Recoil mechanism with gas recoil spring and a hydraulic track adjuster

Claim 2

A combination recoil and track adjusting means for a track laying vehicle, said means comprising: an idler wheel for engaging said track; housing means for fixedly mounting on said vehicle; said housing means comprising a first cylinder having an open end and a closed end and stop means disposed between said ends; a second cylinder having both ends open and a diameter smaller than said first cylinder coaxially disposed with and detachably secured to the open end of said first cylinder for direct open communication therebetween; a plunger extending into said open end of said second cylinder and operatively connected to said idler wheel; a free piston reciprocably disposed in said first cylinder between said plunger and engageable with said stop means to define a fixed minimum volume chamber at said closed end of said cylinder; one end of said second cylinder defining stop means between said cylinders to stop said free piston after some travel toward said plunger; an imcompressible hydraulic fluid disposed in said cylinders between said piston and said plunger and freely movably between said first and second cylinders to thereby define a differential coupling between said plunger and said piston so that said plunger moves greater than the corresponding movement of said free piston, and, a compressible fluid disposed between said piston and said closed end of said first cylinder to provide increased resistance to movement of said free piston over its entire range of movement in response to force transmitted thereto from said plunger movement over a greater range of movement than said piston.

Claim 3

A combination recoil and track adjusting means for a track laying vehicle, said means comprising: an idler wheel for engaging said track; housing means for fixedly mounting on said vehicle; said housing means comprising a first cylinder having an open end and in a closed end; a second cylinder having both ends open and a diameter smaller than said first cylinder coaxially disposed with and detachably secured to the open end of said first cylinder; a plunger extending into said open end of said second cylinder and operatively connected to said idler wheel; a free piston reciprocably disposed in said first cylinder between said plunger and said closed end of said cylinder; one end of said second cylinder defining stop means between said cylinders to stop said free piston after some travel toward said plunger; an incompressible hydraulic fluid disposed in said cylinders between said piston and said plunger and freely movably between said first and second cylinders to thereby define a differential coupling between said plunger and said piston so that said plunger moves greater than the corresponding movement of said free piston; a compressible fluid disposed between said piston and said closed end of said cylinder; a plurality of bolts securing said cylinders together; shield means detachably secured to said housing and covering said bolts so that said bolts cannot be removed when said shield is in the shielding position; and, safety venting means compRising conduit means communicating with the closed end of said first cylinder and operative to vent said chamber when said shield is moved from said shielding position.

Claim 4

A combination recoil and track adjusting means for a track laying vehicle, said means comprising: an idler wheel for engaging said track; housing means for fixedly mounting on said vehicle; said housing means comprising a first cylinder having an open end and in a closed end; a second cylinder having both ends open and a diameter smaller than said first cylinder coaxially disposed with and detachably secured to the open end of said first cylinder; a plunger extending into said open end of said second cylinder and operatively connected to said idler wheel; a free piston reciprocably disposed in said first cylinder between said plunger and said closed end of said cylinder; one end of said second cylinder defining stop means between said cylinders to stop said free piston after some travel toward said plunger; an incompressible hydraulic fluid disposed in said cylinders between said piston and said plunger and freely movably between said first and second cylinders to thereby define a differential coupling between said plunger and said piston so that said plunger moves greater than the corresponding movement of said free piston; a compressible fluid disposed between said piston and said closed end of said cylinder; a plurality of bolts securing said cylinders together; shield means detachably secured to said housing and covering said bolts so that said bolts cannot be removed when said shield is in the shielding position; and, safety venting means compRising conduit means communicating with the closed end of said first cylinder and operative to vent said chamber when said shield is moved from said shielding position.