| CPC B62D 55/04 (2013.01) [B62D 55/1086 (2013.01); B62D 55/116 (2013.01)] | 19 Claims |
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1. A track assembly for a vehicle, comprising:
a frame;
a plurality of track-contacting wheels, including:
a drive wheel rotationally connected to the frame, the drive wheel defining a drive wheel axis about which the drive wheel is rotatable; and
at least one idler wheel rotationally connected to the frame;
an endless track disposed around the plurality of track-contacting wheels, the drive wheel being adapted for driving the endless track;
a rotation limiting device for limiting rotation of the track assembly relative to a frame of the vehicle about the drive wheel axis, the rotation limiting device being connectable between the frame of the track assembly and the vehicle, the rotation limiting device comprising:
an elongate support extending along a support axis and having a first end and a second end;
a first biasing member mounted to the elongate support; and
a second biasing member mounted to the elongate support:
a connection bracket for connecting the rotation limiting device to the frame of the track assembly, the connection bracket having a frame connecting end connected to the frame of the track assembly and a device connecting end connected to the rotation limiting device, the device connecting end being slidably mounted to the elongate support of the rotation limiting device such that:
the first biasing member is disposed between the device connecting end and the first end of the elongate support, the first biasing member being compressed between the device connecting end and the first end of the elongate support when the track assembly rotates in a first rotation direction about the drive wheel axis, and
the second biasing member is disposed between the device connecting end and the second end of the elongate support, the second biasing member being compressed between the device connecting end and the second end of the elongate support when the track assembly rotates in a second rotation direction about the drive wheel axis,
and
a bushing assembly slidably connecting the device connecting end of the connection bracket to the elongate support, the bushing assembly comprising:
an inner bushing slidably mounted to the elongate support, the inner bushing defining an inner bushing axis;
an outer bushing affixed to the device connecting end of the connection bracket, the outer bushing defining an outer bushing axis; and
a resilient element connected between the inner and outer bushings, the resilient element being resiliently deformable such that:
the inner bushing is rotatable relative to the outer bushing such that the inner bushing axis can be angled relative to the outer bushing axis with the inner bushing axis remaining one of:
generally parallel to the support axis of the elongate support, and
generally coaxial to the support axis of the elongate support; and
the inner bushing is axially movable relative to the outer bushing along the support axis of the elongate support.
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