1. A tracked vehicle comprising:
a) a prime mover;
b) a chassis supporting the prime mover, the chassis comprising a frame extending along a longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle;
c) a plurality of track assemblies for traction of the tracked vehicle, a first one of the track assemblies being on a first side of the tracked vehicle, a second one of the track assemblies being on a second side of the tracked vehicle, each track assembly comprising:
i) a first wheel rotatable about a first axis of rotation, the first axis of rotation being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle;
ii) a second wheel rotatable about a second axis of rotation, the second wheel being spaced apart from the first wheel along the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle, the second axis of rotation being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle;
iii) a plurality of support wheels arranged in an in-line configuration between the first wheel and the second wheel;
iv) a first bogie carrying a first one of the support wheels and a second one of the support wheels, the first bogie being pivotally mounted to the frame about a first pivot axis, the first one of the support wheels being rotatable about a third axis of rotation, the second one of the support wheels being rotatable about a fourth axis of rotation, each of the first pivot axis, the third axis of rotation, and the fourth axis of rotation being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle;
v) a second bogie carrying a third one of the support wheels, a fourth one of the support wheels, and a fifth one of the support wheels, the second bogie being spaced apart from the first bogie along the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle and being pivotally mounted to the frame about a second pivot axis, the third one of the support wheels being rotatable about a fifth axis of rotation, the fourth one of the support wheels being rotatable about a sixth axis of rotation, the fifth one of the support wheels being rotatable about a seventh axis of rotation, each of the second pivot axis, the fifth axis of rotation, the sixth axis of rotation, and the seventh axis of rotation being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle; and
vi) an endless track disposed around the first wheel, the second wheel, and the support wheels, the endless track comprising:
i. a top run extending between the first wheel and the second wheel; and
ii. a bottom run for engaging the ground, the support wheels engaging the bottom run,
the first wheel being a drive wheel to impart movement of the endless track.
2. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second bogie comprises:
i. a first link pivotally mounted to the frame about the second pivot axis, the third one of the support wheels being mounted to the first link about the fifth axis of rotation; and
ii. a second link pivotally mounted to the first link about a third pivot axis, the fourth one of the support wheels being mounted to the second link about the sixth axis of rotation, the fifth one of the support wheels being mounted to the second link about the seventh axis of rotation, the third pivot axis being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle.
3. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein each of the first link and the second link comprises a plurality of members connected to one another.
4. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 3, wherein the first link comprises a reinforcement.
5. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 4, wherein the reinforcement comprises a pair of bracing members interconnecting lower and upper ones of the members of the first link.
6. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 2, wherein the third pivot axis is equidistant to the sixth axis of rotation and the seventh axis of rotation.
7. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the track assembly has a length, a width and a height, each of the support wheels having a diameter corresponding to more than half of the height of the track assembly.
8. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 7, wherein the diameter of each of the support wheels corresponds to more than two-thirds of the height of the track assembly.
9. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 8, wherein the diameter of each of the support wheels corresponds to more than three-quarters of the height of the track assembly.
10. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the endless track comprises: a first belt and a second belt spaced apart from one another to accommodate the first wheel, the second wheel, and the support wheels; and a plurality of cross-links distributed along a longitudinal direction of the endless track and extending transversally to the longitudinal direction of the endless track to interconnect the first belt and the second belt.
11. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 10, wherein each of the first belt and the second belt comprises elastomeric material.
12. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second wheel is an idler wheel.
13. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the drive wheel is a first drive wheel, the second wheel being a second drive wheel to impart movement of the endless track.
14. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the first wheel and the second wheel is a sprocket.
15. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the support wheels has a diameter such that the top run of the endless track can contact the support wheels.
16. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein each of the support wheels comprises a hub and a tire.
17. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pivot axis and the second pivot axis are located above the third axis of rotation, the fourth axis of rotation, the fifth axis of rotation, the sixth axis of rotation, and the seventh axis of rotation.
18. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first axis of rotation and the second axis of rotation are located above the third axis of rotation, the fourth axis of rotation, the fifth axis of rotation, the sixth axis of rotation, and the seventh axis of rotation.
19. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the first pivot axis is equidistant to the third axis of rotation and the fourth axis of rotation.
20. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second pivot axis is equidistant to the fifth axis of rotation and the seventh axis of rotation.
21. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the second pivot axis is aligned with the sixth axis of rotation.
22. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein, along the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle, a distance between the fifth axis of rotation and the sixth axis of rotation is identical to a distance between the sixth axis of rotation and the seventh axis of rotation.
23. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein, along the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle, a spacing of the first one of the support wheels and the second one of the support wheels is identical to a spacing of adjacent ones of the third one of the support wheels, the fourth one of the support wheels, and the fifth one of the support wheels.
24. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the track assembly supports a portion of a weight of the tracked vehicle when the tracked vehicle is in use, the first bogie and the second bogie being configured such that, when the tracked vehicle is in use, the portion of the weight of the tracked vehicle supported by the track assembly is never applied to only one of the support wheels.
25. A tracked vehicle as claimed in claim 1, wherein the track assembly supports a portion of a weight of the tracked vehicle when the tracked vehicle is in use, the first bogie and the second bogie being configured such that each of the support wheels always bears some of the portion of the weight of the tracked vehicle supported by the track assembly when the tracked vehicle is in use.
26. A track assembly for traction of a tracked vehicle, the tracked vehicle comprising a prime mover and a chassis supporting the prime mover, the chassis comprising a frame extending along a longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle, the track assembly being mountable on a side of the tracked vehicle and comprising:
a) a first wheel rotatable about a first axis of rotation, the first axis of rotation being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle;
b) a second wheel rotatable about a second axis of rotation, the second wheel being spaced apart from the first wheel along the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle, the second axis of rotation being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle;
c) a plurality of support wheels arranged in an in-line configuration between the first wheel and the second wheel;
d) a first bogie carrying a first one of the support wheels and a second one of the support wheels, the first bogie being pivotally mountable to the frame about a first pivot axis, the first one of the support wheels being rotatable about a third axis of rotation, the second one of the support wheels being rotatable about a fourth axis of rotation, each of the first pivot axis, the third axis of rotation, and the fourth axis of rotation being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle;
e) a second bogie carrying a third one of the support wheels, a fourth one of the support wheels, and a fifth one of the support wheels, the second bogie being spaced apart from the first bogie along the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle and being pivotally mountable to the frame about a second pivot axis, the third one of the support wheels being rotatable about a fifth axis of rotation, the fourth one of the support wheels being rotatable about a sixth axis of rotation, the fifth one of the support wheels being rotatable about a seventh axis of rotation, each of the second pivot axis, the fifth axis of rotation, the sixth axis of rotation, and the seventh axis of rotation being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle; and
f) an endless track disposed around the first wheel, the second wheel, and the support wheels, the endless track comprising:
i. a top run extending between the first wheel and the second wheel; and
ii. a bottom run for engaging the ground, the support wheels engaging the bottom run,
the first wheel being a drive wheel to impart movement of the endless track.
27. A tracked vehicle comprising:
a) a prime mover;
b) a chassis supporting the prime mover, the chassis comprising a frame extending along a longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle;
c) a plurality of track assemblies for traction of the tracked vehicle, a first one of the track assemblies being on a first side of the tracked vehicle, a second one of the track assemblies being on a second side of the tracked vehicle, each of the track assemblies supporting a portion of a weight of the tracked vehicle when the tracked vehicle is in use, each track assembly comprising:
i) a first wheel rotatable about a first axis of rotation, the first axis of rotation being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle;
ii) a second wheel rotatable about a second axis of rotation, the second wheel being spaced apart from the first wheel along the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle, the second axis of rotation being transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle;
iii) a plurality of support wheels arranged in an in-line configuration between the first wheel and the second wheel, a first one of the support wheels being rotatable about a third axis of rotation transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle, a second one of the support wheels being rotatable about a fourth axis of rotation transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle, a third one of the support wheels being rotatable about a fifth axis of rotation transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle, a fourth one of the support wheels being rotatable about a sixth axis of rotation transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle, a fifth one of the support wheels being rotatable about a seventh axis of rotation transverse to the longitudinal direction of the tracked vehicle, the support wheels being mounted such that, when the tracked vehicle is in use, the portion of the weight of the tracked vehicle supported by the track assembly is never applied to only one of the support wheels;
iv) an endless track disposed around the first wheel, the second wheel, and the support wheels, the endless track comprising:
i. a top run extending between the first wheel and the second wheel; and
ii. a bottom run for engaging the ground, the support wheels engaging the bottom run,
the first wheel being a drive wheel to impart movement of the endless track.
