US 11,691,682 B2
Tracked vehicle and chassis therefor
Benoit Marleau, Granby (CA); Alain Chabot, Waterloo (CA); and Carl Gagné, Bromont (CA)
Assigned to Prinoth Ltd., St. John (CA)
Filed by Prinoth Ltd., St. John (CA)
Filed on Sep. 23, 2021, as Appl. No. 17/448,617.
Application 17/448,617 is a continuation of application No. 15/929,190, filed on Dec. 18, 2019, granted, now 11,130,531, issued on Sep. 28, 2021.
Application 15/929,190 is a continuation of application No. 15/574,863, granted, now 10,526,025, issued on Jan. 7, 2020, previously published as PCT/EP2015/072138, filed on Sep. 25, 2015.
Claims priority of provisional application 62/173,990, filed on Jun. 11, 2015.
Prior Publication US 2022/0009568 A1, Jan. 13, 2022
This patent is subject to a terminal disclaimer.
Int. Cl. B62D 21/18 (2006.01); B62D 55/06 (2006.01); B62D 55/10 (2006.01); B62D 55/24 (2006.01); B62D 55/253 (2006.01); B62D 55/30 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 55/10 (2013.01) [B62D 21/186 (2013.01); B62D 55/062 (2013.01); B62D 55/244 (2013.01); B62D 55/253 (2013.01); B62D 55/305 (2013.01)] 20 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tracked vehicle, comprising:
a) a chassis comprising first and second parallel structural members extending in a longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle;
b) an operator cabin mounted to the chassis;
c) a power plant mounted to a portion of the chassis above the first and second structural members, and comprising a prime mover, wherein at least part of the power plant is mounted adjacent the operator cabin in the widthwise direction of the tracked vehicle;
d) a first track assembly for traction of the tracked vehicle, the first track assembly mounted to the chassis on a first lateral side thereof, and comprising:
a first plurality of wheels including a first drive wheel; a first end wheel spaced apart from the first drive wheel in the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle; and a first plurality of support wheels arranged between the first drive wheel and the first end wheel; and
a first endless track disposed around the first plurality of wheels for engaging a ground surface on which the tracked vehicle travels, the first drive wheel being in driving engagement with the first endless track to impart motion thereto;
e) a second track assembly for traction of the tracked vehicle, the second track assembly mounted to the chassis on a second lateral side thereof, and comprising:
a second plurality of wheels including a second drive wheel; a second end wheel spaced apart from the second drive wheel in the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle; and a second plurality of support wheels arranged between the second drive wheel and the second end wheel; and
a second endless track disposed around the second plurality of wheels for engaging the ground surface, the second drive wheel being in driving engagement with the second endless track to impart motion thereto; and
f) wherein the first and second structural members have respective top surfaces, wherein a vertical distance between the ground surface and the top surface of each of the first and second structural members is greater, but by no more than 320 mm, than a vertical distance between the ground surface and an axis of rotation of each of the first and second drive wheels, respectively.