Crawler tracks for vehicle transport and vehicles equipped with said crawler tracks

Abstract

To provide a crawler simply configured to be usable in a compact vehicle and capable of obtaining high propulsion force even on snow or a soft ground, and a vehicle using the crawler.SOLUTION: A crawler 10 for transportation of a vehicle includes: an endless chain 20 configured to rotate by power; and a scraper body 30 fixed to the chain to rotate along with rotation of the chain. The scraper body has: a stationary part 40 fixed to the chain; and a plate-like scraper part 50 projecting from the stationary part toward the outer side of the endless chain and inclined in a direction in which the chain rotates for forward movement of a vehicle. The scraper part is deformed toward the stationary part side when the vehicle travels on a road surface, and restores the inclination when the vehicle travels on a soft ground. The vehicle is provided with the crawler.SELECTED DRAWING: Figure 1

Description

Technical Field

[0001] The present invention relates to a crawler for vehicle transportation and a vehicle using the crawler. In particular, it relates to a crawler suitable for transporting vehicles on snow or soft ground such as where the vehicle may sink.

Background Art

[0002] Conventionally, crawlers have been used as the undercarriage for heavy machinery such as construction machinery. Crawlers are characterized by a small ground pressure, and can move on snow or soft ground and can also handle steep slopes. These crawlers are crawlers in which protrusions are provided at regular intervals on a rubber belt-shaped body, and the protrusions generally have a trapezoidal or triangular cross-sectional shape that is symmetric.

[0003] On the other hand, in recent years, lightweight vehicles and the like suitable for traveling on uneven ground that use crawlers have been proposed even outside of heavy machinery. For example, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, it has been proposed to use a crawler for a vehicle such as a standing electric scooter and improve the running performance by adjusting the installation area of the crawler.

Prior Art Documents

Patent Documents

[0004]

Patent Document 1

Summary of the Invention

Problems to be Solved by the Invention

[0005] However, in the invention disclosed in Patent Document 1, the crawler itself has protrusions for preventing slippage of an endless belt. With only the protrusions, on soft ground such as muddy soil containing a large amount of moisture or soft snow, or on a frozen road surface such as an ice burn, sufficient grip force cannot be obtained and it is difficult to obtain appropriate propulsion force.

[0006] Therefore, the object of the present invention is to provide a crawler with a simple structure that can be used even on small vehicles, which can obtain high propulsion even on snow or flexible ground, and a vehicle using said crawler. [Means for solving the problem]

[0007] To solve the above problems, the crawler 10 for transporting a vehicle according to the first aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 4, for example, comprises an endless chain 20 that rotates by power and a scraper body 30 fixed to the chain 20 and rotating together with the rotation of the chain 20. The scraper body 30 has a fixed part 40 fixed to the chain 20 and a plate-shaped scraper part 50 that extends outward from the fixed part 40 to the outside of the endless chain 20 and is inclined in the direction in which the chain 20 rotates to move the vehicle forward. The scraper part 50 deforms toward the fixed part 40 when the vehicle travels on a road surface and restores its inclination when the vehicle travels on soft ground.

[0008] With this configuration, the scraper section is inclined in the direction in which the chain rotates to propel the vehicle forward. Therefore, in the case of soft ground, the scraper scrapes the soft ground, ensuring propulsion without slipping. Furthermore, when traveling on a road surface, the scraper section deforms towards the fixed section, preventing damage to the scraper section on the road surface and increasing the contact area with the road surface, ensuring propulsion through appropriate friction.

[0009] Furthermore, in the crawler 10 according to the second aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figure 2, for example, the scraper body 30 comprises a support frame 40 as a fixing part, a plate-shaped scraper 50 as a scraper part, and a fixing plate 42 that sandwiches the scraper 50 between itself and the support frame 40 to fix the scraper 50. With this configuration, a crawler is made that has a simple structure, can obtain high propulsion force even on snow or flexible ground, and does not damage the scraper on the road surface.

[0010] Furthermore, in the crawler 10 according to the third aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figure 2, for example, the scraper 50 is made of an elastic material that deforms when the weight of the vehicle is applied to the road surface. With this configuration, when the vehicle travels on the road surface, the weight of the vehicle is applied to the scraper, and the scraper made of an elastic material deforms automatically and reliably, resulting in a user-friendly crawler.

