Patent ID: 8814281

Claim:
A traction assembly for use on a vehicle, the traction assembly comprising: a) a drive wheel configured to be mounted to the vehicle; b) a support frame comprising a first extremity and a second extremity, the support frame comprising a tensioning mechanism located at one of the first and second extremities, the tensioning mechanism comprising a clamping member rotatably supporting therein a rotating member having a central rotation axis; c) first idler wheels pivotally mounted to the rotating member, the first idler wheels having a first idler wheel rotation axis, the first idler wheel rotation axis being eccentric with respect to the rotation axis of the rotating member; d) second idler wheels pivotally mounted at the other of the first and second extremities of the support frame; e) support wheels pivotally mounted to the support frame; f) a traction band disposed about the drive wheel, the idler wheels and the support wheels; wherein the drive wheel, the idler wheels and the support wheels define an overall perimeter; wherein rotation of the rotating member within the tensioning mechanism causes a displacement of the first idler wheels about the rotating member rotation axis; and wherein the displacement of the first idler wheels causes the overall perimeter to change, thereby changing the tension in the traction band.