Suspension system for track type vehicles

Claim 1

A SUSPENSION SYSTEM FOR A TRACK TYPE VEHICLE HAVING A CHASSIS TRANSVERSELY DISPOSED BETWEEN A PAIR OF ENDLESS TRACK LAYING MECHANISMS COMPRISING: (A) A WALKING BEAM CONNECTED AT ITS ENDS TO EACH OF THE ENDLESS TRACK LAYING MECHANISMS BY MEANS WHICH PERMIT LIMITED ROTATION OF THE ENDLESS TRACK LAYING MECHANISM ABOUT THE ENDS OF SAID WALKING BEAM, (B) THE WALKING BEAM INTERMEDIATE ITS ENDS PIVOTALLY AND SLIDABLY CONNECTED TO THE CHASSIS, SO THAT THE WALKING BEAM IS RESTRAINED IN THE HORIZONTAL PLANE AND THUS IS ALWAYS PERPENDICULAR TO THE LINE OF TRAVEL OF THE TRACK TYPE VEHICLE, (C) A PLATE MEMBER CONNECTED TO EACH SIDE OF THE CHASSIS, (D) MEANS OPERATIVELY CONNECTING THE PLATE MEMBER AND THE ENDLESS TRACK LAYING MECHANISMS TO DEFINE AN AXIS OF OSCILLATION FOR THE ENDLESS TRACK LAYING MECHANISMS, (E) THE WALKING BEAM AND THE PALTE MEMBERS TO COACT ON OSCILLATION OF THE ENDLESS TRACK LAYING MECHANISM TO DISTRIBUTE THE FORCES AND MOVEMENT CAUSED BY THE OSCILLATION THEREBY STABILIZING THE CHASSIS, (F) EACH OF THE ENDLESS TRACK LAYING MECHANISMS TO TOEIN A LIMITED AMOUNT RESPONSIVE TO THE FORESHORTENED TRANSVERSE DISTANCE THEREBETWEEN CAUSED BY THE PIVOTING OF THE WALKING BEAM WHEREBY VERTICAL AND HORIZONTAL LOAD IS DISTRIBUTED THROUGHOUT SAID TRACK TYPE VEHICLE, (G) THE PLATE MEMBERS TO FLEX RESPONSIVE TO TOE-IN OF THE ENDLESS TRACK LAYING MECHANISMS THEREBY COMPENSATING FOR THE FORCES AND MOMENTS ACTING THEREON TO STABILIZE THE CHASSIS.