[0011] Furthermore, in the crawler 10 according to the fourth aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figure 5, for example, a groove 44 is formed in the support frame 40 in a direction perpendicular to the rotation direction of the chain 20, and the scraper 50 is fixed to the fixing plate 42 by a nut 48 placed in the groove 44 and a bolt 46 tightened to the nut 48. With this configuration, the support frame and the fixing plate can be tightened with bolts and nuts to fix the scraper, making it easy to replace the scraper and resulting in a crawler with excellent maintainability.

[0012] Furthermore, in the crawler 10 according to the fifth aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figure 8 for example, the support frame 140 has a fixed portion 142 fixed to the chain 20 and a movable portion 144 rotatably connected to the fixed portion 142 and fixing the scraper 150 between itself and a fixing plate 42. Between the movable portion 144 and the fixed portion 142, there is a spring 146 configured to hold the scraper 150 in an inclined position on the scraper portion and to move the scraper 150 toward the fixed portion 142 when the vehicle travels on the road surface. With this configuration, when the vehicle travels on the road surface, the weight of the vehicle is applied to the scraper and the scraper is displaced by the spring, making it easy to adjust the ease of displacement and resulting in a user-friendly crawler.

[0013] Furthermore, in the snowmobile 200 according to the sixth aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figure 9 for example, it has a main frame 210 having a saddle 220 on which the driver sits, a handle portion 240 rotatably supported on the main frame 210, skis 250 fixed to the lower end of the handle portion 240, a crawler 10 according to any of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention coupled to the main frame 210, and a drive unit 260 that drives the crawler 10. With this configuration, the snowmobile is capable of traveling with high propulsion on snow, flexible ground, and hard surfaces.

[0014] Furthermore, in the snow kick scooter 300 according to the seventh aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figure 10 for example, it includes a board body 310 on which the driver sits, a handle portion 340 rotatably supported on the board body 310, skis 350 fixed to the lower end of the handle portion 340, a crawler 10 according to any of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention coupled to the board body 310, and a drive unit 360 that drives the crawler 10. With this configuration, the snow kick scooter can be driven with high propulsion on snow, flexible ground, and hard surfaces.

[0015] Furthermore, in the snow trolley 400 according to the eighth aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figure 11, for example, it includes a base plate 420 for carrying cargo, a main frame 410 with a handle 440 fixed to the base plate 420, a crawler 10 according to any of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention coupled below the base plate 420, and a drive unit 460 for driving the crawler 10. With this configuration, the snow trolley can travel with high propulsion on snow, flexible ground, and even hard road surfaces.

[0016] Furthermore, in the wheelchair transport crawler 500 according to the ninth aspect of the present invention, as shown in Figure 12 for example, it includes a main frame 510 on which a wheelchair 580 is mounted, a clamp 520 for fixing the wheelchair on the main frame 510, a pair of crawlers 10 according to any of the first to fifth aspects of the present invention which are coupled to the side of the main frame 510, and a drive unit 560 for driving the crawlers 10. With this configuration, a wheelchair transport crawler is made that can travel with high propulsion force on snow, flexible ground, and hard road surfaces. [Effects of the Invention]

[0017] The crawler of the present invention comprises an endless chain that rotates by power and a scraper body fixed to the chain and rotating together with the chain. The scraper body has a fixed part that is fixed to the chain and a plate-shaped scraper part that extends outward from the fixed part to the endless chain and is inclined in the direction in which the chain rotates to move the vehicle forward. The scraper part deforms toward the fixed part when the vehicle is traveling on a road surface and restores its inclination when the vehicle is traveling on soft ground. With a simple structure, in the case of soft ground, the scraper part scrapes the soft ground, ensuring propulsion without slipping. When traveling on a hard road surface, the scraper part deforms toward the fixed part, so the scraper part is not damaged on the road surface and the contact area with the road surface increases, ensuring propulsion with appropriate frictional force.