The claims below are in addition to those above.
All refrences to claim(s) which appear below refer to the numbering after this setence.
1. A method for preparing a potato product comprising:
producing potato pieces having a desired shape from potatoes;
frying the potato pieces;
freezing the potato pieces;
applying an encapsulated topical addition to the frozen potato pieces, the encapsulated topical addition comprising a water soluble ingredient other than salt encapsulated in an encapsulation material; and
applying an oil to the potato pieces after freezing the potato pieces to facilitate attachment of the encapsulated topical addition to the frozen potato pieces.
2. The method of claim 1, wherein the potato pieces are produced by cutting potatoes into potato pieces and at least partially cooking the potato pieces in a water bath or a steam chamber to swell and partially gelatinize potato starch in the potato pieces.
3. The method of claim 1, wherein the potato pieces are produced by at least partially cooking potato parts, producing a potato mash from the at least partially cooked potato parts, and then forming the potato mash into the potato pieces.
4. The method of claim 1, wherein the potato pieces are fried in an oil having a melt point equal to or less than 30\xb0 F., the oil facilitating attachment of the encapsulated topical addition of the frozen potato pieces.
5. A method for preparing a frozen French fried potato product comprising:
producing potato pieces having a desired shape from potatoes;
frying the potato pieces;
freezing the potato pieces;
applying granulated sugar to an outside surface of the frozen potato pieces to impart sweet taste characteristics to the French fried potato product upon consumption; and
packaging the sugar coated frozen potato pieces.
6. The method of claim 5, wherein the potato pieces are produced by cutting potatoes into potato pieces and at least partially cooking the potato pieces in a water bath or a steam chamber to swell and partially gelatinize potato starch in the potato pieces.
7. The method of claim 5, wherein the potato pieces are produced by at least partially cooking potato parts, producing a potato mash from the at least partially cooked potato parts, and then forming the potato mash into the potato pieces.
8. The method of claim 5, wherein the potato pieces are fried in an oil having a melt point equal to or less than 30\xb0 F., the oil facilitating attachment of the sugar to the frozen potato pieces.
9. The method of claim 5, including applying an oil to the potato pieces after freezing the potato pieces to facilitate attachment of the sugar to the frozen potato pieces.
10. The method of claim 5, wherein the sugar is encapsulated in an encapsulation material.
11. A method for preparing a frozen French fried potato product comprising:
producing potato pieces having a desired shape from potatoes;
frying the potato pieces;
freezing the potato pieces;
applying a granulated sugar coating to an outside surface of the frozen pieces; and then
packaging the sugar coated frozen potato pieces.
12. The method of claim 11, wherein the potato pieces are produced by cutting the potatoes into the potato pieces and at least partially cooking the potato pieces in a water bath or a steam chamber to swell and partially gelatinize potato starch in the potato pieces.
13. The method of claim 11, wherein the potato pieces are produced by at least partially cooking potato parts, producing a potato mash from the at least partially cooked potato parts, and then forming the potato mash into the potato pieces.
14. The method of claim 11, wherein the frying of the potato pieces involves frying the potato pieces in an oil having a melt point equal to or less than 30\xb0 F. the oil facilitating attachment of the sugar to the frozen potato pieces.