Abstract:
A track drive undercarriage device, a kit for the device, and a method of using the same are described attached to a chassis of a heavy construction work vehicle for operationally connected to a transmission and drive shaft of the construction vehicle. The device is operationally attached to the vehicle for providing increased the traction and stability of the heavy construction work vehicle when maneuvering the vehicle off-road. The device includes the interconnected elements of: a pair of support braces, a base plate, four shock absorbers, four axles, a pair of torque bars, and four spindles. The kit includes the unconnected components of the device. The method of using includes the steps of acquiring, adjoining, affixing, connecting, joining, obtaining, procuring, receiving, securing, and wrapping.

Description:
FIELD OF THE INVENTION 
   The present invention relates to heavy construction work vehicles, more particularly, to a track drive undercarriage device, a kit, and a method of using same for providing a means for increased traction and stability to the heavy construction work vehicle when maneuvering the vehicle off-road. 
   BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION 
   Commercially available earth working and transport machines are generally mounted on endless tracks or pneumatic tires for locomotion purposes. Track-type machines, such as conventional two-track crawler tractors, presently comprise the most compact, powerful and all- purpose pulling nd pushing machines available. However, such machines inherently exhibit certain limitations and operating deficiencies such as speed limitations and operating deficiencies such as speed limitations, vibration and shock-absorbing limitations, numerous, complex and massive components and high-noise level. Therefore, continued improvements made to such crawler tractors primarily intended for increasing the traction, stability and safety capabilities thereof, have comprised the redesign of existing components or development of various four track-type machines. 
   A wide variety of construction machines is currently available on the commercial market and an even larger number of these types of devices are known in the art of construction machines, for example, the tractor tread disclosed by Boltman in U.S. Pat. No. 2,470,801; the cushioned track disclosed by Peterson in U.S. Pat. No. 3,601,212; the track and drive sprocket for track-laying disclosed by Gibson in U.S. Pat. No. 3,561,825; the close coupled frame steered all crawler tractor disclosed by Kowalik in U.S. Pat. No. 3,741,331; the frictional driven belted work vehicle disclosed by Graway et al. in U.S. Pat. No. RE37,174; the backhoe disclosed by Kusunoki et al. in U.S. Pat. No. D354,497; and the work machine having endless ground engaging drive belts disclosed by Bastian et al. in U.S. Pat. No. D364,879. 
   While all of the above-described devices fulfill their respective, particular objectives and requirements, the aforementioned patents do not describe a heavy construction work vehicle having the interconnected elements of: a pair of support braces, a base plate, four shock absorbers, four axles, a pair of torque bars, and four spindles. This combination of elements would specifically match the user&#39;s particular individual needs of making it possible to use the device attached to a chassis of a heavy Construction work vehicle for providing a means for increased traction and an enhanced means for stabilization of the heavy construction work vehicle when maneuvering the vehicle off-road. The above-described patents make no provision for a heavy construction work vehicle having the interconnected elements of: a pair of support braces, a base plate, four shock absorbers, four axles, a pair of torque bars, and four spindles. 
   Therefore, a need exists for a new and improved heavy construction work vehicle having the interconnected elements of: a pair of support braces, a base plate, four shock absorbers, four axles, a pair of torque bars, and four spindles. This combination of elements makes it possible to use the device attached to a chassis of a heavy construction work vehicle for providing a means for increased traction and an enhanced means for stabilization of the heavy construction work vehicle when maneuvering the vehicle off-road. Tn this respect, the heavy construction work vehicle according to the present invention substantially departs from the conventional concepts and designs of the prior art, and in doing so provides an apparatus primarily developed for the purpose of providing a means for increased traction and an enhanced means for stabilization of the heavy construction work vehicle when maneuvering the vehicle off-road. 
   SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION 
   The present device, kit and method of using, according to the principles of the present invention, overcomes the shortcomings of the prior art by providing a novel and nonobvious heavy construction work vehicle, kit and method of using the same. The device is operationally attached to the vehicle for providing increased the traction and stability of the heavy construction work vehicle when maneuvering the vehicle off-road. The device includes the interconnected elements of: a pair of support braces, a base plate, four shock absorbers, four axles, a pair of torque bars, and four spindles. The kit includes the unconnected components of the device. The method of using includes the steps of acquiring, adjoining, affixing, connecting, joining, obtaining, procuring, receiving, securing, and wrapping. 
   In view of the foregoing disadvantages inherent in the known type heavy construction work vehicle devices now present in the prior art, the present invention provides an improved heavy construction work vehicle, which will be described subsequently in great detail, is to provide a new and improved heavy construction work vehicle which is not anticipated, rendered obvious, suggested, or even implied by the prior art, either alone or in any combination thereof. 
   To attain this, the present invention essentially comprises the interconnected elements of: a pair of support braces, a base plate, four shock absorbers, four axles, a pair of torque bars, and four spindles. 
   There has thus been outlined, rather broadly, the more important features of the invention  5  in order that the detailed description thereof that follows may be better understood, and in order that the present contribution of the art may be better appreciated. 
   The invention may also include four wheel bearings  32 , four cogwheels  34 , and a pair of drive wheels  36 . There are of course, additional features of the invention that will be described hereinafter and which will form the subject matter of the claims attached. 
   Numerous objects, features and advantages of the present invention will be readily apparent to those of ordinary skill in the art upon reading of the following detailed description of presently preferred, but nonetheless illustrative, embodiments of the present invention when taken in conjunction with the accompany drawings. In this respect, before explaining the current embodiment of the invention in detail, it is to be understood that the invention is not limited in its application to the details of construction and to the arrangements of the components set forth in the following description or illustrated in the drawings. The invention is capable of other embodiments and of being practiced and carried out in various ways. Also, it is to be understood that the phraseology and terminology employed herein are for the purpose of description and should not be regarded as limiting. 
   As such, those skilled in the art will appreciate that the conception, upon which this disclosure is based may readily be utilized as a basis for the designing of other structures, methods and systems for carrying out the several purposes of the present invention. It is important, therefore, that the claims be regarded as including such equivalent constructions insofar as they do not depart from the spirit and scope of the present invention. 
   It is therefore an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved heavy construction work vehicle that has all the advantages of the prior art heavy construction work vehicle and none of the disadvantages. 
   It is another object of the present invention to provide a new and improved heavy construction work vehicle that may be easily and efficiently manufactured and marketed. 
   An even further object of the present invention is to provide a new and improved heavy construction work vehicle that has a low cost of manufacture with regard to both materials and labor, and which accordingly is then susceptible of low prices of sale to the consuming public, thereby making such multipurpose storage unit and system economically available to the buying public. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a new heavy construction work vehicle that provides in the apparatuses and methods of the prior art some of the advantages thererof, while simultaneously overcoming some of the disadvantages normally associated therewith. 
   Even still another object of the present invention is to provide a heavy construction work vehicle having the interconnected elements of: a pair of support braces, a base plate, four shock absorbers, four axles, a pair of torque bars, and four spindles. This combination of elements makes it possible to use the device attached to a chassis of a heavy construction work vehicle for providing a means for increased traction and enhanced means for stability of the heavy construction work vehicle when maneuvering the vehicle off-road. 
   Still another object of the present invention is to provide a kit comprising the unassembled components of the device. 
   Lastly, it is an object of the present invention to provide a new and improved method of using comprising the steps of acquiring, adjoining, affixing, connecting, joining, obtaining, procuring, receiving, securing, and wrapping. 