[0018] Furthermore, according to the present invention, vehicles such as snow bikes, snow kick scooters, snow trolleys, and wheelchair transport crawlers are equipped with the aforementioned crawlers, making them usable on soft snow or soft ground, as well as on hard snow or road surfaces. [Brief explanation of the drawing]

[0019] [Figure 1] This is a perspective view showing an example of a crawler according to the present invention, illustrating it traveling on a hard surface. [Figure 2] Figure 1 shows a side view of the crawler, illustrating its movement on a hard surface. [Figure 3] Side view of the crawler seen from the side opposite to FIG. 1, also showing the motor and reduction gears for driving the crawler. [Figure 4] Side view of the crawler shown in FIG. 1, showing the crawler traveling on soft ground. [Figure 5] Partial enlarged view of the crawler shown in FIG. 1, showing detailed examples of the chain, fixing part, and scraper part. [Figure 6] Partial enlarged view of the crawler shown in FIG. 1, showing the chain with the chain guide moved upward, and also showing the guide rail. [Figure 7] Cross-sectional view of the chain, chain guide, guide rail, and scraper body in a partial enlarged view of the crawler shown in FIG. 6. [Figure 8] Perspective view showing a support frame having a structure different from that of the scraper body of the crawler shown in FIG. 1. [[ID=1十七]] [Figure 9] Perspective view showing an example of a snow bike according to the present invention. [Figure 10] Perspective view showing an example of a snow kickboard according to the present invention. [[ID=二十四]] [Figure 11] Perspective view showing an example of a snow cart according to the present invention. [Figure 12] Perspective view showing an example of a crawler for transporting a wheelchair according to the present invention.

Embodiments for Carrying out the Invention

[0020] Hereinafter, embodiments of the present invention will be described with reference to the drawings. In each figure, the same or corresponding devices are denoted by the same reference numerals, and redundant descriptions are omitted. First, the outline of the crawler 10 of the present invention will be described with reference to FIGS. 1 to 3.

[0021] The crawler 10 has an endless chain 20. The chain 20 is arranged around the main plate 12. As shown in Figure 3, the chain 20 is wrapped around two sprockets 70 and 72. It may also be wrapped around further sprockets. One sprocket 70 is rotated by a motor 80, which acts as a drive source, causing the chain 20 to rotate around the sprockets 70 and 72. Multiple reduction gears 84 are arranged between the motor 80 and the sprockets 70 as a reduction gear. In the example in Figure 3, the reduction gears 84 mesh with the output shaft 82 of the motor 80, and one of the reduction gears 84 drives the sprocket 70. The sprockets 70 and 72, the reduction gears 84, the motor 80, etc., are supported by the main plate 12. These can be of known structure, so a detailed explanation is omitted. The drive source for rotating the chain 20 may also be of other known configurations.

[0022] Multiple scraper bodies 30 are fixed to the chain 20 at predetermined intervals. The scraper bodies 30 have plate-shaped scrapers 50 fixed to a support frame 40 which serves as a fixing part fixed to the chain 20. As shown by arrow F in Figure 1, the scraper 50 tilts in the direction of rotation of the chain 20 as shown by arrow R when the vehicle using the crawler 10 moves forward. The angle of inclination with respect to the perpendicular from the surface of the chain 20 varies depending on the application of the crawler 10, but is generally in the range of 10° to 80° relative to the chain 20, preferably 20° or more, 30° or more, and preferably 70° or less.

[0023] For example, as shown in Figure 2, the scraper 50 is made of an elastic material that deforms towards the fixed part 40, i.e., towards the chain 20, when subjected to the weight of the vehicle. The scraper 50 may deform to the point of overlapping the fixed part 40, or it may deform to the point where the inclination toward the fixed part 40 becomes larger. As shown in Figure 2, in a crawler 10 traveling on a road surface, the scraper 50 may bend due to its own elasticity. When bending, it may bend partially or the entire piece may bend. For example, if it is made of an elastic material such as silicone rubber, urethane rubber, or high-density nylon, the scraper 50 can be made to deform under the weight of the vehicle.

[0024] The deformation of the scraper 50 prevents excessive load from being placed on its tip. Furthermore, since the surface of the scraper 50, rather than the tip, contacts the road surface, the contact area with the road surface increases, and propulsion can be secured through frictional force between the scraper and the road surface. In other words, it is possible to drive on a road surface with reliable propulsion without slipping. In this book, "road surface" refers to hard surfaces such as paved roads, icy roads, or gravel or soil surfaces, and does not refer to soft ground or snow, which are grounds where the scraper 50 does not deform and scrapes the ground to generate propulsion; in other words, it refers to ground on which wheels normally travel. In addition, the deformation of the scraper 50 so as to cover the support frame 40 prevents the support frame 40 from being damaged by contact with the road surface.

