Crawler belt vehicle
DRIVE
June 13, 2001
A crawler belt vehicle includes a pair of tired front wheels (5), and a pair of crawler belts (9) each passing around rear and intermediate wheels (6, 7). The front wheel tires and crawler belts (9) are set to respective appropriate values of ground pressure. A vehicle engine (11) is provided between the rear wheels (6) and the intermediate wheels (7). A plurality of discharge openings (9g) are formed in each of the crawler belts (9) to let out snow or mud drawn into an inner surface area of the belt (9). An equalizer (8) is provided on the inner surface of each of the crawler belts (9) to enhance the ground pressure of the belt (9). Each of the crawler belts (9) has a plurality of low-friction members (9i) spaced apart from each other and projecting into sliding contact with the slider (75). Also, a plurality of side guide protrusions (90b) are formed on the inner surface of each of the crawler belts (9) along its opposite longitudinal edge portions, and at least one reinforcing cross member (90a) is provided between every adjacent pair of the side guide protrusions (90b). Relative to the chassis (4), the rear wheels (6) are movable vertically but immovable laterally. A speed changing mechanism (45) is provided between the engine (11) and front-wheel driving shafts (43).
Discussion in the ATmosphere