Drive for a reduced scale track-laying utility vehicle

Claim 2

A reduced scale track-laying hydraulically powered tractor unit comprising: 3 a body having an operator''s seat adapted to accommodate an operator and having a plurality of control levers adapted to provide accessible operator control, at least one tractor accessory movably mounted on said body near one end of said tractor unit, a pair of drivable tracks adapted to support said body, and driving means supported by said body and operatively engaging said tracks to provide locomotion for said tractor unit, said driving means comprising; a gasoline engine, a first single-inlet single-outlet pump adapted to be driven by said engine and to provide hydraulic accessory power to an accessory, a second single-inlet dualoutlet pump adapted to be driven by said engine, a pair of hydraulic motors permanently connected to drive respective ones of said pair of drivable tracks, first control means for selectively gating a fluid from one of said dual outlets to a first of said motors, second control means for selectively gating a fluid from the other of said dual outlets to the other of said motors, said first and second control means being actuated by first and second of said control levers, and fluid reservoir means for providing a fluid to both said pumps, said fluid reservoir means being symmetrically disposed about said operator seat so as to present approximately equal loads to each said track and to provide counterbalancing at the tractor unit end remote from said accessory end.

Claim 3

The tractor unit of claim 1 wherein said fluid reservoir means partially surrounds said operator seat, further comprising spring-loaded idler sprocket wheels engaging said drivable tracks and adapted to maintain the proper tension on said drivable tracks and to yield when the tension on said drivable tracks exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 4

A hydraulically driven track-laying utility vehicle comprising: a body having an operator''s seat adapted to accommodate an operator and having a plurality of control levers adapted to provide accessible controls, a pair of drivable tracks adapted to support said body, and driving means supported by said body and operatively engaging said tracks to provide locomotion for said vehicle, said driving means comprising; a gasoline engine, a first single-inlet single-outlet pump adapted to be driven by said engine, a second single-inlet single-outlet pump adapted to be driven by said engine, a pair of hydraulic motors permanently connected to drive respective ones of said pair of drivable tracks, first control means for selectively gating a fluid from the outlet of said first pump to a first of said motors, second control means for selectively gating a fluid from the outlet of said second pump to a second of said motors, said first and second control means being responsive to actuation of first and second of said control levers, a reservoir for containing hydraulic fluid having inlet means and outlet means, said outlet means connected to the inlets of each said first and second pumps, said reservoir being symmetrically disposed about said operator seat near one end of said vehicle so as to present approximately equal loads to each said track and to provide counterbalancing weight at said one end of said tractor, and filter means completing said hydraulic circuit by connecting the first and second control means to said reservoir inlet means.

Claim 5

A hydraulically driven track-laying utility vehicle comprising: a body having an operator''s seat adapted to accommodate an operator and having a plurality of control levers adapted to provide accessible controls, a pair of drivable tracks adapted to support said body, and driving means supported by said body and operatively engaging said tracks to provide locomotion for said vehicle, said driving means comprising; a gasoline engine, a first single-inlet single-outlet pump adapted to be driven by said engine, a second single-inlet single-outlet pump adapted to be driven by said engine, a pair of hydraulic motors permanently connected to drive respective ones of said pair of drivable tracks, first control means for selectively gating a fluid from the outlet of said first pump to a first of said motors, second control means for selectively gating a fluid from the outlet of said second pump to a second of said motors, said first and second control means being responsive to actuation of first and second of said control levers, a reservoir for containing hydraulic fluid having inlet means and outlet means, said outlet means connected to the inlets of each said first and second pumps, said reservoir being symmetrically disposed about said operator seat near one end of said vehicle so as to present approximately equal loads to each said track and to provide counterbalancing weight at said one end of said tractor, and filter means completing said hydraulic circuit by connecting the first and second control means to said reservoir inlet means.

Claim 6

The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said reservoir partially surrounds said operator seat further comprising spring-loaded idler sprocket wheels engaging said drivable tracks and adapted to maintain the proper tension on said drivable tracks and to yield when the tension on said drivable tracks exceeds a predetermined value.

Claim 7

The vehicle of claim 4 further comprising baffle meaNs within said reservoir for maintaining a relatively uniform distribution of fluid therein.