[0025] Furthermore, Figure 4 shows the crawler 10 traveling on soft ground, but the scraper 50 hardly deforms and returns to its initial shape, that is, the shape when no load is acting on the scraper 50. In this book, "soft ground" refers to soft ground such as mud or snow, which is almost impossible to travel on with wheels. In such cases, the scraper 50 digs into the soft ground and acts to scrape it out. Therefore, even on soft ground such as snow, it is possible to reliably obtain propulsion and travel without slipping. Moreover, when traveling on snow, it is possible to advance by scraping and compacting the snow with the scraper 50 in the direction of travel.

[0026] Here, with reference to Figure 5, an example of a structure for fixing the scraper body 30 to the chain 20 will be described. In the scraper body 30, the longitudinal direction of the support frame 40 is fixed to the chain 20 in a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the chain 20. The support frame 40 may be, for example, an extruded aluminum profile. By forming the support frame 40 from aluminum, it can be made lightweight and corrosion resistant. Furthermore, aluminum has the advantage of being easy to extrude. However, it is not limited to aluminum extruded material, and known materials can be used. The support frame 40 has an angle between the surface 40c facing the chain 20 and the surface 40s facing the scraper 50. That is, the surface 40s facing the scraper 50 and the surface 40c fixed to the chain 20 are inclined, and the inclination angle of the scraper 50 can be determined based on this inclination. Specifically, the complementary angle of the angle between surface 40c and surface 40s becomes the inclination angle of the scraper 50.

[0027] On the 40s side, the fixing plate 42 secures the scraper 50 to the support frame 40 by clamping it with bolts 46 and nuts 48. The support frame 40 has grooves 44 formed axially for tightening with the fixing plate 42. For example, a square nut 48 is fitted into these grooves, and the bolts 46 are tightened with the nuts 48 through bolt holes (not shown) formed in the scraper 50 and the fixing plate 42, thereby fixing the scraper 50 to the chain 20 at a predetermined inclination. This configuration makes it easy to attach and detach the fixing plate 42 to the support frame 40, making it easy to replace the scraper 50, resulting in a crawler 10 with excellent maintainability. In particular, the scraper 50, which is made of an elastic material and deforms easily, is prone to damage, so the ease of replacement is a major advantage. On the 40c side, it is preferable to have grooves similar to those on the 40s side, and to fix it to the chain 20 with bolts and nuts. With this configuration, the support frame 40 can be easily removed from the chain 20, which in turn makes it easier to replace the scraper body 30.

[0028] The scraper 50 preferably has a sharp, blade-like tip, as shown in Figure 1, etc. The blade-like tip ensures smooth contact with the road surface. The blade angle is preferably 15-75°, although this varies depending on the application. Furthermore, it is preferable that the very tip be flat to prevent damage when it comes into contact with the road surface. The material of the scraper should be selected appropriately depending on the application, possessing elasticity that allows it to bend, as well as excellent abrasion resistance and impact resistance, cold resistance down to about -20°C when used on snow, and excellent resistance to thermal deformation and chemicals at high temperatures. The material of the scraper is preferably silicone rubber, nylon, or urethane rubber, but is not limited to these.

[0029] As shown in Figures 6 and 7, the chain 20 is preferably covered by a chain guide 22 on the side opposite to where the scraper body 30 is fixed, so that the chain 20 moves in a straight line in a stable position within the chain guide 22 and so that foreign objects do not get caught. Furthermore, a guide rail 24 is positioned along the chain 20 at the bottom of the crawler 10 so that the chain 20 does not bend when a load is applied to the scraper body 30. The guide rail 24 is made of a rigid member that does not deform even when subjected to a load acting on the scraper body 30 via the scraper 50. It is also made of a smooth member with low friction so as not to hinder the movement of the scraper body 30 together with the chain 20. By providing the guide rail 24, the chain 20 does not bend, the inclination of the scraper 50 is maintained, and the crawler 10 can obtain appropriate propulsion force on both soft and hard ground.

