but offset from the point of vehicle articulation via ball joints and via hydraulic suspension cylinders toward the wider portions of the 'A's. The vehicle is propelled along the ground by tracks that are independently suspended. The invention includes a suspension lockout feature to, effectively lockout the suspension system, i.e., render it rigid. One or more valves may are used to prevent hydraulic flow from and two the hydraulic suspension cylinders.

Articulated dozer with suspension and suspension lockout

An articulated loader has an articulated chassis and corresponding A-frames. The points of the A-frames face each other. The articulated chassis includes a front portion and a rear portion. Likewise, there is a front or first A-frame and a rear or second A-frame. The A-frames are connected to the overall chassis at points close to but offset from the point of vehicle articulation via ball joints and via hydraulic suspension cylinders toward the wider portions of the 'A's. The tracks are independently suspended. The C-frame and blade are mounted to the first A-frame while the controlling cylinders are mounted to the front chassis portion. This allows the blade to follow the tracks or ground and yet stabilize its motion.

Blade motion reduction

An articulated loader has an articulated chassis and two A-frames. The points of the A-frames face each other. The articulated chassis includes a front portion and a rear portion. Likewise, there is a front or first A-frame and a rear or second A-frame. The A-frames are connected to the overall chassis at points close to but offset from the point of vehicle articulation via ball joints and via hydraulic suspension cylinders toward the wider portions of the 'A's. The vehicle is propelled along the ground by tracks that are independently suspended. The A-frames are of approximate equal length along the axis of the vehicle and the ball joints are located as close as practical to the articulation joint. Thus, any vertical forces at the ball joints due to variations in tractive efforts for the vehicle tend to be equal and opposite in direction and to, therefore, minimize any chassis height variations.

Articulated dozer with frame structure for decreased height variation in the vehicle chassis

An articulated loader has an articulated chassis, two A-frames, and four track assemblies. A narrow portion each of the A-frames faces a narrow portion of the other A-frame. The articulated chassis includes a front portion and a rear portion. Likewise, there is a front or first A-frame and a rear or second A-frame. The A-frames are connected to the overall chassis at points close to but offset from the point of vehicle articulation via ball joints and via hydraulic suspension cylinders toward the wider portions of the 'A's. The chassis of the vehicle is suspended above the first and second A-frames. The vehicle is propelled along the ground by tracks that are independently suspended. The bulk of the load from the blade, i.e., the blade load, is transferred directly to the tracks via the first and second Aframes; the first and second ball joints and pivot connections between the first and second A-frames and the track frames for each track assembly. Thus the chassis sees little of the blade load allowing for a lighter, less bulky vehicle.

Articulated crawler dozer with direct load path structure

An articulated loader has an articulated chassis and two A-frames. The points of the A-frames face each other. The articulated chassis includes a front portion and a rear portion. Likewise, there is a front or first A-frame and a rear or second A-frame. The A-frames are connected to the overall chassis at points close to but offset from the point of vehicle articulation via ball joints and via hydraulic suspension cylinders toward the wider portions of the 'A's. The vehicle is propelled along the ground by independently driven tracks. The invention includes a feature to limit the motion of the suspension system based on the load applied to the suspension cylinders, i.e., the pressure experienced by the head end of the suspension cylinders. This is accomplished via pilot operated check valves.

Load based suspension motion limiting

A tractor having a cargo box and an axle mounted hitch ball in which the hitch ball projects upward through an opening in the cargo box floor. This arrangement enables the ball to be used when the cargo box is mounted to the tractor. Furthermore, since the ball is mounted to the axle and not the cargo box, greater load carrying capacity is achieved and the hitch can be used when the box removed from the tractor.

Removable hitch ball

A tractor having a cargo box and an axle mounted hitch ball in which the hitch ball projects upward through an opening in the cargo box floor. This arrangement enables the ball to be used when the cargo box is mounted to the tractor.Furthermore, since the ball is mounted to the axle and not the cargo box, greater load carrying capacity is achieved and the hitch can be used when the box removed from the tractor.

Tractor with cargo box and removable hitch ball

A suspension linkage for an axle has hard mechanical oscillation stops that move relative to the vehicle frame as the axle travels vertically. The linkage uses thrust bearings to eliminate sideways movement of the axle that causes bounce steer. The linkage is a scissors linkage, having an upper link and a lower link joined together at a center pivot. The hard mechanical oscillation stops are carried by the linkage, as opposed to the vehicle frame, and thus move vertically with the axle.

Suspended axle with side and oscillation control linkage

Tractor

Cargo box

A suspension system for a tracked vehicle comprising a first axial member pivotally coupled to the main drive wheel axle housing and extending forward towards the idler wheel, and a second axial portion pivotally coupled to the first axial member and to which the idler wheel is rotatively mounted. The second axial member is provided with a track roller extension on which is mounted a track roller frame having three pairs of track rollers. The first axial member is coupled to the tractor frame by a pendulum assembly. The pendulum assembly comprises first and second parallel tubes having cylindrical apertures. The tubes are parallel to and offset from one another so that an outwardly projecting transverse stub shaft from the tractor frame is received in one aperture and an inwardly projecting transverse stub shaft from the suspension system is received in the other aperture.

Track suspension system and track gauge adjustment assembly

An adjustment device for a track assembly of a track laying vehicle, comprising a wheel carriage for mounting a wheel of the track assembly thereto, a coupling assembly operatively connected to or forming part of the wheel carriage for permitting at least limited rotational movement of the wheel about a tilt axis, and a releasable locking assembly for releasably holding the wheel against the rotational movement, in a selected angular disposition relative to the tilt axis. There is also provided a suspension assembly for a track laying vehicle, comprising a support member operatively connected to the vehicle body for pivotal movement about a transversely extending first pivot axis and a coupling member operatively interconnecting one of the wheels of the vehicle and the support member the coupling member being pivotally mounted for pivotal movement about a second pivot axis.

Undercarriage for a track laying vehicle

The present invention is directed to a planetary steering system for a skid steered vehicle. A prime mover directs rotational motion through right and left drive shafts having planetary carriers with planet gears. The planet gears of the right and left planetary carriers rotate around a right and left sun gears that are coupled to right and left hydraulic steering motors. The planet gears rotate in right and left ring gears that are coupled to the right and left drive wheels of the vehicle. By rotating the motors the speed of the drive wheels can be independently controlled.

Growing community of inventors

Tarrington Victoria, Australia

James Arthur Nagorcka