Convertible track system for wheeled vehicle

Claim 2

A convertible track system for a vehicle having two sets of tandem drive wheels, one set of drive wheels being located on one side of the vehicle and the other set of drive wheels being located on the opposite side of the vehicle with pneumatic tires being provided on all wheels, said system comprising: a pair of front idlers, one idler being disposed ahead of one set of drive wheels and the other idler being disposed ahead of the opposite set of drive wheels, said front idlers being mounted for rotation in the same general vertical planes as the drive wheels; a pair of rear idlers, one idler being disposed behind one set of drive wheels and the other idler being disposed behind the opposite set of drive wheels, said rear idlers being mounted for rotation in the same general vertical planes as the drive wheels and front idlers; means for supporting each idler from the vehicle independently of the drive wheel mountings; a pair of flexible endless belt type tracks, one track being trained about one set of drive wheels and idlers and the other track being trained about the opposite set of drive wheels and idlers, each belt having a transversely planar inner surface; said idlers having cylindrical surfaces supporting the transversely planar inner surface of the track trained thereabout, said idlers further having flanges extending radially outward from both ends thereof opposite each side of the belt type track; and stationary ring guards mounted upon said idler support means with one guard positioned circumferentially adjacent the outermost edge of each idler flange to restrain the track in the event that it should ride up and over the idler flange; whereby the tracks are frictionally driven by the drive wheels and the idlers serve to isolate track tension forces and lateral track guidance forces from the drive wheels.

Claim 3

An all-terrain vehicle convertible for all season operation comprising a hull; a set of two or more tandem drive wheels mounted on one side of the hull and a set of two or more tandem drive wheels mounted on the opposite side of the hull, each wheel having a pneumatic tire thereon; a frame extending forward from the hull; a pair of front idlers supported by said frame with one idler disposed ahead of one set of tandem drive wheels and the other idler disposed ahead of the opposite set of drive wheels, said front idlers being mounted for rotation in the same general vertical planes as the drive wheels; a frame extending rearward from the hull; a pair of rear idlers supported by said rearwardly extending frame with one idler disposed behind one set of drive wheels and the other idler disposed behind the opposite set of drive wheels, said rear idlers being mounted for rotation in the same general vertical planes as the drive wheels and front idlers; a pair of flexible endless belt type tracks, one track being trained about one set of drive wheels and idlers and the other track being trained about the opposite set of drive wheels and idlers, each track having a transversely planar inner surface for contacting the pneumatic tires on the drive wheels, said tracks being tensioned for gripping engagement with said tires; each of said idlers having a cyLindrical surface supporting the transversely planar inner surface of the associated track and flanges extending radially outward from both ends of the cylindrical surface opposite each side of the belt type track; and stationary ring guards mounted upon side idler support frames with one guard positioned circumferentially adjacent the outermost edge of each idler flange to restrain the associated track in the event that it should ride up and over the flange; whereby the tracks are frictionally driven by the drive wheels and the idlers isolate track tension forces and lateral track guidance forces from the drive wheels.

Claim 4

An all-terrain vehicle convertible for all season operation comprising a hull; a set of two or more tandem drive wheels mounted on one side of the hull and a set of two or more tandem drive wheels mounted on the opposite side of the hull, each wheel having a pneumatic tire thereon; a frame extending forward from the hull; a pair of front idlers supported by said frame with one idler disposed ahead of one set of tandem drive wheels and the other idler disposed ahead of the opposite set of drive wheels, said front idlers being mounted for rotation in the same general vertical planes as the drive wheels; a frame extending rearward from the hull; a pair of rear idlers supported by said rearwardly extending frame with one idler disposed behind one set of drive wheels and the other idler disposed behind the opposite set of drive wheels, said rear idlers being mounted for rotation in the same general vertical planes as the drive wheels and front idlers; a pair of flexible endless belt type tracks, one track being trained about one set of drive wheels and idlers and the other track being trained about the opposite set of drive wheels and idlers, each track having a transversely planar inner surface for contacting the pneumatic tires on the drive wheels, said tracks being tensioned for gripping engagement with said tires; each of said idlers having a cyLindrical surface supporting the transversely planar inner surface of the associated track and flanges extending radially outward from both ends of the cylindrical surface opposite each side of the belt type track; and stationary ring guards mounted upon side idler support frames with one guard positioned circumferentially adjacent the outermost edge of each idler flange to restrain the associated track in the event that it should ride up and over the flange; whereby the tracks are frictionally driven by the drive wheels and the idlers isolate track tension forces and lateral track guidance forces from the drive wheels.