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CA-3287970-C - AN INTEGRATED TRACK-DRIVE ASSEMBLY

CA3287970CCA 3287970 CCA3287970 CCA 3287970CCA-3287970-C

Abstract

The present invention provides an integrated track‐drive assembly comprising a drive motor disposed within the loop of a continuous track, a drive sprocket operably connected to the drive motor, and a protective cover enclosing both the drive motor and drive sprocket. The sprocket’s external teeth engage internal teeth on the annular track to transmit power. A width‐limiting support system, including a first support frame, a second support frame, and a cross‐beam interconnecting the two frames, constrains the track’s lateral displacement and enhances structural rigidity. A gravity‐compensation mechanism is mounted at the track’s rear end and, via an assembly frame, uses gravitational force to press the track’s rear segment—including the idler wheel—against the ground. A front‐wheel linkage system, comprising a linkage rod, an elongated fastener, and a nut, enables rapid tool‐free attachment to and removal from the vehicle’s front wheel. A self‐cleaning device, consisting of a centrally located cleaning groove in the track loop and symmetrically arranged cleaning rollers on either side, automatically removes debris from the groove. This integrated track‐drive assembly offers a compact structure, smooth power transmission, reliable lateral constraint, consistent ground contact, convenient maintenance, and automatic debris clearance.

Inventors

  • Junji Chen

Assignees

  • Junji Chen

Dates

Publication Date
20260505
Application Date
20251002

Claims (9)

  1. 18 CLAIMS 1. An integrated track-drive assembly, comprising: a drive motor mounted within the looped track; a protective housing connected to the drive motor; a drive sprocket connected to the protective housing and having external teeth that engage with the track; an endless track arranged as an elongate loop and provided on its inner side with internal teeth that mesh with the external teeth of the drive sprocket; a first support frame and a second support frame disposed on opposite sides of the track to constrain lateral displacement of the track; a reinforcing cross-beam connecting the first support frame and the second support frame to increase structural rigidity between them; a gravity-compensation mechanism at the rear end of the track, comprising an idler wheel connected via an assembly frame, which under gravity applies continuous downward force to maintain the track’s rear section in contact with the ground; a front-wheel linkage system including a linkage rod and a long bolt with nut for rapid attachment to and detachment from the vehicle’s front wheel; and a self-cleaning device comprising a cleaning groove formed in the mid-section of the track and small cleaning rollers cooperating with the groove to remove debris therefrom.
  2. 2. The integrated track-drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive sprocket is mounted on the drive motor, and power is transmitted through a motor–sprocket–track chain by meshing of the sprocket’s external teeth with the track’s internal teeth.
  3. 3. The integrated track-drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the reinforcing cross-beam forms a closed-loop structure rigidly connecting the first support frame and the second support frame via transverse beams to enhance overall structural stiffness.19
  4. 4. The integrated track-drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the gravity-compensation mechanism comprises an idler wheel pivotally connected through the assembly frame to the track’s rear end, the idler wheel automatically pressing downward under gravity.
  5. 5. The integrated track-drive assembly of claim 1, wherein in the front-wheel linkage system the long bolt passes through the linkage rod and engages a nut at the front-wheel connection point, enabling rapid fixation and removal by rotating the nut.
  6. 6. The integrated track-drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the self-cleaning device’s small cleaning rollers are arranged in two symmetrical sets on either side of the cleaning groove and automatically rotate with the drive sprocket to scrape debris out of the groove.
  7. 7. The integrated track-drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the first support frame, the second support frame, and the reinforcing cross-beam are fabricated from a high-strength, lightweight material to reduce overall assembly weight.
  8. 8. The integrated track-drive assembly of claim 1, further comprising a protective cover that provides dust- and water-resistant protection for the drive motor and the drive sprocket.
  9. 9. The integrated track-drive assembly of claim 1, wherein the drive motor is an electric motor powered by the vehicle’s onboard power source and having speed-control capability..

