Patent ID: 6044921
Filing Date: 2000-04-04
Classification: B60G,B62D,E02F

Abstract:
A vehicle comprising:a main frame structure;a driving track assembly mounted with respect to said main frame structure, said driving track assembly including an endless ground engaging track that extends in a vehicle driving direction;a pair of secondary driving assemblies mounted on opposing lateral sides of said track assembly in flanking relation, each of said secondary driving assemblies including a ground engaging driving structure spaced laterally from said endless track and oriented generally in the vehicle driving direction;an engine assembly constructed and arranged to supply power to said track assembly and said secondary driving assemblies;said driving track assembly being constructed and arranged to move said endless track using power supplied from said engine assembly to affect a vehicle driving operation wherein said endless track engages the ground to drive said vehicle in the vehicle driving direction;each of said secondary driving assemblies being constructed and arranged to operate said ground engaging driving structures using power supplied from said engine assembly so as to impart force to said vehicle in one of the vehicle driving direction and a vehicle reversing direction that extends generally opposite said vehicle driving direction while said driving track assembly affects the aforesaid vehicle driving operation to drive said vehicle in the vehicle driving direction; anda steering device operatively connected to said secondary driving assemblies and being constructed and arranged to control operation of said secondary driving assemblies so as to affect a vehicle steering operation wherein the force imparted to said vehicle by one of said ground engaging driving structures is greater than the force imparted to said vehicle by the other of said ground engaging driving structures, thereby causing said vehicle to turn with respect to said vehicle driving direction;said engine assembly being constructed and arranged to supply power to both said driving track assembly and each of said secondary driving assemblies so that said steering device can affect the aforesaid vehicle steering operation while said driving track assembly affects the aforesaid vehicle driving operation.