Resilient support element for roller wheels of a rubber tracked vehicle

Claim 2

In a rubber tracked vehicle, a resilient suspension element for use in supporting the wheels for the rubber track for rotation about generally horizontal rotational axes comprising: a first rigid support component having at least a first generally vertical surface area; a second rigid support component having at least a second generally vertical surface area and opposite sides; at least one resilient component formed with spaced apart sides having attachment areas, the resilient member being located between the first and second generally vertical surface areas of the first and second support components, one of the attachment areas being secured to the first generally vertical surface area and the other attachment area being secured to the second generally vertical surface area, wherein the first rigid support component has a U-shaped cross section and the second rigid support component has a T-shaped cross section.

Claim 3

The resilient suspension element of claim 1, wherein the first support component has at least two spaced apart generally vertical surface areas, which are located on opposite sides of the second support component, with a resilient component being located on each side of the second support component and secured to the generally vertical surface areas of the first and second support components.

Claim 4

The resilient suspension element of claim 2, wherein the resilient element is formed as a pair of resilient components secured on opposite sides of a nonresilient component having generally vertically extending surface areas, whereby the suspension element provides more rigid support with respect to twisting forces without decreasing the resilience of the support with respect to vertical forces.

Claim 5

In a rubber tracked vehicle, a resilient suspension element for use in supporting the wheels for the rubber tract for rotation about generally horizontal rotational axis comprising: a first rigid support component having at least a first generally vertical surface area; at least one resilient component formed with spaced apart sides having attachment areas, the resilient member being located between the first and second generally vertical surface areas of the first and second support components, one of the attachment areas being secured to the first generally vertical surface area and the other attachment area being secured to the second generally vertical surface area; a second rigid support component having at least a second generally vertical surface area, wherein the first rigid support component has a U-shaped cross section formed by a pair of spaced legs and a connecting base, each having a generally vertical surface area, and the second rigid support component has a T-shaped cross section formed by a leg and a cross arm, the leg having a generally vertical surface area, a pair of resilient components located on opposite sides of the leg of the second support component and secured thereto, and between and secured to the spaced legs of the first support component.

Claim 6

In a rubber tracked vehicle, a resilient suspension element for use in supporting the wheels for the rubber tract for rotation about generally horizontal rotational axis comprising: a first rigid support component having at least a first generally vertical surface area; at least one resilient component formed with spaced apart sides having attachment areas, the resilient member being located between the first and second generally vertical surface areas of the first and second support components, one of the attachment areas being secured to the first generally vertical surface area and the other attachment area being secured to the second generally vertical surface area; a second rigid support component having at least a second generally vertical surface area, wherein the first rigid support component has a U-shaped cross section formed by a pair of spaced legs and a connecting base, each having a generally vertical surface area, and the second rigid support component has a T-shaped cross section formed by a leg and a cross arm, the leg having a generally vertical surface area, a pair of resilient components located on opposite sides of the leg of the second support component and secured thereto, and between and secured to the spaced legs of the first support component.

Claim 7

The resilient suspension element of claim 4, wherein a U-shaped resilient component is placed within the U-shaped rigid support component and surrounds the leg of the T-shaped rigid support component.

Claim 8

The resilient suspension element of claim 5, wherein the leg of the T-shaped rigid support component is tapered, such that it is thinner adjacent to a first edge of the T-shaped component than adjacent to a second edge of the T-shaped component, and the distance between spaced legs of the U-shaped rigid support component is greater adjacent to the second edge than adjacent to the first edge, such that the legs of the U-shaped resilient component are of generally uniform thickness and farther apart adjacent the second edge than adjacent the first edge.

Claim 9

The resilient suspension element of claim 4, wherein the vehicle includes a beam supporting a plurality of roller wheels, and wherein the connecting base of the first rigid support component is secured to the undercarriage of the rubber tracked vehicle and the cross arm of the second rigid support component is secured to the beam supporting a plurality of roller wheels, whereby the beam supporting the plurality of roller wheels is resiliently supported on the undercarriage.

Claim 10

The resilient suspension element of claim 4, wherein one edge of the U-shaped support member is provided with a flange generally perpendicular to the vertical surface area of the U-shaped member, and the flange is secured to the undercarriage of the rubber tracked vehicle.

