US4386809A
Expired / Lapsed
US
⏱️ 0.0 years remaining
Driving-guidance system for a resilient vehicle propulsion band
Assignee: United States Department of the Army
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Filing: 1981-03-16
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Granted: 1983-06-07
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Expires: 2001-03-16
Abstract
Abstract In a ground vehicle having resilient endless bands engaged with the terrainor suspension and propulsion purposes, improved novel roller arrangements for maintaining a desired band envelope under adverse operating conditions, such as large vehicle accelerations or decelerations, movement over rough bumpy terrain, or vehicle turning actions.
Inventors
- 👤 Algis L. Lapsys
Bibliographic Details
Application Number
—
Jurisdiction
US
Data Source
google_patents
Last Synchronized
2026-11-04 23:35
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D55/00; B62D55/08; B62D55/18; B62D55/24; B62D55/242; B62D55/104; B62D55/108; B62D55/30
Claims Analysis
Total Claims: 8
Claim 1
Independent Claim
159 words
In a military ground vehicle supported at its sides on endless resilient bands, each band including a lower run engageable with the ground, an upper run spaced above the ground, and curved end sections connecting the lower and upper runs; the improvement comprising two floating end rollers engageable with inner surfaces of the band end sections; a spring mechanism continuously biasing each end roller into pressure engagement with the respective band surface when the band end sections move away from each other incident to movement of the upper and lower runs toward each other; two load rollers carried by the vehicle in pressure engagement with the upper surface of the band upper run; said load rollers being located above and between the end rollers so that each load roller carries approximately the same load; each of the four rollers having axially-spaced radial flanges overlapping the band lateral edges to preclude sidewise slippage of the band off of the rollers.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim
159 words
In a military ground vehicle supported at its sides on endless resilient bands, each band including a lower run engageable with the ground, an upper run spaced above the ground, and curved end sections connecting the lower and upper runs; the improvement comprising two floating end rollers engageable with inner surfaces of the band end sections; a spring mechanism continuously biasing each end roller into pressure engagement with the respective band surface when the band end sections move away from each other incident to movement of the upper and lower runs toward each other; two load rollers carried by the vehicle in pressure engagement with the upper surface of the band upper run; said load rollers being located above and between the end rollers so that each load roller carries approximately the same load; each of the four rollers having axially-spaced radial flanges overlapping the band lateral edges to preclude sidewise slippage of the band off of the rollers.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim
41 words
The improvement of claim 1: each load roller including a mounting shaft; each end roller being floatably mounted on the vehicle by means of an arm mechanism (28) that is swingably carried by the mounting shaft for the adjacent load roller.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim
23 words
The improvement of claim 2: each of the aforementioned spring mechanisms being trained between the vehicle and one of the above-mentioned arm mechanisms.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim
35 words
The improvement of claim 1: one of the load rollers constituting a drive roller for the band; said one load roller having driver teeth projecting into longitudinally-spaced openings in the band to produce band movement.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim
42 words
The improvement of claim 4, and further comprising reaction roller means spaced substantially directly below the drive roller to engage the undersurface of the band upper run, thereby preventing undesired disconnection of the band from the driver teeth on the drive roller.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim
30 words
The improvement of claim 5: said reaction roller means comprising two longitudinally-spaced rollers and a walking beam mount structure which provides substantially equal band loadings on the two reaction rollers.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim
93 words
The improvement of claim 4, and further comprising a reaction roller means spaced substantially directly below each load roller to engage the undersurface of the band upper run, thereby preventing undesired disconnection of the band from the load rollers; each reaction roller means comprising a walking beam mounted for pivotal motion about its midpoint on a horizontal axis transverse to the plane of motion of the band, spring means (17) baising the walking beam upwardly toward the upper run of the band, and band-engaged rollers carried on the ends of the walking beam.
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) | 1986-06-06 | 1986-12-06 | 1987-06-07 | $2000.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 7.5 Years (Year 8) | 1990-06-06 | 1990-12-06 | 1991-06-07 | $3760.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |
| 11.5 Years (Year 12) | 1994-06-06 | 1994-12-06 | 1995-06-07 | $7700.00 | Window Closed / Lapsed |