   Further, the purpose of the foregoing abstract is to enable the U.S. Patent and Trademark Office and the public generally, and especially the scientist, engineers and practitioners in the art who are not familiar with patent or legal terms or phraseology, to determine quickly from a cursory inspection the nature and essence of the technical disclosure of the application. The abstract is neither intended to define the invention of the application, which is measured by the claims, nor is it intended to be limiting as to the scope of the invention in any way. These together with other objects of the invention, along with the various features of novelty that characterize the invention, are pointed out with particularity in the claims annexed to and forming a part of this disclosure. For a better understanding of the invention, its operating advantages and the specific objects attained by its uses, reference should be had to the accompanying drawings and description matter in which there are illustrated preferred embodiments of the invention. 

   
     BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS 
     The invention will be better understood and objects other than those set forth above will become apparent when consideration is given to the following detailed description thereof. Such description makes reference to the annexed drawings wherein: 
       FIG. 1  is a side view of an preferred embodiment of the track drive undercarriage device constructed in accordance with the principles of the present invention; 
       FIG. 2  is a partial side view of a preferred embodiment of the track drive undercarriage device of the present invention; 
       FIG. 3  is a partial side view of a preferred embodiment of the track drive undercarriage device of the present invention; 
       FIG. 4  is a top view of a preferred embodiment of the track drive undercarriage device of the present invention; and 
       FIG. 5  is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the track drive undercarriage device of the present invention. 
   

   The same reference numerals refer to the same parts throughout the various figures. 
   DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE PREFERRED EMBODIMENT 
   Referring now to the drawings, and in particular  FIGS. 1 to 5  thereof, one preferred embodiment of the present invention is shown and generally designated by the reference numeral  10 . One preferred embodiment of a track drive undercarriage device  10  attached to a chassis  12  of a heavy construction vehicle  14  and operationally connected to a transmission  16  and drive shaft  18  of the construction vehicle  14 , said device  10  comprising: a pair of support braces  54 ; a base plate  22 ; four shock absorbers  24 ; four axles  26 ; a pair of torque bars  28 ; and four spindles  30 . The pair of support braces  54  is attached to the construction vehicle  14 . The base plate  22  is attached to said support braces  54 . The four shock absorbers  24  are attached to said base plate  22 . The four axles  26  are attached to said four shock absorbers  24 , each axle  26  having a distal end and a proximate end, the proximate end of each axle  26  is attached to one of said four shock absorbers  24 . The pair of torque bars  28  is attached to said four axles  26 , each torque bar  28  having two opposite ends, each opposite end of each torque bar  28  is attached to the distal end of one of said four axles  26 . The four spindles  30  are attached to said four axles  26 , each spindle  30  is attached to the distal end of one of said four axles  26 . 
   An optional four wheel bearings  32  may be added to the device  10  wherein the four wheel bearings  32  are attached to said four spindles  30 , each wheel bearing  32  is attached to one of said four spindles  30 . 
   An optional four cogwheels  34  may be added to the device  10  wherein the four cogwheels  34  are attached to said four wheel bearings  32  wherein each cogwheel  34  is attached to one wheel bearing  32  of said four wheel bearings  32 . 
   An optional pair of drive wheels  36  may be added to the device  10  wherein the pair of drive wheels  36  are attached to the drive shaft  18  of the construction vehicle  14 , each drive wheel  36  is attached to an opposing end of the drive shaft  18  whereby each drive wheel  36  is operatively attached to the transmission  16  of the construction vehicle  14 . 
   An optional pair of drive wheels  36  may be added to the device  10  wherein the pair of drive wheels  36  are attached to the drive shaft  18  of the construction vehicle  14 , each drive wheel  36  is attached to an opposing end of the drive shaft  18  whereby each drive wheel  36  is operatively attached to the transmission  16  of the construction vehicle  14 . 
   An optional pair of endless belts  38  may be added to the device  10  wherein the pair of endless belts  38  are operatively attached around said cogwheels  34  and said drive wheels  36 . 