[0030] Next, with reference to Figure 8, a scraper body 130 with a different configuration from the scraper body 30 described above will be explained. The scraper body 130 has a support frame 140 which includes a fixed portion 142 fixed to the chain 20, a movable portion 144 hinged to the fixed portion 142, a plate-shaped scraper 150 fixed to the movable portion 144, and a spring 146 which holds the scraper 150 as the scraper part in an inclined position and is configured to move the scraper 150 toward the fixed portion 142 when the vehicle is traveling on the road surface. The fixed portion 142 may be, for example, an extruded aluminum profile. And, similar to the support frame 40 of the scraper body 30, a groove 148 for tightening with the chain 20 is formed on the side that is fixed to the chain 20, and the fixed portion 142 is fixed to the chain 20 by, for example, fitting a square nut (not shown) and passing the chain 20 through and tightening a bolt (not shown) with the nut. Preferably, the chain 20 has small pieces (not shown) for bolt fastening, which have bolt through holes formed therein. With this configuration, the scraper body 130 can be easily attached to and detached from the chain 20, resulting in a crawler 10 with excellent maintainability.

[0031] In the scraper body 130, the movable part 144 is rotatably connected to the fixed part 142 by a hinge 160, i.e., hinged. The scraper 150 is fixed to the movable part 144. A spring 146 is installed between the fixed part 142 and the movable part 144 to hold the movable part 144 at a predetermined angle relative to the fixed part 142, i.e., relative to the chain 20. In Figure 8, a roughly C-shaped leaf spring is used as the spring 146, but the type of spring and the way it is arranged are not particularly limited. However, using a leaf spring as shown in Figure 8 makes it easy to manufacture, does not take up much space, and is easy to use. In Figure 8, the spring 146 may be prevented from shifting from its predetermined position by projections 143 and 145 provided on the fixed part 142 and the movable part 144.

[0032] It is preferable that the fixing plate 42 is configured to clamp and fix the scraper 150 to the movable part 144 with bolts, as this makes it easy to attach and detach the scraper 150, i.e., easy to replace the scraper; however, the method of fixing the scraper 150 is not limited to this. In the case of the scraper body 130, the scraper 150 may be formed from a material that is not easily deformed, such as metal. When a large load is applied to the scraper body 130, such as when a vehicle is driving on the road surface, the spring 146 deforms, and the movable part 144 deforms toward the fixed part 142. That is, the scraper 150 deforms toward the fixed part 142. When the large load is removed, the restoring force of the spring 146 returns the movable part 144 and the scraper 150 to their original positions.

[0033] Next, with reference to Figures 9 to 12, an example of using the crawler 10 in a vehicle will be described. Figure 9 shows an example where the vehicle is a snowmobile 200. The snowmobile 200 has a handle 240 rotatably connected to the front (left side in Figure 9) of the main frame 210, skis 250 fixed to the lower end of the handle 240, and the crawler 10 connected to the rear, and moves when the crawler 10 is driven. The skis 250 may move vertically relative to the handle 240 and may rotate around the pitch axis. The main frame 210 has a saddle 220 on which a driver (not shown) sits. Furthermore, it may have a footrest 230 on which the driver's feet rest while driving. The handle 240 has a handle 242 for the driver to determine the direction of travel of the snowmobile 200, and a handle pod 246 that transmits the rotation of the handle 242 to the skis 250 and supports the load from the main frame 210 on the skis 250. The handle pod 246 connects the handle 242 and the ski 250, and is rotatably supported by the handle guide 212 of the main frame 210, thereby constraining axial displacement. The main frame 210 further has a rear fork 214, which is connected to the main plate 12 of the crawler 10. In Figure 9, the snow bike 200 has one crawler 10, but it may have multiple crawlers 10.

