High drive-track-type vehicle

Claim 2

A track-type vehicle disposed for movement along a longitudinal axis thereof comprising: a main frame, a sub-frame disposed on each lateral side of said vehicle, a pair of longitudinally spaced idlers rotatably mounted on each end of each sub-frame, a drive sprocket rotatably mounted directly on each side of said main frame and positioned longitudinally between and vertically above a respective pair of idlers and further positioned substantially closer to a first idler of such pair of idlers than to a second idler thereof, an endless track assembly, having the general shape of a scalene triangle, positioned on each side of said main frame and entrained about a respective one of said drive sprockets and pair of idlers, suspension means, including rollers and means interconnecting the rollers and sub-frame for allowing pivotal suspension movement of the rollers relative to the sub-frame, the rollers engaging the portion of said track assembly between a respective pair of said idlers, and pivot means pivotally mounting each sub-frame on said main frame, each pivot means located longitudinally between the rotational axis of a respective sprocket and the second idler of a pair of idlers.

Claim 3

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the means interconnecting the rollers and the sub-frame for allowing pivotal suspension movement of the rollers relative to the sub-frame comprise a crank member pivotally connected to the sub-frame and interconnecting the sub-frame with at least one roller, and a lever pivotally mounted to the sub-frame and interconnecting the sub-frame with at least one other roller.

Claim 4

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein an imaginary line intersecting the axis of said pivot means and the rotational axis of said sprocket substantially bisects a wrap angle of said track assembly on said sprocket.

Claim 5

The vehicle of claim 3 wherein said wrap angle is less than 115* and is sufficiently large to have at least two teeth of said sprocket drivingly engage respective drivers of said track assembly, said wrap angle being greater than 360 times said teeth divided by the total number of track assembly engageable teeth on said sprocket.

Claim 6

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein a generally straight portion of said track assembly extending between said sprocket and said first idler, and an imaginary line intersecting the rotational axes of said first and second idlers defines an included angle of from 30* to 90*.

Claim 7

The vehicle of claim 5 wherein said included angle approximates about 66*.

Claim 8

The vehicle of claim 6 wherein an included angle between said imaginary line and a generally straight portion of said track assembly, extending between said sprocket and said second idler, approximates about 18*.

Claim 9

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein a wrap angle about said Drive sprocket approximates about 80*.

Claim 10

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein the vertical distance between the rotational axes of said first idler and said sprocket is no greater than 0.6 of the longitudinal distance between the rotational axes of said first and second idlers.

Claim 11

The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an operator''s station mounted on said vehicle to be generally vertically above said sprocket.

Claim 12

The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising at least one support roller mounted on each of said main frame and said sub-frame to engage and support the portion of said track assembly extending between said sprocket and said second idler.

Claim 13

The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising a bulldozer assembly having a blade positioned forwardly of said vehicle and a push arm disposed on each side of said vehicle, said push arms each having their forward ends connected to said blade and their rearward ends connected to said pivot means.

Claim 14

The vehicle of claim 1 further comprising an engine mounted on said vehicle and power train means operatively connected between said engine and said drive sprocket and disposed in general longitudinal relationship therebetween.

Claim 15

The vehicle of claim 13 wherein substantial portions of said power train means are positioned generally below the rotational axis of said drive sprockets and wherein a transmission of said power train means is detachably mounted on a rearward end of said vehicle.

Claim 16

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said drive sprocket is rotatably mounted on a rearward end of said vehicle.

Claim 17

The vehicle of claim 1 wherein said drive sprocket is rotatably mounted on a forward end of said vehicle.

Claim 18

A track-type vehicle comprising a main frame, a sub-frame disposed on each lateral side of said vehicle, pivot means pivotally mounting each sub-frame on said main frame, a pair of longitudinally spaced idlers rotatably mounted on each end of each sub-frame, said pivot means positioned longitudinally between said idlers, a drive sprocket rotatably mounted on each side of said main frame and positioned longitudinally between and vertically above said idlers in closer proximity to a first idler of a respective pair of said idlers than to a second idler thereof, each of said pivot means located longitudinally between the rotational axis of a respective sprocket and the second idler of a pair of idlers, an endless track assembly having a general shape of a scalene triangle entrained about each drive sprocket and a respective pair of said idlers, an imaginary line intersecting the pivot axis of said pivot means and the rotational axis of said drive sprocket substantially bisecting a wrap angle of said track assembly on said sprocket and roller means attached on each lateral side of said main frame and supporting a portion of a respective track assembly extending between a sprocket and the second roller of a pair of rollers.

Claim 19

A track-type vehicle comprising a main frame, a sub-frame disposed on each lateral side of said vehicle, pivot means pivotally mounting each sub-frame on said main frame, a pair of longitudinally spaced idlers rotatably mounted on each end of each sub-frame, said pivot means positioned longitudinally between said idlers, a drive sprocket rotatably mounted on each side of said main frame and positioned longitudinally between and vertically above said idlers in closer proximity to a first idler of a respective pair of said idlers than to a second idler thereof, each of said pivot means located longitudinally between the rotational axis of a respective sprocket and the second idler of a pair of idlers, an endless track assembly having a general shape of a scalene triangle entrained about each drive sprocket and a respective pair of said idlers, an imaginary line intersecting the pivot axis of said pivot means and the rotational axis of said drive sprocket substantially bisecting a wrap angle of said track assembly on said sprocket and roller means attached on each lateral side of said main frame and supporting a portion of a respective track assembly extending between a sprocket and the second roller of a pair of rollers.

Claim 20

A track-type vehicle comprising a main frame having a drive sprocket rotatably mounted on each lateral side thereof, a sub-frame disposed on each lateral side of said main frame, each sub-frame having a pair of telescopically disposed sections having a recoil mechanism disposed therein and therebetween, support means comprising idlers rotatably mounted on each sub-frame, a triangularly shaped endless track assembly entrained about each drive sprocket and respective idlers, mounting means, positioned longitudinally between said support means, pivotally mounting each sub-frame on said main frame, and at least one support roller mounted on each of said main and sub-frames to engage and support a portion of each track assembly positioned longitudinally between a sprocket and one of said idlers.

Claim 21

A track-type vehicle comprising a main frame having a drive sprocket rotatably mounted on each lateral side thereof, a sub-frame disposed on each lateral side of said main frame, each sub-frame having a pair of telescopically disposed sections having a recoil mechanism disposed therein and therebetween, support means comprising idlers rotatably mounted on each sub-frame, a triangularly shaped endless track assembly entrained about each drive sprocket and respective idlers, mounting means, positioned longitudinally between said support means, pivotally mounting each sub-frame on said main frame, and at least one support roller mounted on each of said main and sub-frames to engage and support a portion of each track assembly positioned longitudinally between a sprocket and one of said idlers.

Claim 22

A track-type vehicle comprising a main frame, a sub-frame having an endless track assembly mounted thereon, pivot means pivotally mounting said sub-frame directly on said main frame, and a work implement having a support arm mounted directly on said pivot means.

Claim 23

A track-type vehicle comprising a main frame, a sub-frame having an endless track assembly mounted thereon, pivot means pivotally mounting said sub-frame directly on said main frame, and a work implement having a support arm mounted directly on said pivot means.

Claim 24

The vehicle of claim 19 wherein said work implement comprises a bulldozer assembly having a blade positioned forwardly of said vehicle and said support arm comprises a push arm disposed on each side of said vehicle, said push arms each having their forward ends connected to said blade and their rearward ends connected to said pivot means.