Patent ID: 7597411

Claim:
A device for operating a track tension wheel on a tracked vehicle, comprising: a tension wheel arm that has an axis of rotation at a first end, around which the arm can be pivoted in relation to the vehicle by means of a first, pivoting drive member, the tension wheel arm including the tension wheel at its other end attached to a rocker arm that is pivotably mounted on a spindle of the tension wheel arm; and a second, tensioning drive member for changing the distance between the central axis of the tension wheel and the center of rotation of the tension wheel arm by pivoting the rocker arm in relation to the tension wheel arm, in order thereby to adjust the tension of, or alternatively to replace, a vehicle drive track that is running over the tension wheel, said first drive member having a first end that engages with the tension wheel arm at a distance from the center of rotation of the tension wheel arm in such a way that it can pivot, and a second end that is pivotally connected to a first attachment, said second drive member having a first end that is pivotally connected to the rocker arm through a crank; wherein a second end of the second drive member is pivotally connected to a first pivoting link arm, which has a first end that is pivotally connected to a second attachment configured to be fixated to the vehicle, said first link arm being arranged, in a first position thereof, to engage with a retainer at the second attachment, in order to allow the second drive member to pivot around its connection to the first link arm in a first phase of the pivoting or springing upward movement of the tension wheel arm from a fully lowered position; and a lug on a hub of the tension wheel arm is arranged to engage with the first link arm in a second continued phase of the pivoting or springing upward movement of the tension wheel arm, to cause the second drive member to pivot around the connection of the first link arm to the second attachment during the continued pivoting or springing upward movement of the tension wheel arm.