Track tensioning system for a tracked vehicle

Abstract

A suspension system for suspending an endless track beneath a tracked vehicle chassis. At least one suspension arm is pivotal connection to the vehicle chassis at an upper end and pivotally connected to a suspension rail at a lower end. A biasing mechanism provides a biasing force that biases the suspension rail away from the vehicle chassis. At least one rear wheel is coupled proximate a rear portion of the suspension rail. A track tensioning system displaces the rear wheel relative to the suspension rail to apply a tensioning force to the endless track in response to displacement of the suspension arm.

What is claimed is:  
     
         1 . A suspension system for suspending an endless track beneath a tracked vehicle chassis, the suspension system comprising: 
 at least one elongated suspension rail having a front portion, a rear portion and a bottom track engaging portion;    at least one suspension arm having an upper end adapted for pivotal connection to the vehicle chassis and a lower end pivotally connected to the suspension rail;    a biasing mechanism adapted to provide a biasing force that biases the suspension rail away from the vehicle chassis;    at least one rear wheel coupled proximate a rear portion of the suspension rail; and    a track tensioning system that displaces the rear wheel relative to the suspension rail to apply a tensioning force to the endless track in response to displacement of the suspension arm.    
     
     
         2 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the rear wheel is pivotally engaged with the rear portion of the suspension rail.  
     
     
         3 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the rear wheel is slidingly engaged with the rear portion of the suspension rail.  
     
     
         4 . The suspension system of  claim 1  comprising at least one connector arm coupling the suspension arm to the rear wheel.  
     
     
         5 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the rear wheel is displaced along a horizontal slot in the suspension rail.  
     
     
         6 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the rear wheel is displaced along a curvilinear slot in the suspension rail.  
     
     
         7 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the track tensioning system comprises an axle slidingly engaged with the rear portion of the suspension rail, the rear wheel rotatably mounted to the axle.  
     
     
         8 . The suspension system of  claim 7  wherein the axle slidingly engages with a horizontal slot in the suspension rail.  
     
     
         9 . The suspension system of  claim 7  wherein the axle slidingly engages with a curvilinear slot in the suspension rail.  
     
     
         10 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the rear wheel is coupled to a sliding member on the rear portion of the suspension rail.  
     
     
         11 . The suspension system of  claim 10  wherein the sliding member includes a static track tensioning assembly.  
     
     
         12 . The suspension system of  claim 10  wherein a connector arm coupling the rear wheel to the sliding member comprises an elastic portion.  
     
     
         13 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the track tensioning system is coupled to the suspension arm by an elastic member.  
     
     
         14 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the suspension arm and the suspension rail comprise one or a fully coupled, a partially coupled, or a non-coupled suspension system.  
     
     
         15 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the suspension arm comprises a front suspension arm and a rear suspension arm, the track tensioning system being coupled to the rear suspension arm.  
     
     
         16 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the suspension arm comprises a front suspension arm and a rear suspension arm, the track tensioning system being coupled to the front suspension arm.  
     
     
         17 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the tensioning force generates a supplemental force transmitted by the endless track that augments the biasing force of the biasing mechanism.  
     
     
         18 . The suspension system of  claim 17  wherein the supplemental force comprises a compressive force on the suspension system.  
     
     
         19 . The suspension system of  claim 17  wherein the supplemental force comprises a compressive force that resists an increase in perimeter length of the suspension system during suspension displacement.  
     
     
         20 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the tensioning system decreases the tensioning force on the track in response to a decrease in perimeter length during suspension displacement.  
     
     
         21 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the track tensioning system applies a tensioning force to the endless track in response to a displacement of the rear portion of the suspension rail greater than a displacement of a front portion of the suspension rail, the tensioning force generating a supplemental force that augments the biasing force of the biasing mechanism.  
     
     
         22 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the track tensioning system applies a tensioning force to the endless track in response to a G-bump on the suspension rail, the tensioning force generating a supplemental force that augments the biasing force of the biasing mechanism.  
     
     
         23 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the track tensioning system applies a tensioning force to the endless track in response to a tail-bump on the suspension rail, the tensioning force generating a supplemental force that augments the biasing force of the biasing mechanism.  
     
     
         24 . The suspension system of  claim 1  wherein the track tensioning system increases a perimeter length of the suspension system in response to displacement of the suspension arm, the increase in perimeter length generating a supplemental force transmitted by the endless track that augments the biasing force of the biasing mechanism.  
     
     
         25 . A suspension system for suspending an endless track beneath a tracked vehicle chassis, the suspension system comprising: 
 at least one elongated suspension rail having a front portion, a rear portion and a bottom track engaging portion;    at least one suspension arm having an upper end adapted for pivotal connection to the vehicle chassis and a lower end pivotally connected to the suspension rail;    a biasing mechanism adapted to provide a biasing force that biases the suspension rail away from the vehicle chassis;    at least one rear wheel coupled proximate a rear portion of the suspension rail; and    a track tensioning system that displaces the rear wheel relative to the suspension rail to apply a tensioning force to the endless track in response to displacement of the suspension rail relative to the vehicle chassis.    
     
     
         26 . A method of operating a suspension system for an endless track beneath a tracked vehicle chassis, comprising the steps of: 
 pivotally attaching an upper end of at least one suspension arm to the vehicle chassis and pivotally attaching a lower end of the at least one suspension arm to a suspension rail;    applying a biasing force on the suspension system that biases the suspension rail away from the vehicle chassis;    coupling at least one rear wheel proximate a rear portion of the suspension rail; and    displacing the rear wheel relative to the suspension rail in response to displacement of the suspension rail relative to the vehicle chassis to apply a tensioning force to the endless track.    
     
     
         27 . The method of  claim 26  comprising pivotally engaging the rear wheel to the suspension rail.  
     
     
         28 . The method of  claim 26  comprising slidingly engaging the rear wheel to the suspension rail.  
     
     
         29 . The method of  claim 26  comprising coupling the suspension arm to the rear wheel with at least one connector arm.  
     
     
         30 . The method of  claim 26  comprising displacing the rear wheel along a horizontal slot in the suspension rail.  
     
     
         31 . The method of  claim 26  comprising displacing the rear wheel along a curvilinear slot in the suspension rail.  
     
     
         32 . The method of  claim 26  comprising rotatably mounting the rear wheel on an axle and slidingly engaging the axle with the rear portion of the suspension rail.  
     
     
         33 . The method of  claim 26  comprising coupling the rear wheel to a sliding member on the rear portion of the suspension rail.  
     
     
         34 . The method of  claim 26  comprising elastically coupling the rear wheel with a sliding member on the rear portion of the suspension rail.  
     
     
         35 . The method of  claim 26  comprising coupling the rear wheel to a rear suspension arm.  
     
     
         36 . The method of  claim 26  comprising coupling the rear wheel to a front suspension arm.  
     
     
         37 . The method of  claim 26  comprising generating a supplemental force transmitted by the endless track that augments the biasing force of the biasing mechanism.  
     
     
         38 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the supplemental force comprises a compressive force on the suspension system.  
     
     
         39 . The method of  claim 37  wherein the supplemental force comprises a compressive force that resists an increase in perimeter length of the suspension system during suspension displacement.