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US5031973A Expired / Lapsed US ⏱️ 0.0 years remaining

Self-propelled machine with flexible caterpillar tread undercarriage

Assignee: ASSOCIATION POUR LA RATIONALISATION ET LA MECANISATION DE L' EXPLOITATION FORESTIERE ARMEF
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Filing: 1989-09-26
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Granted: 1991-07-16
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Expires: 2009-09-26
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Abstract

Abstract The invention relates to a self-propelled machine with flexible caterpillar treads maintained in position by guide wheels (5-8). The two guide wheels of each end are mounted on a rocker (15-24) whose of oscillation (17,25) is different from the axes of rotation of the wheels carried by it, and at least one of these rockers is equipped with a device (18-23) able to oppose its oscillation movement.

Inventors

  • 👤 Claude Gillet

Bibliographic Details

Application Number —
Jurisdiction US
Data Source google_patents
Last Synchronized 2026-10-23 23:22
CPC Classifications
B; B62; B62D; B62D55/00; B62D55/08; B62D55/30; B62D55/305; B62D49/00; B62D49/08; B62D55/104; B62D55/116

Claims Analysis

Total Claims: 9
Claim 1
Independent Claim 90 words
A self-propelled machine with flexible caterpillar treads maintained in position by a first set of guide wheels located at one end of said machine and a second set of guide wheels located at a second end of said machine, characterized in that both sets of guide wheels are mounted on a rigid rocker whose axis of oscillation is different from the axes of rotation of the wheels carried by it and wherein at least one of these two rockers is equipped with a device able to oppose its oscillation movement.
Claim 2
Dependent Claim 90 words
A self-propelled machine with flexible caterpillar treads maintained in position by a first set of guide wheels located at one end of said machine and a second set of guide wheels located at a second end of said machine, characterized in that both sets of guide wheels are mounted on a rigid rocker whose axis of oscillation is different from the axes of rotation of the wheels carried by it and wherein at least one of these two rockers is equipped with a device able to oppose its oscillation movement.
Claim 3
Dependent Claim 40 words
A machine with caterpillar treads according to claim 1, wherein the device able to oppose the oscillation movement of at least one rocker is controlled by an inclinometer (42) measuring the inclination of the unit in relation to the vertical.
Claim 4
Dependent Claim 36 words
A machine with caterpillar treads according to claim 2, wherein the device able to oppose the oscillation of at least one rocker counteracts by pressure oscillation of said rocker as an inclination of the unit increases.
Claim 5
Dependent Claim 17 words
A machine with caterpillar treads according to claim 1, wherein angular displacement of the rockers is limited.
Claim 6
Dependent Claim 58 words
A machine with caterpillar treads according to claim 1, wherein on the end rockers, the distance from the axis of rotation of the outer guide wheel to the axis of oscillation of the rocker on which it is mounted is greater than the distance from the axis of rotation of the inner wheel to said axis of oscillation.
Claim 7
Dependent Claim 26 words
A machine with caterpillar treads according to claim 1, wherein it includes means to assure at least two different tensions to each of the caterpillar treads.
Claim 8
Dependent Claim 49 words
A machine with caterpillar treads according to claim 6, wherein the placing of the caterpillar treads into slight tension is automatically linked to the engagement of the forward gear on the machine and that their placing into great tension is automatically linked to the engagement of the reverse gear.
Claim 9
Dependent Claim 39 words
A machine with caterpillar treads according to claim 7 wherein it is equipped with means (39) that increase the tension of the caterpillar treads as a function of the stresses they develop when the machine is in reverse gear.

References Cited (Backward Citations)

US3375944A Cited
US3310127A Cited
DE1555539A1 Cited
US3720277A Cited
SU740588A1 Cited
SU724382A1 Cited
FR2502573A1 Cited
US4458954A Cited
EP0065592A1 Cited
SU1239021A2 Cited

USPTO Annuity & Maintenance Windows

Annuity Stage Window Opens Payment Deadline Surcharge Period Until Estimated Fee Status
3.5 Years (Year 4) 1994-07-15 1995-01-14 1995-07-16 $2000.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
7.5 Years (Year 8) 1998-07-15 1999-01-14 1999-07-16 $3760.00 Window Closed / Lapsed
11.5 Years (Year 12) 2002-07-15 2003-01-14 2003-07-16 $7700.00 Window Closed / Lapsed

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