Description

1 An integrated track‐drive assembly TECHNICAL FIELD OF THE INVENTION [0001] The present invention relates to the field of track-drive systems. More particularly, it concerns an integrated track-drive assembly in which a motor, protective housing, and drive sprocket are installed within a continuous track loop, and which incorporates a width-limiting support system, a gravity-compensation mechanism, and a self-cleaning function. BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION [0002] Conventional vehicle track-drive systems typically employ a separated arrangement in which the motor drives an externally mounted drive sprocket or wheel via a driveshaft, belt, or chain, and the sprocket or wheel in turn engages the track. In that configuration, the motor is installed apart from the track loop, consuming additional vehicle space, while the long transmission chain results in significant energy loss and low drive efficiency. Moreover, the precision of the separated engagement is difficult to maintain, often leading to lateral track drift or slippage during operation. [0003] To improve packing density and transmission smoothness, some prior art designs have integrated the motor, protective housing, and drive sprocket into a single assembly, thereby simplifying the power-transmission chain. However, those integrated designs generally fail to address lateral track constraint, lacking an effective width-limiting mechanism, which permits the track to wander or oscillate and undermines vehicle stability and reliability. [0004] In addition, elongated tracks commonly exhibit rear-end sagging during travel, causing uneven ground contact and reduced traction. To address this, tensioning or gravity-compensation devices have been introduced, but most existing solutions rely on static tensioning or manual adjustment and cannot provide continuous, automatic compensation under dynamic driving conditions, thereby compromising handling and off-road performance.2 [0005] Furthermore, debris such as snow, mud, or gravel readily accumulates at the interface between the drive sprocket and the track under adverse conditions, leading to jamming or accelerated wear. Existing cleaning methods typically depend on manual removal or external scrapers, which increases maintenance frequency and cannot clear debris automatically during operation. The present invention addresses these shortcomings by integrating the motor, protective housing, and drive sprocket within the track loop and supplementing them with a width-limiting support system, a gravity-compensation mechanism, a quick-release linkage, and a self-cleaning structure, thereby achieving a compact assembly, smooth power transmission, reliable lateral constraint, consistent ground contact, and automatic debris removal during use. SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION [0006] The object of the present utility model is to provide a compact, fully integrated track‐ drive assembly that overcomes the problems of low transmission efficiency, lateral track wander, rear‐end sagging, and debris entrapment arising from separate motor and drive‐sprocket arrangements in the prior art. [0007] This object is achieved by an integrated track‐drive assembly comprising: a drive motor, a protective housing, a drive sprocket, an endless track, a width‐limiting support system, a cross‐ beam reinforcing the support frames, a gravity‐compensation mechanism, a front‐wheel quick‐ release linkage system, and a self‐cleaning device. The drive motor is installed within the loop of the track and is enclosed by the protective housing. The motor’s output shaft drives the drive sprocket, whose external teeth engage the track’s internal teeth to transmit power. The width‐ limiting support system includes a first support frame and a second support frame arranged on opposite sides of the track to constrain lateral displacement. A reinforcing cross‐beam connects the two support frames at their ends to increase structural rigidity. The gravity‐compensation3 mechanism is located at the rear end of the track and includes an idler wheel; through the assembly frame, gravity automatically presses the track’s rear segment against the ground. The front‐wheel linkage system comprises a linkage rod, an elongated bolt, and a nut to enable rapid attachment and detachment of the track‐drive assembly to the vehicle’s front wheel. The self‐ cleaning device includes a cleaning groove formed in the mid‐section of the drive sprocket and symmetrically arranged cleaning rollers that scrape debris from the groove. [0008] Further, the drive motor drives the drive sprocket, and the drive sprocket’s external teeth engage the track’s internal teeth, forming a continuous power‐transmission chain of motor– sprocket–track. [0009] Further, the track comprises a belt body, multiple inner tooth blocks, and multiple outer cleats. The inner‐tooth assembly includes two inner tooth blocks arranged at intervals across the belt width. Each outer cleat is mounted on the belt and projects out