US 12,441,399 B2
Tracked vehicle for preparing ski slopes and method of driving the tracked vehicle
Martin Kirchmair, Vipiteno (IT); Alberto Paoletti, Vipiteno (IT); and Francesco Salis, Vipiteno (IT)
Assigned to PRINOTH S.P.A., Vipiteno (IT)
Filed by PRINOTH S.P.A., Vipiteno (IT)
Filed on Feb. 28, 2023, as Appl. No. 18/115,267.
Claims priority of application No. 102022000003908 (IT), filed on Mar. 2, 2022.
Prior Publication US 2023/0278626 A1, Sep. 7, 2023
Int. Cl. B66D 1/40 (2006.01); B62D 1/12 (2006.01); B62D 11/00 (2006.01); E01H 4/00 (2006.01)
CPC B62D 11/003 (2013.01) [B62D 1/12 (2013.01); B66D 1/40 (2013.01); E01H 4/00 (2013.01)] 10 Claims
OG exemplary drawing
 
1. A tracked vehicle configured to prepare a ski slope, the tracked vehicle comprising:
a chassis extending along a longitudinal axis;
a winch mounted on the chassis;
a boom rotatable about an axis to guide and orientate a cable of the winch between the chassis and a cable anchor point;
an actuation system configured to rotate the boom about the axis relative to the chassis in a first direction and in a second direction;
a user interface comprising:
a first switch arranged in front of an operator position and configured to cause a rotation of the boom to always steer the tracked vehicle to the right when the cable is anchored to the cable anchor point, and
a second switch arranged in front of the operator position and to the left of the first switch, the second switch configured to cause a rotation of the boom to always steer the tracked vehicle to the left when the cable is anchored to the cable anchor point; and
a control device comprising:
a sensor configured to detect a direction of travel of the tracked vehicle, and
a control unit configured to:
enable the first switch to cause a rotation of the boom in the first direction when advancing uphill and to cause a rotation of the boom in the second direction when advancing downhill, and
enable the second switch to cause a rotation of the boom in the second direction when advancing uphill and to cause a rotation of the boom in the first direction when advancing downhill.
 
9. A tracked vehicle configured to prepare a ski slope, the tracked vehicle comprising:
a chassis extending along a longitudinal axis;
a winch mounted on the chassis;
a boom rotatable about an axis to guide and orientate a cable of the winch between the chassis and a cable anchor point;
an actuation system comprising at least two hydraulic actuators, a pump configured to supply a fluid under pressure, and a pressure modulating valve, the actuation system configured to rotate the boom about the axis relative to the chassis in a first direction and in a second direction;
a user interface comprising:
a first switch arranged in front of an operator position and configured to cause a rotation of the boom to steer the tracked vehicle to the right when the cable is anchored to the cable anchor point, and
a second switch arranged in front of the operator position and to the left of the first switch, the second switch configured to cause a rotation of the boom to steer the tracked vehicle to the left when the cable is anchored to the cable anchor point; and
a control device comprising, for each hydraulic actuator, a direction control valve configured to selectively shut off power to a respective hydraulic motor, supply power to the respective hydraulic motor in a first flow direction and supply power to the respective hydraulic actuator in a second flow direction opposite the first flow direction.