An articulated vehicle made of a front and of a rear vehicle body of which the chassis are connected by an articulated joint. The articulated joint comprises a steering axis, a first longitudinal roll axis on the front chassis, and a second longitudinal roll axis on the rear chassis. In a structural sense, the articulated joint of the present invention comprises a first swivel member and a first shaft mounting this first swivel member on the front chassis for relative oscillation of the first swivel member and of the front chassis about the first longitudinal roll axis. Likewise, a second swivel member and a second shaft mounting this second swivel member on the rear chassis allow relative oscillation of the second swivel member and of the rear chassis about the second longitudinal roll axis. Spaced apart pivot pins are provided for pivotally joining the first and second swivel members together along the steering axis, and allowing pivotal movement of the front and rear chassis while a movement of the front chassis remains co-planar with a movement of the rear chassis. The articulated joint also comprises a first flexible torsion coupling connected between the first swivel member and the front chassis, and a second flexible torsion coupling connected between the second swivel member and the rear chassis for flexibly restraining the relative oscillation of the first and second swivel members and of the front and rear chassis about their respective longitudinal roll axes.

There is disclosed an all-terrain vehicle having a front and a rear body frame connected by an articulated joint for allowing relative lateral oscillation of the frames about an oscillation axis parallel to the longitudinal axis of the front body frame and located above both frames. The joint simultaneously allows for relative pivoting movement of the frames about a pivot axis which is perpendicular to the oscillation axis. The vehicle is driven by four pressure-fluid operated motor assemblies of which the motor output shafts are coaxial two-by-two and are mounted to extend laterally outwardly of the frames and on which shafts are operatively mounted endless track assemblies for winter use, particularly, or pneumatic tires. The motors are fed in pressure-fluid by piping connected to pumps actuated by an engine mounted on the front body frame. At least that part of the piping that traverses the body frames, at the articulated joint, is flexible.

An articulated tracked vehicle for agricultural harvesting which reduces damage to fields and can be driven on paved roads at reasonable speeds. The vehicle has front and rear elements, linked by an articulating joint which permits turning and rotation of one element with respect to the other. Each element is motivated by a pair of tracked power units which are hydraulically driven by a heavy duty differential between the units. Each power unit is rotatably mounted solely on a shaft sleeve of the differential and is free to oscillate vertically and independently to absorb irregularities in its path. Each unit includes an endless elastomeric track which has two rows of lugs on its inner surface. A novel drive mechanism engages these lugs to motivate the vehicle. A sealed transmission housing in each power unit protects key drive elements from environmental damage without interfering with operation of the unit. The transmission is centrally disposed within each power unit to provide further protection from damage.

This invention includes an undercarriage support and adjustment system for a tracked vehicle having first and second elongated outwardly extending members coupled to the vehicle, a first undercarriage bearing support coupled to the vehicle between the first and second outwardly extending members, and an undercarriage bearing support member slidingly coupled to the outer ends of the two support members and having a second undercarriage bearing support.

This invention relates to an endless traction band that is used to propel band laying vehicles [i.e., vehicles which use endless traction bands rather than tires to contact the terrain over which they are driven, e.g., tractors, tanks, bulldozers, etc.]. A novel sprocket wheel having a plurality of radially extending and offset teeth cooperates with an endless traction band having a plurality of holes. Longitudinally consecutive holes define either meshing areas or clip areas. The meshing areas are adapted to be engaged by the sprocket wheel and the clip areas are adapted to support clips.