Drive systems of the present disclosure include a drive member and a stationary counter-toothing arranged along a transport path. The drive member has an endless chain for mutual engagement with the counter-toothing to transmit a driving force, and at least one drive pinion for mutual engagement with the chain and for driving the chain. Guide components are provided at the chain. The drive system may further include a guide element for guiding the guide components of the chain.

Provided are multi-tread vehicles and methods of operating such vehicles to access small interior spaces. A multi-tread vehicle may include two or more tread sections such that each pair of adjacent tread sections is interconnected by a connector section. Furthermore, each pair may have one or more degrees of articulations, such as being pivotable with respect to each other around one or more axis and/or being bendable with respect to each other around one or more axis. These articulation degrees may be provided by the connector section and/or by couplings between the connector section and each tread section. In some embodiments, each tread section may include two portions detachably coupled to each other. This detachable coupling may be used for disassembly of the multi-tread vehicle after or even during its use, for example, when only a portion of the vehicle needs to be retrieved from an interior space.

The invention relates to an articulated vehicle comprising a front and a rear vehicle unit, and at least one further vehicle unit connected to said rear vehicle unit, comprising a front vertical steering link arranged substantially centrally of the front vehicle unit, where said front vertical steering link is configured for pivotal attachment to a fixed load-carrying frame connecting said front and rear vehicle units, where said at least one further vehicle unit is configured for attachment to a further fixed load-carrying frame, where said further fixed load-carrying frame is releasably connectable to said fixed load-carrying frame for said connection, such that a train of vehicle units is formed connected to a load-carrying frame unit comprising said fixed load-carrying frame and said further fixed load-carrying frame.

A new tracked vehicle arrangement with a main vehicle and a trailer, where each of the main vehicle and the trailer have a track assembly on either side, and the tracks of the trailer are driven by the prime mover of the main vehicle. In the longitudinal direction of the main vehicle, only a small fraction (less than 25%) of the length of the main vehicle's cab, which is mounted above the frame, overlies the main vehicle's track assemblies, whereas the fuel tank is located between the cab and the prime mover. In a widthwise direction of the tracked vehicle, the fuel tank at least partly overlies the right and left track assemblies. This provides a counterbalance for the trailer, which has a platform attached by a first pivotable connection to the frame of the main vehicle and by a second pivotable connection to the frame of the trailer.

A rotary pivot arm positioning assembly for a paving, texturing, or curing machine allows the machine to automatically transition from an operational orientation to a transport orientation without manual repositioning or disconnection of its components. The assembly includes a pivot arm coupled to both the front and aft ends of an end frame by a helical actuator, slew gear drive or other rotary actuator. The rotary actuator articulates each pivot arm, as well as the adjustable leg and steerable crawler connected to the pivot arm, through at least a 90-degree range. The end frame may be fixed to the left or right end of the machine. The assembly may additionally include a second helical actuator, slew gear drive or rotary actuator connecting each steerable crawler to the adjustable leg and configured to rotate the steerable crawler through a full 360 degrees.

A system for extraction of a pool cleaning robot from a pool, the system may include a pool cleaning robot interface that is arranged to be coupled to a pool cleaning robot during an exit process during which the pool cleaning robot is extracted from the pool; and a pool cleaning robot manipulator that is coupled to the pool cleaning robot interface, wherein the pool cleaning robot manipulator is arranged to move the pool cleaning robot interface between a first and second portion; wherein when the pool cleaning robot interface is at the first position and is coupled to the pool cleaning robot, the pool cleaning robot is within the pool; wherein when the pool cleaning robot interface is at the second position and is coupled to the pool cleaning robot, the pool cleaning robot is positioned outside the pool.

Vehicles, systems and methods for providing articulating two section vehicles with tracks, and a front body attached superstructure with telescopic forklift, for use on all terrain condition applications. The vehicle can include front and rear track assemblies that can tilt up and down while traveling over different ground surfaces. Each of the track assemblies can have rotatable articulating/oscillating track wheels which can traverse different contoured surfaces. The right and left tracks on both the front and rear track assemblies can separately extend outward and inward from underneath the vehicles to add stability to the vehicles. The cab can be raised and lowered to add greater visibility for the operator. Hydraulics can be used for raising and lowering the extendable boom and operator cab, as well as controlling the body articulating hinge, the articulating tracks and the tilting controls for the front track assembly.

Disclosed are various embodiments, aspects and features an oscillating track system that includes an oscillating track lock subsystem. The oscillating track system may include a track operable to rotate around a housing structure that is configured to receive an axle. While in operation, i.e. while the track is being rotated around the housing, the oscillating track system may be able to oscillate about the axle and, in doing so, incline or decline to accommodate undulating terrain. Advantageously, when stopped, the degree to which the oscillating track system has oscillated around the axle may be locked in place via an oscillating track lock subsystem comprised within the oscillating track system, thereby providing stability to the heavy equipment that includes the oscillating track system.

A robotic system comprises a first robotic crawler having a mobility mechanism for locomotion, a second robotic crawler having a mobility mechanism for locomotion, and at least one coupling mechanism supported by at least one of the first or second robotic crawlers to couple and uncouple the first and second robotic crawlers to and from each other. When coupled together, the first and second robotic crawlers are operable as a unified robotic crawler system in a coordinated drive mode for operational control of respective mobility mechanisms in a coordinated manner. Various operating modes provide for selective control of various aspects of the first and second robotic crawlers, whether coordinated or independent control. The unified robotic crawler system provides greater or enhanced stability of the first and second robotic crawlers. Associated methods are provided herein.

Track systems for traction of a vehicle in which a spacing of laterally-adjacent ones of the track systems in a widthwise direction of the vehicle is adjustable. This may facilitate use of the vehicle in different conditions (e.g., in different field configurations, such as in different configurations of row crops, where the vehicle is an agricultural vehicle). For instance, the spacing of the laterally-adjacent ones of the track systems may be adjustable while the laterally-adjacent ones of the track systems are connected to a powertrain of the vehicle and/or without requiring use of additional parts (e.g. spacers).