   Each shock absorber  24  may comprise any commercially available shock absorber. One preferred configuration of the shock absorber  24  comprises: a U-brace  40  attached to said base plate  22 ; a horizontal cross bar  42  attached to said U-brace  40 ; a pair of horizontal springs  44  attached to said U-brace  40  and attached to said horizontal cross bar  42 ; and a vertical spring  46  attached to said U-brace  40  and attached to said U-brace  40 , wherein the proximate end of each axle  26  is attached to said horizontal cross bar  42 , said pair of horizontal springs  44  and said vertical spring  46  of one of said four shock absorbers  24 . 
   Each torque bar  28  may comprise any commercially available torque bar. One preferred configuration of the torque bar  28  comprises a compression. shock system  48  attached to a middle portion of each torque bar  28 , wherein said compression shock system  48  comprises a housing assembly  50  and a compression spring  52  attached to said housing assembly  50 . 
   The construction vehicle  14  may be any commercially available vehicle. Some preferred configurations of the construction vehicle  14  are selected from the group consisting of a bulldozer, a tractor, a backhoe, a military tank, and a military troop carrier. 
   One preferred embodiment of a kit for a track drive undercarriage device  10  for attachment to a chassis  12  of a heavy construction vehicle  14  and operationally connectable to a transmission  16  and drive shaft  18  of the construction vehicle  14 , said kit comprising: a pair of support braces  54  attachable to the construction vehicle  14 ; a base plate  22  attached to said support braces  54 ; four shock absorbers  24  attached to said base plate  22 ; four axles  26  attached to said four shock absorbers  24 , each axle  26  having a distal end and a proximate end, the proximate end of each axle  26  is attached to one of each shock absorber  24 ; a pair of torque bars  28  attached to said four axles  26 , each torque bar  28  having two opposite ends, each opposite end of each torque bar  28  is attached to the distal end of each axle  26 ; and four spindles  30  attached to said four axles  26 , each spindle  30  is attached to the distal end of each axle  26 . 
   An optional four wheel bearings  32  may be added to the kit in which the four wheel bearings  32  are attachable to said four spindles  30 , each wheel bearing  32  is attachable to one of said four spindles  30 . 
   An optional four cogwheels  34  may be added to the kit in which each cogwheel  34  is individually attachable to separate wheel bearings  32 . 
   An optional pair of drive wheels  36  may be added to the kit in which the pair of drive wheels  36  are attachable to the drive shaft  18  of the construction vehicle  14 , each drive wheel  36  is attachable to opposing ends of the drive shaft  18  whereby each drive wheel  36  is operatively attachable to the transmission  16  of the construction vehicle  14 . 
   An optional two endless belts  38  may be added to the kit in which the two endless belts  38  are operatively attachable around said cogwheels  34  and said drive wheels  36 . 
   One preferred method of using a kit for attaching a track drive undercarriage device  10  to a chassis  12  of a heavy construction vehicle  14 , said method comprising the steps of: acquiring, adjoining, affixing, connecting, joining, obtaining, procuring, receiving, securing, and wrapping. 