Claim 11

The resilient suspension element of claim 1, wherein the vehicle includes a beam supporting a plurality of roller wheels, and wherein the first support component is secured to an end of the beam supporting a plurality of roller wheels, and the second support component is secured to the undercarriage of the rubber tracked vehicle, whereby the beam supporting the plurality of roller wheels is resiliently supported on the undercarriage.

Claim 12

A rubber tracked vehicle having a front section and a rear section, a rubber track located on each side of both the front and the rear sections, the ground engaging portion of each of the rubber tracks being supported by roller wheels rotatable about horizontal rotational axes which are supported from the vehicle sections by resilient suspension elements comprising: a first rigid support component having at least a first generally vertical surface area; a second rigid support component having at least a second generally vertical surface area and opposite sides; and at least one resilient component formed with spaced apart sides having attachment areas, the resilient member being located between the generally vertical surface areas of the first and second support components, one of the attachment areas of the resilient component being secured to the first generally vertical surface area and the other attachment area of the resilient component being secured to the second generally vertical surface area, wherein the first rigid support component has a substantially horizontal U-shaped cross section and the second rigid support component has a substantially horizontal T-shaped cross section.

Claim 13

A rubber tracked vehicle having a front section and a rear section, a rubber track located on each side of both the front and the rear sections, the ground engaging portion of each of the rubber tracks being supported by roller wheels rotatable about horizontal rotational axes which are supported from the vehicle sections by resilient suspension elements comprising: a first rigid support component having at least a first generally vertical surface area; a second rigid support component having at least a second generally vertical surface area and opposite sides; and at least one resilient component formed with spaced apart sides having attachment areas, the resilient member being located between the generally vertical surface areas of the first and second support components, one of the attachment areas of the resilient component being secured to the first generally vertical surface area and the other attachment area of the resilient component being secured to the second generally vertical surface area, wherein the first rigid support component has a substantially horizontal U-shaped cross section and the second rigid support component has a substantially horizontal T-shaped cross section.

Claim 14

The resilient suspension element of claim 10, wherein the first support component has at least two spaced apart generally vertical surface areas, which are located on opposite sides of the second support component, with a resilient component being located on each side of the second support component and secured to the generally vertical surface areas of the first and second support components.

Claim 15

The resilient suspension element of claim 11, wherein the resilient element is formed as a pair of resilient components secured on opposite sides of a nonresilient component having generally vertically extending surface areas, whereby the suspension element provides more rigid support with respect to twisting forces without decreasing the resilience of the support with respect to vertical forces.

Claim 16

A rubber tracked vehicle having a front section and a rear section, a rubber track located on each side of both the front and the rear sections, the ground engaging portion of each of the rubber tracks being supported by roller wheels rotatable about horizontal rotational axes which are supported from the vehicle sections by resilient suspension elements comprising: a first rigid support component having at least a first generally vertical surface area; a second rigid support component having at least a second generally vertical surface area; and at least one resilient component formed with spaced apart sides having attachment areas, the resilient member being located between the generally vertical surface areas of the first and second support components, one of the attachment areas of the resilient component being secured to the first generally vertical surface area and the other attachment area of the resilient component being secured to the second generally vertical surface area wherein the first rigid support, wherein the first rigid support component has a U-shaped cross section formed by a pair of spaced legs and a connecting base, each having a generally vertical surface area, and the second rigid support component has a T-shaped cross section formed by a leg and a cross arm, the leg having generally vertical surface areas, a pair of resilient components located on opposite sides of the leg of the second support component and secured thereto, and between and secured to the spaced legs of the first support component.

Claim 17

A rubber tracked vehicle having a front section and a rear section, a rubber track located on each side of both the front and the rear sections, the ground engaging portion of each of the rubber tracks being supported by roller wheels rotatable about horizontal rotational axes which are supported from the vehicle sections by resilient suspension elements comprising: a first rigid support component having at least a first generally vertical surface area; a second rigid support component having at least a second generally vertical surface area; and at least one resilient component formed with spaced apart sides having attachment areas, the resilient member being located between the generally vertical surface areas of the first and second support components, one of the attachment areas of the resilient component being secured to the first generally vertical surface area and the other attachment area of the resilient component being secured to the second generally vertical surface area wherein the first rigid support, wherein the first rigid support component has a U-shaped cross section formed by a pair of spaced legs and a connecting base, each having a generally vertical surface area, and the second rigid support component has a T-shaped cross section formed by a leg and a cross arm, the leg having generally vertical surface areas, a pair of resilient components located on opposite sides of the leg of the second support component and secured thereto, and between and secured to the spaced legs of the first support component.

