Patent ID: 6929334

Claim:
A tension management system for controlling the tension of an endless track by regulating the hydraulic pressure in a hydraulic jack acting on a roller serving to tension the track, the tension management system comprising: a first and a second accumulator each of different capacity that are connected to the jack, the smaller first accumulator being in permanent direct communication with the jack and the larger second accumulator being connected to the jack through a parallel combination of a pressure relief valve and a non-return valve, the pressure relief valve permitting flow of hydraulic fluid to the second accumulator when a predetermined opening pressure is exceeded in the jack and the non-return valve permitting flow from the second accumulator to the jack; a third accumulator that is permanently connected to the jack, the third accumulator having a greater capacity than the first accumulator and being preloaded to a pressure greater than the pressure of the first accumulator but less than the opening pressure of the pressure relief valve; and a throttled passage connected in parallel with both the non-return valve and the pressure relief valve.