[0034] The snowmobile 200 further includes a drive unit 260 that drives and controls the crawler 10. As explained with reference to Figure 3, the drive unit 260 includes a motor 80, a reduction gear 84 that reduces the rotation of the motor 80 and transmits it to the chain 20, and sprockets 70 and 72 for rotating the chain 20 of the crawler 10. The drive unit 260 also includes a battery 262 for supplying power to the motor 80, a drive circuit 264 that controls the rotation of the motor and the power from the battery 262, and a controller 270 for the driver to control the movement of the snowmobile 200. The controller 270 may include a display device (not shown) for indicating the driving speed, etc. In Figure 9, the battery 262 is located near the center of the main frame 210 for the driving stability of the snowmobile 200, the drive circuit 264 is located adjacent to the battery 262, and the controller 270 is located on the handle 242, but the location of placement is not particularly limited. Furthermore, the drive circuit 264 and the controller 270 can communicate with each other via wired or wireless means.

[0035] With this configuration, the snowmobile 200 can be operated by a driver seated on the saddle 220 using the handlebars 242 and the controller 270 attached to the handlebars 242. By rotating the handlebars 242, the direction of the skis 250 changes, and the direction of travel can be changed by operating the controller 270, which changes the state of travel, i.e., stopping, traveling, and travel speed. Furthermore, the snowmobile 200 can travel on snow or soft ground by the scrapers 50 and 150 of the crawler 10 scraping the snow or soft ground, thereby obtaining reliable propulsion without slipping. On hard surfaces such as ice or paved roads, the scrapers 50 and 150 of the crawler 10 deform, and propulsion can be secured by the frictional force between the wide contact surface and the road surface. Thus, the snowmobile 200 can obtain high propulsion on both snow, flexible ground, and hard ground.

[0036] Next, with reference to Figure 10, an example of a snow kick scooter 300 as a vehicle will be described. In the snow kick scooter 300 shown in Figure 10, a handle 340 is rotatably connected to the front (left side in Figure 10) of the board body 310, skis 350 are fixed to the lower end of the handle 340, and crawlers 10 are connected to the rear, and the scooter moves when the crawlers 10 are driven. The skis 350 and handle 340 are the same as the skis 250 and handle 240 of the snow bike 200, so a redundant explanation will be omitted. It is preferable that a pair of crawlers 10 are connected to both sides of the board body 310 to increase the stability of the snow kick scooter 300, but it is also possible to connect to a single crawler 10 using a rear fork, as in the snow bike 200. The snow kick scooter 300 further has a drive unit 360 that drives and controls the crawlers 10. The drive unit 360 is the same as the drive unit 260, so a redundant explanation will be omitted. In Figure 10, the battery 362 is located at the rear of the board body 310 for the driving stability of the snow kick scooter 300, the drive circuit 364 is located adjacent to the battery 362, and the controller 370 is located on the handle 342, but the location of these locations is not particularly limited.

[0037] With this configuration, the snow kick scooter 300 can be operated by a driver (not shown) standing on the board body 310 using the handle 342 and the controller 370 attached to the handle 342. The direction of the skis 350 changes by rotating the handle 342, and the direction of travel can be changed by changing the travel speed of the left and right crawlers 10 using the controller 370. Furthermore, the travel state, i.e., stopping, traveling, travel speed, etc., can be changed by operating the controller 370. With the snow kick scooter 300, even on snow or soft ground, the scrapers 50 and 150 of the crawlers 10 scrape the snow or soft ground, allowing for reliable propulsion without slipping. On hard ground such as ice or paved roads, the scrapers 50 and 150 of the crawlers 10 deform, and propulsion can be secured by the frictional force between the wide contact surface and the road surface. Therefore, the Snow Kickboard 300 provides high propulsion on snow, flexible ground, and even hard ground.

[0038] Next, with reference to Figure 11, an example of a snow trolley 400 as a vehicle will be described. The snow trolley 400 shown in Figure 11 has a base plate 420 for carrying cargo and a main frame 410 fixed to the base plate 420, with a handle 440 at the rear (right side in Figure 11). Crawlers 10 are attached to the underside of the base plate 420, and the trolley moves when the crawlers 10 are driven. Attaching a pair of crawlers 10 to the underside of the base plate 420 increases the stability of the snow trolley 400 and is preferable as it makes it easier to change the direction of travel by changing the travel speed of the left and right crawlers 10, but it may also be attached with only one crawler 10. The snow trolley 400 further has a drive unit 460 that controls the driving of the crawlers 10. The drive unit 460 is the same as the drive unit 260, so a redundant explanation will be omitted. In Figure 11, the battery 462 is positioned in the center of the left and right sides, near the handle 440 and behind the base plate 420, for the driving stability of the snow trolley 400. The drive circuit 464 is positioned adjacent to the battery 462, and the controller 470 is positioned on the handle 440. However, the positions of these components are not particularly limited.