Claim 18

The resilient suspension element of claim 13, wherein a U-shaped resilient component is placed within the U-shaped rigid support component and surrounds the leg of the T-shaped rigid support component.

Claim 19

The resilient suspension element of claim 14, wherein the leg of the T-shaped rigid support component is tapered, such that it is thinner at a top portion of the T-shaped component than at a bottom portion of the T-shaped component, and the distance between spaced legs of the U-shaped rigid support component is greater at the bottom than at the top, such that the legs of the U-shaped resilient component are of generally uniform thickness and farther apart at a bottom portion of the U-shaped component than at a top portion of the U-shaped component.

Claim 20

The resilient suspension element of claim 13, wherein the vehicle includes a beam supporting a plurality of roller wheels, and wherein the connecting base of the first rigid support component is secured to the undercarriage of the rubber tracked vehicle and the cross arm of the second rigid support component is secured to the beam supporting a plurality of roller wheels, whereby the beam supporting the plurality of roller wheels is resiliently supported on the undercarriage.

Claim 21

The resilient suspension element of claim 13, wherein one edge of the U-shaped support member is provided with a flange generally perpendicular to the generally vertical surface areas of the U-shaped member, and the flange is secured to the undercarriage of the rubber tracked vehicle.

Claim 22

The resilient suspension element of claim 10, wherein the vehicle includes a beam supporting a plurality of roller wheels, and wherein the first support component is secured to an end of the beam supporting a plurality of roller wheels, and the second support component is secured to the undercarriage of the rubber tracked vehicle, whereby the beam supporting the plurality of roller wheels is resiliently supported on the undercarriage.

Claim 23

A resilient suspension element for use in supporting the roller wheels of a rubber tracked vehicle comprising: a first rigid support component having at least one generally vertical surface area and a U-shaped cross section; and a second rigid support component having at least one generally vertical surface area and a T-shaped cross section; and at least one resilient component formed with spaced apart sides having generally vertically extending surface areas, the resilient member being located between the generally vertical surface areas of the first and second support components, one of the generally vertically extending surface areas of the resilient component being secured to the generally vertical surface area of the first support component and the other generally vertically extending surface area of the resilient component being secured to the generally vertical surface area of the second support component, such that a vertical force applied between the first and second support components creates a shear force in the resilient component, and a twisting force between the first and second support components creates a compression force in the resilient component, whereby the suspension element provides more resilient support with respect to vertical forces and more rigid support with respect to twisting forces.

Claim 24

A resilient suspension element for use in supporting the roller wheels of a rubber tracked vehicle comprising: a first rigid support component having at least one generally vertical surface area and a U-shaped cross section; and a second rigid support component having at least one generally vertical surface area and a T-shaped cross section; and at least one resilient component formed with spaced apart sides having generally vertically extending surface areas, the resilient member being located between the generally vertical surface areas of the first and second support components, one of the generally vertically extending surface areas of the resilient component being secured to the generally vertical surface area of the first support component and the other generally vertically extending surface area of the resilient component being secured to the generally vertical surface area of the second support component, such that a vertical force applied between the first and second support components creates a shear force in the resilient component, and a twisting force between the first and second support components creates a compression force in the resilient component, whereby the suspension element provides more resilient support with respect to vertical forces and more rigid support with respect to twisting forces.

Claim 25

The resilient suspension element of claim 19, wherein the first support component has at least two spaced apart generally vertical surface areas, which are located on opposite sides of the second support component, each of which sides forms a generally vertical surface area, with a resilient component being located on each side of the second support component and secured to the generally vertical surface areas of the first and second support components, such that a vertical force applied to the suspension element creates a shear force in each of the resilient components, and a twisting force creates compression forces in each of the resilient components, whereby the suspension element provides more resilient support with respect to vertical forces and more rigid support with respect to twisting forces.