   The obtaining step comprises obtaining the kit comprising: a pair of support braces  54  attachable to the construction vehicle  14 ; a base plate  22  attached to said support braces  54 ; four shock absorbers  24  attached to said base plate  22 ; four axles  26  attached to said four shock absorbers  24 , each axle  26  having a distal end and a proximate end, the proximate end of each axle  26  is attached to one of each shock absorber  24 ; a pair of torque bars  28  attached to said four axles  26 , each torque bar  28  having two opposite ends, each opposite end of each torque bar  28  is attached to the distal end of each axle  26 ; and four spindles  30  attached to said four axles  26 , each spindle  30  is attached to the distal end of each axle  26 . The step comprises affixing the base plate  22  to the chassis  12  of the construction vehicle  14 . The acquiring step comprises acquiring four wheel bearings  32  attachable to the four spindles  30 . The adjoining step comprises adjoining operationally each wheel bearing  32  to each spindle  30 . The securing step comprises securing four cogwheels  34 . The connecting step comprises connecting operationally each cogwheel  34  to each wheel bearing  32 . The receiving step comprises receiving a pair of drive wheels  36 . The joining step comprises joining operationally each drive wheel  36  to the drive shaft  18  of the construction vehicle  14 . The procuring step comprises procuring a pair of endless belts  38 . The wrapping step comprises wrapping operationally the endless belts  38  around the cogwheels  34  and the drive wheels  36 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 1  which depicts a side view of a two track drive undercarriage devices  10  attached to a chassis  12  of a heavy construction work vehicle  14 . Each device  10  is shown having a drive shaft  18 , a torque bar  28 , two spindles  30 , two cogwheels  34 , a drive wheel  36 , and an endless belt  38 . Each torque bar  28  is also shown to have a compression shock system  48  having a housing assembly  50  mounted in a middle portion of each torque bar  28 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 2  which depicts a partial side view of a preferred embodiment of the track drive undercarriage device  10  showing two spindles  30 , two cogwheels  34 , an endless belt  38  and a torque bar  28 , in which the torque bar  28  is partially transparently shown to have a compression shock system  48  having a housing assembly  50  mounted in a middle portion of each torque bar  28  and a compression spring  52  attached to the housing assembly  50 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 3  which depicts a partial side view of a preferred embodiment of the track drive undercarriage device having a drive gear  16 , a drive shaft  18 , a support brace  54 , a base plate  22 , two shock absorbers  24 , two axles  26 , a torque bar  28 , and two spindles  30 . The drive shaft  18  is shown attached to the drive gear  16 . The support brace  54  is shown attached to the vehicle  14 . The base plate  22  is shown attached to the support brace  54 . The two shock absorbers  24  are shown attached to the base plate  22 . The two axles  26  are shown attached to the two shock absorbers  24 , in which the proximate end of each axle  26  is shown attached to one of the two shock absorbers  24 . The torque bar  28  is shown attached to the two axles  26 , in which each opposite end of the torque bar  28  is shown attached to the distal end of one of the two axles  26 . The two spindles  30  are shown attached to the four axles  26 , in which each spindle  30  is shown attached to the distal end of one of the two axles  26 . Each shock absorber  24  is shown comprising a U-brace  40 , a horizontal cross bar  42 , a pair of horizontal springs  44 , and a vertical spring  46 . The U-brace  40  is shown attached to the base plate  22 . The horizontal cross bar  42  is shown attached to the U-brace  40 . The pair of horizontal springs  44  is shown attached to the U-brace  40  and is shown attached to the horizontal cross bar  42 . The vertical spring  46  is shown attached to the U-brace  40  and is shown attached to the U-brace  40 , wherein the proximate end of each axle  26  is shown attached to the horizontal cross bar  42 , the pair of horizontal springs  44  and the vertical spring  46  of one of the two shock absorbers  24 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 4  which depicts a top view of a preferred embodiment of the track drive undercarriage device  10  underneath a chassis  12 . The device is shown having a drive gear  16 , a drive shaft  18 , a pair of support braces  54 , a base plate  22 , four shock absorbers  24 , four axles  26 , a pair of torque bars  28 , four spindles  30  and four wheel bearings  32 . The drive gear  16  is shown operationally connected to a transmission of the work vehicle  14 . The drive shaft  18  is shown attached to the drive gear  16 , wherein the drive shaft  18  is shown having two opposing ends. The pair of support braces  54  is shown attached to the vehicle  14 . The base plate  22  is shown attached to the support braces  54 , wherein the base plate  22  also shown underneath the chassis  12 . The four shock absorbers  24  are shown attached to the base plate  22 . The four axles  26  are shown attached to the four shock absorbers  24 , wherein each axle  26  is shown having a distal end and a proximate end, in which the proximate end of each axle  26  is shown attached to one of the four shock absorbers  24 . The pair of torque bars  28  is shown attached to the four axles  26 , in which each torque bar  28  is shown having two opposite ends, wherein each opposite end of each torque bar  28  is shown attached to the distal end of one of the four axles  26 . The four spindles  30  are shown attached to the four axles  26 , each spindle  30  is shown attached to the distal end of one of the four axles  26 . The four wheel bearings  32  are shown attached to the four spindles  30 , in which each wheel bearing  32  is shown attached to one of the four spindles  30 . Each shock absorber  24  is shown comprising a U-brace  40 , a horizontal cross bar  42 , and a pair of horizontal springs  44 . The U-brace  40  is shown attached to the base plate  22 . The horizontal cross bar  42  is shown attached to the U-brace  40 . The pair of horizontal springs  44  is shown attached to the U-brace  40  and is shown attached to the horizontal cross bar  42 . 
