Patent ID: 8291993

Claim:
A soil stabilizer for treating ground surface, comprising: a stabilizer frame; a rotor rotatably mounted with respect to the stabilizer frame, the rotor movable with respect to the ground surface such that the rotor may engage various depths of earth to cut and remove the earth; a rotatable drive axle connected with respect to the stabilizer frame and adapted for moving the stabilizer frame and rotor across the ground; and a track apparatus operatively mounted on the rotatable axle surface through a track apparatus frame for positioning the track apparatus with respect to the stabilizer frame and rotor to provide improved contact of the rotor with the ground surface and improved traction of the soil stabilizer, the track apparatus including: a continuous flexible track having an upper length and a ground-engaging lower length and including an inner surface; a tensioner for maintaining tension on the continuous flexible track, the tensioner comprising a main-cylinder housing connected to the track apparatus frame, the main-cylinder housing extending along an axis for maintaining the rotor in engagement with the ground and reducing vibration and bounce of the stabilizer frame and rotor as the stabilizer is moved across the ground; an axle wheel mountable to the rotatable drive axle for rotational movement therewith, the axle wheel engaging the inner surface of the continuous flexible track along the upper length to drive the continuous flexible track in response to rotation of the axle; and a leading idler arm having a leading idler wheel rotatably mounted on a leading idler axle and engaging the inner surface of the continuous flexible track, the leading idler axle defining a notch which allows the tensioner to extend, allowing the leading idler wheel to maintain contact of the continuous flexible track with the ground surface as the stabilizer is moved across the ground.