Patent US1896372A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
Patent US3650343A successfully refreshed from Google Patents.
US3650343A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Ski slope traversing and conditioning vehicle
Assignee: Individual
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Filing: 1970-03-12
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Granted: 1972-03-21
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Expires: 1990-03-12
Abstract
Abstract An articulated multi-unit track-type vehicle is disclosed for traversal, packing and leveling of snow on a ski slope and similar applications. The interconnected, relatively wide and narrow units of the special-purpose vehicle are structurally constrained by their coupling against relative pitch and relative roll motion while being permitted relative yaw motion. Relative angular positioning of the units in the yaw plane is produced directly by hydraulic jacks or equivalent means to effect steering of the vehicle without reliance on track slippage therefor. By reason of constraint of the units to monoplanar relative motion combined with the means to steer, the vehicle can be maneuvered safely and in controlled manner on steep slopes, and can be made to climb steeper grades and to level out moguls more effectively than conventional vehicles.
Inventors
- 👤 John B Helsell
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-01 23:51
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D11/00; B62D11/20; B62D55/00; B62D55/06; B62D55/065; B62D55/0655; B62D55/08; B62D55/084
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 10
Claim 1
Independent Claim
214 words
A snow-traversing vehicle for use on ski slopes and the like comprising front and rear units having driven ground-engaging traction means each with ground-engaging tracks extending substantially linearly along at least the major portion of the length of the associated unit with the traction means of one such unit having outer edges spaced farther apart than the outer edges of the traction means of the other unit so as to track at least in part on different ground areas, motive power means on the vehicle operatively connected for driving the traction means of both units, articulative coupling means interconnecting the units in tandem relationship including a pivotal connection permitting relative angular motion between the units about an upright axis defined by said pivotal connection and associated structural means effective substantially to prevent relative angular motion between said units, including the traction means thereof, in pitch about a transverse horizontal axis and in roll about a longitudinal axis so as to maintain the ground-engaging tracks of both units substantially in a common plane when traversing uneven terrain, and means to steer said vehicle by directly displacing the units into different relative angular positions about said upright axis comprising force-producing means operatively interconnecting the units to react therebetween at respective locations offset from said upright axis.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
214 words
A snow-traversing vehicle for use on ski slopes and the like comprising front and rear units having driven ground-engaging traction means each with ground-engaging tracks extending substantially linearly along at least the major portion of the length of the associated unit with the traction means of one such unit having outer edges spaced farther apart than the outer edges of the traction means of the other unit so as to track at least in part on different ground areas, motive power means on the vehicle operatively connected for driving the traction means of both units, articulative coupling means interconnecting the units in tandem relationship including a pivotal connection permitting relative angular motion between the units about an upright axis defined by said pivotal connection and associated structural means effective substantially to prevent relative angular motion between said units, including the traction means thereof, in pitch about a transverse horizontal axis and in roll about a longitudinal axis so as to maintain the ground-engaging tracks of both units substantially in a common plane when traversing uneven terrain, and means to steer said vehicle by directly displacing the units into different relative angular positions about said upright axis comprising force-producing means operatively interconnecting the units to react therebetween at respective locations offset from said upright axis.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
27 words
The vehicle defined in claim 1, wherein the traction means of each unit comprise pairs of endless cleated crawler tracks spaced apart transversely on the respective units.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
45 words
The vehicle defined in claim 2, wherein the steering means comprises cooperable piston and complemental cylinder jack mechanism connected to the front and rear units, and means to selectively apply pressurized fluid to said jack mechanism for operation thereof so as to steer the vehicle.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
75 words
The vehicle defined in claim 3, wherein the spacing between the tracks of the front unit is less than that between the tracks of the rear unit, wherein the front unit has an engine, and wherein power transmission means drivingly connects said engine to both the front unit tracks and the rear unit tracks, such connection to the rear unit tracks including an articulative drive shaft accommodating the aforesaid relative angular motion between the units.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
89 words
The vehicle defined in claim 2, wherein the front and rear units comprise rigid boxlike frame structures and wherein the coupling means interconnecting the units comprise rigid boxlike tongues of generally triangular form in plan and respectively joined to the mutually adjacent ends of the respective boxlike frame structures of said units as rigid endwise continuations thereof, said tongues having apical termini pivotally connected together at top and bottom locations spaced apart vertically to carry load on said coupling means exerted in torque about said transverse and longitudinal axes.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
89 words
The vehicle defined in claim 4, wherein the front and rear units comprise rigid boxlike frame structures and wherein the coupling means interconnecting the units comprise rigid boxlike tongues of generally triangular form in plan and respectively joined to the mutually adjacent ends of the respective boxlike frame structures of said units as rigid endwise continuations thereof, said tongues having apical termini pivotally connected together at top and bottom locations spaced apart vertically to carry load on said coupling means exerted in torque about saId transverse and longitudinal axes.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
25 words
The vehicle defined in claim 5, wherein the articulative drive shaft passes endwise of the vehicle at a location between said top and bottom locations.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim
144 words
A vehicle for leveling and grooming ski slopes comprising two tandem-connected power-driven track-type units each with ground-engaging surfaces extending substantially linearly along at least the major portion of the length of the associated unit, the relative transverse track locations of which units are such respectively that the tracks of one unit pack snow in paths transversely offset from those packed by the other unit, said units being tandemly interconnected by coupling means so constrained in rigid relationship with the respective structures of said units as to constrain such units, including the tracks thereof, rigidly against appreciable relative angular motion in pitch and in roll while permitting such relative angular motion in yaw, thereby to maintain said tracks in a common ground-engaging plane, and means interconnecting the units to steer the vehicle by forcing relative angular displacement therebetween about said coupling in said common plane.
Claim 10
Dependent Claim
144 words
A vehicle for leveling and grooming ski slopes comprising two tandem-connected power-driven track-type units each with ground-engaging surfaces extending substantially linearly along at least the major portion of the length of the associated unit, the relative transverse track locations of which units are such respectively that the tracks of one unit pack snow in paths transversely offset from those packed by the other unit, said units being tandemly interconnected by coupling means so constrained in rigid relationship with the respective structures of said units as to constrain such units, including the tracks thereof, rigidly against appreciable relative angular motion in pitch and in roll while permitting such relative angular motion in yaw, thereby to maintain said tracks in a common ground-engaging plane, and means interconnecting the units to steer the vehicle by forcing relative angular displacement therebetween about said coupling in said common plane.
References Cited (Backward Citations)
USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows
| Annuity Stage | Window Opens | Payment Deadline | Surcharge Period Until | Estimated Fee | Status |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| 3.5 Years (Year 4) | 1975-03-21 | 1975-09-20 | 1976-03-21 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1979-03-21 | 1979-09-20 | 1980-03-21 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1983-03-21 | 1983-09-20 | 1984-03-21 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |