Caterpillar Inc.

Robert R Farris

Robert J Purcell

Gerald P Simmons

John M Parks

Thomas D Brewer

Endless track work vehicle

A vehicle capable of high speed operation over rough terrain has a suspension system including an elevated drive wheel, a front idler wheel, and a rear idler wheel with an elastomeric drive belt entrained therearound. The drive belt is driven by friction, and the suspension system includes a front suspension strut device having a recoil mechanism and a resilient front strut that resiliently biases the front idler wheel forwardly and downwardly. A braking device is in a protected location within side portions of the front idler wheel and reacts against the front suspension strut device to brake the vehicle. Such braking reaction minimizes the reduction of frictional engagement between the drive wheel and the drive belt due to the reaction of the drive belt against the recoil mechanism when traveling forwardly.

Suspension mechanism for a track-type vehicle

A suspension system for the idlers and guide wheels, and related structures, of a belted track-type vehicle provides cushioning for the vehicle and components as the vehicle traverses obstacles and uneven terrain. The suspension system also provides tensioning and recoil for the endless track belt during ingestion of foreign material between the belt and the idler wheel. The suspension system includes a plurality of hydropneumatic struts connected between the vehicle frame and various belt guiding and supporting components. Most endless track machines utilize auxiliary frame assembles on each side of the main vehicle frame to support track guiding rollers, idler wheels, suspension systems, and track recoil mechanisms. These auxiliary frame assembles are bulky, heavy, and complicated and generally limit the total amount of suspension and recoil afforded to the idler wheels and track guide wheels. The subject suspension system is void of any auxiliary track frames and connects all of the suspension and recoil struts directly to the main frame. This provides considerable amount of travel for the recoil and suspension struts and provides high speed capabilities for the vehicle. Additional, the subject suspension includes a controllable lock-out of a cushion cylinder to provide a stable work platform during certain work functions of the vehicle.

Suspension system for a vehicle

A suspension system for a vehicle equipped with a pair of belts arranged on opposite lateral sides of the vehicle's frame wherein each belt is entrained about an elevated drive wheel, a front and a rear idler wheel, and roller wheels arranged longitudinally between the idler wheels. Resilient front, intermediate, and rear struts connected respectively between the frame and a support apparatus of which the front idler comprises a portion, between the frame and one set of roller wheels, and between the frame and the rear idler wheel provide the vertical support for the vehicle's frame. Fluid interconnection of the front struts provides lateral load sharing during low speed vehicle operation and, during high speed vehicle operation, fluid interconnection of each front strut with its own accumulator provides independent suspension. Selective fluid interconnection of the rear strut with a recoil strut which provides the desired belt tension maintains belt to wheel engagement for high speed vehicular operation. Selective fluid isolation of the rear strut and a pry-out strut connected between the recoil strut and a pivoting beam on which the front idler is mounted enables application of the maximum vertical forces on vehicle attached implements.

Multiple mode vehicle suspension system

A track-type vehicle capable of high speed operation over rough terrain includes a frame supported by lefthand and righthand suspension mechanisms individually having a plurality of hydropneumatically actuated struts for supporting the frame on a plurality of wheels. An elastomeric drive belt is entrained about these wheels and is frictionally driven by an elevated drive wheel. Forces from several struts are directed into the frame in a centralized common region which minimizes rocking of the vehicle. A front idler wheel is urged forwardly and downwardly against the drive belt by a hydropneumatically actuated recoil mechanism, and a front strut also acts on the front idler wheel to resiliently urge it downwardly. A plurality of pivoting members are cooperatively connected to the struts to more evenly distribute forces against the drive belt.

Growing community of inventors

Peoria, IL, United States of America

Robert R Farris