[0039] In this configuration, the snow trolley 400 carries cargo on the base plate 420, and a driver (not shown) can operate the snow trolley 400 from the rear using a handle 440 and a controller 470 attached to the handle 440. The handle 440 ensures the stability of the snow trolley 400, while the controller 470 changes the travel speed of the left and right crawlers 10 to change the direction of travel. The controller 470 also changes the travel state, i.e., stopping, traveling, travel speed, etc. With the snow trolley 400, even on snow or soft ground, the scrapers 50 and 150 of the crawlers 10 scrape the snow or soft ground, ensuring reliable propulsion without slipping. On hard ground such as ice or paved roads, the scrapers 50 and 150 of the crawlers 10 deform, and the trolley can travel by ensuring propulsion through frictional force with the road surface over a wide contact area. Therefore, the snow trolley 400 can obtain high propulsion on snow, flexible ground, and even hard ground.

[0040] Next, referring to Figure 12, an example of a wheelchair transport crawler 500 as a vehicle will be described. The wheelchair transport crawler 500 shown in Figure 12 has a main frame 510 on which a wheelchair 580 is mounted, and a pair of left and right crawlers 10 are attached to the sides of the main frame 510, and it moves when the crawlers 10 are driven. The main frame 510 has clamps 520 for fixing the mounted wheelchair. By fixing the wheelchair 580 with the clamps 520, the wheelchair transport crawler 500 does not have a handle, and the driver can ensure the stability of the wheelchair transport crawler 500 by grasping the wheelchair handle 590. The wheelchair transport crawler 500 further has a drive unit 560 that controls the driving of the crawlers 10. The drive unit 560 is the same as the drive unit 260, so a redundant explanation will be omitted. In Figure 12, the battery 562 is positioned below the wheelchair 580 on the main frame 510 for the driving stability of the wheelchair transport crawler 500, the drive circuit 564 is positioned adjacent to the battery 562, and the controller 570 is attached to the wheelchair handle 590 with a band as a portable unit; however, the placement is not particularly limited.

[0041] The wheelchair transport crawler 500 lowers the height at which the wheelchair 580 is placed, making it easier to load the wheelchair 580, and also improves driving stability, by connecting a pair of crawlers 10 to the left and right sides of the main frame 510. When loading or unloading the wheelchair 580 onto the wheelchair transport crawler 500, a plate is placed across the main frame 510 from the ground at the front of the wheelchair transport crawler 500 (left side in Figure 12) to create a ramp, and the wheelchair 580 is moved on the ramp. It is preferable to secure the wheelchair on the main frame 510 with rear wheel clamps 524 that clamp the rear wheels 594 from both sides and front wheel clamps 522 that clamp the front wheels 592 from the front and rear directions. By using front wheel clamps 522 and rear wheel clamps 524 as clamps 520 in this way, the wheelchair 580 is fixed on the main frame 510 without shifting, and the wheelchair handle 590 can be used as the handle of the wheelchair transport crawler 500.

[0042] In this configuration, the wheelchair transport crawler 500 has a main frame 510 on which a wheelchair 580 is placed, and a driver (not shown) can operate the wheelchair transport crawler 500 from the rear using a wheelchair handle 590 and a controller 570 attached to the wheelchair handle 590. The wheelchair handle 590 ensures the stability of the wheelchair transport crawler 500, and the controller 570 allows the driver to change the direction of travel by changing the travel speed of the left and right crawlers 10, and also changes the travel state, i.e., stopping, traveling, travel speed, etc., by operating the controller 570. Furthermore, with the wheelchair transport crawler 500, even on snow or soft ground, the scrapers 50 and 150 of the crawler 10 scrape the snow or soft ground, ensuring that propulsion is obtained reliably without slipping. On hard ground such as ice or paved roads, the scrapers 50 and 150 of the crawler 10 deform, and propulsion is obtained by frictional force between the wide contact surface and the road surface. Therefore, the 500 wheelchair transport crawler provides high propulsion on snow, flexible ground, and even hard ground.

