A vehicle drive system can include wheels that have flat portions corresponding to the areas of relative flexibility of stiffness of a track. When the discontinuous, angular profile of the track of the vehicle can deform about a matching angularly-profiled wheel, a smoother ride with less power loss can be produced, and ratcheting (caused by loosened or mismatched engagement between the track and a driving structure) can be reduced.

An agricultural vehicle having a full-track design with a vehicle structure on each side of which, relative to a vehicle longitudinal axis, a track roller unit is arranged. The track roller unit has roller unit body to which a front deflector roll, a rear deflector roller and a plurality of yoke-type track rollers arranged therebetween are coupled, and an endlessly closed track belt that wraps around the rollers/roller. All the rollers are suspended with respect to the roller unit body in that assigned to a roller or a group of rollers in each case is a spring element, which is acted upon by fluid, for the suspension thereof with respect to the roller unit body.

A track assembly for assisting in moving a farm implement along a ground surface in a line of travel is provided. The track assembly includes a tilt arm comprising front and rear ends. The track assembly includes a camber arm coupled to the tilt arm such that the camber arm permits the tilt arm to pivot about a first axis perpendicular to the line of travel and a second axis parallel to the line of travel. The camber arm is located between the front and rear ends of the tilt arm.

A tensioner for adjusting a tension in an endless track of a track system is disclosed. The tensioner includes a resilient portion and a wheel connecting portion. The resilient portion is connectable to a frame of the track system, the resilient portion being oriented generally vertically. The wheel connecting portion is pivotally connectable to the frame of the track system, is connected to the resilient portion and is configured to connect to an idler wheel assembly. A track system having the tensioner is also disclosed.

An endless track assembly that mounts to a vehicle drive linkage and is operative to vary the track geometry or profile and terrain contact surface to differing terrains. The track assembly includes controlled idler wheel rocker arm suspensions for pivoting associated idler wheels at an assembly framework. In one assembly, a wheel and tire are supported to a track drive sprocket. The shape of the track assembly can be transformed to alternately engage and disengage the track or wheel with the terrain. In other constructions, the geometry of the track can be varied between triangular and circular shapes. The assemblies include pivotally controlled idler wheel suspensions that cooperate with a drive sprocket supported bladder, offset pie-shaped telescoping plates, and a collapsible membrane or tire to transform the track profile.

An idler wheel recoil assembly mounts an idler wheel to a roller frame of an undercarriage of a track-type machine. The idler wheel recoil assembly includes a recoil shaft and spring mounted on the roller frame for reciprocal movement of the recoil shaft, and a swing arm pivotally connected to a guard mounted on the roller frame by a guard mounting assembly and having the idler wheel rotatably mounted thereon. A yoke is pivotally connected between the recoil shaft and the swing arm. A guard mounting assembly connects the guard to the roller frame of the undercarriage and has a plurality of mounting positions for securing the guard to the roller frame, with an idler rise height of the idler wheel relative to the roller frame being different when the guard is secured to the roller frame in each of the plurality of mounting positions of the guard mounting assembly.

A bulkhead assembly for a track adjust cylinder of an undercarriage system is provided. The bulkhead assembly includes a bulkhead having an opening to receive the track adjust cylinder. A guide element having a hollow cylindrical configuration is attached to the bulkhead and supports the track adjust cylinder. A seal member is axially aligned with respect to the guide element. The seal member has a diameter smaller than a diameter of the guide element. A set of composite bearings is axially aligned with respect to the seal member.

A track system for traction of an off-road vehicle such as a snowmobile or an all-terrain vehicle (ATV). The track system comprises a track-engaging assembly and a track disposed around the track-engaging assembly. The track system may be configured to have a reduced noise profile so as to generate less noise, enhanced track rigidity characteristics to improve its traction and floatation, and/or other features improving use and performance of the off-road vehicle.

A track system for use as a wheel replacement on typically wheeled vehicle is disclosed. The track system comprises a drive wheel configured to be mounted to the vehicle, a support frame, front and rear idler wheels respectively pivotally mounted at the front and at the rear of the support frame, road wheels pivotally mounted along the support frame between the front and read idler wheels, and an endless track mounted about the wheels. The position of the front and/or rear idler wheels is adjustable in order to modify the overall shape of the perimeter of the track system generally defined by the endless track, thereby changing the riding behavior of the track system. A method to change the position of the adjustable idler wheels is also disclosed.

An endless track assembly that mounts to a vehicle drive linkage. The track assembly includes a belted track, drive sprocket and serial sets of pivoting internal idler wheel rocker suspensions that support interior track surfaces. Pinch wheels are supported in contact with the terrain engaging track surface. Frame and/or sprocket mounted tensioners establish track tension. Resilient torsion support assemblies, rollers and/or layers of resilient and/or slippery materials are incorporated between the track assembly and vehicle frame/chassis to prevent damage to the vehicle as the track assembly rises and falls with terrain changes.