US3565198A — Steering, driving and single track support system…

Claim 1

Independent Claim 183 words

A vehicle for guided movement along the supporting ground comprising a frame, a power source for the drive propulsion of said vehicle, a plurality of longitudinally spaced axle components for said vehicle, rotatable elements on said axles disposed adjacent the lateral sides of said vehicle for progressively moving and/or supporting said vehicle as the vehicle moves along the ground, pivots for more than one of said axles, said pivots being offset with respect to the axis of said axles whereby the pivoted axles may be laterally displaced with respect to the centerline of said vehicle, steering means for disposing the axis of said axles and the rotatable elements associated therewith radially with respect to the center of turns being executed by said vehicle and for aligning the movement paths of longitudinally spaced rotatable elements at either side of said vehicle in positions for following arcs of curvature having a center at the center of vehicle turn, and a single laterally bendable endless track for disposition about said axles and said rotatable elements for the exclusive ground contacting support and steering of said vehicle.

Claim 2

Dependent Claim 183 words

A vehicle for guided movement along the supporting ground comprising a frame, a power source for the drive propulsion of said vehicle, a plurality of longitudinally spaced axle components for said vehicle, rotatable elements on said axles disposed adjacent the lateral sides of said vehicle for progressively moving and/or supporting said vehicle as the vehicle moves along the ground, pivots for more than one of said axles, said pivots being offset with respect to the axis of said axles whereby the pivoted axles may be laterally displaced with respect to the centerline of said vehicle, steering means for disposing the axis of said axles and the rotatable elements associated therewith radially with respect to the center of turns being executed by said vehicle and for aligning the movement paths of longitudinally spaced rotatable elements at either side of said vehicle in positions for following arcs of curvature having a center at the center of vehicle turn, and a single laterally bendable endless track for disposition about said axles and said rotatable elements for the exclusive ground contacting support and steering of said vehicle.

Claim 3

Dependent Claim 15 words

Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least two pivoted axles are provided.

Claim 4

Dependent Claim 33 words

Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein said steering means is interconnected to the pivoted axles for moving the pivoted axles disposed forwardly and rearwardly of said vehicle in opposite rotative directions.

Claim 5

Dependent Claim 21 words

Structure as set forth in claim 1 wherein at least two pivoted axles are disposed in pairs having a common pivot.

Claim 6

Dependent Claim 35 words

Structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein said steering means is inclusive of elements interconnecting paired axles for rotating said axles about said common pivots in the same rotative direction but in nonequal degree.

Claim 7

Dependent Claim 28 words

Structure as set forth in claim 5 wherein axles disposed furthest from the fore and aft center of the vehicle are rotated more than axles disposed closer thereto.

Claim 8

Dependent Claim 16 words

Structure as set forth in claim 4 wherein said vehicle has at least two axle pivots.

Claim 9

Dependent Claim 18 words

Structure as set forth in claim 7 wherein at least two axle pivots have paired axles moving thereabout.

Claim 10

Dependent Claim 43 words

Structure as set forth in claim 8 wherein said steering means is inclusive of linkage elements for moving the paired axles disposed forwardly of said vehicle in rotative directions opposite to the direction of movement for paired axles disposed rearwardly of said vehicle.

Claim 11

Dependent Claim 185 words

A vehicle for movement along a supporting surface comprising a frame, axles supporting the frame, at least two of said axles including an arm secured to the axle and pivotally attached to the frame at a point spaced from the principal axis of the axle, disposed linkage interconnecting at least said two axles for movement about said points form a first position wherein said axles are parallel to a second position wherein the principal axis of all said axles are aligned radially with a center of curvature, and the center of each axle is arranged substantially in an arc about the center of curvature, wheels rotatably mounted on the axles, a single track bendable in the plane of the supporting surface extending around the axles and wheels, said track including a plurality of elongated members generally parallel to said axles and a tension transmitting centrally disposed spine bendably connecting the elongated members, said spine defining a fixed maximuM center circumference for said track, means for maintaining each elongated track member substantially in alignment with said axles and means for driving a pair of said wheels.

Claim 12

Dependent Claim 185 words

A vehicle for movement along a supporting surface comprising a frame, axles supporting the frame, at least two of said axles including an arm secured to the axle and pivotally attached to the frame at a point spaced from the principal axis of the axle, disposed linkage interconnecting at least said two axles for movement about said points form a first position wherein said axles are parallel to a second position wherein the principal axis of all said axles are aligned radially with a center of curvature, and the center of each axle is arranged substantially in an arc about the center of curvature, wheels rotatably mounted on the axles, a single track bendable in the plane of the supporting surface extending around the axles and wheels, said track including a plurality of elongated members generally parallel to said axles and a tension transmitting centrally disposed spine bendably connecting the elongated members, said spine defining a fixed maximuM center circumference for said track, means for maintaining each elongated track member substantially in alignment with said axles and means for driving a pair of said wheels.