   Referring now to  FIG. 5  which depicts a is a front view of a preferred embodiment of the track drive undercarriage device  10  showing a drive gear  16 , a drive shaft  18 , a pair of support braces  54 , a base plate  22 , two shock absorbers  24 , two axles  26 , two spindles  30  and two wheel bearings  32 . The drive shaft  18  is shown attached to the drive gear  16 , wherein the drive shaft  18  is shown having two opposing ends. The pair of support braces  54  is shown mounted around the drive shaft  18 . The base plate  22  is shown attached to the support braces  54 . The two shock absorbers  24  are shown attached to the base plate  22 . The two axles  26  are shown attached to the two shock absorbers  24 , wherein each axle  26  is shown having a distal end and a proximate end, in which the proximate end of each axle  26  is shown attached to one of the two shock absorbers  24 . The two spindles  30  are shown attached to the two axles  26 , wherein each spindle  30  is shown attached to the distal end of one of the two axles  26 . The two wheel bearings  32  are shown attached to the four spindles  30 , in which each wheel bearing  32  is shown attached to one of the two spindles  30 . Each shock absorber  24  is shown comprising: a horizontal cross bar  42 , a horizontal spring  44 , and a vertical spring  46 . 
   As to the manner of usage and operation of the present invention, the same should be apparent from the above description. Accordingly, no further discussion relating to the manner of usage and operation will be provided. 
   While a preferred embodiment of the heavy construction work vehicle has been described in detail, it should be apparent that modifications and variations thereto are possible, all of which fall within the true spirit and scope of the invention. With respect to the above description then, it is to be realized that the optimum dimensional relationships for the parts of the invention, to include variations in size, materials, shape, form, function and manner of operation, assembly and use, are deemed readily apparent and obvious to one skilled in the art, and all equivalent relationships to those illustrated in the drawings and described in the specification are intended to be encompassed by the present invention. 
   Throughout this specification, unless the context requires otherwise, the word “comprise” or variations such as “comprises” or “comprising” or the term “includes” or variations, thereof, or the term “having” or variations, thereof will be understood to imply the inclusion of a stated element or integer or group of elements or integers but not the exclusion of any other element or integer or group of elements or integers. In this regard, in construing the claim scope, an embodiment where one or more features is added to any of the claims is to be regarded as within the scope of the invention given that the essential features of the invention as claimed are included in such an embodiment. 
   Those skilled in the art will appreciate that the invention described herein is susceptible to variations and modifications other than those specifically described. It is to be understood that the invention includes all such variations and modifications which fall within its spirit and scope. The invention also includes all of the steps, features, compositions and compounds referred to or indicated in this specification, individually or collectively, and any and all combinations of any two or more of said steps or features. 
   Therefore, the foregoing is considered as illustrative only of the principles of the invention. Further, since numerous modifications and changes will readily occur to those skilled in the art, it is not desired to limit the invention to the exact construction and operation shown and described, and accordingly, all suitable modifications and equivalents may be resorted to, falling within the scope of the invention.