[0043] In the above description, the crawler 10 in the snow bike 200, snow kick scooter 300, snow trolley 400, and wheelchair transport crawler 500 was described as being driven by a battery and motor, but other power sources such as an engine or hydrogen engine may also be used. Furthermore, the snow bike 200, snow kick scooter 300, snow trolley 400, and wheelchair transport crawler 500 are merely examples, and the crawler 10 of the present invention can also be used in other vehicles. [Explanation of Symbols]

[0044] 10 Crawler 12 Main plate 20 chain 22 Chain Guide 24 Guide Rails 30, 130 scraper bodies 40 Support frame (fixing part) 42 Fixing plate 44 Groove 50 Scraper (Scraper part) 70, 72 sprocket 80 motor 82 Output shaft 84 Reduction gear 142 Fixed part 144 Moving parts 146 springs 148 Groove 150 Scrapers 160 hinge 200 Snow bike 210 Main frame 212 Handle Guide 220 saddle 230 Footrest 240 Handle section 242 Handle 250 skis 260 Drive unit 262 batteries 264 Drive Circuit 270 Controllers 300 Snow Scooter 310 Board Body 340 Handle section 342 Handle 350 skis 360 Drive Unit 362 batteries 364 Drive Circuit 370 Controller 400 Snow trolley 410 Main frame 420 base plate 440 handle 460 Drive Unit 462 batteries 464 Drive Circuit 470 Controller 500 Wheelchair Transport Crawler 510 Main Frame 520 Clamp 522 Front Wheel Clamp 524 Rear wheel clamp 560 Drive Unit 562 batteries 564 Drive Circuit 570 Controller 580 wheelchairs 590 Wheelchair handle 592 Wheelchair front wheel 594 Wheelchair rear wheel F Forward direction R rotation direction

Claims

1. A crawler for transporting vehicles: An endless chain that rotates by power; It comprises a scraper body fixed to the chain and rotating together with the rotation of the chain; The scraper body has a fixing portion that is fixed to the chain, and a plate-shaped scraper portion that extends outward from the fixing portion to the endless chain and is inclined in the direction in which the chain rotates as the vehicle moves forward; The scraper portion deforms toward the fixed portion when the vehicle travels on the road surface, and the inclination is restored when the vehicle travels on soft ground; The scraper body comprises a support frame as a fixing part, a plate-shaped scraper as a scraper part, and a fixing plate that sandwiches the scraper between itself and the support frame and fixes the scraper in place; Crawler.

2. The scraper is formed of an elastic material that deforms when the weight of a vehicle is applied to the road surface; The crawler according to claim 1.

3. The support frame has grooves formed in a direction perpendicular to the rotational direction of the chain; The fixing plate secures the scraper by a nut positioned in the groove and a bolt tightened to the nut; The crawler according to claim 2.

4. The support frame has a fixed portion that is fixed to the chain, and a movable portion that is rotatably connected to the fixed portion and fixes the scraper between itself and the fixed plate; The vehicle further includes a spring between the movable part and the fixed part, which is configured to hold the scraper in the inclined position of the scraper portion and to move the scraper toward the fixed part when the vehicle is traveling on the road surface; The crawler according to claim 1.

5. A main frame having a saddle on which the driver sits; A handle portion rotatably supported on the main frame; A ski board fixed to the lower end of the handle portion; A crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is coupled to the main frame; It has a drive unit that drives the crawler; Snowmobile.

6. The main board on which the driver sits; A handle portion rotatably supported on the board body; A ski board fixed to the lower end of the handle portion; A crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, which is coupled to the board body; It has a drive unit that drives the crawler; Snow kick scooter.

7. A platform for placing cargo; A main frame with a handle fixed to the base plate; A crawler according to any one of claims 1 to 4, coupled below the base plate; It has a drive unit that drives the crawler; Snow trolley.

8. The main frame on which the wheelchair is placed; A clamp for securing the wheelchair on the main frame; A pair of crawlers according to any one of claims 1 to 4, coupled to the side of the main frame; It has a drive unit that drives the crawler; Wheelchair transport crawler.

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