Claim 13

Dependent Claim 203 words

A vehicle for guided movement along the supporting ground comprising a frame, a power source for the drive propulsion of said vehicle, rotatable elements for progressively moving and/or supporting said vehicle as the vehicle moves along the ground with a plurality of said elements arranged in longitudinally separated and axially aligned pairs disposed forwardly and rearwardly of said vehicle for the steering control of said vehicle, pivots for said paired steering control elements, said pivots being offset with respect to the axis of said elements, steering means for disposing said paired elements in in position aligning the rotational axes of separate pairs radially with respect to the center of turns being executed by said vehicle and the movement paths of longitudinally spaced pair elements to correspond with an arc of curvature having a center at the center of vehicle turn, and a single laterally bendable endless track for disposition about said paired elements at the front and rear of said vehicle for the exclusive ground contacting support and steering of said vehicle. 12 Structure as set forth in claim 11 and further comprising means interconnecting said power source and at least one of said end pairs for the drive propulsion of said vehicle.

Claim 14

Dependent Claim 26 words

Structure as set forth in claim 11 wherein said linkage elements rotate said longitudinally spaced pairs about their respective pivots in equal but in opposite directions.

Claim 15

Dependent Claim 103 words

A vehicle for movement in straight or curved paths along the supporting ground comprising a frame, a power source for the propulsion of said vehicle, a single laterally bendable endless track for ground contacting support and steering of said vehicle, track guide elements on said vehicle for engagement with said bendable track to control the positioning thereof, and means useful when vehicle turns are to be when vehicle turns are to be made for moving at least two of said track guide elements to orient all of said track along an arc of curvature having a center at the center of vehicle turn.

Claim 16

Dependent Claim 103 words

A vehicle for movement in straight or curved paths along the supporting ground comprising a frame, a power source for the propulsion of said vehicle, a single laterally bendable endless track for ground contacting support and steering of said vehicle, track guide elements on said vehicle for engagement with said bendable track to control the positioning thereof, and means useful when vehicle turns are to be when vehicle turns are to be made for moving at least two of said track guide elements to orient all of said track along an arc of curvature having a center at the center of vehicle turn.

Claim 17

Dependent Claim 32 words

Structure as set forth in claim 14 wherein a plurality of said track guide elements additionally provide track supports for transmission of the vehicle weight to the track and the supporting ground.

Claim 18

Dependent Claim 55 words

Structure as set forth in claim 15 and further comprising a plurality of cleat elements for said track, a tension member disposed intermediate the ends of said cleat elements and connected thereto providing a drive propulsion spine for said track, and means interconnecting said power source and said drive propulsion spine for moving said track.

Claim 19

Dependent Claim 47 words

Structure as set forth in claim 16 wherein movable track guide elements are track supports disposed adjacent the lateral sides of said vehicle and wherein said track cleats extend laterally from said drive spine for contacting relationship with the support elements on opposite sides of said vehicle.

Claim 20

Dependent Claim 37 words

Structure as set forth in claim 16 nd further comprising a center segment on said cleat elements of greater width than the outboard ends of said cleat elements whereby operative clearance is provided between adjacent cleat elements.

Claim 21

Dependent Claim 52 words

Structure as set forth in claim 18 and further comprising steering means for laterally displacing said track guide elements, the drive spine of said track and said cleat element s whereby all the individual cleats may be disposed in positions radially aligned with respect to the center of turn for the vehicle.

Claim 22

Dependent Claim 58 words

Structure as set forth in claim 16 wherein said tension member is inclusive of segments holding said cleat elements in space apart relationship and wherein the width of longitudinally extending components of the cleat elements at any planar elevation is less than the longitudinal length of said segments whereby operative longitudinal clearance is provided between adjacenT cleat elements.

Claim 23

Dependent Claim 51 words

Structure as set forth in claim 20 and further comprising steering means for laterally displacing said track guide elements, the drive spine of said track and said cleat elements whereby all the individual cleats may be disposed in positions radially aligned with respect to the center of turn for the vehicle.

Annuity Stage	Window Opens	Payment Deadline	Surcharge Period Until	Estimated Fee	Status
3.5 Years (Year 4)	1974-02-22	1974-08-24	1975-02-23	$2000.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8)	1978-02-22	1978-08-24	1979-02-23	$3760.00	Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12)	1982-02-22	1982-08-24	1983-02-23	$7700.00	Window Closed / Lapsed

Steering, driving and single track support systems for vehicles

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